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Epifani UL310 or UL410?

#41
Life is apparently very good these days as not only am I getting the cab, but I should receive it just in time for my first jam with a new drummer. Normally I wouldn't be so excited about a jam with a new drummer, but not only is he a graduate of a pretty respectable jazz school, but he comes recommended to me by the best drummer I know in town (actually the best drummer I know personally) and, more importantly, he actually is looking for a blues gig. This may not seem like a big deal, but most of the drummers I've played with over the years play in bands because it's an available gig that might get them some coin regardless of whether or not they like the music. The fact that when I approached this drummer about about coming out to play with our blues band he asked me "what kind of blues do you play?" just knocked my socks off. I just thought to myself 'oh my God, a contextually appropriate question!" :D

Thanks once again for the advice. I'm sure I won't need the one additional driver (and definitely not the extra 10 lbs) that often, but it's only an extra 10 lbs and a few extra inches in each dimention and after a decade of just coping with the rigs that I've had I am really looking forward to having an abundance of tone and headroom. The cherry on top of everything is that the singer/guitarist whose house I'll be jamming in has convinced another bassist he jams with to leave behind his Mark Bass 310 combo (CMD 103H) for me to check out. Hopefully I'll confirm that I've made the right choice, but regardless the evening should be bass (if not musical) Shangri-la :)
 
#42
:hyper: My wife tells me that the UL410 is waiting for me at home.:hyper:

I'm jamming tonight so I should get an idea of what it's capable of. It'll be so hard to get through dinner without shovelling down my food to try get a quick trial in before heading out the door. It's hard to believe I wasn't even sure I was going to buy a new cabinet just a week ago - G.A.S. is a powerful force!
 
#45
It's really quite strange. I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but I was both very surprised and very pleased.

I guess I was thinking it would be a more 'clinical' sounding cabinet since I've heard people refer to it as transparent, but that's not it. The low end was much meatier than I was expecting, although I'm not sure how much of that was due to the peculiarities of the cabinet and how much was due simply to having so much power going through the cabinet. Since this is a 4 ohm cabinet, my 210 is an 8 ohm and I had the volume control in the same position I usually have it with the 210 I had a substancial increase in the amount of juice going to the cabinet. Although that has to be about the loudest I've ever played in a jam, it never really seemed that loud somehow. As one of the guitarists put it, it wasn't loud but it was just 'there' and in spades. I brought my Jazz and my Ken Lawrence 5 and both sounded better than I've ever heard them. Both also sounded like they could use some new strings, which is probably true since I can't remember exactly when I changed the strings on either bass, but with the GB 210XB the high end always seemed to be there in spades such that I've seldom been in a hurry to get the 'zing' that comes with brand new strings. The low B on the KL was really nice and very natural sounding, but if it wasn't for the flapping of my pant legs I never would have really noticed how loud I was playing. I was just enjoying hearing my playing without having to put any effort into it. If this sounds like rambling, it's probably because I should be asleep now, but it was truly a great experience. I absolutely cannot wait until I play my next gig. Hell, I can't wait to hear my fretless through it, but since it's midnight and my basement ceiling transmits bass into my kids' bedroom floors like you wouldn't believe that will have to wait until I get home from work tomorrow.

Thanks, everyone, for your contributions to my decision!
 
#47
Congrats man, just in time for the weekend. Yeah, something about the UL410, it can get loud, but, it can fill the stage, room without sounding loud. :bassist:

And welcome to the Epi family.:smug:
 
#50
How about UL 2x12's
th_sick.jpg
 
#54
I guess I could search a "UL410, are they good" thread, but, I'll chime in here.

I'd picked up a UL410 (new) from Van Gelder in NJ. Everything I'd heard about them was cool. Lightweight with a nice mid-range. Now, I like low end alot. I usually cut out mids to hear the PHAT. But, I play fast stuff and over the past 20 years have never really found a rig that could articulate what I'm playing. In all fairness I just lived with it and didn't really search hard for MY SOUND.

