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Modern Speakers for vintage heads
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I am useless since I have not tried any of those heads through my Mesa cabs, but I have a strong hunch that any of those heads would sound great through my Subway 215. The barefaced stuff is wonderful though, just a different kind of wonderful.
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I don’t know if this is your case, but I find that cabs, regardless of type, tend to get harsher the closer you get to the maximum rating. JMO.
I'd be sticking to sealed cabs. Is it the SVT 410HE that's sealed? You don't see them around much, but it's essentially half a fridge. I've been itching to try any of the Bergantino NV series, based mainly on what I've read here and my experience with an early Blue Line SVT and flatback 8x10.
I've never been as happy with vented cabs with tube heads as I was with sealed cabs.
I've never been as happy with vented cabs with tube heads as I was with sealed cabs.
You've just heard the wrong ones, I think. Mine sound great, no harshness, great even balanced tone with deep bass extension for their size. No tweeters here, either; they have a 6 1/2" mid driver that goes up to about 10K producing a wonderfully smooth top end. I usually use them as a pair as they are mirror imaged, but even singly they kick butt.
And I have used them with a couple of vintage 7ender amps, an early '70s Princeton Reverb Amp and a 1962 7ender Concert Amp.Those are 10" drivers in the cabinets.
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Question: Is this rig just for stage sound, or does it need to carry the house as well? (Ie, do you have a FOH system the bass is sent through?)
If you are using a PA, are you micing your cab or going DI to the board?
As for neo speakers - I’m on the same page with you, but that said, I have heard some neo setups that sound great - it’s just that for me, I’ve heard too many neo cabs I didn’t like, and too many regular cabs I did like.
The F112 (or F115) is a monster cab that gives a dead honest response. For my liking, too honest. I prefer a little more vagueness in my tone. The F115 just seemed to highlight all my mistakes. But it sounded amazing - when I actually hit the note right.
I’m still a big fan of the Aguilar DB cabs. I don’t think they use neo magnets - but come to think of it, I don’t know for sure. To me they have an old school tone to them.
My other gigging cab is an Epifani NYC 410. Serious punch.
While you can play any vintage head through any modern cab, there’s definitely some “baked in tone” of the head and cab, and you want to make sure the frequencies the head is accentuating are ones that the cab can deal with musically. In this regard, the F112 cab handles everything. The sound you get out of it will be your bass and your amp. No real “color” from the cab. Lightweight, portable, loud… but expensive. But for a gigging musician, definitely worth it. Stack 2 if you want the tone close to your ears.
If you are using a PA, are you micing your cab or going DI to the board?
As for neo speakers - I’m on the same page with you, but that said, I have heard some neo setups that sound great - it’s just that for me, I’ve heard too many neo cabs I didn’t like, and too many regular cabs I did like.
The F112 (or F115) is a monster cab that gives a dead honest response. For my liking, too honest. I prefer a little more vagueness in my tone. The F115 just seemed to highlight all my mistakes. But it sounded amazing - when I actually hit the note right.
I’m still a big fan of the Aguilar DB cabs. I don’t think they use neo magnets - but come to think of it, I don’t know for sure. To me they have an old school tone to them.
My other gigging cab is an Epifani NYC 410. Serious punch.
While you can play any vintage head through any modern cab, there’s definitely some “baked in tone” of the head and cab, and you want to make sure the frequencies the head is accentuating are ones that the cab can deal with musically. In this regard, the F112 cab handles everything. The sound you get out of it will be your bass and your amp. No real “color” from the cab. Lightweight, portable, loud… but expensive. But for a gigging musician, definitely worth it. Stack 2 if you want the tone close to your ears.
What options do your amps need for impedance?
Can you cover all of their needs with a couple of cabs and a parallel/series box?
I gig my vintage heads through a pair of newer TL606 type cabs with 3015HO 8ohm drivers using a series box for 16ohms where necessary.
I like these cabs/drivers very much, and they're much lighter than the amps.
Can you cover all of their needs with a couple of cabs and a parallel/series box?
I gig my vintage heads through a pair of newer TL606 type cabs with 3015HO 8ohm drivers using a series box for 16ohms where necessary.
I like these cabs/drivers very much, and they're much lighter than the amps.
D
Deleted member 165050
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My THD valve head sounds great through my Mesa Subway 2x12 or my Ampeg 1x12s... it's only 30 watts of course but either of those will handle 400 watts (the Subway is up to 800w). On the Ampeg cabs you can switch the tweeters out, the Subway has a rotary dial to turn it right down.
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I like vintage basses and vintage amps, but I never liked the sound of the vintage cabs I could afford.
I can get a great sound out of vintage or modern basses and amps, as long as they are going through modern cabs.
IMO the latest technology is serving bass players very well.
I can get a great sound out of vintage or modern basses and amps, as long as they are going through modern cabs.
IMO the latest technology is serving bass players very well.
I’ve been real happy with the Bergantino gear. They do look funny under a big amp, but whatevs. The sound is bliss.
CosmicRay
Supporting Member
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
Shocked that you stick your tongue out at me! That is a tongue, isn't it?
I have no practical experience with Acme but from their specs and literature I would think that a B2 210 would need more power than his vintage tube heads produce. (jmho)
