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NCD: Ampeg 810E, tell me more about it

baxter_x

baxter_x

Nov 27, 2013
5,027
5,375
EU
www.hellofaride.fr
#1
Hi all,

I acquired a new cab, an Ampeg 810E. I would need some information about it.

According the the serial number DWCD8A0238, it should be from early 2000. Am I right?
I'm a bit suprised buy its weight. Are there any replacement speakers to lighten it? I heard the Eminence SC10-16 could be a good match.

A several pictures:
 

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#2
Here is what I suggest you need to know. Try it and decide if you like the tone and if are willing to deal with the weight. The cabinet itself is rather heavy. Theoretically you could install NEOs and save a bit of weight, but it will still be a heavy cab. IMHO not worth the expense.

Fliptops used to sell some custom NEOs. I don't know if they still offer them.

The SC210-16 may work fine, but you wind up with a 2 or 8 ohm cab. Weight 3.5lbs/1.59kg

My understanding is the Eminence B810 is fairly close to the stock Ampeg driver. Weight 6.7lb/3.04kg

Weight difference B810 to SC10-16: 3.2lbs/1.45kg per driver. Multiplied by 8 drivers = 25.6/11.6kg total weight savings

The weight of the 810E is listed as 140lbs/63.5kg

Minus the weight savings of switching to SC10-16 = 114.4lbs/51.9kg

I believe the regular price for the SC10-16 is about $135USD/116 Euro

Multiplied by 8 = $1080/928 Euro total cost of NEO upgrade

You could probably buy a second used 810E for less than the cost of the proposed upgrade.

I wouldn't do it, but YMMV.
 
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#3
Wasnex said:
Try it and decide if you like the tone and if are willing to deal with the weight.
Click to expand...
I was surprised that I actually found it sounded nice. But I'll probably leave at a the rehearsal space. And use my Hartke HL410 cabs when gigs are back.


Wasnex said:
Weight difference B810 to SC10-16: 3.2lbs/1.45kg per driver. Multiplied by 8 drivers = 25.6/11.6kg total weight savings
Click to expand...
That's still interesting but yeah, pricy. For the moment I'm not going to do it.
Also, for the price i bought it, I can still sell it pretty quickly.
But I'm surprised by how heavy it feels. My guess is it's an old model, among the heaviest ones.
 
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#4
baxter_x said:
Hi all,

I acquired a new cab, an Ampeg 810E. I would need some information about it.

According the the serial number DWCD8A0238, it should be from early 2000. Am I right?
I'm a bit suprised buy its weight. Are there any replacement speakers to lighten it? I heard the Eminence SC10-16 could be a good match.

A several pictures:
Click to expand...
The first '8' in your serial # was throwing me off at first, because it should have been a letter. After looking at one of the photos you posted it looks like it's actually an 'S'. The 'S' would make it 2006 and the 'A' would make it November. According to the parts list at that time they were still building the bulk of the cabinet out of OSB/particle board, which probably doesn't help the weight.

ampeg_sn1.jpg
 
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#7
DavidEdenAria said:
Oh man it's an 8x10
Click to expand...
It's called the Ampeg 810e, it's a very rare cab, I'm sure you never heard of it before 😅.

DavidEdenAria said:
8x10s are awesome even at low volume!
Click to expand...
I totally agree. It's my third 810 and there is something magic about this configuration. Low or high volume it's always a pleasure.
I feel the same about two 410 cabs. And I like them better side by side on the floor than stacked.
 
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#8
baxter_x said:
It's called the Ampeg 810e, it's a very rare cab, I'm sure you never heard of it before 😅.


I totally agree. It's my third 810 and there is something magic about this configuration. Low or high volume it's always a pleasure.
I feel the same about two 410 cabs. And I like them better side by side on the floor than stacked.
Click to expand...
Ha ha it's e for excellent no? I have seen 810s on their side on stage...I just really like the height sound near ear level with amp at eye level sitting on top...as an old Geezer....but lately I've been sitting 😳 while playing so now I have come to a crossroad...actually I have a 1x15 I set my awesome 800RB on!
 
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#9
baxter_x said:
You're right, it's an S. Thanks for the info.
However it looks like it's make of plywood according to that picture:
Click to expand...

They are usually made of plywood, even the pricy one. Nothing wrong with that, I thin they mix some plywood with OSB and that is what probably what you are seeing, There are discussions in the past whether Ampeg did not use plywood and I think teh consensus was they did for some years but usually they are plywood.. Plywood is more costly. But I don't think they use solid wood from glued solid planks for bass cabinets, not just them but most if not all bass cabinet builders. I think it's just not cost but something with acoustics that 's why plywood and/or engineered wood is used
 
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#10
logdrum said:
They are usually made of plywood, even the pricy one. Nothing wrong with that, I thin they mix some plywood with OSB and that is what probably what you are seeing, There are discussions in the past whether Ampeg did not use plywood and I think teh consensus was they did for some years but usually they are plywood.. Plywood is more costly. But I don't think they use solid wood from glued solid planks for bass cabinets, not just them but most if not all bass cabinet builders. I think it's just not cost but something with acoustics that 's why plywood and/or engineered wood is used
Click to expand...
Solid wood planks were rarely used in bass cabinets or hi fi to my knowledge...mdf or plywood.
 
#16
Well, an 810 is not a purchase I will be making, especially with all of the lightweight options out there that in most cases sound better. I don't need a hernia and can't afford a personal roadie.
 
#18
stevensivak said:
The original Fender Bassman amps were built of solid pine.... and the flexibility of the cab was part of the "sound"....
Click to expand...
No, not really. It's because Fender was building their guitar amps (at the time) using pine lumber and it fit into their existing production process. Later they migrated to pine plywood, possibly with some use of other species depending on availability. The "flexibility" was in part a little true but in part urban myth as well.
 
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