Ampeg 810 refurbishing

[veilofmeijer]

Hey guys,

I recently purchased an older model ampeg 8x10 thats in need of some love. The speakers all work just fine, but I need to touch up the tolex. It needs the kick plate, skids, and new casters, but the main thing that I want to fix is the control plate. Being an older model, it has one 1/4" input, so I'm planning on fitting a plate like this one:

and putting some speakon connectors in that bad boy to match my Markbass Momark head. My question is, being already wired as an 1 input panel, how should I utilize the other slot? I would like to be able to use either one as an input and not have to worry about which one I plug into. Does anyone have any wiring schematics or suggestions for this modification? any ...input ... would be very appreciated

 

[Bass 45]

You may consider wiring it as two 8 ohm 410's.

Newer Ampeg cabs have the option of running all of the speakers or just the top four - or you can use a stereo amp to eq the top and bottom differently.

Being able to go 410 is nice for a smaller rehearsal space.

I don't know if your amp has two speaker jacks though.

 

[vdub75]

all easy. just wire the "410s" in parallel and use an of/off Switch to cut the Connection. so u can use 410, stereo 410, 810 mono.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Just wire +1 to +1 to positive of the drivers. -1 to -1 to driver negatives.

 

[veilofmeijer]

Just wire +1 to +1 to positive of the drivers. -1 to -1 to driver negatives.

So, are you saying something like this crude drawing?

where the 2 jacks are chained together so either one I plug into will power all 8 speakers? I have 2 outputs but only use one output and have no need for stereo amping right now.

 

[BassmanPaul]

That's right. You can test for polarity with a 9V battery. All the cones should move in the same direction. If the cones all move out of the basket the wire that is connected to the positive pole of the battery is the positive wire.

 

[Jazz Ad]

While you're at it, install speakons it's always useful to have.

 

[BassmanPaul]

While you're at it, install speakons it's always useful to have.

Speakons are what we are talking about.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Then I don't understand the question. Jack in one hole, speakon in the 2nd and you're done?

 

[veilofmeijer]

Then I don't understand the question. Jack in one hole, speakon in the 2nd and you're done?

no, the old cab has 1 1/4" input, Im replacing the whole plate with a new one that has 2 speakon connectors. My markbass cab has them and I dont think Ill ever go back

 

[veilofmeijer]

That's right. You can test for polarity with a 9V battery. All the cones should move in the same direction. If the cones all move out of the basket the wire that is connected to the positive pole of the battery is the positive wire.

Thank you, super helpful. The plates and connectors are so cheap, this is a no brainer for me
That 9v trick is handy too, I take it that if they move inwards, the cable on the positive terminal is the negative wire?

 

[Jazz Ad]

You never know when your cab may cross the path of his old SVT head cousin.
I think you will need a jack long before you need to add another cab to the fridge.

 

[veilofmeijer]

You never know when your cab may cross the path of his old SVT head cousin.
I think you will need a jack long before you need to add another cab to the fridge.

That is a really good point, maybe I will use the same wiring scheme but one jack 1/4" and the other speakon. Good tip!

 

[veilofmeijer]

You never know when your cab may cross the path of his old SVT head cousin.
I think you will need a jack long before you need to add another cab to the fridge.

wait, I just remembered that speakon jacks can take 1/4"

 

[Bass 45]

It is also easy to make a cord that is Neutrik on one end and 1/4 inch on the other

 

[BassmanPaul]

wait, I just remembered that speakon jacks can take 1/4"

Only if they are green. Black ones can not.

 

[beans-on-toast]

wait, I just remembered that speakon jacks can take 1/4"

If you ever think that you'll need a ¼" jack on the cab, you can get a plate like the one that you posted that has one speakon and one ¼" hole. Just wire them + to tip, -1 to sleeve.

As Paul said, some speakons can accept ¼" plugs, some can't. The Speakon Combo connectors that can accept either a ¼" plug or a speakon are, unfortunately, circuit board mounted only.

The good news is that there is an inexpensive board (around $5 for three copies of either the round or square version shipped, the speakon is extra) that allows you to mount wires to the combo speakons. There's a small one and a larger square one that makes mounting the wires easier.

I have prototype boards being fabricated now.

​

 

[veilofmeijer]

If you ever think that you'll need a ¼" jack on the cab, you can get a plate like the one that you posted that has one speakon and one ¼" hole. Just wire them + to tip, -1 to sleeve.

As Paul said, some speakons can accept ¼" plugs, some can't. The Speakon Combo connectors that can accept either a ¼" plug or a speakon are, unfortunately, circuit board mounted only.

The good news is that there is an inexpensive board (around $5 for three copies of either the round or square version shipped, the speakon is extra) that allows you to mount wires to the combo speakons. There's a small one and a larger square one that makes mounting the wires easier.

I have prototype boards being fabricated now.


View attachment 657622 View attachment 657623





View attachment 657631

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So if I was to wire two combo jacks side by side, would it be easiest to split the single wire coming from the speakers and plug it into both circuit boards, or is there spot on the board to daisy chain them together? Seeing as Id never use both, just having the option to plug into either one is what Im looking for.

 

[beans-on-toast]

So if I was to wire two combo jacks side by side, would it be easiest to split the single wire coming from the speakers and plug it into both circuit boards, or is there spot on the board to daisy chain them together? Seeing as Id never use both, just having the option to plug into either one is what Im looking for.

There are two pads for each of +1 and -1 on the speakon. Two pads allows one set of wires to go to the speaker [+] and [-] and the other two are for daisy chaining to another connector. The advantage of a second speakon is that you can daisy chain two cabinets if you want.

I know that these combo connectors are available on some amps but you don't see them used as much as the standard type of speakons. Not sure why, it seems like a good idea. Maybe they aren't made as well. Maybe people feel that it is best to stick with just speakons.

 

[veilofmeijer]

There are two pads for each of +1 and -1 on the speakon. Two pads allows one set of wires to go to the speaker [+] and [-] and the other two are for daisy chaining to another connector. The advantage of a second speakon is that you can daisy chain two cabinets if you want.

I know that these combo connectors are available on some amps but you don't see them used as much as the standard type of speakons. Not sure why, it seems like a good idea. Maybe they aren't made as well. Maybe people feel that it is best to stick with just speakons.

Yeah, both my markbass head and cab came with combo speakons, theyre awesome. Do you have the link for the circuit boards for me to grab a few?