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Expert Cab Advice

G

Gopher Bob

Nov 24, 2001
626
4
Florida
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#1
SO I picked up an ampeg b2-re head today. It seems ampeg pairs it up with this cab...
\
http://www.ampeg.com/products/b/b410hlf/index.html

I can get that cab right around $400 new not counting tax.


My question is this... are there lighter cabs that would work just as well? Are there cheaper cabs that sound decent? If I want to add a cab in the future should I look for a cab that is not 4ohm? Or do you think that cab is perfect for the amp?

Oh and by 'lighter' I really mean smaller... like 2x10s or something. Not sure if a 4x10 cab could even fit in my car.
 
#2
Gopher Bob said:
SO I picked up an ampeg b2-re head today. It seems ampeg pairs it up with this cab...
\
http://www.ampeg.com/products/b/b410hlf/index.html

I can get that cab right around $400 new not counting tax.


My question is this... are there lighter cabs that would work just as well? Are there cheaper cabs that sound decent? If I want to add a cab in the future should I look for a cab that is not 4ohm? Or do you think that cab is perfect for the amp?

Oh and by 'lighter' I really mean smaller... like 2x10s or something. Not sure if a 4x10 cab could even fit in my car.
Click to expand...

Will you need tons of volume? What type of music are you going to be playing? Some would say a 2X10 wouldn't be enough, but you never know. If you don't have space for a 4X10, just get a single 4 ohm cab, as there is basically no way for you to fit 2 4X10s in your vehicle. Or you could just sell the car for an SUV, :ninja:.
 
#3
I have the Ampeg 2re also and I am running (2) 8 ohm 15" Ampeg Classic Cabs which sound great. This might not be what you want in the long run but the cabs(+wheels) are small enough for any vehicle. The Hlf cabs (4 0hms) is the next step up,a better investment and a little beast in all ways (sound and bulk) . :)
 
#4
Well currently I am coming from a 100 watt Fender Bassman combo. I played 5 string basses primarily for the first 6 years but lately have been playing a 4 string Godin BG-IV that has EMG 35DC in the bridge and an EMG 35P4 in the neck.

Playing style: fingerstyle...anything from jazzy stuff to simple punk to melt your face death metal. While not good at it I also enjoy tapping stuff.


I don't slap.




That's what I currently use. It sounds fine but I think the speaker is blown as it can be farty at higher volumes. The pots are still a little scratchy even though I have cleaned them with deoxit. But forget that one it is fine for practice amp.


Anyway.... I don't need a lot more volume and I've loved the sound of my playing through ampeg gear so I put a down payment on a used b2-re head yesterday.


If I could approximately double the volume of the fender bassman that would be great. I remember one time when I first started playing we played in someones backyard for about 60 people and I had to crank that amp up all the way (which may be why it sounds so farty these years later).

I jut looked at the specs If I could keep the cab around the dimensions and weight of that bassman that would be perfect. (Obviously a little more or less wouldn't hurt)

bassman Weight: 65 lbs. (29.5 kg)
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#6
Gopher Bob said:
I just had a crazy idea I need someone to tell me why I shouldn't do this or why I should....

What If I take a car stereo box for 2x12s and put something like 2x http://accessories.musiciansfriend....660085&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26047889

If I was able to get a box really cheap would this be do-able??
Click to expand...
no no no no no. trying to save money by mixing car stereo and pro audio stuff never works. they have completely different needs and working situations.

anyway, it's tough to find cabs that do what those hlf cabs do. i really don't know if there are any others. there are plenty of lighter cabs that sound great, but none of them have that big low end and air movement of the hlf series.
 
#7
Most people probably don't have experience with these yet but is this what I'm looking for?

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...HLF-550W-2x10-Bass-Speaker-Cabinet?sku=485416

The new Ampeg Pro Neo PN210HLF... Based on my amp's specs and with my limited knowledge of this sort of thing...

1) My amp will pump 250W through this cab (will this be about double loudness of my bassman 100 15'' combo?)

2) I can add another 8 ohm amp of whatever I want later on and the two cabs will do about 225 watts out of each cab?



Reference
Ampeg B2RE Rack Bass Head Features:

* 450W @ 4 ohms, 250W @ 8 ohms
* 3-band rotary EQ
* 9-band graphic EQ
* -15dB input pad
* Neutrik Speakon and 1/4" speaker outs
* Preamp out/power amp in
* XLR balanced line out
* Effects loop
 
#8
Eight hundred bucks? Did I read that right? Sheesh, go play it and if it really moves you, get it, but seriously, your B2RE is not exactly Ampeg's greatest achievement - it's not bad, but you could get a pair of 8Ω Avatar 2x10s and have a heck of a party with the money left over.
 
#9
The b2re is a temporary head so don't let the price/quality of it affect the opinion. Also it might help to imagine me getting SVT4-Pro later on. What would work well for both, be smaller than 4x10s and produce about double the volume of my bassman.



Yea I was looking at the avatars. Will these produce double the volume of my bassman using this amp?
 
#13
Gopher Bob said:
Your the second person today that has said vertically stacked 2x10s. Does the extra height make that much of a difference?

Also if you could get this ampeg cab around 390$+ tax brand new would you still prefer your avatar "skinny" stack?

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ampeg-B410HLF-4X10-Speaker-Cabinet?sku=603087
Click to expand...

I can't give you all the science behind a vertical stack..BillF can though.
I can tell you, you'll get the advantages of the height of a 810 cab, (speakers closer to your ears), but with a smaller foot print on stage.
Better mids dispersion.
Better projection into the room.
Plus, use one cab for pratice/small jobs, two when you got to be louder with more dispersion/coverage.
Not sure what the Ampeg cab weighs in at, my Avatars are around 40 lbs. each. My little wife can carry them. :D
 
#15
there are a lot of brands out there that make quality stuff. i'd stay away from the lowest priced stuff except for avatar, though. avatar makes a nice no frills cab that sounds good. not the best, but is a lot better than most in their price range. but the cab's the weak link in any setup so if you have to skimp elsewhere, you're better off not skimping on the cab.
 
#16
you're better off not skimping on the cab
Click to expand...

This is what I'm thinking. I want to get a cab that I can 'grow into' and use even if I decide to upgrade my head. 300 dollars is a lot of money and I would rather buy something 500 dollars if it will be better in the long run. By nature I normally prefer to get things right the first time.

I like the concept of the avatar cabs. I also am starting to like the idea of going with 2x10 and later if need be getting another 2x10 and stacking vertically.

What would be the next step up in price/quality for a 2x10?
 
#18
pretty much everyone makes a 210 in the $300+ range these days, and almost all of them are excellent, but they do things in their own way, so that's a decision you'd have to make for yourself. just stick to names you see on here, and when you get interested in one, search on it. people are brutally honest on here.
 

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