Anyone use an SVT18 as a stand alone cab?

[benevan]

I picked up an SVT18 a while back to use in a bi-amp set up, but currently have it hooked up in my practice room with my TH500 and really dig the sound. However, I have not gigged this set up, so don't know how it would hold up in that environment.

Has anyone used this as a stand alone cab?

On a side note, this is billed as a low frequency cab, but what exactly does that mean? Is it not designed to handle full range, or is it just better at the lower range? Also, the cab size is huge, much deeper compared to comparable cabs. What is the reason for this?

 

[Oren Hudson]

I have that cab, a 2002, paired with an Ampeg SVT 350H SS (350 watts RMS) head from 1995. It's one of favorites. With the EQ on that head, I can get many different tones with that cab, from knocking pictures off the wall, to a plunky mid style and everything in between. I have a '91 Ampeg SVT 18E and have compared them side by side. The fridge sounds great, it just can't produce quite the bottom thump of the massive 18 cab. I'm no expert, but the cab depth is part of the reason for that massive bottom thump, IMO. Enjoy!

 

[Mastermold]

I had one of these, tried it as a stand alone and it was okay for that but it's just a huge cube, harder to move around than my 410HLF so I ended up selling it.

 

[jamestown94west]

If it helps any, I used a bag end 1x18 for a long time and it f****** rocked

 

[scourge]

I use mine a lot when I don't want to haul around my Hartke 215 cab. I thought it would be muddy, but it has a lot of punch. I used to have a 410 also, but I didn't like the way that sounded alone. The 410 was much heavier, btw.

 

[Mastermold]

I use mine a lot when I don't want to haul around my Hartke 215 cab. I thought it would be muddy, but it has a lot of punch. I used to have a 410 also, but I didn't like the way that sounded alone. The 410 was much heavier, btw.

Yeah the SVT 18 is a cannon, no lack of punch.

 

[oinkbanana]

I still have mine. wonderful cab. I wish to find a 2nd one soon enough. the 4" voicecoil moves a lot of air, even with a 100watt amp

 

[giacomini]

I've been asking this question to myself lately...

There's a store around that have a 18E hanging around for a couple weeks. It is rated 175w RMS @ 8Ω so I'm tempted to take a small head to test it (like my micro VR).

I would really love to use that huge box as a standalone, let's see how it goes...

 

[Forrrest]

the 18e is quite a different cab, and not the beast that is the SVT18. the 18e can't handle much wattage, has a smaller voice coil, & the cab is really small.

 

[PersonalTraynor]

Back in the early 2000's I ran two of these with an svt4 pro, and let me tell ya! when crancked my eyeballs rattled so much i halucinated! never experienced anything like that ever since! (500 watts to each cab) Yep it was a beast to move around, and it is a slow speaker with hardly any high end, but we ARE playing bass right? lol
I say grab it! its a rare find nowadays as well as one of the best 118 cabs ever produced imo.

 

[Bass 45]

It needs to be pointed out (again) that the SVT18 and the SVT18e are completely different cabs.

the 18e is a full range cab that is rated at 175 watts continuous

The SVT18 is a much deeper cab with a 500 watt speaker and is not full range - but voiced more like a sub woofer.

 

[giacomini]

Oh, I see I did misread the thread title, it says SVT18 but I'm talking about the 18e...

Anyway, I emailed the store about the cab and the guy said it had the speaker swapped for some generic 18". I'll pass.