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Best 610
- Thread starter Flipper
- Start date
Sometimes, giving up sensitivity is what gets you a good frequency response (see Acme bass cabs). The Ampeg 610 just sounds awesome. If you run 800 watts into it it'll still crush your face loud. Edit: I can tell you from experience I have driven people out of a small music store with a V4BH and a 6x10. And it was from volume, not my cruddy playing 
As opposed to the supposed (I *doubt it*) 110db of the Warwick -- which will, if it is actually that sensitive, damage your hearing with or without earplugs at 800 watts (putting out something like 140db). That's as loud as standing 10 feet from a jet engine.
As opposed to the supposed (I *doubt it*) 110db of the Warwick -- which will, if it is actually that sensitive, damage your hearing with or without earplugs at 800 watts (putting out something like 140db). That's as loud as standing 10 feet from a jet engine.
just another thought........
if you're looking at a 610 due to your height there are a bunch of similarly sized stand alone cabs in different speaker configurations that you might like as well. I'm a big advocate of listening to cabinets blinfolded (well sorta) so you let your ears make the decision. sometimes you will be very surprised. I've heard tens that sounded like mud, and fifteens that were punchy and articulate. There are way too many speaker and cabinet design variences to generalize.
if you're looking at a 610 due to your height there are a bunch of similarly sized stand alone cabs in different speaker configurations that you might like as well. I'm a big advocate of listening to cabinets blinfolded (well sorta) so you let your ears make the decision. sometimes you will be very surprised. I've heard tens that sounded like mud, and fifteens that were punchy and articulate. There are way too many speaker and cabinet design variences to generalize.
Flipper, You were wondering about the weights....
Ampeg 610..................115 lbs.
Bergantino 610.............100 lbs.
Eden 610XLT................130 lbs. (Eden has a Neo 610 coming)
Fender 610...................117 lbs.
Genz-Benz 610..............125 lbs. (one of the largest cab 610)
Dr. Bass 610..................78 lbs.
Mesa 610......................134 lbs.
SWR 610.......................115 lbs.
Schroeder 610................78 lbs.
Markbass 610.................(couldn't find spec., their CL-108 8x10 weight..90 lbs.)
Warwick 610...................(spec. not available)
Sonic 610.......................(spec. not available)
Ampeg 610..................115 lbs.
Bergantino 610.............100 lbs.
Eden 610XLT................130 lbs. (Eden has a Neo 610 coming)
Fender 610...................117 lbs.
Genz-Benz 610..............125 lbs. (one of the largest cab 610)
Dr. Bass 610..................78 lbs.
Mesa 610......................134 lbs.
SWR 610.......................115 lbs.
Schroeder 610................78 lbs.
Markbass 610.................(couldn't find spec., their CL-108 8x10 weight..90 lbs.)
Warwick 610...................(spec. not available)
Sonic 610.......................(spec. not available)
+1
I'm an old phart who's owned a lot of gear over the years, and the NV610 is my favorite cab, period. The only reason not to put it on your short list is if you absolutely gotta gotta have a tweeter.
The one with the heaviest weight has the most balls.....hence the name MESA. I love mine....LOVE IT.
I've been gigging 2 Ampeg 610HLF's for almost 5 years and they are the best cab that Ampeg has out right now to suite the more modern tones of players like myself. The construction is great since they have handled literally over 200+ shows in that time period being loaded in and out of a trailer every night. They sound great and have never let me down in terms of usable stage volume and tone.
You have to decide what sound you're into. If you like the response of a sealed cab or the thump of a ported one. Another big feature is the adjustable horn. I love the Bergantino 610's, but when I played one I found myself not digging it at all because it doesn't have a horn to add to the upper register (I play 6 strings mostly). Go try out a few cabs that are ported, non-ported, w/ horns, w/o horns before you start including all of those brands because that will give you a huge advantage when you finally buy a cab.
My personal recommendations...
1. Mesa Powerhouse 610 - Very transparent sounding cab, great quality, 5 year warranty from the factory, but kind of high in the price range and they are more than a few inches shorter than other 610's so if you're going for the ominous bass rig this cab really won't deliver. Given Mesa's pricing in which they haggle 0% of the time you'll be shelling out 1000.00 or so through a dealer. In this case I would look used for a road ready version.
