Warm Cab Help (PF115he vs SVT212av)

[dbsfgyd1]

I’m not opposed to this, but ideally I want to carry with 1 cab. I think a 4x10 would be overkill (not that that’s bad lol). Interestingly enough, a few weeks ago I purchased a GK NEO 212 and I didn’t like it. I really wanted to like that cab, thought that was exactly what I was looking for since I like the 210 so much, but the 212 was much brighter and high mid heavy than the 210 version. That’s what ended up bringing me here to look for new options

I understand. Thanks for the response. Good hunting.

 

[shoot-r]

Thanks! I do like the look of the Ampeg 2x12, just hard to test it first. There’s about 3 guitar centers 2 hours away from me but they mostly have combos. I do have an opportunity to get a 2008 Avatar 2x12 through a trade for some other gear I have, so I might give those a shot before exploring Ampeg.

I am curious though what made you dislike the PF115he? That one was up on my list with the plans to potentially pair it with a PF210 or another 115 in the future.

(Problems)
Right out of the shipping box, the PF115HE cabinet's Tolex was peeling from the cab and was hanging in places as if never glued on.
(I reglued the Tolex.)

When you picked up the cab for transport, 3 of the 4 casters would always fall out.
(I expanded the clips (?) and that helped but not 100%.)

The cabs lid would rattle unbelievably at low volume.
At high volume it was intolerable.
(I replaced the foam seal, didn't help.
I then bought 16 wood screws and 16 finish washers and screwed it down.
This stopped the rattle.)

Took the cab to a low to moderate volume rehearsal with the classic rock group I was working with at that time.
Wanted to see if it could be used as a stand-alone.
It never even came close to keeping up.
Distorted easily.
"To my ears", flat/muddy/indistinct sounding low end.

(I ended up getting one of my 210 Avatar cabs from our equipment trailer to finish the rehearsal with.
Worked and sounded very good. )


(Positives)
I thought the 115HE's crossover and Foster/Fostex horn's highs sounded very good without being to piercing and glassy.

The cabs old school grill/tolex/brand emblem's cosmetics looks very nice.

 

[BlueRock]

Good luck finding an ampeg 212av! I’ve been searching high and low for one for a few weeks now. They are an AWESOME sounding cabinet tho

This is not surprising. Sonically the SVT212AV compares to any more expensive boutique 2x12.

 

[Mastermold]

This is not surprising. Sonically the SVT212AV compares to any more expensive boutique 2x12.

It's a well-made cabinet and it sounds similar to an Ampeg 810 which a lot of folks really like.

 

[High Camp]

For outdoors I'd say one SVT212AV or two PF115HE cabs. One 410HLF wil do quite nicely as well. The other day, I used that cab with a PF500 head. Very very loud indeed. (and great sounding too. Ranging from gritty and rocky to ultra booming lows, which will scare away a herd of dinosaurs)

 

[Chico16]

Posting an update here in case anyone ends up in a similar dilemma. To try to keep it short, in addition to buying a new cab I was also selling a GK NEO 4x12 (I wanted to have 2 small cabs to carry instead of one beast). The only offer I got for the 4x12 was someone willing to do a straight trade for an Avatar NEO 210 and NEO 212. I was skeptical but went to try them out, and fell in love. The sound is close to what I was looking for, more so the 212 than the 210. I may be an Avatar guy now lol

This left me with 3 cabs, so I sold the GK 210. Now rocking the Avatar 210 at practices and 212 at shows, sometimes both together. Thank you all for your help, it was all highly appreciated and I learned a lot from you all!

 

[Chico16]

Not the best pic, but here is rat fur was probably the only thing I didn’t like about them, but they clean up well with a vacuum