Better 6x10 cab...

[FIREpunkMEDIC]

Trying to decide which to pair with my Ampeg V4B reissue....any thoughts?

 

[sleddogn]

I have the 6 x 10 fender neo myself, love it.

 

[johnnynitro]

I have the Ampeg 6x10 HLF. Didn't think I would like it. But sounds too good to get rid of.

 

[Marko 1]

I voted Fender Pro, but to be fair I've never tried the Ampeg.

I have (and love) two of the 410s (earlier non-neo model with the steel grill), and I'd have a reeeealy hard time resisting a neo 610 (at a reasonable price).

 

[Nighttrain1127]

You have to watch what version of the Ampeg HLF 610 you get . Some were pretty good sounding and some were just low frequency mud. I had one of each at one point But IMHO the Fender is better sounding overall.

 

[shoot-r]

Trying to decide which to pair with my Ampeg V4B reissue....any thoughts?

BIG 6x10 fan here!

(This one isn't on your list.)

I've made the attempt to play through every 6x10 cab I've run across over the years, (and surprisingly there's been quite a few.)

My ears favorite thus far, Bergantino's NV610.

Absolutely great sounding cabinet!

Try to find one and let your ears decide.
It'll be worth the effort.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Bergantino NV610! Great cabinet and easy to maneuver! Bergantino really makes some outstanding gear, everything just oozes quality.
If you happen to be able to try one, doubtful, but an Epifani UL610 is an absolute beast of a cabinet, ported, one of the lightest 610s out there and just has a huge bass response. It’s a couple inches deeper than a regular cab.
If only considering the choices you have listed, I would probably go Fender, that whole Bassman pro series is very nice. I’ve played the 610 and owned 2 of the 15s and they are really quality cabinets.
Like someone already mentioned the Ampeg can be hit or miss depending on when it was made.

 

[Koog]

Not one of your choices, but I've used......Two Bergantino HG 310s stacked with a Bergantino Forte. Great on stage, and you can use only one 310 cab in smaller venues and in the studio. Super clean sound with good midrange focus to provide nice support and drive in a live mix. For me, clean was good in the studio. The engineer could vary the sound in the final mix, if necessary.

Twenty years ago, I used the Ampeg 6x10 HLF with an SVT Classic and really like that rig. My ears and stage experience tell me the Berg is a better choice. I've never been a fan of Fender bass amplification, but have not tried some of their more recent products. As always YMMV.

Koog

 

[jdjk7]

Trying to decide which to pair with my Ampeg V4B reissue....any thoughts?

No idea of your budget, but... Barefaced Six10. I know a guy who got one recently, and he described it as "the best cab he has ever heard." Also gonna be lighter and better made than either the Fender or the Ampeg.

 

[Marko 1]

No idea of your budget, but... Barefaced Six10. I know a guy who got one recently, and he described it as "the best cab he has ever heard." Also gonna be lighter and better made than either the Fender or the Ampeg.

Just curious in what way it would be better made than the Fender Pro...

thanks.

 

[jastacey]

I'd say go with the Fender. 610 it's a nice sounding cab, I had the 810, sold it as it was kinda too big, for the gigs I'm doing now, I also would say if you can, get the Berg NV 610, it really is a nice sounding cab, still have it, haven't played through the Ampeg, so I can't really say much about it, the form factor of the 610, is nice, it will fit in many cars and small SUV's

 

[CryingBass]

+1 Berg NV610. You will stand out from the crowd, in a good way.

 

[jdjk7]

Just curious in what way it would be better made than the Fender Pro...

thanks.

Well, when I say "better made" I am really talking about two separate things.

