Replacment for an Ampeg 810E?

[WhiteKnuckles]

So...I've had my 810E since around '92-'93 and it's been good to me, but over the last year I've been blowing speakers at a pretty fast rate. 4 so far this year.

I have two choices...replace all the speakers with ones capable of handling higher wattage, or replace the cab.

One cab I'm interested in is the GB Uber 410. I like what I see from the specs...it's smaller, lighter, higher wattage than my 810E, and better range. The numbers look really good and I might eventually add a second one, but that would be further down the road.

Anyways...I'm interested in how the GB sounds to the ear...anyone with any experience with both cabs able to chime in and give me the lowdown?

If it makes any difference, I play 5ers while it'll be powered by an Ampeg SVT4.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Might not be the thermal wattage that you are breaking them with. What is breaking the speakers? And are you replacing with the same?

 

[christw]

What are you powering them with? How do you EQ yourself? What drivers do you put in it? These are important things...

If you're looking GB Ubers and you already blow your 810, you might want to look to the Uber 810.

 

[WhiteKnuckles]

What is breaking the speakers? And are you replacing with the same?

Good question....I'm pretty sure it's just the age. They're 18 years old.

I'm sure the replacements I've been purchasing are not 100% matches, but they do match ohms and wattage and I do rearrange the speakers so that they match in each baffle.

What are you powering them with? How do you EQ yourself?

Ampeg SVT-4 power and a big fat frown on the EQ...I am the anti-scooper.

If you're looking GB Ubers and you already blow your 810, you might want to look to the Uber 810.

Too much for a single cab replacement right now...at this point I think I'd be happier with a pair of 410s than a single 810. Not only for the weight and space requirements, but the flexibility as well.

 

[christw]

Are you bridging it at 4 ohms into the cab?

I support two Uber 410's. I loove my GB 610.

 

[WhiteKnuckles]

Are you bridging it at 4 ohms into the cab?

Yep...bridged to 4ohms. I realize that's far above the 810Es RMS rating...but I keep my gain and master below 1/2 and roll off the lows on the EQ.

So how would you compare the voice of the GB cabs to the Ampegs. I don't want anything that's too 'Hi-Fi' sounding, but I do want something with better response through the low ranges.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Good question....I'm pretty sure it's just the age. They're 18 years old.

Considering that the speakers in my 8x10 are 38 years old, and I'm not blowing them on a regular basis, I don't think your logic holds up.

In all likelihood, if you're blowing speakers, and they're really going bad, you're sending too much power into them. Switching down to a 4x10 you'll probably just blow those as fast if not faster trying to get the same volume. You're running 1600 watts mono-bridged at 4 ohms. That's a lot of power.

IMO - if you like the sealed 10s sound of the 810E, the genz cabs are going to be a much different sound than what you're used to. I've played the GB 610. Hated it. But I am a sealed-10s and tubes kind of guy.

 

[christw]

Well, my 810E has 4 Jensen MOD10-50's on top. It gives it a grindier midrange and much better high end so I don't need to make the frown. They break up a bit under my uses, so it sounds like an OD'd guitar speaker if I reaaaly turn up. This skews my view a bit, but the stock speakers keep giving it the "punch" you'd expect. It's a quick attack cab still, for sure.

My Genz, while not an Uber, has more high end definition than my 810 courtesy of the tweeter and I wouldn't describe it as too "Hi-Fi" perhaps because of what head I'm using it with, the SVT-II. I A/B'd it to an SVT610-HLF for half an hour before I bought it. The Ampeg was boomier and less distinct, actually. Both 610's with horn. BUT, I like both old school bump and modern tones. The cabs are different, and I recommend a good A/B at a GC or something. I like the Genz because it isn't so muffled as a standard 810, but that might be why you like them.

 

[Whitbass]

Have you considered the Bergantino NV610 or NV412?
or an HS410 or two??

 

[WhiteKnuckles]

Thanks for the input guys.

I guess I'm just going to upgrade all the speakers to a higher wattage for the time being, then start A/Bing some cabs. I really love the mid tones I get from my 810E, but the ultra lows have been leaving me a bit flat...just not enough definition with my 5-bangers.

Ahhh...the neverending tone-hunt.

Edit:

Have you considered the Bergantino NV610 or NV412?
or an HS410 or two??

The power ratings are no stouter than my 810E, and that worrys me...that said, one of my bandmates has a friend with some Bergantino (pair of HS410s) that I might get a chance to check out soon.

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks for the input guys.

I guess I'm just going to upgrade all the speakers to a higher wattage for the time being, then start A/Bing some cabs. I really love the mid tones I get from my 810E, but the ultra lows have been leaving me a bit flat...just not enough definition with my 5-bangers.

i'm no longer wondering why you're blowing speakers. you're more than likely grossly overpowering them in the lows, which is death to a sealed cab.

if you want to replace the speakers in your 810e, eminence has a new speaker called the legend b810 that is supposed to be the shizz in 810e's. but if you want that much low out of it, you might be best looking at something ported.

 

[Whitbass]

Thanks for the input guys.

I guess I'm just going to upgrade all the speakers to a higher wattage for the time being, then start A/Bing some cabs. I really love the mid tones I get from my 810E, but the ultra lows have been leaving me a bit flat...just not enough definition with my 5-bangers.

Ahhh...the neverending tone-hunt.

Edit:

The power ratings are no stouter than my 810E, and that worrys me...that said, one of my bandmates has a friend with some Bergantino (pair of HS410s) that I might get a chance to check out soon.

ratings can be deceiving; the word is an NV610 will handle slamming notes that cause the 810 to badly break up...
you might do some searches on such threads...
check different threads and give the Bergs a listen.....
they can take a pounding and still hold it together nicely

 

[WhiteKnuckles]

i'm no longer wondering why you're blowing speakers. you're more than likely grossly overpowering them in the lows, which is death to a sealed cab.

Yeah. Even though I roll the lows way off, the B just thunders. Especially with my 'Vette $$, so much low-end woof it's a bit absurd.

if you want to replace the speakers in your 810e, eminence has a new speaker called the legend b810 that is supposed to be the shizz in 810e's.

That's the exact replacement I'm going to go with now... ordering the first pair tonight, but if they don't get me where I need/want to be, then it'll become the mad cab dash.

 

[kringle77]

I have an ampeg 8x10 with four jensen mods and 4 of the new eminence drivers. It sounds perfect to my ears but, a low end pusher, this cab is not. The old stock ampeg drivers may actually have a better low end than the new eminence but, then again, I haven't broken in the new eminence at all due to the fact that the cab weighs so much and Im not dragging it up from my basement to gig. Also, my closest neighbor is a dick.