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the Official Ampeg Club Part 5

#781
Hello all. New pf-350 owner here. New to Ampeg altogether actually. I am completely in love with the tone of this amp. The Ampeg tone is an addicting sound! But, I "accidentally" ended up purchasing an underpowered 2x10 Ampeg cab. (don't ask). So now I'm in search of a suitable cab to go with the 350. I have done a lot of researching and reading. Gotta keep the cost between $300-$400. I like loud, clean and angry bass tones. Along the lines of geddy lee/chris squire. After reading lots of opinions I'm leaning towards one of the portaflex 15 cabs. Probably the 115he. I know this is the Ampeg club but I thought maybe it would be OK to drop this question here anyways. I came across the Eden EX410sc4 extended Range cab. It's priced at $350, is 4x10, 400 watts rms, it's 4ohms so it would pull the full power of the 350. I'm sure this is considered an entry level cab. Which is fine if it sounds good. I'm hoping to get some input from some of the experts on here as to what I might expect tone wise and loudness with this cab and the 350 together, and also the difference in quality and tone/loudness between the Eden and the portaflex cabs. I am a drummer first so I don't have much knowledge on this bass equipment, but I love playing around with it and need a sweet rig for my recording studio and for when people come over to jam. I like the idea of the 4x10 and that's a great price I think. But I want to be sure I can achieve the tone that I'm after and not something that clearly sounds budget and that makes me want better. I should add that my bass is a squire 70s jazz and my previous rig was a TC electronic BG250. Thanks for any help you can offer.
 
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#782
versicolor said:
Hello all. New pf-350 owner here. New to Ampeg altogether actually. I am completely in love with the tone of this amp. The Ampeg tone is an addicting sound! But, I "accidentally" ended up purchasing an underpowered 2x10 Ampeg cab. (don't ask). So now I'm in search of a suitable cab to go with the 350. I have done a lot of researching and reading. Gotta keep the cost between $300-$400. I like loud, clean and angry bass tones. Along the lines of geddy lee/chris squire. After reading lots of opinions I'm leaning towards one of the portaflex 15 cabs. Probably the 115he. I know this is the Ampeg club but I thought maybe it would be OK to drop this question here anyways. I came across the Eden EX410sc4 extended Range cab. It's priced at $350, is 4x10, 400 watts rms, it's 4ohms so it would pull the full power of the 350. I'm sure this is considered an entry level cab. Which is fine if it sounds good. I'm hoping to get some input from some of the experts on here as to what I might expect tone wise and loudness with this cab and the 350 together, and also the difference in quality and tone/loudness between the Eden and the portaflex cabs. I am a drummer first so I don't have much knowledge on this bass equipment, but I love playing around with it and need a sweet rig for my recording studio and for when people come over to jam. I like the idea of the 4x10 and that's a great price I think. But I want to be sure I can achieve the tone that I'm after and not something that clearly sounds budget and that makes me want better. I should add that my bass is a squire 70s jazz and my previous rig was a TC electronic BG250. Thanks for any help you can offer.
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First of all congratulations and welcome to the club! :D

What about getting a second SVT-210? Together, they'd be 4 Ohm.
One of the good things about these is, IMHO, that they are quite sensitive; meaning delivering much SPL (volume) per watt.

As for the angry bass tone; even though you mention that you like clean bass, if you want it angry at the same time, you may want to dial in enough gain to have the input signal breaking up.

Yet, tonally the SVT-210 are what I'd describe as "warm," so feel free to also try raising the treble (EDIT: or mids!) on the EQ to see if that brings more of the angryness you like to the tone.
Hope that helps a bit.

Good luck and much fun with your PF! \m/

P.S.: As for myself, I raise the mids @800Hz to get more growl out of my bass. Maybe considered "angry" as well :D
 
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#783
Actually the cab I accidentally purchased is the mc-210e. Little tiny 100 watter. Lol. So basically as soon as I attempt to get any volume out of it at all the speakers break up and it sounds pathetic. And it can't go low whatsoever. Farts out pretty quick. Surprisingly it sounds ridiculously good if I don't push it too hard though. Which is part of the reason how I ended up with it.
 
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#784
versicolor said:
Actually the cab I accidentally purchased is the mc-210e. Little tiny 100 watter. Lol. So basically as soon as I attempt to get any volume out of it at all the speakers break up and it sounds pathetic. And it can't go low whatsoever. Farts out pretty quick. Surprisingly it sounds ridiculously good if I don't push it too hard though. Which is part of the reason how I ended up with it.
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Ah, makes sense then :D
I'd propose either 2x SVT-210 - you can start with one, and get a second one, later.
Or getting 2x 115HE (or 1x 115HE and 1x 210HE) which you might get used for excellent prices.
For the price range you're aiming at, I'd rather buy one very good cab, getting a second one later, than getting two cheap cabs which might not be fun and sustainable at all. But as mentioned; feel free to look at the used market - you can get some gems, there, as well.
 
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#785
I guess maybe clean is not the word to describe the tone I like and want to achieve. Definitely loud, which shouldn't be too difficult because I'm in a small studio. Impactful. As in, I like to feel it punchy and deep and thunderous in my chest. Growly like yes/rush/tool. And instead of clean I'll strike that and say not muddy. I don't like a muted tone.
 
