best Ampeg cab to pair with pf-800

[Mstins88]

I purchased a pf-800 a few months ago on the TB classified and am now ready to buy a cab. I was all set on buying a 115he but the more I read about different Ampeg cabs the more confused I become. I am current considering the svt-212av. I'm planning on using a single cab for the time being, mostly used for practice and small gigs. What is everyone pairing their pf-800s with/what would you suggest? Looking to stay under $700

 

[B-string]

The 212AV sounds like a pretty solid plan.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I would check out the Ampeg 212 and the gk 212. He'll go check out every cab. Something will talk you into taking it home.

 

[JimmyM]

If you don't mind only being able to run one cab due to the PF800 having a 4 ohm minimum, the 212av is an amazing sounding cab in the Ampeg tradition. It won't take a PF800 cranked super hard, but it'll certainly be quite loud before you reach that point. I don't have a 212av but I played a PF800 through a 212av at the store and it really put out. I've also used my PF800 with a 410he, two 210av's, a B-15 repro extension cab, and a Heritage 810e, and it kills with all of them.

Current Ampeg cabs aren't too hard to figure out...there are two different standard-bearers in their product line...the SVT 810e and the SVT 410hlf. The main difference is the amount of lows each has, with the 410hlf having a lot of lows and the 810e having a little less low end response. Me, I go for the cabs that sound like the 810e because it works well for everything I do and reduces my chances of creating a muddy mix, but a lot of folks like that big low end of the 410hlf and it's emerged as a standard for that type of sound in recent years. So their cabs tend to identify with one group or the other. The cabs with the bigger low end also include the SVT 115e, the PF410hlf, and the two PF cabs with 15"s, and everything else is closer to the sound of the 810e.

 

[JJR58]

If you don't mind only being able to run one cab due to the PF800 having a 4 ohm minimum, the 212av is an amazing sounding cab in the Ampeg tradition. It won't take a PF800 cranked super hard, but it'll certainly be quite loud before you reach that point. I don't have a 212av but I played a PF800 through a 212av at the store and it really put out. I've also used my PF800 with a 410he, two 210av's, a B-15 repro extension cab, and a Heritage 810e, and it kills with all of them.

Current Ampeg cabs aren't too hard to figure out...there are two different standard-bearers in their product line...the SVT 810e and the SVT 410hlf. The main difference is the amount of lows each has, with the 410hlf having a lot of lows and the 810e having a little less low end response. Me, I go for the cabs that sound like the 810e because it works well for everything I do and reduces my chances of creating a muddy mix, but a lot of folks like that big low end of the 410hlf and it's emerged as a standard for that type of sound in recent years. So their cabs tend to identify with one group or the other. The cabs with the bigger low end also include the SVT 115e, the PF410hlf, and the two PF cabs with 15"s, and everything else is closer to the sound of the 810e.

after reading this Jimmy, you just answered a question for me, not really gigging these days, offed a lot of gear not long ago, so in the market for a cool practice amp, and the PF-800 and 212av is exactly what i am considering, rare that i would be called back into battle, but want to hear my 91' Ray through an Ampeg, and i love 12's!

 

[JimmyM]

after reading this Jimmy, you just answered a question for me, not really gigging these days, offed a lot of gear not long ago, so in the market for a cool practice amp, and the PF-800 and 212av is exactly what i am considering, rare that i would be called back into battle, but want to hear my 91' Ray through an Ampeg, and i love 12's!

Great little cab, that one.

 

[JJR58]

Great little cab, that one.

Love at first hearing when i played through it, i had a Mesa Powehouse 2x12, but there's a certain magic with the 212av.

 

[High Camp]

IMO, both the PF115HE and the 212AV sound great.
For practice and small gigs, both cabs will do.
The PF115HE will only cost about 400 USD, the 212AV will give you more volume.
With the PF115HE, you can add another cab, with the 212AV you can't.
>> which cab sounds the best? You decide.

 

[JJR58]

IMO, both the PF115HE and the 212AV sound great.
For practice and small gigs, both cabs will do.
The PF115HE will only cost about 400 USD, the 212AV will give you more volume.
With the PF115HE, you can add another cab, with the 212AV you can't.
>> which cab sounds the best? You decide.

that's the thing High, it's all personal preference, I love the PF-800, although I don't own one as of yet, but have played through it, that is my choice as I am not gigging, but want to keep my chops up, and I'm a convert when it comes to 12's, but that's just me, I wouldn't have the need to pair up cabs.
12's just give me what I'm looking for, mind you, this is just going to be a practice rig.

and as JimmyM said, just don't push that 212 hard, which I wouldn't.

and wouldn't I love the V4B!, but for the cost of that alone, I can have the PF-800 and a 212AV.


come on, I have no life and I'm wearing a cardboard belt!

 

[Tim1]

You don't need to be too scared of pushing the 212AV, it can go pretty darn loud and take a hammering - as usual just use your ears and don't dime the bass tone knob if you are cranking it. I honestly think that if I got rid of all my other speakers I could do any gig with a pair of 212avs, a single cab would cover many indoor jobs and I am sure stacking a pair would cover an outside stage easily.
Actually, I have just come in from playing the 212av with my Orange AD200, V4B reissue and Trace Elliott V4 and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it responded to the different character of each amp. Just great with tube heads, which are my thing, It really does sound nice and tight at the bottom like a good sealed cab (so much so that I recently sold my Bergantino NV115 as it wasn't getting any use, although the NV215 will stay with me forever).

