Whats up with Ampeg's 15" cabs?

[SwitchGear]

Both of my SVT115e's are only two or three years old.

I never played through the older ones (90's), but I like everything about mine and am a happy camper. Playing through two stacked is tone nirvana for me.

 

[myrockinbass]

Mine is about 5yrs old and just crapped out.

 

[nellie48]

I have a 410HEN which I bought new back in 1999. I also have a 210HEN which I bought used in 2005. They are both SLM. I noticed that the back of the speakers (magnets) inside the 210 look very different from the 410. They appear to have shiny metal on the magnets with a round steel mesh vent (strainer) like thing in the center. The 410s just look like simple old school speaker backs. Any thoughts?

 

[JimmyM]

Both of my SVT115e's are only two or three years old.

I never played through the older ones (90's), but I like everything about mine and am a happy camper. Playing through two stacked is tone nirvana for me.

If they work, they work. My personal preference is for the 90's cabs (actually, my preference is for my old straightback 810 ) but if you like them, that's all that counts.

 

[3toes]

+1 on the 90s stuff. I <3 my 90s cabs.

 

[maevinj]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that both my cabs svt 15e and 410he are from the late 90's. I would not trade them in for anything, not sure how the newer cabs sound.

 

[georgestrings]

Ampeg for speakers is a waste of damn time. You can get much better elsewhere for much less. Ampeg is tube heads, and the HLF series cabs only, imho

For the rest of their line you'd be better off buying almost any other brand.

I couldn't be more in agreement on all of the above - it's as if I wrote it myself...



- georgestrings

 

[Lync]

My 115EN is from 2001/2002 (Made in USA). Spec-wise, I would have never thought twice about that cab.

Then I played one and it was very fat and warm (without mud). Great match with my V4BH or Thunderfunk. Good enough for most gigs (just using stage volume as I mainly play in pubs).

 

[Bassgrinder77]

The 70's SVT 8x10 was rated at 240W RMS (two cabs were recommended for an SVT head at full power).
Generally speaking, drivers do handle more power these days but practically speaking cab power ratings are grossly exaggerated.
Maybe Ampeg is getting more real.
Drive any single 15 cab with a full 200W - in most cases the driver will be struggling (or worse).

I'm looking at the specs and it seems rediculous. The SVT 15E only has a 200 watt rms rating. Is it just me, or do most of us that gig play with a amps that put out a lot more wattage? whats the point of this cab?

 

[JimmyM]

The 70's SVT 8x10 was rated at 240W RMS (two cabs were recommended for an SVT head at full power).

The 240w rating of the early SVT cabs was a joke. I can speak from experience that they can handle way more than 240w. I have cranked my 500w LMII so loud that the limiter kicks in (which I'm pretty sure is full available clean volume) and the speakers don't even blink. Ampeg had a habit of underrating their gear back then. It was as if they were actually scared of the power they could put out.

 

[Craig_S]

Ampeg cabs were the shizzy back in the 90's.

Yeah, she's a keeper. I'm glad someone else thinks so.

The point of my previous post, though, was to say I wouldn't be surprised if the SVT15 would handle more power than it was rated at. This being based on experience with my 410 cab. I'm only guessing.

OP: I say test it and see what it handles. Just play it and keep turning your amp up until you hear speaker distortion.

 

[Bassmec]

Seat of the pants is the best way, my experience is, if a speaker is sounding good it isn't going to blow today.
If it doesn't sound good, try turning it down just a bit!
Fukk what it says on the back!

 

[JimmyM]

Yeah, turn it down anyway. You're all way too loud for the room.

 

[SwitchGear]

Jimmy or 3toes,

Do you know what are the physical differences between the 2000's and the 90's model SVT cabs?

 

[JimmyM]

The speakers for one. They weren't so high power handling in the 90's and to my ears they sound clearer and less boomy.

Also, I don't know the exact years it started and ended, but Ampeg was using USB for their cabs, or as I like to call it, chipboard, in the early 2000's. God forbid your cab ever banged into something or got wet. They don't use USB anymore but they do use the crap speakers.

 

[pedalguy1]

hey, thanks for all the replys guys. I was asking because i run two SVT 410 He's with a peavey VB-2 and was kicking around the idea of maybe selling a 410 and throwing a 15 under there for some more "shake". Im not sure what the volume difference will be between the two cabs, or if the 15 can take my volume. ( I play in a power metal band).

 

[maevinj]

hey, thanks for all the replys guys. I was asking because i run two SVT 410 He's with a peavey VB-2 and was kicking around the idea of maybe selling a 410 and throwing a 15 under there for some more "shake". Im not sure what the volume difference will be between the two cabs, or if the 15 can take my volume. ( I play in a power metal band).

I know this may sound weird, but I think the svt410 has more shake than the svt15 . i actually put my svt15 on top of my 410 cab. ymmv

 

[SwitchGear]

Thanks Jimmy. The reason I like my 1x15 SVT cabs is the clarity and lack of boom, compared with most other 1x15 cabs I have used.

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks Jimmy. The reason I like my 1x15 SVT cabs is the clarity and lack of boom, compared with most other 1x15 cabs I have used.

Well, to be totally honest, I'm speaking more about the 10" cabs than the 15" cabs. I probably should have specified that first off. Sorry

 

[Lync]

I'll have to check on the exact date of mine. It seems to be made well. I do use a cover though, so I don't know about it getting wet and turning into oatmeal.