1) I believe the manufacturing quality of new production Fender equipment is not reliable enough to justify paying flagship prices sight-unseen. Sure, new Fenders can still be good, but if I am going to be spending more than $1500 on an instrument, amp or cabinet, it can't be a gamble. I have to know that I am getting value for what I'm paying. And I've simply had too many lackluster experiences in store and heard too many horror stories for me to trust Fender enough to recommend them to anybody.*

*And don't get me wrong... it's not that I don't like Fender designs, or that I don't like people who like Fender equipment. I simply don't like the direction Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has gone for the past decade or so. I find that this is an important distinction for me to make, because people get a little tribal over this. If you find a new Fender product that works for you, then I'm happy for you. I just can't recommend them, and I wouldn't choose to buy one unless there was some super compelling reason to do so.

2) I believe Barefaced equipment is top-notch in terms of design. Instead of trying to copy old designs, what they pretty much did is ask (and then answer) two very important questions: a) "What does a cabinet need in order to sonically perform the way we want it to?" and b) "How can we stay within the parameters of a) but also maximize the other areas that are important to the player?" What this leads to is a cabinet that performs without question, but is smaller, lighter, durable, and still looks sexy.

I would particularly emphasize the weight issue when talking about 6x10 or 8x10 cabinets. If I was going to have a 6x10 or 8x10 for any other purpose but as a stationary home studio entertainment fixture, there's a lot of draw for me to go for the lightest option. 65lbs for a cabinet of that size is awesome, and the only accommodations you'd really need to make are, well, for its size.

Having lightweight cabs is one thing, but lightweight cabinets that sound as good, are as durable, and get as loud as the competition is practically a party trick. I mean, I own a 2x10 combo amp that weighs 80 lbs. Compare that to the 65 lb Six10, and it's just stupid. It's sort of become an actual party trick for me to tell people to pick up my Super Compact (1x12) and watch as they stumble a little because they expected this loud little box it to be twice as heavy as it is.

And since I just noticed that the price difference between a new Six10 and a new Fender 610 is only about $100 more for the Six10, I say it's a no brainer. At the very least, if he decides he doesn't like it, resale will not be difficult.

 

[Marko 1]

Well, when I say "better made" I am really talking about two separate things.

1) I believe the manufacturing quality of new production Fender equipment is not reliable enough to justify paying flagship prices sight-unseen. Sure, new Fenders can still be good, but if I am going to be spending more than $1500 on an instrument, amp or cabinet, it can't be a gamble. I have to know that I am getting value for what I'm paying. And I've simply had too many lackluster experiences in store and heard too many horror stories for me to trust Fender enough to recommend them to anybody.*

*And don't get me wrong... it's not that I don't like Fender designs, or that I don't like people who like Fender equipment. I simply don't like the direction Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has gone for the past decade or so. I find that this is an important distinction for me to make, because people get a little tribal over this. If you find a new Fender product that works for you, then I'm happy for you. I just can't recommend them, and I wouldn't choose to buy one unless there was some super compelling reason to do so.

2) I believe Barefaced equipment is top-notch in terms of design. Instead of trying to copy old designs, what they pretty much did is ask (and then answer) two very important questions: a) "What does a cabinet need in order to sonically perform the way we want it to?" and b) "How can we stay within the parameters of a) but also maximize the other areas that are important to the player?" What this leads to is a cabinet that performs without question, but is smaller, lighter, durable, and still looks sexy.

I would particularly emphasize the weight issue when talking about 6x10 or 8x10 cabinets. If I was going to have a 6x10 or 8x10 for any other purpose but as a stationary home studio entertainment fixture, there's a lot of draw for me to go for the lightest option. 65lbs for a cabinet of that size is awesome, and the only accommodations you'd really need to make are, well, for its size.

Having lightweight cabs is one thing, but lightweight cabinets that sound as good, are as durable, and get as loud as the competition is practically a party trick. I mean, I own a 2x10 combo amp that weighs 80 lbs. Compare that to the 65 lb Six10, and it's just stupid. It's sort of become an actual party trick for me to tell people to pick up my Super Compact (1x12) and watch as they stumble a little because they expected this loud little box it to be twice as heavy as it is.

And since I just noticed that the price difference between a new Six10 and a new Fender 610 is only about $100 more for the Six10, I say it's a no brainer. At the very least, if he decides he doesn't like it, resale will not be difficult.