 

[High Camp]

that's the thing High, it's all personal preference, I love the PF-800, although I don't own one as of yet, but have played through it, that is my choice as I am not gigging, but want to keep my chops up, and I'm a convert when it comes to 12's, but that's just me, I wouldn't have the need to pair up cabs.
12's just give me what I'm looking for, mind you, this is just going to be a practice rig.

and as JimmyM said, just don't push that 212 hard, which I wouldn't.

and wouldn't I love the V4B!, but for the cost of that alone, I can have the PF-800 and a 212AV.


come on, I have no life and I'm wearing a cardboard belt!

I'm hearing you!
Then go for the 212AV.

 

[TricksteR]

Just to muddy the waters a bit and provide another option worth giving a try, I am personally fond of using GK Neos tweves with ampeg amps. I aready owned a PF-500 sitting on top of vertically stacked 2x GK neo 112s and the result was extraordinarily good (to my taste). On top of that, if you are sensitive to cosmetics the PFs silver front panel looks great with GKs silver grilles.

With a PF 800, you could consider for example a GK Neo 212 (8 ohm version), with the possibility of adding another in the future..

Just my two cents

 

[drummer5359]

One of my band mates has a PF800, while he was figuring out what cabinet to buy he used it through my SVT 212 AV for a couple of gigs and we both LOVED it. Unfortunately that was outside of his budget so he bought a PF 210 cabinet instead. (Which also sounds quite good by the way.)

My SVT Classic/SVT 212 AV is the sound that I've always wanted. I will likely pickup a PF 800 to carry as a backup in my gig bag just because I'm always a little cautious. And besides, having another amp to play with is always a good thing.

 

[DD Gunz]

I am that guy that drags an 810E to every gig so I have to vote that direction. Second, I would say Ampeg 410 HE. I prefer 10's in a sealed cab though. I also prefer GK heads through Ampeg cabs much more than the reverse. IMO Ampeg cabs tend to warm up GK heads where most GK cabs thin out Ampeg power. I could be alone in this opinion, but that has been my expierience with mixing Ampeg and GK gear for the better part of a decade.

 

[The Regulator]

IMO Ampeg cabs tend to warm up GK heads where most GK cabs thin out Ampeg power.

Nothing sweeter than an GK 800RB with a SansAmp through an Ampeg SVT 810E.

 

[DD Gunz]

Nothing sweeter than an GK 800RB with a SansAmp through an Ampeg SVT 810E.

Love an 800rb through an 810. I recently played a GNR tribute show and used my 1001rb through an 810 and finally got to crank that combo. It produced INSANE tone. I have been trying to replicate it ever since. It was the combo of the room and the required volume I needed with no PA support. Simply put, it was epic.

 

[JJR58]

One of my band mates has a PF800, while he was figuring out what cabinet to buy he used it through my SVT 212 AV for a couple of gigs and we both LOVED it. Unfortunately that was outside of his budget so he bought a PF 210 cabinet instead. (Which also sounds quite good by the way.)

My SVT Classic/SVT 212 AV is the sound that I've always wanted. I will likely pickup a PF 800 to carry as a backup in my gig bag just because I'm always a little cautious. And besides, having another amp to play with is always a good thing.

now on the fence between the pf410hlf and the 212av, yes, two different sounds, but both just what i like.
good thing i'm single as i don't have to torcher some chick with my irrelevant, trivial blah blah..................

 

[buldog5151bass]

Does it have to be an Ampeg cab? Revsound 2x12 is vertically aligned, and is barely bigger than a 2x10. Thirty-nine pounds, and about $700. Great cab for the money, and he will build it with a cloth grill so you get the vintage look.

 

[SickAura]

now on the fence between the pf410hlf and the 212av, yes, two different sounds, but both just what i like.
good thing i'm single as i don't have to torcher some chick with my irrelevant, trivial blah blah..................

I had the PF800 for well over year with 2 PF115HE's. With the 2 cabs together it was awesome and I loved it. With one cab it was good - but really didn't punch through the mix enough with the tone I liked - so it started to bother me.

As I was using/needing one cab more often than two I was very close to pulling the trigger on the SVT212AV as a one cab solution - more speaker area, 600 watts, 4 ohms to get the most from the head, decent size and weight, good reviews, price, still Ampeg etc.

To me on paper it was the best choice.

I never did get to try that combo out as an LDS 15/6/1 popped up in my local classifieds - but that is another story,

I say go for the SVT212 and don't worry about pushing it too hard with the 800. That cabinet should be able to take decent power.

If the LDS didn't come available I would have one right now

 

[JJR58]

I had the PF800 for well over year with 2 PF115HE's. With the 2 cabs together it was awesome and I loved it. With one cab it was good - but really didn't punch through the mix enough with the tone I liked - so it started to bother me.

As I was using/needing one cab more often than two I was very close to pulling the trigger on the SVT212AV as a one cab solution - more speaker area, 600 watts, 4 ohms to get the most from the head, decent size and weight, good reviews, price, still Ampeg etc.

To me on paper it was the best choice.

I never did get to try that combo out as an LDS 15/6/1 popped up in my local classifieds - but that is another story,

I say go for the SVT212 and don't worry about pushing it too hard with the 800. That cabinet should be able to take decent power.

If the LDS didn't come available I would have one right now

Hey Aura, thanks for the thumbs up, don't really think i'll be gigging anytime soon, the need is more for a good amp and cab just to keep the practicing going.
But hey, you never know, but not likely.