Ampeg stack?

[Kmonk]

I don't think the PF410HLF is 4 Ohms like the old classic line 410HLF was. Also, he isn't going to add an HE it is the PF115LF he is thinking of adding.

That said, the single 15 inch driver is going to be receiving 400 watts RMS (up to 800 Watts peak, which will cause it to blow!) while each 10 will only be receiving 100 watts RMS. I strongly recommend using either 2 PF410HLF cabs or 2 PF115LF cabs but not one of each. If you insist on it, put the 115 on top so it is closer to your ears ... You may be able to hear it complain before the silence, if you burry it on the bottom of the stack you will blow it without knowing and the next time you take just the 115 to a smaller gig, test it before you go as blown drivers make no noise. Cheers.

The OP did not mention a PF410HLF. Only mentioned a 410HLF. I assumed he meant an SVT 410HLF which is a 4 ohm cab. If he meant a PF410HLF, then you are correct that it is an 8 ohm cab.

 

[carl h.]

Eventually we worked out of the OP the cabs he had in mind and what he was hoping to do with them.

IMO the PF series isn't what he needs.

 

[DiMarco]

I played lots of stages with lots of different mixed configurations of 10, 12, 15 and even 18 inch cabs.
All have their different timbre and all have their pros and cons in studio/rehearsal situations but on stage you primarily want to hear yourself clearly without being too loud for the rest of the band or the FOH guy.

Over time I learned that when mixing different speaker sizes in your stack the influence of room/stage acoustics will be doing your head in pretty much.

• Example 1: play in front of your stack and all sounds great. Walk 3ft up to your mic to sing while playing and you don't hear your bass AT ALL.
  
  
• Example 2: Guitarist says you're being too loud, but you can't hear yourself even though you are physically closer to the stack then he is.

So in short: Go with either 10's or 15's but don't mix both.

A good 4x10 should be capable enough in most situations but is bulky and not easy to load into your car.
For that last reason I switched to a taller, slimmer and lighter thus more portable format and now use a single 2x12" cab which has casters and handles. Max SPL at 1 meter distance is 134 decibels across the spectrum so that's plenty of headroom I'd say... Couldn't be happier.

 

[Ox MJC]

Wow

 

[Thundar]

The PF-115HE is sealed, the photo on the Ampeg website is of an LF cab, you can even see 'LF' at the end of the name on the jackplate if you zoom in a bit.

The factor people tend not to take into account when they are contemplating mixing and matching cabinets is the sensitivity. If you are pumping the same signal into two cabs, the lower sensitivity cab is always going to be behind.

PF-nnnHE (sealed):
99.5 dB SPL 1w/1m [PF-115HE]
99.6 dB SPL 1w/1m [PF-210HE]

PF-nnnLF (rear-ported):
99.5 dB SPL 1w/1m [PF-115LF]
101.0 dB SPL 1w/1m [PF-410HLF]

Youre correct, the Ampeg website does have the pics mixed up! LOL
Ox you better go play one and make sure! Best of luck to you on your cab hunt, my friend

 

[ERIC31]

We still don't know for sure....

View attachment 803469

View attachment 803470

Where can I buy a couple dummy cabs like these?? That would be awesome to set up stage with my Carvin BX500 head and a Hartke XL210 cab behind it giving my real sound..

 

[kat888]

Out of those four PF cabs the only two I would consider mixing would be the PF210HE and PF115HE, but you would likely get better results with a pair of 210s or 115s anyway ... and I'm going down the 212 road.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Where can I buy a couple dummy cabs like these?? That would be awesome to set up stage with my Carvin BX500 head and a Hartke XL210 cab behind it giving my real sound..

You rent them, just like everything else for big stage productions.

 

[Gearhead17]

True, I have never owned the pieces the OP is thinking about. Just sharing my thoughts about the idea. I am glad it helped though! I simply want the OP to spend his money wisely. I wasted too much in the past....

 

[kosmicwizard]

True, I have never owned the pieces the OP is thinking about. Just sharing my thoughts about the idea. I am glad it helped though! I simply want the OP to spend his money wisely. I wasted too much in the past....

How is finding out what works for you and what doesn't a waste?

 

[DiMarco]

Nothing. Finding it out without wasting a lot of money in the process is better though.

 

[Tractorr]

Why not just buy an 8x10 and call it a day?

 

[JMacBass65]

Do as you like.

In other words......

 

[Hawaii Islander]

A PF 800 can run at 8 or 4 ohms. The 410 HLF is 4 ohm cab. If you add the 115 HE you will be running a load of 2.6 ohms and fry the amp.

The Portaflex 410HLF is an 8 ohm cab.

 

[Gearhead17]

How is finding out what works for you and what doesn't a waste?

Of course it was helpful, but when it totals around $10k over a few years for the gear I thought was good for me, it's just stupid. I should have taken advantage of return policies, used craigslist MORE, met more people and tried their gear. Instead, I bought most of my gear brand new and kept it for months and when it did not sound good, I blamed it on my playing or a multitude of other reasons. I also bought a ton of gear when I was not in a gigging band - instead of being practical, I bought gear as if I would touring with a national metal band. That never happened of course and when I entered the bar band circuit, I started to realize what was truly important for a bass rig.

In essence, I found out the HARDEST way possible. It's a weakness I have.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Nice set up! Thank you. I'm just totally confused as to why so many objections to adding the 15. Senior product specialist and clinician Dino Monoxelos at Ampeg actually stated in a video shot at NAMM that the ultimate set up for big stage is the PF 800 with the 2 cabs, 410 and 115.

What is your reason for wanting a 115?

 

[Kmonk]

The Portaflex 410HLF is an 8 ohm cab.

If you had followed the TB rules and read the enitire thread before posting, you would have seen that I already addressed this. The OP did not specify that the 410HLF he was referring to was a Portaflex. He just said 410 HLF. Most bass players I know refer to the SVT 410HLF as a 410HLF which is a 4 ohm cab. The PF 410 HLF is an 8 ohm cab but since the OP didn't specify and based on my experience, I assumed he was referring to an SVT 410HLF..

 

[kosmicwizard]

What is your reason for wanting a 115?

He already stated that he wants the PF115LF because it can be used as a stand alone cab in practice and in large venues it can be added to the PF410HLF to get more surface area and also to bring the Ohm load down to 4 ... I still think 2 115LF or even 2 212 cabs are better than a 410 + 115 setup. Having compared a MIA SLM 810E to a PR410HLF (both 4 Ohm cabs) my 215E goes better with the ported 410 than with the sealed 810. If you absolutely insist on the 115+410, please break convention and put the 15 on top, so you can hear it farting and hopefully be able to turn it down before you blow it up, too many people put it on the bottom and then one day it just stops making noise. Best regards.

 

[Hawaii Islander]

If you had followed the TB rules and read the enitire thread before posting, you would have seen that I already addressed this. The OP did not specify that the 410HLF he was referring to was a Portaflex. He just said 410 HLF. Most bass players I know refer to the SVT 410HLF as a 410HLF which is a 4 ohm cab. The PF 410 HLF is an 8 ohm cab but since the OP didn't specify and based on my experience, I assumed he was referring to an SVT 410HLF..

I made a simple statement.

 

[mbelue]

I made a simple statement.

Yeah i made the same one. As did like 3 other people.

I'll admit to being the first wrong answer.