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This goes out to all you driver mixing haters...

J

JimWasHere

Sep 8, 2010
715
5
Portland, OR
#1
From the craigslist ad... :p:p:p:p:p:p:p


I had this cabinet made locally by __________ in the mid 90's. It is the same dimensions as an Ampeg SVT cabinet, but it has four 10's and one 15 in it instead of eight 10's. It is also made from Baltic Birch plywood and not the chipboard of many SVT cabinets. The pictures don't show it well, but it is covered in black tolex with an Oxblood grillecloth. It is in perfect shape cosmetically with no rips or tears and has been my gigging cabinet for years. Unfortunately for me, I need to sell it to get money for school, so my loss is your gain. It has side handles that the standard Ampeg cabinets do not have, and it can be split to run just the 4x10's or just the 15 as an 8 ohm load for either, or both together for a 4 ohm load. The speakers all work perfectly with no issues and the cabinet sounds great overall. It has handles on the back to move it around, and it also has wheels just like an SVT cabinet. More pictures available upon request.

I'm looking for $460 for it, but if you like it, make me a reasonable offer. No trades and cash only.
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5N25L95J73K13Me3mcc3idd4283f773c71898.jpg

5N45Fe5H93Kb3Id3pac3ia4934e41b609139a.jpg
 
#10
johnk_10 said:
looks like the short lived ampeg 1510HE without the tweeter to me...............................


Link Removed


and IMO, they were short-lived for a reason.
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We played a show a few months ago with a band and the bassist used one of these as his cab.

And, as would/should be expected, it sounded ********. Some notes you could barely hear, other notes were ridiculously loud.:rollno:
 
#11
RickenBoogie said:
+1 and even Mesa Engineering, an otherwise great MI builder, does the dreaded Powerhouse 1200 with the same concept. People buy with their eyes, and MI manufacturers want to SELL.
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and prior to the recent vintage of mixed driver Powerhouse 1000/1200 cabs, Mesa also made the Roadready 15+4x10 and a smaller version with 12+4x8. I tried one of the 15+4x10's driven with a 400+ some years ago, and it sounded pretty good to my ears. Big, rock voiced (grindy mids) kind of tone, and very loud.

I know that current cab science says this is a bad idea (and I do not argue against the science), but there is always that product that is not SUPPOSED to work but somehow manages to fit a need.
 
#14
Schpector said:
We played a show a few months ago with a band and the bassist used one of these as his cab.

And, as would/should be expected, it sounded ********. Some notes you could barely hear, other notes were ridiculously loud.:rollno:
Click to expand...
I do this once a year gig in Idaho where the backline company used to supply me a 1540. Hated it. Never used the 15. I asked them to bring me a regular 810 next year and they brought that monstrosity back again. That time I begged them to bring a regular 810 next time and threatened to push it off the side of the stage if they brought the 1540 back. Finally they stopped, but it was an omen of what was to come with these guys. Every year it's something.
 
#15
This thread inspired me to read up on the Mixed Cab Phasing Issues thread that is linked in the FAQ. Informative read (I didn't read much into the debate over the subjective points).

My current setup gets the job done,...but I see me picking up a matching Avatar B410NEO in the future. May take the opportunity to get my existing cab retrofited with grill cloth and order the new cab with the same.
 
#16
Many of the mixed cabinet TB threads don’t make it clear that there are exceptions and sometimes mixed cabinets work very well together and sound awesome - IE, when bi-amped, and etc.

EDIT: Also read agedhorse’s very insightful and helpful related comments in this link - starting with post #59 on page 3 and etc. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/speakers-vertically-stacked-863565/
 
#17
Bi-amp rigs were almost a necessity at one time but since the advent of high power passive crossovers not so much anymore. Even when using a cab such as this in a bi-amp rig the temptation is to try and get the 15 as loud as the 4x10. This it cannot do and will eventually fail. It simply is engineering by looks and not science. In my mind why waste a perfectly good amplifier channel just to push the mids and highs? It's a waste of resources. As both sections are in fact full range that's the obvious way to use them.
 
#18
Oh I'm definitely aware that there can be exceptions,...or the very least,...if it sounds good to your ears,...that's what counts. I payed special attention to the disclaimers of subjectivity when I was reading up. :)

I have no problem with the sound of my exisitng cab; which are a 4x10 and a 2x15; if there is a better way, IE matched cabs, I'm all for attempting that and making the decision of what to go with via my own ears and experiences.

My biggest factors for considering a change would be easing up on transportation,...upgrade to a more modern and lighter cab and the fact that I've moved from a stereo SS Preamp/Poweramp rig to a mono Tube amp.
 
#19
warwick.hoy said:
This thread inspired me to read up on the Mixed Cab Phasing Issues thread that is linked in the FAQ. Informative read (I didn't read much into the debate over the subjective points).

My current setup gets the job done,...but I see me picking up a matching Avatar B410NEO in the future. May take the opportunity to get my existing cab retrofited with grill cloth and order the new cab with the same.
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+ 1 to you for being rational, doing your own research, and not trying to argue everyone into agreeing with the viability of mis-matched drivers.:D
 
#20
CL400Peavey said:
It fit a need so well that they only were made for a limited time. :ninja:
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I'm not sure how long they were made originally, but Mesa made 3 versions of the original 1516, one of which could be run full range or bi-ampable (1516b). During the same period they also made the Jr. version - 12+4x8. These can be found easily on the used market all the time.

Mesa must have liked the design, because they brought out a similar box (1000/1200) when they released the Powerhouse series.

again, I am not championing mixed driver cabs, and am not arguing against the audio science that discredits these designs, but this type of cab must sell some number of units for so many to be available on the used market, and for a reputable company like Mesa to bring them out more than once (and Mesa is not the only maker to do this .. witness the Ampeg cab pictured in the thread).

anyhoo .. carry on. but most importantly,

enjoy!
 

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