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#786
Thank you for taking the time to respond btw. I like the idea of the 115he and later adding the 210. Any thoughts on the Eden cab? I know its tough to give accurate advice on something you have not heard etc. But is that just a cheap crappy cab? Would I definitely be better off with one of the Ampegs?
 
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#787
And then there is the matter of going with the HE or the LF. I suppose whichever cab would get me close to the tone I'm chasing. I'm extremely green with anything bass guitar related. Hence my predicament with the mc-210. Haha. Should have come here before I hastily ran out and impatiently bought up gear.
 
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#788
I have no experience with Eden cabs.
The HE and HLF cabs differ (specifically the 410HE vs. 410HLF, I do have experienced) that the HFL has very strong boomy low-end; yet, too muddy for my taste - but others do like it - whereas the HE belongs tonally to the 810 family; less boomy, more punchy; bass and mids are more balanced, to my ears.

So, first it might be worth to find out what tones your after - might not be just one tone, but several tones you want to achieve. A big plus, IMHO, is that the EQ/tone stack in the PF allows not only subtle EQing but actual tone shaping. That widens the range of cabs that may sound good with that amp. Still it'd be hard to make a 410HLF sound like a 410HE or the other way round :D
 
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#789
P.S.: No, Ampeg cabs are not the only cabs that do sound great through an Ampeg amp.
It's just the most reasonable thing for people like me who have a specific sound in mind; I love the Ampeg tone through an 810, so getting a similar sounding cab is the easiest route to get there. Partly, because the amp and cabs are designed to work together and achieving a specific tonal character, I believe.

However, if you have a different tone in mind, or are open to other tones, then it's absolutely resonable to experiment, also using other cabs, in my opinion. If, for example, you'd want totally clean, high-dynamic and full-range sound, then some Glockenklang cabs might be a good choice. It really depends on what you're aiming at.
So, don't be afraid to try other cabs, as well.
What I initially meant about cheap and sustainable was to not being deceived by cheaper prices - you may end up paying twice; once for buying a cab just because it's cheap - then a second time when buying a cab that actually sounds the way you like it. Hope that makes sense - sorry for describing it so complicated :D
 
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#792
Have you thought about getting a pair of the 210AV cabs? I've seen them used at less than $200. Killer cabs, and the vertical arrangement is super easy to hear, especially on tight stages. I have a pair and love 'em.

3 of them are for sale locally here in LA for $150-$160 each....
 
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#794
Recently bought an Ampeg SVT450,with matching 410HE cabinet. Have a question about the horn level settings on the back of the cab? Not being familiar,I played it this past weekend,and couple people,told me in the audience,that they were hearing a high pitch hissing noise? My hearing was not allowing me to hear high pitch frequencies? I had the horn level,at 3. I also,backed the treble off,also,and the hissing stopped. Which it was set that way,when I bought it? Is there a right setting? Which I understand it all depends on the tone you like to hear? Would appreciate any help,or comments.

Thanks!
 
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#795
Chrome Dome said:
Recently bought an Ampeg SVT450,with matching 410HE cabinet. Have a question about the horn level settings on the back of the cab? Not being familiar,I played it this past weekend,and couple people,told me in the audience,that they were hearing a high pitch hissing noise? My hearing was not allowing me to hear high pitch frequencies? I had the horn level,at 3. I also,backed the treble off,also,and the hissing stopped. Which it was set that way,when I bought it? Is there a right setting? Which I understand it all depends on the tone you like to hear? Would appreciate any help,or comments.

Thanks!
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For me, the correct setting is off :D But there really is no correct setting. However, any time you boost a frequency, you also boost its corresponding noise floor, and it's especially noticeable with treble and upper mids.
 
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#796
versacolor, I own two SVT210AV cabs, (and a few other other, mostly Ampeg cabinets), and from what you described as your desired tone, I think that two of them would be good, but you sould realize that these are small light to medium duty cabinets, that have a sound similar to the SVT810E, but are not capable of putting out as much volume as a pair of some of the other PF cabinets.

If you dont need to carry the room with a loud rock band, they might be a good choice. I bought mine used, one from a local shop for $150, and another from Craigs List for a similar amount.

The next cabinets I woud recomment is a pair of PF210HEs, or a pair of the PF115HEs. I bought a PF210HE used from Guitar Center for a pretty reasonable price, (I also bought a PF-115LF used fairly inexspensivley, but I dont think that would give you the tone you want).

I have a PF112HLF that I really like, and plan to buy another one, but I dont think that cabinet provides the tone you describe either.

Can you try any of these, or other cabinets out with your amp at a local shop?
 
#797
JimmyM said:
For me, the correct setting is off :D But there really is no correct setting. However, any time you boost a frequency, you also boost its corresponding noise floor, and it's especially noticeable with treble and upper mids.
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Thanks,JimmyM,for your reply. So I should turn the level control,on the back of the cabinet to 0? There is a control level knob on the back of the cabinet,from 0 to 16.
 
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#798
Chrome Dome said:
Thanks,JimmyM,for your reply. So I should turn the level control,on the back of the cabinet to 0? There is a control level knob on the back of the cabinet,from 0 to 16.
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Set it to where you like it. I'm not the one playing your gear, so don't feel beholden to my settings. Just know that tone boosts also increase their noise floor and set everything appropriately.
 

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