Well, I finally brought the UL410 out of the bedroom for a rehearsal last night. The weight of the cab is sick light. When I first lifted the thing I did wonder, how the hell is this thing gonna keep up in a loud rock setting? Man........ talk about CUT! and Articulation. This cab (with my Sadowsky PJ and Ashdown ABM 500) frickin' smoked! 32nd notes, no problem. Everything could be heard. What a smart, punchy, vintage or modern sounding rig.

About a month ago I picked up a UL110 and had the same experience with my Jazz duet and trio gigs and Blues gigs with URB and electric. The 110 can cover all my small-medium gigs and for a big stage, the 410 will be perfect. After playing for 30 years I could never EVER use the word perfect when it came to my sound and what I hear in my head. Ashdown, Sadowsky, Epifani.... I'm done searching!

thanks for listening.
 
#56
LarryR said:
I guess I could search a "UL410, are they good" thread, but, I'll chime in here.

I'd picked up a UL410 (new) from Van Gelder in NJ. Everything I'd heard about them was cool. Lightweight with a nice mid-range. Now, I like low end alot. I usually cut out mids to hear the PHAT. But, I play fast stuff and over the past 20 years have never really found a rig that could articulate what I'm playing. In all fairness I just lived with it and didn't really search hard for MY SOUND.

Well, I finally brought the UL410 out of the bedroom for a rehearsal last night. The weight of the cab is sick light. When I first lifted the thing I did wonder, how the hell is this thing gonna keep up in a loud rock setting? Man........ talk about CUT! and Articulation. This cab (with my Sadowsky PJ and Ashdown ABM 500) frickin' smoked! 32nd notes, no problem. Everything could be heard. What a smart, punchy, vintage or modern sounding rig.

About a month ago I picked up a UL110 and had the same experience with my Jazz duet and trio gigs and Blues gigs with URB and electric. The 110 can cover all my small-medium gigs and for a big stage, the 410 will be perfect. After playing for 30 years I could never EVER use the word perfect when it came to my sound and what I hear in my head. Ashdown, Sadowsky, Epifani.... I'm done searching!

thanks for listening.
Click to expand...

+1 to your comments! I use the word perfect a lot with that cab. That particular cab (410UL) really changed my whole gigging rig. As you can see by my rather extensive small cab 'previous gear' list, I was always trying to find that '50 pound or so' solution that would cut any gig. I went through EA, Acme, Eden, Bergantino, etc., etc. All of those little cabs sounded great, but none of them really put out the wump needed for moderate to loud gigs IME. Yet, these were the only options if you wanted to stay around 50 pounds or so.

A couple of years ago when I saw the spec's on the 410UL, I thought it might be a joke... a full sized 410 at 57 pounds!. Well, I took the plunge and have never looked back. To my ears, it is the best 410 I've ever heard... regardless of weight... punchy, nice treble response, sounds good with the tweeter on and off, and puts out massive, useable low end, is very efficient, and totally cuts through the gig, and sounds great soft or loud.

Truly a remarkable piece of gear. Nothing much else like it on the market.... absolutely no compromise regarding light weight to my ear at all (again, for my rather modern, articulate tone requirements).

As an added bonus, the cab is tall enough and large enough so that you can put your head on top and just roll it in to the gig...no carts, no hassles! Steps... no problem... easy to lift and carry by yourself. Simply amazing!
 
#57
I did this outdoor gig in Reno this past weekend, with good P.A. support, and during a set change one of the sound techs that ran the board picked up my UL410 to clear the stage and he couldn't believe it's weight. He said, "I can't believe all the punch and output came out of this light weight cab." I love it when sound support techs gives up a compliment.
 
#60
One thing I'll add. I once played through an Ampeg B2 Combo which I believe had 4 x 8's. Gig was an Elvis Costello and the Attractions tribute. If anyone knows that music you know the bass lines are melodic, lot's of notes, fast etc.. That little combo cut through like the UL-410. So, I'm sure there are rigs out there that could've given me what I've got now. I looked for that B2 rig, but I think it was close to 100lbs., + I'd heard about reliability issues (though not substantiated).

Anyway, for size, weight & versatility I'm thrilled with what I've got. Kudo's to Nick E., the gang and Italian Poplar!
 

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