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Ampeg Micro VR w/ different cabs?

C

carcass

Feb 13, 2011
21
0
39
Dolny Kubin, Slovakia
#1
Hi there guys,
i have done some research and it seems to me that amp Ampeg Micro VR will suit my needs perfectly. I was thinking that I will use this amp for practise at home as well as for playing with the band. At home I will be using it with one small cab (1 or 2 repros) and for band situation I was thinking to use 8x10 fridge with it .. any thoughts about this idea? thank you very much in advice for comments guys.

P.S.: I thought that both of those suggested cabs will be 4 Ω.
 
#3
I've used it with an 810 before and I love it. Really cops that sound well. It does sing with a 215, but it also sings with an 810. I'd also check out the PF350 while you're at it. Same price, same preamp and 150 more watts, just doesn't look like a mini-SVT, which I'll be the first to admit is way cool. I have both and love both.
 
#4
@ fenderhutz - I mainly play metal, think of Suffocation´s Pierced From Within album bass sound, that´s what I am aiming for, but i am not trying to copy it, just find this kind of sound. Really? 2x15? Odd, because I have been also thinking about this cab, but I didnt wrote it in my first post, kinda forgot to mention this possibility :)

@ JimmyM - Thank you very much for reply, if you can tell me, what is the difference between those two im soundwise? Sadly right now I have no chance to try any of them :-/

anyway guys, one more question, what if I found decent 2x15 and also 8x10, can I use them simultaneously? how much Ω does that have got to have to use them with micro vr? is it even worth trying? thanks for answers :)
 
#5
Yeah. 200 watts isn't going to cut the mustard in a metal band mix.

Go with what Jimmy said and get the PF350 for the same price or chuck in the extra 100 bucks and get the PF500. Plenty of power and tonal options for just about anything.

The PF350 and MicroVR are said to have the same preamp. The PF500 has a different preamp, more like the SVT 7PRO.

If I were playing metal, especially if you are using a 5'er or downtuning, look at the PF500.

If you have the need to run a 2x15 AND an 810 together you will be in a situation where someone else is being paid to move your gear. :D
 
#6
carcass said:
@ fenderhutz - I mainly play metal, think of Suffocation´s Pierced From Within album bass sound, that´s what I am aiming for, but i am not trying to copy it, just find this kind of sound. Really? 2x15? Odd, because I have been also thinking about this cab, but I didnt wrote it in my first post, kinda forgot to mention this possibility :)

@ JimmyM - Thank you very much for reply, if you can tell me, what is the difference between those two im soundwise? Sadly right now I have no chance to try any of them :-/

anyway guys, one more question, what if I found decent 2x15 and also 8x10, can I use them simultaneously? how much Ω does that have got to have to use them with micro vr? is it even worth trying? thanks for answers :)
Click to expand...
You can only use 4 ohms and higher with the Micro VR and the PF heads. So no, not worth trying. But a PF500 and an 810 would be plenty loud for pretty much anything unless you're trying to kill babies.

The Micro VR, PF350 and PF500 all sound very similar. The Micro VR and PF350 have the same preamp, and sound identical to me except the PF350 has more headroom and a bit of a volume bump. The PF500 has basically the same tones, but a more versatile EQ and some features that make gigging a little easier. In your situation I'd pony up another hundy and get the PF500, but the PF350 is still a good choice as well. It'll get plenty loud. You'd just have more insurance with the PF500.
 
#9
I had a chance to try the Micro VR, and then a week later got to play through a '78 SVT with matching 810. To my ears, unaccustomed to the sound of 10's (I play through 15's), they sounded identical to each other. One was just "bigger" than the other. Don't think you could go wrong with the Micro if that's what you're looking at!
 
#16
gillento said:
If I am not mistaken, the bass player for Jimmy Eat World is playing the Micro VR/810 stack even in open air setting.
Click to expand...

I HIGHLY doubt the OP is going to have high end IEM and a $30,000 (at least) PA crew for the day.

Honestly I think that tone sounds like mush. No definition at all, and I loved the old Micro VR I had.

Edit: The PA crew figures it out by the third song and it sounds much better. First two sounded not so good. Jump to about the 8 minute mark for a good idea what it sounds like. That's the tone I remember. The only reason I no longer have the Micro VR was after the mod to fix the crackle issues it lost that little bit of clean growl you hear at the 8 minute mark.
 
#17
Doesn't Lemmy use a double stack?

Regardless, his rig is proof positive of the old adage that if you want to move more air, get a bigger paddle. Remember that a 4*15 has a LOT more cone area than a 4*12, which already has more than a 4*10. Also, he's using sealed-back cabs. Punch City.
 
#19
rodl2005 said:
Ppl gotta remember that Lemmy in Motorhead uses a 100w Marshall.
With 4x12"s & 4x15"s. :)

But still-100w!
He seems to do ok in the volume dept.
Click to expand...

I was just doing the math, and an 8*10 cab has about 390 square inches of effective piston area. A 4*12 has about 310, and a 4*15 has about 530.

So Lemmy’s 4*12 + 4*15 stack has 840 sq in: That’s about the same as two 8*10’s, with an extra 10 thrown in for good measure. That's a BIG friggin' paddle. No wonder he can get by with “only” 100 filthy, grinding mid-heavy Marshall watts…
 

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