2. Ampeg 610HLF - Nice crisp response throughout the frequency range, takes a beating during road use, price is great for the quality, but it's not the loudest cab out there and you have to lean on your lows really feel them. Price is usually around 999.99 for a new model, of which I would look used first to find one MIA.
3. Epifani UL610 - The pinnacle when it comes to a modern sounding cab, ultra light weight, very high SPL and wattage handling, but the deal breaker for me was the price of about 1499.00 and that they are made of such light materials that it could be an awful mess if something like a trailer rolled or the cab took a dive.
You have to decide what sound you're into. If you like the response of a sealed cab or the thump of a ported one. Another big feature is the adjustable horn. I love the Bergantino 610's, but when I played one I found myself not digging it at all because it doesn't have a horn to add to the upper register (I play 6 strings mostly). Go try out a few cabs that are ported, non-ported, w/ horns, w/o horns before you start including all of those brands because that will give you a huge advantage when you finally buy a cab.
My personal recommendations...
1. Mesa Powerhouse 610 - Very transparent sounding cab, great quality, 5 year warranty from the factory, but kind of high in the price range and they are more than a few inches shorter than other 610's so if you're going for the ominous bass rig this cab really won't deliver. Given Mesa's pricing in which they haggle 0% of the time you'll be shelling out 1000.00 or so through a dealer. In this case I would look used for a road ready version.
2. Ampeg 610HLF - Nice crisp response throughout the frequency range, takes a beating during road use, price is great for the quality, but it's not the loudest cab out there and you have to lean on your lows really feel them. Price is usually around 999.99 for a new model, of which I would look used first to find one MIA.
3. Epifani UL610 - The pinnacle when it comes to a modern sounding cab, ultra light weight, very high SPL and wattage handling, but the deal breaker for me was the price of about 1499.00 and that they are made of such light materials that it could be an awful mess if something like a trailer rolled or the cab took a dive.
Flipper
You might take a look at the Traynor cabs.
The TC-808 comes to mind at roughly 40" high and eight 8's and about 50 something pounds it might be worth considering. I've played through one and it was a nice cabinet.
The other is the new TC-810 (yeah i know eight 10's) I recently tried one of those and was impressed at the tone versus weight on the cab. At 49" H and 71 lbs, it's easy to move. My friend is a Traynor dealer so I was able to try it out for a long time cranked with both my GB Shuttle 6.0 and my GB GBE1200 and it had tons of punch.
edit: sorry forget the TC810 - I'm a blind loser, I just realized I was quoting the weight in kg the cab is 156 lbs ouch! More proof that I need not ever post without finding my glasses first
My current cab is an Ampeg 410HLF which gets tons of boomy bottom but at 85 lbs, I don't find it very easy to move.
The Traynor sounds more hi-fi than the Ampeg. Doesn't sound as boomy as the HLF but I thought it had way more punch. Even though the Traynor is a bigger cab, it's 15 lbs lighter and I found it easier to move due to the extra height.
I'm seriously considering picking one up for times when I don't want to haul both my cabs (the other one is an Ashdown ABM 414T).
It might be worth a look.
My Markbass CL108(8x10 cab) will go toe to toe with the Bergantino NV610 any day of the week. It's also 11 lbs. lighter and has a tweeter that can be shut off for classic sounds. It shares many qualities with the NV610(sealed cab design), tilt back casters and grab rail, can get more of a modern sound with the tweeter on, is very easy to move, and costs about the same(if you haggle at Guitar Center) I got mine for $999. I almost bought the NV610 until I got that price. The Bergantino NV610 is a wonderful speaker but you just get more from the Markbass CL108 at the same price.
I like my Ampeg 610HLF fine, but if I was buying new again I'd sink my money into a Berg NV610. Many believe it to be the 610/cab in general for loud rock (and many other styles).
Different strokes for different folks I suppose, eff-clef. I tend to prefer more of an old school sound and look for something that sits nicely in the onstage mix. I have played the Markbass 108 and it just didn't have the punch that I can get from the Berg (although to be fair it wasn't through my own amp). I wanted to like it as I do have a Markbass SA450 in my other rig. Also the Bergie is substantially smaller than the Markbass which makes it a lot easier to get in and out of a car or van (9"shorter amd 3.75" less deep). However, I can see how the Markbass 108 would appeal more to those who maybe slap a lot, but the Bergantino is unashamedly "New Vintage". If I was looking at another cabinet now (and I am) it would probably be the new Bergantino NV412, although you have got me thinking of giving the Markbass a second chance now.
