Thoughts on this..Ampeg SVT410HLF

[Philhodson]

Hi All

Am looking for advice on this cabinet. Still looking for a good SVT to play through it

I’m coming from an old Hartke 4x10 and am wondering how this sounds.

Regards

Phil

 

[Gearhead17]

I suggest you jump on google and type in the following: Ampeg SVT 410HLF talkbass.

That should bring up at least 20 threads on this cabinet. I owned two years ago and I am glad I sold them. They had way too much low end, very little midrange 300-700hz, and the high end was just ok. Not a worthwhile investment.

 

[JimmyM]

Get one made after 2010 if you want one, and a Heritage if you want one that REALLY sounds good. I kind of agree with Gearhead that they go too low for my tastes, but many folks like it, and the newer ones at least toned down the woof a little and added back some mids.

 

[Philhodson]

That’s what I had read too. I just wanted to know if this was still the case. I don’t think I want that much low end.

Thanks for helping me make my decision

Phil

 

[john_g]

Had one for years and it served me well at tons of gigs. It does go down low and Ive heard others say it can be a little muddy, but my usual tone is a bit mid-forward so it worked for me. I decided to go "modular" and get two 210AV cabs and when I need 4x10 I can take both and stack them. Plus the 210AVs are 26lbs a piece and the HLF was something like 120lbs. Overall I really liked my HLF though.

 

[musicman556]

I have two, a recent Heritage SVT410HLF and an old early 2000s B series 410HLF. The Heritage is the bee's knees. It just does whatever I want it to. Sounds fantastic with a little bit of OD!

The old B series is meh... it's been fine for church use as I keep things clean and mild there. I wouldn't buy one again, but I've had it for almost 20 years now and am kinda sentimental about it now, lol!

If you can find a Heritage model in stock anywhere, I would definitely check it out.

 

[Bent77]

Hi All

Am looking for advice on this cabinet. Still looking for a good SVT to play through it

I’m coming from an old Hartke 4x10 and am wondering how this sounds.

Regards

Phil

Which Hartke, some of those are great cabs

I had a Classic series HLF. Also have tried many since in stores. Not for me.
In most these cases I was pushing it with 100-300w tube heads. One case was a 500w SS

 

[IG-11]

The HLF really isnt that bad. Depends on the player most the Time.
Was in a shared studio with 3 bands. Was a few cabinets to " borrow"
HLF sounded ok. Just had less output than the other 410 cab.
Just a cheap GK. Other guy uses some weird looking Aguilar 1x12s.
do ok I guess. HLF kinda sounds more full actually

Far as being a muddy crazy speaker. Not really, sounds like a 410
just adjust the EQ. I dont think it would be much different than
the Hartke. Just sounds like a 4x10 every one is little different.

 

[shadven]

That’s what I had read too. I just wanted to know if this was still the case. I don’t think I want that much low end.

Thanks for helping me make my decision

Phil

Get the 410 HE

 

[Sauron_]

I have the Heritage and I think is the cabinet which best manages a low B string.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Personally I think the Ampeg 410HLF is the worst cab ever sold by a major brand but some people like it. If you want deep, boomy lows and scooped mids you might like it.

My experience it that it's useless for recording (not enough mids to sit properly in the mix) and too boomy for use on-stage (impossible to hear the bass properly even though the entire room is rattling).

I honestly don't understand how anyone can have anything positive to say about this cab but YMMV (I guess...).

I'm sure someone will say "use the tone controls" but personally I found it impossible to dial in enough mids or cut the mud/boom with this cab without completely ruining the tone in the process.

 

[4stringfarley]

I had one, could never get a good sound out of it. Could just have been an incompatibility issue with the head I was using, but I had to drive it hard to be heard due to it's muddy nature. On it's own it sounded great, but once the Marshall DSL and Peavey 5150 started pumping I was lost.

 

[lokikallas]

Great cab for hip hop and reggae. I ended up missing my mids and moved on.

 

[InhumanResource]

Get the 410 HE

And then get another one!

 

[Lovep]

I like the Heritage 410HLF, but I sold it and got a 410HE. It’s a much tighter cab that goes pretty low, just not as low as the HLF. The mids in the HE are more present and crisp while being much easier to EQ.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I have owned three 410HE. Why three? For a while I wasn't doing any gigs that required a 410. The second one was an older SLM gen 410HE that I never really loved the sound of. The newest 410 HE cabinets are actually not that heavy and just an overall very manageable footprint for when you want the 410 sound but not the embarrassment of looking like you brought an excessively large cab to a smallish gig. The 410HE cuts through and gives you enough low end without the uncontrollable whomp.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Hi All

Am looking for advice on this cabinet. Still looking for a good SVT to play through it

I’m coming from an old Hartke 4x10 and am wondering how this sounds.

Regards

Phil

Tons of low end that isn’t very well defined.

Weak midrange

Some high end sizzle.

 

[dagrev]

Hi All

Am looking for advice on this cabinet. Still looking for a good SVT to play through it

I’m coming from an old Hartke 4x10 and am wondering how this sounds.

Regards

Phil

I second Jimmy's comments on the Heritage. He guided me to a Heritage 410 years ago and I love it. Sounds fantastic with my Ampeg V-4BH tube head. Massive but still with definition. I never cared for any of the Ampeg 410s I ever played through, but the Heritage is in a league of it's own. Well worth the extra money.

 

[rodl2005]

I had an old SL made SVT410HLF, didn't like it. But I've used a few different Heritage SVT410HLF's and I've always been happy with the sound from em. Might have
to cut the lows a little, add a little low mids, but they've always worked

 

[AlexanderB]

As this cab has a fuller and more extended reproduction of your bass tone, in both frequency range and dynamics, it will expose errors and problems. It also needs a powerful amp to sound good and articulate.

So if you have sloppy technique, uneven volume or string-to-string balance, or a weak amp, you will not like this cab. It will reveal such shortcomings that other cabs will hide.

I have a a fairly consistent attack and even tone, use either a decent or a fine amp, and I know how to work the mid control. After almost a decade with MIC SVT-410HLF, on various stages and jams, from blues to pop to rock to jazz, outdoors or indoors, I have ZERO complaints.
I consistently get thumbs up for great tone and balance, regardless what bass I use.