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Question: What Head Should I Use With My Ampeg 8x10?

1

12AX7

Sep 25, 2008
6
0
#1
Hi, this is a question coming from a bass player who is fairly clueless when it comes to matching heads to cabinets, so I was wondering if some seasoned pros could help me come to an intelligent decision:

I have an Ampeg 8x10AV cabinet and I want a head that will take FULL advantage of its power; I tried out an SVT-3 head during practice one day (I play in a metal band) and found that it was only as powerful as I needed it to be when I pretty much had it running as hot as it could go. Does anybody have an opinion on using a Genz Benz GBE 750 Head with the 8x10? That's the next one I'm going to try.

Thanks so much!
 
#2
The real answer: Keep testing heads till any of the following happens:

1) you find a head that does the job;

2) you find the 8x10 doesn't do the job and you shop for cabinets and a head;

3) you run out of time and money.

Only you can tell whether the head/cab works in your situation. You will get a dozen recommendations for heads here, every one of them being made by a person who has never listened to your band.

I'll throw you a suggestion for the Eden WT550; it'll work beautifully with that cabinet. Is it the right head for you? I don't know at all.

We could just list every head here, and you wouldn't have any better idea than you now have.
 
#3
There are so many possibilities...If money and weight were no object (and how can you say weight is an object if you're hauling around an 8x10?) I would get an Ampeg SVT Classic. But that's just me...and many like-minded folks.

You might consider a separate preamp and power amp. There are many very nice-sounding tube and solid state preamps to be had, and then you can add as much Crown/QSC/Crest/whatever solid state power amp to get all the power you need, more power than you need, WAY more power than you need, etc...
 
#5
Thanks for everyone's replies and suggestions, I appreciate it. I understand that there is no "correct" head to use with an 8x10, I guess what I should have asked is this: can someone tell me the range of wattage I should be focusing on for this type of cabinet? In other words, is there a range of power that I should not go under or over if I want to don't want to risk under or overpowering the cabinet?
 
#6
If you have more amp power than the cabinet will take, that's why you have a volume control. Use it wisely.

Also, most cabs will begin to fart out long before the speakers are in danger of burning out from too much power. When you hear this happen, you have to turn down.

As for minimum wattage, you can use as little as you want. A small amp will simply run out of volume earlier.
 
#7
The classic matchups are either a GK1001RB/2001RB, an SVT-2/CL/VR tube head, or an SVT-4Pro (running bridged at 4 ohms mono -- not dual 8 ohm stereo). The SVT-8 Pro also looks great. I also like SWR heads with ampeg cabs (like an SM-900 bridged), but that is a more unusual match.
 
#8
If you want lots of power to drive the cab and have some leftover wattage as head room, you can't go wrong with a preamp/power amp setup. You can bridge most any power amp for lots of wattage, and you can find them pretty cheap. I did some research and found I got more watts per $$$ by going this route, and I'm happy I did. Just shop around a bit, and make sure you get a preamp that you like, there are lots to choose from.
 
#10
Buy a Markbass Little Mark II.
Then put the amp in one hand and the cabinet in the other and juggle them. :rolleyes:
But seriously, I like the idea of a preamp/power amp combination (Ampeg/QSC, maybe) or else a GK 1001RBII or 700RBII.
 
#11
dougjwray said:
Buy a Markbass Little Mark II.
Then put the amp in one hand and the cabinet in the other and juggle them. :rolleyes:
But seriously, I like the idea of a preamp/power amp combination (Ampeg/QSC, maybe) or else a GK 1001RBII or 700RBII.
Click to expand...

I can see a visually hilarious loss of balance resulting from that.

here's what you do.

STEP ONE: Buy a QSC poweramp that puts out 800 watts at 8ohms per side
STEP TWO: Buy a Sansamp
STEP THREE: Buy another Ampeg 8x10
STEP FOUR:
STEP FIVE: Profit.
 
#16
You really can't go wrong with the SVTII or a vintage SVT IMO. Classic is nice, too, but prefer the others.

An Eden WT800 is a delightful match; I used my WT550 with my 810 before I sold it the cab, and it sounded fine but the WT800 bridged opened the cab up much better.
 
#19
Ric5 said:
My basic philosophy is a bass amp is just for stage volume and the PA should do the work of filling up the room with low end.
Click to expand...

There are more things in heaven and earth, Ric5,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Like most of the bars and clubs I play in, who have rudimentary PAs with no subs, for example.

Hence my large cabs and apologies to the Bard.
 
#20
SVT (tube) - duh!
12AX7 said:
Hi, this is a question coming from a bass player who is fairly clueless when it comes to matching heads to cabinets, so I was wondering if some seasoned pros could help me come to an intelligent decision:

I have an Ampeg 8x10AV cabinet and I want a head that will take FULL advantage of its power; I tried out an SVT-3 head during practice one day (I play in a metal band) and found that it was only as powerful as I needed it to be when I pretty much had it running as hot as it could go. Does anybody have an opinion on using a Genz Benz GBE 750 Head with the 8x10? That's the next one I'm going to try.

Thanks so much!
Click to expand...
 

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