the 410 has no lack of bottom end. There's plenty of volume and punch with this cab also as attested to by many of us who have one. I'd love to hear one driven by a tube monster amp like your Marshall or a mesa 400+, or a Trace v8, or aguilar 728, or any of the 300 watters out there.
Here's how I'd see it....the louder you get, the more the 12's are gonna influence the tone with the 310212. That's my opinion, right or wrong. If your variety of tones you use are easy attained through a stomp and click or a small tweak on your guitar for instance, maybe the 310212 light would be a great solution for you.
So far there has been no need for any PA assistance for me when I use my 410....the band has had to "put up" with stage volume they are definitely not used to in some rooms, but no one's really complained that much (except our soundtech occasionally), but if you're essentially using the cabinet as a way for you and your band to hear you, and using PA support for the audience or at least most of the audience, you really in my opinion again, don't need a 310212.
My last however statement to chew on: the light and "standard" 310212 is only a couple hundred dollars more than a 410. My 410 standard weighs MORE than the 310212 light, takes less wattage, is less efficient, hasn't got as low a frequency response, but I'll bet dimes to donuts it's still probably louder than you're likely to need and can reproduce every tone you're looking for in spades.
What definitive advantage I see of the 310212 is height and a speaker, a 10 incher at that, being closer to your ears. If the added roundness and lows are too much on a given tune or venue, you can always turn down the lower end on your amp, bass, eq, etc. and turn up the low mids a little to compensate. That's what I had to do last night...there was not a huge crowd at the local House of Blues and my bass, in spite of my best intentions was a bit more rumbly than I'm used to hearing. It took me a few tunes but I cut a few dbs off of everything 150hz and down, slightly boosted my 250 on the bass, turned up slightly and we were much more compatible with the rooms acoustics.
I and several others of us had hard decisions to make cabwise too.....like between a 1210 or 1212, or a 410 and a 21012, and some are now having like you are a decision between the large and extra cabinets. If you're unsupported PA wise, get the 310212. If you have PA support, I don't feel you'd have any issues with volume, bottom end or punch with the 410, especially with a strong tube head.
good luck, tell us what you end up doing or if you have any other questions.
LKaye
Please keep the group well informed.
