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Ampeg 8x10: Transportation Alternative?

R

Reynolds 101

May 7, 2007
288
0
Clinton Township, Michigan.
www.myspace.com
#1
Hey there, good to be back on here after a while.

I bought an Ampeg 8x10 last year, and I love it. Its monstrous, sounds amazing, and one of the top brands you can come across as a bassist.

The only issue I have is transporting it. I also have an Ampeg BA115, but its completely distorted and doesn't sound that great. There is no happy medium, and I really dont want to give up my amp. I have to borrow a family members van to transport the 8x10 anywhere, and I need 2 people to load it in the van and the show. What would be a safe alternative be that I can trade my 8x10 for (its almost brand new), while still keeping my tone, yet allowing me to take it anywhere in my small a** car?

Thanks
 
#9
To match the 810 you'll need a lot of speaker area and a sealed cab. You'll also need a cab without a horn or at least a defeat-able horn. I would check out the Markbass Classic series cabs if I were in your shoes. The 810 is almost half the weight, 610 is less than half of the weight, and they make 410's that are very light. Two of the 410s would kill. All those cabs are sealed with defeat-able horns. They also have more of that "rock" look that the Ampeg gear has in comparison to the normal Markbass gear.

When I went through much the same situation (needing to downsize from my 810), I decided to get Schroeder 21012R. It is different tonally (more of a slap happy funk tone) and doesn't have the same "push you across the stage" type feeling to it. However, it does get STUPID LOUD and can cover a lot of different styles of music. When I pair it with my SVT-CL it definitely gives a great rock tone and with my Little Mark II it can really bring the funk. When I dial in a bit of the VLE and LPF features on the LMII I can get a decent SVT into an 810 sound and feel out of the 21012R.

I also have a Mesa Powerhouse 212 that cops the classic rock and funk tones very well and is always well thought of in those venues image wise. There was a great review of it in the first Bass Gear Magazine that may be worth checking out. The Markbass Classic 810 was also reviewed by them in their most recent issue and got high marks.

When it's all said and done though, there are a bunch of reasons Ampeg 810's are still seen on stages across the world. Whether it's tone or image, nothing out there is the same. With that said, it comes to personal preference as to if something is better or worse.

By the way, I still have my 810 and take it to gigs every once in a while. However, out of 150 some odd shows this past year I think I had it at less than 5.

Hope that helps.
 
#10
lowendgenerator said:
What kind of car do you have? My 810 fits comfortably in the back seat of my ford focus. No other cab will give you that sound IMO. A 610 might get close, but nothing beats a fridge.
Click to expand...

I have a mercury topaz. It fits in the back seat ok, but its near impossible to get it in, and once in it has about a centimeter of room on both sides to shut the door perfectly. It almost breaks off the door trying to get it in the back, and winter months or rainy days certainly dont help. I'd just like it to be easier than that.
 
#12
Reynolds 101 said:
I have a mercury topaz. It fits in the back seat ok, but its near impossible to get it in, and once in it has about a centimeter of room on both sides to shut the door perfectly. It almost breaks off the door trying to get it in the back, and winter months or rainy days certainly dont help. I'd just like it to be easier than that.
Click to expand...

Wow, a Topaz. I used to have a 2 door Topaz. I wouldn't dare try to get a fridge in there. Maybe pick up a beater van or truck.
 
#13
I wheel around in a 2007 Ford E-250 plain jane white cargo unit with a weathergard bulkhead and grates on the windows. Fridge cabs will stand up in the van and you can get quite a few right down the center standing up or even laying down on the edge. I've had 4 in very easily. Sure 10 would fit standing up.

I have one ATA case for the fridge. It was sort of a test. I can tilt it up and roll it into the van by myself, but two guys makes it easy. Then the cab doesnt get banged up.

Ford is almost giving away vans these days, when I got my 2007 I walked in, said I need a van, lets look... Took a couple for test drive and signed and drove away. They might even take a TOESPAZ in trade. While the thing doesnt get 20 around town, it does get 15 and it will get about the same heading across country. Mine has the 5.4 and I put a hitch receiver under the back to tow my various trailers. Snowmobile, enclosed MC trailer which could double as a band trailer, and a car trailer. When I want to be serious I grab my F-350 crew dually and its 5th wheel hitch. But no topper but there is an 18' X 8' garage on the 35 foot RV trailer.

Sure a guy is making a commitment to a vehicle, but they just about hand you the keys these days. I think mine was $24K after the rebate. The bulkhead about $800 and the window grates about $100. The worst part was installing the bulkhead. I now have 13K miles on it and its been to three coasts and mexico.

I bet a new TOESPAZ would just about set you back as much. Sure I only have two seats, but I hate other people for the most part anyways.

We play musical instruments, they are tools of our trade. Transporting these tools is just as important as having the tools in the first place. There is no duplicate for an 810 cab in tone. So why compromise your tools of the trade? A carpenter would not use a cheap level. a semstress a dull fabric knife. I'm am getting tired of all this I can't move my cabinets stuff... Even when I was a kid we used MOM's Station wagon to get around. I've owned maybe 7 or 8 vans in my life the biggest a 14' footer with a roll up rear door. This is the band business... Rip the seats out of the wife's mini van. BOB
 
#15
I just got rid of an 810 today for the same reason, too hard to haul it... it wasn't an ampeg, just a carvin, but anyway.... when I had my escort wagon, hauling it wasn't that big a deal (still needed help loading it), but now that I have a T-bird... well, not much fitting in there :[
soo ... my suggestion.... keep the 810.... you won't find anything else like it... and save up for a beater mini van or truck like suggested, or a station wagon.
 
#16
Two people to get the 810 into a van?

Wow. I move mine all by myself, and I'm no Hercules.
Take the seats out of the middle, if you can, and put the cab on its side and just push. If you're worried about rips, do what I did and make a cardboard slipcover. It'll cost you 30 minutes of your time and some duct tape, but you pretty much wrap, cut, and tape. Very easy, extremely cost effective.
 
#20
mrkreuzschlitz said:
Two people to get the 810 into a van?

Wow. I move mine all by myself, and I'm no Hercules.
Take the seats out of the middle, if you can, and put the cab on its side and just push. If you're worried about rips, do what I did and make a cardboard slipcover. It'll cost you 30 minutes of your time and some duct tape, but you pretty much wrap, cut, and tape. Very easy, extremely cost effective.
Click to expand...
Wow! Now that is a cool idea! That's why I love this place. I'm gonna do that.
 

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