I'm rig shopping assembling again. My last rig was an SVT V and a Mesa 810. I'm trying to avoid that since I'm getting older and crustier. I grabbed a SWR 350 and an EA i800 and a pair of SWR 210t cabs. Went to practice last night and that ain't gonna cut it. So the decision to be made is, are the cabs the problem? Would a better cab and the SWR 350 cut it, or am I gonna need the i800 and better cabs. I was really ok with the tone of either and I could eq my way into liking them. What I couldn't live with is the lack of volume. I was considering a golite 410 or and epi 310. I'm on a budget but I'm willing to spend what I need to to fit the bill. We play classic rock and new country covers with an occasional old funk tune now and then. Any help would be appreciated. Thx!
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Decision time.... Again
- Thread starter Erik Sears
- Start date
Look at the new Fender Rumble line. Very loud, excellent tonal range, light weight, and not expensive.
I use the 500 combo. It really is all I need. I play a similar set list. Check out the Fender Rumble Club in the Amps and Cabs forum.
I use the 500 combo. It really is all I need. I play a similar set list. Check out the Fender Rumble Club in the Amps and Cabs forum.
If the pair of 210's wasnt loud enough, another 410, or a 310 isnt going to give you more volume.
I would go out and find the sound you are looking for, then add as many cabs of that kind as you need to get the volume that you want.
I would go out and find the sound you are looking for, then add as many cabs of that kind as you need to get the volume that you want.
This doesnt really address the OP's question at all. He has more than enough power with his EA amp, so his weak link is his cab. No offense to those that can get by with a combo, but he is going to need something a little stouter than a 115 or 210 combo if his dual 210 cabs are not cutting it.
Keep in mind too guys, the SWR 210t cabs are 8 ohms, rated at 200 watts. If I had higher wattage rated 210s I could have pushed them plenty harder.
Yes and no. Depends on more factors than power handling.
If two 210's didnt cut it, then you need more cab.
- Aug 3, 2007
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- Current: Blackstar, DR strings, Nady. Previous endorsements with: GK, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Cleartone, EMG, Dean, Dava Picks, Rebel Straps, Dickies
I was an avid 410 player for a long time. Unfortunately a couple bad cabs that farted out, and i'm now running a tried and true Ampeg 610. There will never be a substitute for the increased volume more speakers can get you, but I really understand the need to go lighter. Lighter is what made me move from an 810, to a single 410, only to compromise with my 610 now. I'm not convinced that if 2, 210's weren't cutting it, that a lightweight single 410 could. I hate to continually bring up heavy cabs, but an Ampeg 410hlf is a beast of a cab for volume and low end. Sometimes the tone and volume in our head supersedes the physical limitations of our bodies.
Just make sure the ohm load of the three cabs isn't below what your amp will handle. If all three cabs are 8 ohm cabs , when you run them all together in parallel I think you end up with just around a 2.7 ohm load. ohm load. If the amp is 2 ohm capable , no problem. If it's only 4 ohm capable.......maybe a problem.
He asked the question whether his cabs were the problem. He also indicated the weight of hauling around is a problem. I think it was a reasonable suggestion. It is his opinion whether it is useful information or not, not yours.
And I don't agree with your assessment at all. More cabs is no answer. That just adds more to haul.
Good luck finding 210's that take more than 200w real world.
The SWR stuff I have played was pretty mid scooped. Personally SWR sounds fine to me, but they are not the best for cutting through a loud mix. Additionally, it sounds like you have the Workingman's series cabs instead of Goliath series. I believe the Workingman's were less efficient.
With the right cabs either amps would be plenty of power. The EA is generally considered a pretty flat sounding amp.
IMHO the best advice I can give you is to take both amps and try out as many speakers as you can. After trying the amps out with several speakers you should get an idea how they are voiced and which is best for you tonal preferences. Hopefully along the way you get some ideas about the speakers you like as well. Personally, I would chose a pair of 210, 212, or 115 cabs stacked vertically over a 410 or 310 because I like the hear the full range of the instrument instead of just the lows. IMHO vertical stacking does narrow the vertical dispersion of the cabs a bit but this is offset somewhat by getting the speakers higher. I still find I need to be about 7 to 10 feet in front of a vertical stack to clearly hear the upper mids. Horizontal dispersion of a vertical stack (even a pair of 15s) should be better than that of a 410.
If you just want to hear to low end, a 410 or 310 might be a better choice for you.
Good luck.
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I rock an swr 350 usually into a goliath Jr 3 and son of bertha. Swr cabs are stinking heavy.
Check out the fender rumble cabs, they are affordable new, built well, and lightweight. They have 210's, 115's, 112's, and 410's if I recall. All can handle some real power pretty well on paper, but a lot of TBers are using them so I'm sure someone will pipe up.
Check out the fender rumble cabs, they are affordable new, built well, and lightweight. They have 210's, 115's, 112's, and 410's if I recall. All can handle some real power pretty well on paper, but a lot of TBers are using them so I'm sure someone will pipe up.
Hartke HyDrive and Markbass 104hf are both relatively light (60-70 lbs) 4x10 cabs with solid power handling/volume. Give those a try.
Yes and just because a speaker can take more power does not ensure it will play louder than another speaker. The power rating must be considered in the context of efficiency in order to determine volume
While I agree it is the OP's decision, I do not agree that the rumble line combos or small cabs deserve the op's consideration if he is already running out of volume with two 210's.
