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Cab to pair with Marshall VBA 400?

T

thehippie

Aug 13, 2010
43
0
35
Lawrenceville, GA
#1
I recently got a Marshall VBA 400 head for a pretty good price. The only problem is finding a matching VBC 412 or VBC 810 is pretty much impossible where im at...:( I was wondering if anybody had some good suggestions for a 4-ohm cab to pair with the head? I'm looking for something to really help bring that old school tube overdrive sound out.
 
#2
I'd recommended a 2x15, especially if you can find some 15's with good mids & highs; like some of the EV drivers or Celestion Sidewinders.

I used to have a Laney 215 formerly owned (or probably just used) by Geezer Butler. It had the Celestions in it and they sounds fantastic.

The cab, unfortunately, was no longer structurally sound and rattled like crazy...

The Mesa 215 with the EVs is also a great option for that tubey overdrive sound.

Good luck!
 
#8
I've used this head with the matching cab as backline supplied by Marshall. For my taste, I wasn't terribly impressed with the matching cab. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cab is ported. Not really my thing. The rig was plenty loud for me!

If the amp was mine, I'd pair it with an Ampeg 810. That would sound more old-school than the matching Marshall cab.
 
#11
derridiandrift said:
I've used this head with the matching cab as backline supplied by Marshall. For my taste, I wasn't terribly impressed with the matching cab. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cab is ported. Not really my thing. The rig was plenty loud for me!

If the amp was mine, I'd pair it with an Ampeg 810. That would sound more old-school than the matching Marshall cab.
Click to expand...

I hear alot of people use an Ampeg 8x10 with this head and love the sound. I'm kinda afraid an 8x10 would be to big for me to move by myself and for some of the places I play at tho....

What do you mean when you say the Marshall cab is ported if you dont mind me asking?
 
#14
BassmanPaul said:
This is not a particularly powerful amp.
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Wow U sure about that? My VBA 400 destroys my very loud Labsystem 600W Hybrid in volume.

derridiandrift said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cab is ported.

If the amp was mine, I'd pair it with an Ampeg 810. That would sound more old-school than the matching Marshall cab.
Click to expand...

Nope its sealed and vintage sounding... listen to Bruce Foxtons earlier stuff (VBA + VBC). The ampeg would still be a great choice though.
 
#15
I went to see Bruce Foxton play last night and he was using 2 Ashdown cabs with his VBA. I'm guessing they were both 4x10 cabs. I used mine with a VBC 4x12 and also Hartke 4x10 cabs and thought the Hartke's worked better than the Marshall cab.

The VBA400 is big and powerful enough to drive anything , certainly no shortage of power in that amp !!
 
#16
I find that in most instances it's easier to move my 810 than the Eden D410XLT I used to have. My rule of thumb is that if the room is big enough to warrant bringing my SVT, it's big enough to warrant the 810 cab as well. Otherwise I take a combo amp.

Of course, there's always the Berg NV610. Your amp would kill through that cab.
 
#17
thehippie said:
I hear alot of people use an Ampeg 8x10 with this head and love the sound. I'm kinda afraid an 8x10 would be to big for me to move by myself and for some of the places I play at tho....

What do you mean when you say the Marshall cab is ported if you dont mind me asking?
Click to expand...

Dude, you bought a four hundred watt tube amp. And now you're getting all iffy about the practicality of a big cab?

Unless you've got a bad back or most of the places you gig have lots and lots of stairs, it's not that big a deal to move big cabs, especially tilt back ones.
 
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#19
derridiandrift said:
I've used this head with the matching cab as backline supplied by Marshall. For my taste, I wasn't terribly impressed with the matching cab. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the cab is ported. Not really my thing. The rig was plenty loud for me!

If the amp was mine, I'd pair it with an Ampeg 810. That would sound more old-school than the matching Marshall cab.
Click to expand...

Exactly the same situation here, played it a few times and the cab is really a nothing.
I'd combine it with an open sounding cab with a high sensitivity.
 
#20
Ok so after doing to research I found a VBC 412 over in England. It's gonna cost me about $1100 for the cab plus shipping if I go that route. really doesn't seem worth it.

Another cab I found on Craigslist was a Marshall Super Jubilee 2x15. The dude wants $775 for it and a Marshall MB450H. Anybody know anything about those cabs?

hmmm I also like the Bergantino NV610 tho....I may try to find a used one somewhere.
 

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