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Tuned to C + Ampeg 8x10 = bad idea?

B

black rabbit

Nov 23, 2007
31
0
#1
The band I've been playing with for the past year tunes to C (C, F, B♭, E♭). I've been using an Ampeg 8x10 the whole time and never been totally pleased with the overall sound. I assumed it was probably the head I have, but yesterday while at the guitar shop it was mentioned to me that playing through the fridge tuned this low may be the bulk of the problem.

Is it possible that perhaps running an additional bass head through a 2x15 may help round out the sound a bit more? (maybe this sounds like overkill but unfortunately I have to compete with 2 guitar players using Mesa full stacks)
 
#3
When I've played through an ampeg 8x10, I've felt like there was a bit of a lack of low end as well. I ended up settling on an SWR 8x10 Megoliath (which is ported), and that bottom end was definitely there! I know a lot of people just completely shun it because it has a tweeter, but it can easily be turned out of the mix. Just something to look into.
 
#5
i'm using the ampeg svt-450h. it has an eq, and when i boost the low end it just becomes muddy and tends to peak a lot.

i also have a Sunn concert bass, which I would probably run out of the 2x15 in addition to my current set up.
 
#6
the 450h doesn't have a lot of headroom. Have you tried your 8x10 with the sunn? yeah your best bet if tuning to C is to run the bass flat. It going to eat all your headroom if you boost the bass down at C. I think it's more your amp than your cab.
 
#7
kyuss is actually a fair comparison for the genre we're around (super loud, down-tuned, heavy, blah blah blah)

for whatever reason the sunn doesn't sound so great coming out of the 8x10. very dull compared to when i run it through a 15" speaker.

do you suggest i cut the EQ on the 450h regardless? i've been thinking about buying a Mesa 2x15. if i do buy it, would it make sense to bring down the low end on the ampeg rig and rely on the sunn/mesa to round out the sound?
 
#8
Bassist dUg Pinnick from King's X also plays through Ampeg 8x10s detuned, sometimes to low B, although he also uses a lot of EQ and processing to achieve his massive tone. While the fridges don't reproduce much fundamental at those frequencies, the overtones of those fundamentals come through, retaining the sense of the fundamental notes.
 
#9
I am tuned to C as well. I am using an SVT-2 Pro with my SVT8x10. It took me a while to EQ everything all out but I am boosting my mids alot. I think if you spent time with setting your EQ you can get it all worked out. Most bands down tuned l have noticed are also using Ampeg (we need that punchy bass) So wouldnt see it as a problem.
 
#10
i've worked with the EQ quite a bit and managed to get a sound i'm SOMEWHAT happy with, but it seems to cause the head to peak and occasionally cut out when cranked the level i need to compete with the guitar rigs.

i'm thinking that i may try out getting the 2x15, sounds like it may solve both my problems...unfortunately i don't have the finances to invest in a decent tube head at this time
 
#11
If you are trying to push more lows, you will quickly run out of headroom and lose the volume war with two full guitar stacks. The best solution is to get the guitarists to turn down a bit, or only use half stacks.

That being unlikely....

The midrange, not the lows, is what will help you cut through the mix. Try to find a frequency range which helps your bass punch through. This may be somewhere in the 300 - 800 Hz area. Although it might not sound good to you on its own, a small boost in this area will help you cut through the guitars. If they are willing to work with you, it would be a good idea if the guitarist cut a little bit of bottom/low midrange at the same time, to give you your own space in the audio spectrum (this is called frequency slotting).

Adding another cabinet can help too....
 
#14
The problem probably isn't your head. My moneys on the cab. The problem with the Ampeg 8x10 is that it hasn't changed in like 60 years. Im sorry to break it to Ampeg, but times change, and the music world is changing constantly to keep up with the vast styles of music today.
The problem is that it's range of frequency isn't the best. If you look at musicians friend, it lists the Ampeg with a frequency response from 58Hz-5KHz. In comparison, looking at the Basson 8x10 on the same website, the frequency is 28Hz-5KHz. As you can see, 28Hz is a lot lower frequency that 58Hz, almost half! Your going to get a lot more low end from the basson. Im not trying to put Ampeg down, but there are other cabs out there that can do what its doing, only a lot better.
 
#16
pedalguy1 said:
The problem probably isn't your head. My moneys on the cab. The problem with the Ampeg 8x10 is that it hasn't changed in like 60 years. Im sorry to break it to Ampeg, but times change, and the music world is changing constantly to keep up with the vast styles of music today.
The problem is that it's range of frequency isn't the best. If you look at musicians friend, it lists the Ampeg with a frequency response from 58Hz-5KHz. In comparison, looking at the Basson 8x10 on the same website, the frequency is 28Hz-5KHz. As you can see, 28Hz is a lot lower frequency that 58Hz, almost half! Your going to get a lot more low end from the basson. Im not trying to put Ampeg down, but there are other cabs out there that can do what its doing, only a lot better.
Click to expand...

Sorry no dice. Have you ever played through an Ampeg 8x10? Basson is flat to 28hz, but it's heavy as hell, and not worth the price, not to mention the OP doesn't have any sort of amp qualified to fully take advantage of the Basson 8x10. Just because some specs look better doesn't mean it's a better cab in the real world. Ampeg 8x10 is industry standard, doesn't matter if it hasn't changed in xx years. If you have eight tens you are going to hear every note down to low C.
 
#17
Even if you change the cab, basic sound theory (as presented in many posts on TB), you'll require double or triple the power to really boost the lowest notes to a decent volume with a decent sound and have enough headroom to do it.
 
#18
i think i need to do a bit more reading on sound theory...

thanks a lot for all the advice everyone! please feel free to continue the suggestions though, i'm still trying to find "my sound" and any guidance is greatly appreciated.
 
#20
If you want to hear that thing and I mean REALLY hear it get two 70's SVT heads and cabs, you'll spend some bucks but you'll never regret it and you could make the guitar players know what it feels like to be drowned out if you wanted a little revenge some night:D. I have this stuff and it is awesome, you can play anywhere with a set up like that, and the last time I checked SVT cabs were rated down to 40 hz not 58, that's nuts, I certainly hear the low E fundamental from my basses which is approx 41 Hz.
 

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