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Thinking of Buying an Ampeg 810E

Gin

Gin

Apr 11, 2008
227
13
Manitoba, Canada
#1
So is it worth the buy, from all the reviews I've read, it's supposed to sound like a beast and built like a tank? It's going to be a long term investment, and I currently have a 410HE which I'm really digging. Will this cab break my spine in 10 different places if I try to haul it up and down my 20 flights of stairs? I'm going for that sort of 70's prog rock tone with my Jbass, I've just sort of gravitated to buying this cabinet for some reason. What are your guy's thoughts?

Ampeg is the only real bass amp company I got around here to buy from where I live.

Thanks!
 
#4
If your stairs that have the lip that hangs over the edge, it will kill you.

If your stairs just have a right angle then it wont be bad.

If your stairs have the lip it will kill you because the wheels will get caught under each one and it will be a challenge to get it over the lip.

I know a ton of people will recommend a Bergantino NV610 instead. Just warning you.

They definitely sound beastly, and you see them all over the world completely beat up but they are still going strong so I'd say that says something to the effect of them being built like a tank.
 
#6
Just for an alternate viewpoint - I played one recently and compared it side by side with a Mesa Powerhouse 4x10 - and the Mesa sounded so much better - way more clarity, growl, definition, etc. Wanted to like the Ampeg, as the price was right, but just couldn't justify it.

Just my opinion after a relatively short tryout, but hope it helps a bit in your decision. Good luck.
 
#7
Keld said:
Just for an alternate viewpoint - I played one recently and compared it side by side with a Mesa Powerhouse 4x10 - and the Mesa sounded so much better - way more clarity, growl, definition, etc. Wanted to like the Ampeg, as the price was right, but just couldn't justify it.

Just my opinion after a relatively short tryout, but hope it helps a bit in your decision. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Oh geez, I totally forgot about Mesa, the shop deals with Mesa as well, but I never see a 810 mesa cab in there, but Ill test drive both and whatever has the more reasonable price what sounds good to me soundwise etc.
 
#8
For me it's totally worth the lug...except when I'm going up and downstairs. Done it many times, and it's not fun.

BTW, my advice is to get one made from the 90's or before, or get a newer one from China. There was a period where Ampeg used OSB chipboard in their cabs, and those don't hold up very well against stairs. The wheels pop out, they get punctured, and they have structural problems when they get wet. I don't know the exact dates but it's like from the late 90's to the mid-2000's. But the Chinese cabs use real wood, and so do all the cabs from the 90's and beyond. The older cabs only handle half the 800w of the newer ones and they don't go as low, but they're brighter and you can get more zing out of them.
 
#9
Keld said:
Just for an alternate viewpoint - I played one recently and compared it side by side with a Mesa Powerhouse 4x10 - and the Mesa sounded so much better - way more clarity, growl, definition, etc. Wanted to like the Ampeg, as the price was right, but just couldn't justify it.

Just my opinion after a relatively short tryout, but hope it helps a bit in your decision. Good luck.
Click to expand...

....then the guitars, drums and vocals kicked in and everything
changed. Seriously what head(s) did you use in this side by side?
I notice that my SVT II and 810 sound servicable when
solo'd, but outfreakingstanding in the band mix, but then I'm
stuck in my ways....the ways of the:ninja:
 
#12
NOVAX said:
....then the guitars, drums and vocals kicked in and everything
changed. Seriously what head(s) did you use in this side by side?
I notice that my SVT II and 810 sound servicable when
solo'd, but outfreakingstanding in the band mix, but then I'm
stuck in my ways....the ways of the:ninja:
Click to expand...

I used an SVT Classic. Obviously the Ampeg 810 works great for many people, and I can only speak to the new ones, but I was underwhelmed in comparison. I also have a 410he and I've noticed that it's lacking in overall clarity as well. And yes, the 410 does sound much better in a band setting, but it's a lot easier to roll off frequencies than it is to add them in.

My opinion is certainly under the premise of YMMV, IMHO, etc.; just trying to offer another viewpoint. :) FWIW, I put my $$ where my mouth is and bought the Mesa 810, even though it was *much* more money...
 
#13
Good cab but not sure what your aiming at when you say 70's prog rock tone.
70's prog rock bassists and their 70's cabs:
Chris Squire - Sunn 4x12 and 6x12 cabs.
Geddy Lee - Ampeg V4B 2x15, Sunn 2x15 and custom 2x15 cabs.
Greg Lake - Hiwatt 4x12 and various PA type cabs.
John Wetton - Hiwatt 4x12 and 1x18 (folded horn) cabs
Mike Rutherford - Hiwatt 4x12 cabs
Roger Waters - Hiwatt 4x12 cabs
I can't think of one prog player who used SVT 8x10 in the 70's. The 70's genre that really went for the SVT 8x10 was punk and new wave.

