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Which amp head do I buy for my ampeg 810e?

RamptonRebel

RamptonRebel

Nov 19, 2023
123
243
33
England
#1
I’ve been looking at the orange terror bass head and the ampeg Ventura v7 as possibilities but would love to know what is thought of the markbass tube 800 as I love the idea of having a dedicated tube/solidstate knob and I’m partial to markbass in general. Saying that it would be nice to have an Ampeg head for the ampeg cab just to keep it the same brand, or is that too ocd? This is my rig currently:
 

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#5
Only speaking for myself here, but it would never even have occurred to me that there might be other possibilities than a V4B. All tube head with enough power for (almost) anything at a decent price? I guess portability and weight isn't a valid category here anyway, and the cab will always shape your sound ampeg-ish no matter what, so might as well take the logical next step.
 
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#6
I got a V7 last year and it’s a darn good head. And if I could still move them regularly without endangering my health, I’d still have at least a V4b. Got nothing against Markbass and used an LM2 briefly, but Ampeg amps just do what I want, and the V7 is definitely a step above their previous micro models.
 
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#8
I’ve used many different heads with my Ampeg 810AV. From an ELF to an SVTVR. They all work well. My favorite is an Ampeg V4B (vintage or modern).
The Trace Elliot ELF head was a hoot. Nice volume level and the size of a pedal. It sounded really good!
 
#10
The problem you have is carting that fridge. To where you can audition different amps.
But whatever sounds good IS good! Big ass tube amps are cumbersome, cranky @ times. But DAMN, WHAT a sound! Valve pre sections get you 8/10ths the way there. But for reliability & a ton of headroom. They are the best choice. My suggestion is find somewhere where they already have an 810 Ampeg there. & different Amps to try. My ears ain't yours. But mirrored in the responses Genzler sound fantastic! Mesa subways great. Vintage Trace Elliott ELF 👍 But Ampeg running Ampeg especially SVT or V4B I don't think you will be disappointed in the least! Tone wise. Or at least until a valve ***** itself! Hahahahaha! Especially if fat harmonically saturated tone with THAT original growl is something you love. Injecting my own bias here. Power tubes on the edge of breakup have a sound all their own. Transistors damp the overhang of a note faster through most speakers. Higher damping factor. But with big valve amps there is a more laid back responsiveness to your fingers. Kinda like its alive.Timmy Arrr Timmy from Rage Against the Machine ran banks of these live. If you LOVE that sound. You can "emulate" it or you can have the real thing. Life is short. I Know what I would go for. But the choice is entirely yours.
 
#13
RamptonRebel said:
I’ve been looking at the orange terror bass head and the ampeg Ventura v7 as possibilities but would love to know what is thought of the markbass tube 800 as I love the idea of having a dedicated tube/solidstate knob and I’m partial to markbass in general. Saying that it would be nice to have an Ampeg head for the ampeg cab just to keep it the same brand, or is that too ocd? This is my rig currently:
Click to expand...

O.P., I can only tell you what worked for me and the SVT 810 cab I gigged with.

I started with two SVT 810's powered with the SVT 300 watt tube head. After afew years of use the head became problematic. In 1984 I traded the SVT head in for what was the new thing at that time, a G.K. 800RB head and scaled back to using just one of the 810 cabinets.

"My ears", loved the GK/Ampeg combination. The GK's brighter clarity, solid low-end and it's feeling of a fast transient response, the Ampeg 810's slightly wool'ish/darker response.
Really had that ying/yang thing going on!

I gigged with the GK/Ampeg combination from 1984 to 2008'ish when I decided to jump onto the class D head and Neo driver loaded cabinets bandwagon.

I'd suggest your trying a GK head through your 810, see if it works for you.
 
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#14
If I were looking for a head to sit on top of my 810..... I'd want something that can be dialed in dirty.

SVT-CL (obvious choice, and equally as heavy - loved that setup for many, many gigs)
Aguilar Tone Hammer (can be clean or dirty, great head - love mine)

MarkBass LMT800 is great, I have one -- but, it doesn't do dirty.
New Quilter V803 looks awesome, but I've not tried one yet.
 
#15
RamptonRebel said:
I’ve been looking at the orange terror bass head and the ampeg Ventura v7 as possibilities but would love to know what is thought of the markbass tube 800 as I love the idea of having a dedicated tube/solidstate knob and I’m partial to markbass in general. Saying that it would be nice to have an Ampeg head for the ampeg cab just to keep it the same brand, or is that too ocd? This is my rig currently:
Click to expand...
IMHO, there are two choices, Ampeg SVT or Ampeg V4B. The SVT was originally designed for large stadium venues. I gigged for years doing club gigs with an Ampeg 8x10 and a V4B. The V4B is plenty for any club gig.
 
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