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Ampeg SVT 810 E - Made in USA vs. Made in China

#22
elwuss said:
thanks everybody for the info - didn't have any idea of the OSB reduced treble problem.

so, basically it turns out the chinese one was an upgrade from the USA model:)

are the speakers the same in both cabs?
Click to expand...

For a few months I had the SVT AV 810 (Chinese Birch) side by side with the US 810 OSB. I think OSB was a US cost-saving measure in a lot of industries: Housing, furniture,etc. It sure doesn't hold up well in flood zones.

But the Birch is def. brighter and more authentic to the SVT.
 
#23
I don't think it's as much the OSB as it is the darker speakers. This was confirmed by Eminence a couple years ago...in 2000 they changed cone suppliers because they were having problems with the cones they were getting, and that's when the cabs started the darker sounding era. But the reason some folks like them is one or both of two reasons:

1. They go a little lower than the current and previous speakers

2. They're not looking for much treble to begin with
 
#25
I doubt the QSB vs plywood has much to do with tone. Drivers sure have:

I have both MIA and Asian Ampeg 10" drivers in my Ampeg cabinets and the newer, Asian drivers sound much more "open" and clear with extended top without really sacrificing bottom end. (Both versions have about the same maximum output.)
 
#27
elwuss said:
ok, but the effect is the same. thanks a bunch peeplz!
I was 90% sure I was gonna go with the USA model and apparantly would be sorry because resale value here is also not so good for fridges:D
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I'm going to let you in on a dirty little secret...not everything made in the USA is superior to their counterparts in other countries ;) Sometimes they are, sometimes not so much. Like anything, it's a case by case basis.
 
#30
one more thing.

I have to mention that up until now, I have used Fender Bassman 100 (1974) with the Bassman 412 cab, so I'm not quite sure what all this means:

IMG_0635.jpg


I have a GK Fusion 550 head and I got the speakon cable with it. I just plug it in the speakon hole and that's it?

I know I'm asking what's probably obvious but while reading some reviews online, I stumbled upon some things like "you can't use ANY speakon cable BLAH BLAH..."
 
#35
elwuss said:
that's what I assumed, but can't see the the reason for it:D
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If you have two heads or a head with two power amps, you can use half for each one and do blends and stuff like that. Nothing I need but some folks like it.

and about the speakon - are they all the same?
what's the gibberish on "you can't use ANY speakon"?
Click to expand...
There are regular speakon cables and bridged mode speakon cables. They're wired differently. That's all I know, though...someone else will have to fill you in on the details.

And yes, the new 810e's have that, too. It's really not complicated and all explained in the online manual:

http://www.ampeg.com/pdf/SVT810EAV.pdf
 
#36
thx Jimmy.

still don't get it.

I guess my amp (GK fusion 550) is mono?

according to the manual, you can connect MONO amp (4 ohm) with speakon cable.
but, my amp is 8 ohm.

I mean, I know it should be all plug & pluy, but this confuses me.

and does anyone know what's the story with different wired speakon cables?
 
#37
It is plug and play. Plug your mono head into one of the mono inputs.

I own and love a 2002 US SLM made OSB clad Ampeg 810cl. It might be darker sounding than the Vietnampegs, but mine doesn't sound dark unless I want it to. I get plenty of high end. Most amps have these things called EQs. I kept blowing drivers in Carvin cabs because they wouldn't handle the low end. I EQ pretty low mid heavy and this cab is a perfect match.

As for the OSB, it is still plenty strong. It just can't take getting wet.
 
#38
JimmyM said:
The muted sounding OSB 810e's were made between 2000 and 2006. Any earlier, and despite having OSB, I think they sound great. Unfortunately the one you're looking at is a 2002, and while I know a couple of folks who favor the reduced treble, I'm not one of them. For me it's a no-brainer. Chinese with real wood and good sounding speakers.
Click to expand...

+1 Those are good sounding cabs. The Vietnam-made cabs are just as good, IME/IMHO, though the Vietnam-made heads seemed problematic.
 
#39
elwuss said:
thx Jimmy.

still don't get it.

I guess my amp (GK fusion 550) is mono?

according to the manual, you can connect MONO amp (4 ohm) with speakon cable.
but, my amp is 8 ohm.

I mean, I know it should be all plug & pluy, but this confuses me.

and does anyone know what's the story with different wired speakon cables?
Click to expand...

You amp (the Fusion 550) is stable down to 4 ohms. Great head, btw! :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:
 

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