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Considering New Rig

#21
Sell all the speakers you have and put that money toward one good, loud, used cab.

Consider this. The Ampeg SVT is 300 watts, and nobody ever accused that of not being loud enough.

I play live shows with an Ashdown LB 30 and an Epifani UL410 sometimes. The Ashdown is THIRTY watts. With that cab it gets stupid loud.

Forget about watts. If you want to move some air get louder speaker cabs.
 
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#22
two fingers said:
Sell all the speakers you have and put that money toward one good, loud, used cab.

Consider this. The Ampeg SVT is 300 watts, and nobody ever accused that of not being loud enough.

I play live shows with an Ashdown LB 30 and an Epifani UL410 sometimes. The Ashdown is THIRTY watts. With that cab it gets stupid loud.

Forget about watts. If you want to move some air get louder speaker cabs.
Click to expand...

The LB30 is so underrated. I'd love to pick one up (or the new little Stubby). I absolutely agree with you on the cabinet. PLUS if he upgrades the amp in the future he can keep the cab around without buying an all new rig overall.
 
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#23
two fingers said:
Sell all the speakers you have and put that money toward one good, loud, used cab.

Consider this. The Ampeg SVT is 300 watts, and nobody ever accused that of not being loud enough.

I play live shows with an Ashdown LB 30 and an Epifani UL410 sometimes. The Ashdown is THIRTY watts. With that cab it gets stupid loud.

Forget about watts. If you want to move some air get louder speaker cabs.
Click to expand...
Let’s say my budget is currently $300 for a used cab. I wouldn’t mind hauling a stack (210+115) if need be. But I’m not that interested in hauling around an 810. So if I sell my currently mismatched ohms pair of cabs, what criteria would I be looking for that constitutes ‘louder speaker cabs’? Keep in mind that I can add the sale money to my current budget.
As a refresher my current cabs are:
Ashdown ABM 210 (8 ohms, 300w)
Peavey Black Widow 115 (4 ohms, 350w)

F
 
#24
fcleff said:
Let’s say my budget is currently $300 for a used cab. I wouldn’t mind hauling a stack (210+115) if need be. But I’m not that interested in hauling around an 810. So if I sell my currently mismatched ohms pair of cabs, what criteria would I be looking for that constitutes ‘louder speaker cabs’?
As a refresher my current cabs are:
Ashdown ABM 210 (8 ohms, 300w)
Peavey Black Widow 115 (4 ohms, 350w)

F
Click to expand...

Until you get into really expensive cabs, one rule applies. You need more speaker surface area to move more air. Moving more air will usually be louder and also increase perceived "beef" in your tone. Driver size has little or nothing to do with it. Cab tuning and speaker surface area get it done for low to mid priced cabs.

Maybe grab your head and go try these.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

(Just the cab)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Also, sell what you have and increase your budget a little.
How about weight? Is that an issue?
 
#25
If you currently run just one of those cabs and you'd like more volume, get an amp that will allow you to run both cabs together. An amp that can run 2.67 ohms.

Then you can think about cab upgrades.
 
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#26
chris_b said:
If you currently run just one of those cabs and you'd like more volume, get an amp that will allow you to run both cabs together. An amp that can run 2.67 ohms.

Then you can think about cab upgrades.
Click to expand...
This has also been considered. I found a Mesa Boogie (used) that can handle a 2 ohm load. It’s a little out of my price range but I may splurge and see what GC might give me for a trade on my Ashdown Mag 300.