Well, I guess the OP can read all that and judge whether or not your opinions, perceptions and rationale amount to objectively “better made”.


Thanks.

 

[agedhorse]

Well, when I say "better made" I am really talking about two separate things.

1) I believe the manufacturing quality of new production Fender equipment is not reliable enough to justify paying flagship prices sight-unseen. Sure, new Fenders can still be good, but if I am going to be spending more than $1500 on an instrument, amp or cabinet, it can't be a gamble. I have to know that I am getting value for what I'm paying. And I've simply had too many lackluster experiences in store and heard too many horror stories for me to trust Fender enough to recommend them to anybody.*

*And don't get me wrong... it's not that I don't like Fender designs, or that I don't like people who like Fender equipment. I simply don't like the direction Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has gone for the past decade or so. I find that this is an important distinction for me to make, because people get a little tribal over this. If you find a new Fender product that works for you, then I'm happy for you. I just can't recommend them, and I wouldn't choose to buy one unless there was some super compelling reason to do so.

2) I believe Barefaced equipment is top-notch in terms of design. Instead of trying to copy old designs, what they pretty much did is ask (and then answer) two very important questions: a) "What does a cabinet need in order to sonically perform the way we want it to?" and b) "How can we stay within the parameters of a) but also maximize the other areas that are important to the player?" What this leads to is a cabinet that performs without question, but is smaller, lighter, durable, and still looks sexy.

I would particularly emphasize the weight issue when talking about 6x10 or 8x10 cabinets. If I was going to have a 6x10 or 8x10 for any other purpose but as a stationary home studio entertainment fixture, there's a lot of draw for me to go for the lightest option. 65lbs for a cabinet of that size is awesome, and the only accommodations you'd really need to make are, well, for its size.

Having lightweight cabs is one thing, but lightweight cabinets that sound as good, are as durable, and get as loud as the competition is practically a party trick. I mean, I own a 2x10 combo amp that weighs 80 lbs. Compare that to the 65 lb Six10, and it's just stupid. It's sort of become an actual party trick for me to tell people to pick up my Super Compact (1x12) and watch as they stumble a little because they expected this loud little box it to be twice as heavy as it is.

And since I just noticed that the price difference between a new Six10 and a new Fender 610 is only about $100 more for the Six10, I say it's a no brainer. At the very least, if he decides he doesn't like it, resale will not be difficult.

IMO, you seriously underestimate Fender’s design/manufacturing capabilities and quality.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Bergantino NV610! Great cabinet and easy to maneuver! Bergantino really makes some outstanding gear, everything just oozes quality.
If you happen to be able to try one, doubtful, but an Epifani UL610 is an absolute beast of a cabinet, ported, one of the lightest 610s out there and just has a huge bass response. It’s a couple inches deeper than a regular cab.
If only considering the choices you have listed, I would probably go Fender, that whole Bassman pro series is very nice. I’ve played the 610 and owned 2 of the 15s and they are really quality cabinets.
Like someone already mentioned the Ampeg can be hit or miss depending on when it was made.

Bergantino cabs are superb but I don't think they currently offer anything bigger than 4x10? At least not according to their website. Buying used can be an option of course, if you can find one.

 

[jdjk7]

IMO, you seriously underestimate Fender’s design/manufacturing capabilities and quality.

I recognize that you could be correct. I might find out that I am wrong someday. But it'll take either a substantial increase in my discretionary income or a substantial change in how I see Fender as a company for me to approach that.

 

[bassicmike]

Another vote for the Berg610, if you can find one.

 

[agedhorse]

I recognize that you could be correct. I might find out that I am wrong someday. But it'll take either a substantial increase in my discretionary income or a substantial change in how I see Fender as a company for me to approach that.

That's your choice, I was just addressing your specific statements.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

The Bergantino NV 610 sounds similar to an Ampeg 810 with more and better defined lows and still the prominent mids . I had one of those also and would buy it back in a heartbeat if I could find it.