Gin said:
So is it worth the buy, from all the reviews I've read, it's supposed to sound like a beast and built like a tank? It's going to be a long term investment, and I currently have a 410HE which I'm really digging. Will this cab break my spine in 10 different places if I try to haul it up and down my 20 flights of stairs? I'm going for that sort of 70's prog rock tone with my Jbass, I've just sort of gravitated to buying this cabinet for some reason. What are your guy's thoughts?

Ampeg is the only real bass amp company I got around here to buy from where I live.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
#14
Gin said:
So is it worth the buy, from all the reviews I've read, it's supposed to sound like a beast and built like a tank? It's going to be a long term investment, and I currently have a 410HE which I'm really digging. Will this cab break my spine in 10 different places if I try to haul it up and down my 20 flights of stairs? I'm going for that sort of 70's prog rock tone with my Jbass, I've just sort of gravitated to buying this cabinet for some reason. What are your guy's thoughts?

Ampeg is the only real bass amp company I got around here to buy from where I live.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hi Gin.

As of last month, L & M sells bass amps made by Ampeg, Traynor (Yorkville Sound), and Gallien-Kruger (Y.S. is G.K.'s exclusive Canadian distributor and handles all of their warranty & repair work BTW).

Long & McQuade

651 Stafford Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3M 2X7
Phone: (204) 284-8992; Lessons: (204) 284-5180
Fax: (204) 452-2303
Email: [email protected]

Hours:

Mon-Fri: 9:30 - 8:00
Sat: 9:30 - 6:00
Sun: CLOSED

Ampeg SVT-810E/AV - 140 lbs

Traynor TC810 - 156.5 lbs. :eek:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] - 99 lbs.

A good, stair-climbing hand truck (like the kind used to move fridges, not cheap but worth it) is a long-term, back-saving investment when it comes to moving any big cab.
 
#16
Have your drummer help you up your stairs. Not worth the back surgery and abuse all the old guitar techs in my local shop complain about. Tilt the cab back with your back to the stairs and have a pal lift the bottom up each stair along with you. Takes a little while but eases the strain quite a bit.

Nothing sounds or looks quite as menacing as an Ampeg 810.
 
#18
Other than stairs, I find my 8-10 EASIER to move around than 4-10's or other medium sized cabs. The towel bar and wheels make it a snap. The 8-10 is actually 4 2-10 sealed cabs in one box. It will sound very different from ported cabs. Ported cabs will "boom" more. The Ampeg 8-10 will put out more low mids and not so much on the really high frequencies and way low ones. To me, that's just fine because the tone I prefer is more "punchy" than "boomy". Does that make sense? Anyway....my point is that the Ampeg 8-10 has it's own sound. If that's the sound you're going for, then you will be happy. If not, keep looking. Good luck!
 
#19
KPAX said:
Good cab but not sure what your aiming at when you say 70's prog rock tone.
70's prog rock bassists and their 70's cabs:
Chris Squire - Sunn 4x12 and 6x12 cabs.
Geddy Lee - Ampeg V4B 2x15, Sunn 2x15 and custom 2x15 cabs.
Greg Lake - Hiwatt 4x12 and various PA type cabs.
John Wetton - Hiwatt 4x12 and 1x18 (folded horn) cabs
Mike Rutherford - Hiwatt 4x12 cabs
Roger Waters - Hiwatt 4x12 cabs
I can't think of one prog player who used SVT 8x10 in the 70's. The 70's genre that really went for the SVT 8x10 was punk and new wave.
Click to expand...

Hmm I guess what I meant to say was a cab that could bring out that distinct growl and something bright sounding as well with tight lows. I guess that can be all down to how you eq/attack as well, but thats kind of what I meant by 70s prog rock tone haha. I think squire uses an 810 ampeg coupled with a marshall guitar amp(saw some vid of that awhile ago on youtube) maybe thats why I thought of it.:hiding:
 
#20
810e worth it? I used to own one and I don't think they are worth having on stage. You really need to try one out in the band setting and see if you like the tone. You will definitely be heard, but that 810e does not have a lot of clarity or high end to it. If you want a clearer more defined pick tone, you need to go somewhere else. If you want more low end for your 5th string or down tuning - look somewhere else.

I find the Mesa PH 410's (the new ones), are louder, punchier, more defined, and go much lower than the 810e ever did. Try out whatever you can and get what sounds good to your ears.
 

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