F
 
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#29
The ABM 210 is a great cabinet. It's definitely professional level. However, a little under sized For certain circumstances. That being said, I often see ABM 410 for around 300 and under on Craigslist. I think I had mine priced at 250 for a long time. It was 600 watts at 8 ohms so I definitely think you can find something for $300 and under that is well within the amount a power that you need and what your amplifier can supply. And Mesa Boogie cabinet is fantastic as long as your amplifier can go down to 2 ohms
 
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#32
So y’all are starting to see my dilemma. I play in a metal band and could use more volume and/or power. I also play in a Texas rock band where my Mag 300 and 210 cab pushing 150w is really just fine. So if I were just in the rock band y’all probably wouldn’t be hearing from me.
On the one hand I hear to look for a low impedance head that can drive both of my current cabs. On the other I’m hearing to ditch both my cabs and keep my Mag 300.
Also, if I keep my cabs and get a new head, can I look at the cabs as a combined 675 watts (210 at 300 & 115 at 375)?

f
 
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#33
I feel you. I think you have a lot of focus on stats.

I’d like to share that from my experience, stats mean less than I once thought.

A quality, properly engineered cabinet can have more depth, cut through the mix, and sound more loud and clear than a lower quality cab w greater stats.

I like Peavey and all, but that black widow will probably be too muddy and not sound as loud as that GB Uber 115 and certainly not cut the mix.

Ashdown is also pretty good, but there’s so much better voiced and efficient cabs out there on the cheap.

Regardless of Ohms, Watts, Driver size/combination, I’ve found that my ears and the joy I feel playing has increased by trying lots of gear and understanding the idea of quality over stats.

Good luck in your search and please keep us posted. Thanks.
 
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#34
So I’ve been doing a little more research. I’m now leaning to getting a whole new rig, as opposed replacing the head or speakers, and selling my current equipment to help fund the cost.
I’m not playing large venue gigs, only small clubs. And as a refresher I have two bands: Texas rock and Black Metal. I typically use low range basses, one passive and one active. I run these through a Deluxe Bass Big Muff, MXR Envelope, and a Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai.
The current leader of the pack is an Ampeg PF500 with an Ampeg PF210HE and PF115HE stack. I’ve read good things about all of these here on TalkBass (fun side note: autocorrect just offered up TalkAssholes as an option). I do hear differing opinions about mixing speaker sizes, though. Most of my searches don’t pull up any real recent discussions (I think 2015 was the most recent thread). So with all that said, does anyone have any recent thoughts on these rigs? Yes, I have tried them in the store and, yes, I did like what tonal options I could get out of it. Will it hold its own against two 100w 412 half stacks?

f
edit: I drive a Honda Accord.
 
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#37
fcleff said:
So I’ve been doing a little more research. I’m now leaning to getting a whole new rig, as opposed replacing the head or speakers, and selling my current equipment to help fund the cost.
I’m not playing large venue gigs, only small clubs. And as a refresher I have two bands: Texas rock and Black Metal. I typically use low range basses, one passive and one active. I run these through a Deluxe Bass Big Muff, MXR Envelope, and a Stereo Memory Man with Hazarai.
The current leader of the pack is an Ampeg PF500 with an Ampeg PF210HE and PF115HE stack. I’ve read good things about all of these here on TalkBass (fun side note: autocorrect just offered up TalkAssholes as an option). I do hear differing opinions about mixing speaker sizes, though. Most of my searches don’t pull up any real recent discussions (I think 2015 was the most recent thread). So with all that said, does anyone have any recent thoughts on these rigs? Yes, I have tried them in the store and, yes, I did like what tonal options I could get out of it. Will it hold its own against two 100w 412 half stacks?

f
edit: I drive a Honda Accord.
Click to expand...
100w 412 guitar rigs in the hands of imbeciles are too loud to fight volume wars with that little bass stack. Even with an 810 you're going for a truce with EQ sharing.
 
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#39
291218A0-8019-47C3-8952-72D1D8361D6E.jpeg

Reviving this thread for @moogieotter and @Dasgre0g so I can show off the new rig. And thanks to everyone else for the input on adding more speakers. This thing is clear as a bell, sounds great, has plenty of headroom, and moves a ton more air. It makes all the difference in the world. And a special thanks to @Dasgre0g for the great deal on the ABM410.

f
 
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