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Practice space cab: Mesa 1516be vs. Ampeg SVT410hlf

Jerry J

Jerry J

Supporting Member
Mar 27, 2000
5,484
767
P-town, OR
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#1
I need an inexpensive cabinet to leave at my practice space. I've been using a pair of Bergantino HT112's and I would like to bring them home. I am using a Mesa M6 and the Bergs have been loud enough.

The band is an original rock band, kinda based off of the hard rock bands of the 80's. Almost Iron Maiden like (I wish that I could play like Steve Harris!) or Queensryche. We are actually a 3-piece now and the guitarist is using a highly over-driven Marshall Plexi with a 412.

I'd love to have another Bergantino AE410, which is my gigging cabinet. But I just don't want to spend that kind of $$$ for a practice cabinet.

So, locally I have found a decent priced, US built, Ampeg SVT410hlf and an old Mesa 1516be. Since I won't have to move these to a gig I'm not too concerned about portability. Both of these cabs are in the $350 range.

Which of these two seems like it would work for me? I do need decent clarity, a decent mid-range and good lows.
 
#2
I wish I could help you with the Mesa, never played one . they do look cool, etc. I have 2 Ampeg 410HLF's and they are solid and not too big to transport around if you had to . The sound is solid up and down. I use an old SvT400T through one of the HLF's....ImO .great for small gigs or practice rooms.....:cool:
 
#6
JimmyM said:
wow, never saw that mesa cab before. are all the speakers crossed over in it? i'm tempted to say that looks like a pretty badass cab if it is.
Click to expand...

Believe it or not..........NO crossovers - just a h/p filter for the horn.

I know it defies all logic having all the speakers running full range and mixed size drivers in same chamber, but for some reason it just works.

It is wired so that you bi-amp if you choose (top half @ 8 ohms, bottom 15 @ 8 ohms) or just run it full range @ 4 ohms.

I have plugged just into the top half full range and it still sounds nice and tight with great punch. The whole cab gets nice and loud while retaining clarity, and does not fart out the small speakers. I run it with a Carvin B1500, so it is getting some thump :bassist:

l_1e7088f995b148d9b8277d96ff5d8492.png
 
#7
Bass_Pounder said:
Believe it or not..........NO crossovers - just a h/p filter for the horn.

I know it defies all logic having all the speakers running full range and mixed size drivers in same chamber, but for some reason it just works.

It is wired so that you bi-amp if you choose (top half @ 8 ohms, bottom 15 @ 8 ohms) or just run it full range @ 4 ohms.

I have plugged just into the top half full range and it still sounds nice and tight with great punch. The whole cab gets nice and loud while retaining clarity, and does not fart out the small speakers. I run it with a Carvin B1500, so it is getting some thump :bassist:

l_1e7088f995b148d9b8277d96ff5d8492.png
Click to expand...

Very cool photo! And great info on the 1516be. The one that I'm looking at doesn't have any metal on the edges. Is that something that you added? It looks like a smart idea.
 
#9
Bass_Pounder said:
If yours does not have the aluminum, then it is probably a Deisel Series (covered in tolex).

Mine is a RoadReady Series (built into it's own road case with removeable front panel).
Click to expand...

OK, so I go to check out the 1516be and find out that it's rated at 450 watts. The label on that back does say "BE". Oh well the amp that was hooked up was an Ampeg SVT3. Well the cabinet has a slight buzz. Not loud but very definitely there. I checked for loose speakers, grill, handles or L-pad. Everything seemed tight. I also confirmed that sound was coming out of all the speakers. I also noted that the rocker switch on the back was broken. I was bummed as I wanted this thing to sound good.

So I guess that answers my question about which one. Then they tell me that they have another 1516be in that back that isn't available yet. They said that the one in the back is in better shape and IS rated at 600 watts. I'll have to wait until next week to check that one out.

BTW how heavy are these cabinets? I was going to try and lift the one there but the front was too wide for me to reach the handles. Do you guys that have these schlep them by yourself or do you get help?
 
#11
Bass_Pounder said:
They weigh over 100lbs (I'm not sure of the exact amount). Mine is on casters for easy rolling in and out of gigs - for stairs I have a bandmate help.

I lift mine by myself to get it in and out of my van, (but I am also 6'01" and weigh 240lbs).
Click to expand...

Bass Pounder, thank you for the reply. Since this cabinet will be specifically for practice I guess I don't have to worry about moving it.

Do you know what changes Mesa did to this cabinet so that the rating went from 450watts to 600watts? Obviously they had to change the drivers. The place selling both the earlier version of the 1515be (450 watt) and the later 1516be said that the newer one has the Electro-voice 10". I thought that when they added the Electro-voice 10 was when they changed to the "BE" designation.
 
#15
old thread, but just in case anyone is doing research on these cabs I will share my experience with them. I found the 410hfl to be very boomy. If i cut the lows the boomyness went away, but all my low end went with it. The mesa sounds very even across all frequencies. The mids are little bit over-pronounced, but a mild mid scoop corrects this. The lows tight and warm and fairly deep, the highs are great.

One thing i will say about the 1516 is that it seems very particular about the kind of amp you use. I ran a GK 1001rb ii through it and hated the tone (pure mud). I think the cab has a bit of a dirty tone to it naturally. I run it with my Phil Jones Bass amp (very clean tone) and it pairs very well. I also liked the tone of the cab paired with an SWR 350x, though it was too under-powered.
 

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