Which cab for Portaflex 350?

[PlatoFunFactory]

Hey, all! I'm looking for a medium/light-duty rig for playing at church. I mostly play a Precision with flats but I occasionally play a jazz with rounds and a pick for a more indie rock sound. I like the classic Motown sound, but I need enough flexibility to play rock, too.
*edit: I do have PA support at church with a sub.

I already have a PF-350. Do I get:

-a PF-210HE: $400 new with a $50 rebate right now
-a SVT-210AV: $300 new

...or, ignore the PF-350 and pick up a used BA210 II that's for sale near me for $300?

Yes, I know, I know--the best thing to do is play them, but that's not an option for the first two cabs, so I'd like your input on sound, weight, size, power, etc...

Thanks everyone!

 

[johnpbass]

Since you have the PF350 already, I voted PF350/PF210HE.
IMO, both cabs would be a great match with the 350 but I went 210HE because of its higher power handling and if you're using one cab at church with no PA, the PF210HE would probably be the better standalone cab. Both are very manageable weight wise, and when you say medium/light duty, that is a perfect use for the 210AV.
PF210HE has a bit more in the lows than the 210AV. 210AV is a really punchy cab, great for rock, IMO, and when you give it a bump it the lows, that makes a big difference. The PF210HE is no slouch in the punch department though.
The $50 rebate makes that a great deal for the PF210HE.

I was kind of all over the place there so I probably didn't help you make up your mind LOL!

 

[PlatoFunFactory]

I was kind of all over the place there so I probably didn't help you make up your mind LOL!

Hey, you added info, which is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

I actually just wandered in to a Guitar Center and they had the BA210. The thing gets very loud very fast! Not too heavy, though a little bulky. I don't know if I'd ever use the scrambler, but that's one thing--there's no OD on the PF-350. That, of course, could come from my Zoom b3... Yeah, this is why I want advice!

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

I own a lot of Ampeg cabinets. Among them, are two SVT210AVs, and one PF210HE.

The SVT210AV is a lighter duty cabinet than the PF210HE, and the SVT210 has a narrower frequency response.

The PF cabinet is more of a Motown voiced cabinet, (with the hf driver turned off), while the SVT210AV sounds more like a miniature SVT810E rock sound.

If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the PF, based on frequency response, and power handling, (compared to a single SVT210AV), and based on the more B15-like tone I like that the PF cabinet attempts to reproduce.

If you go with the SVT210AV, you might need two of them if you intend to play wth a loud rock band.

The BA210 is an attractive option. I have no experience with the Scrambler effect, but don't think I would make much use of it.

These decisions are not easy, and I too often just go with all possible choices just to make sure I've covered all the bases.

 

[High Camp]

The PF350 with the 210HE would be my choice, to be more precise, the PF115HE cab (but all sound fantastic).
Having said that, I have a PF350/SVT210AV set-up at home.

But for gigging, with mentioned choice, always the 210HE (for volume reasons)
(the BA210 is good, but not as good as the other choices IMHO)

IME, IMHO, YMMV

 

[PlatoFunFactory]

Man, I like the look of the SVT-210AV, I like the size of the SVT-210AV, and I like the weight of the SVT-210AV, but apparently all you guys care about is it *sounding* good!

Seriously, though, thanks for the advice. It sounds like the 210HE is the way to go, especially with the rebate going on right now. Besides, it weighing in at twice what the SVT-210AV does, it's a good reason for me to get back into the gym!

Hopefully I'll check back in a few days and let you know how it sounds.

 

[mmbongo]

After having both of the cabs you mentioned, I found the 115HE to be my favorite of them all. Goes deeper than the 210's and does not fart out as easily, and sounds great in the mids.

 

[Ox Boris]

It won't make the slightest practical difference once it's in a band, so here's the clincher: The 210HE is a Flip-Top. Bolt your 350 to it and, if my experience is anything to go by, amaze and delight your friends, who, despite having been gigging musos for 30 years have never seen the like.

 

[kpc]

Hey, all! I'm looking for a medium/light-duty rig for playing at church. I mostly play a Precision with flats but I occasionally play a jazz with rounds and a pick for a more indie rock sound. I like the classic Motown sound, but I need enough flexibility to play rock, too.
*edit: I do have PA support at church with a sub.

I already have a PF-350. Do I get:

-a PF-210HE: $400 new with a $50 rebate right now
-a SVT-210AV: $300 new

...or, ignore the PF-350 and pick up a used BA210 II that's for sale near me for $300?

Yes, I know, I know--the best thing to do is play them, but that's not an option for the first two cabs, so I'd like your input on sound, weight, size, power, etc...

Thanks everyone!

I would use the PF115he matching cab. I think it sounds better. More lows....JMTC

 

[johnpbass]

No

Man, I like the look of the SVT-210AV, I like the size of the SVT-210AV, and I like the weight of the SVT-210AV, but apparently all you guys care about is it *sounding* good!

Seriously, though, thanks for the advice. It sounds like the 210HE is the way to go, especially with the rebate going on right now. Besides, it weighing in at twice what the SVT-210AV does, it's a good reason for me to get back into the gym!

Hopefully I'll check back in a few days and let you know how it sounds.

Just for the record, although I voted for the 210HE for your situation, I actually prefer the tone of the 210AV. I have two of them.

 

[JimmyM]

Hey, you added info, which is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

I actually just wandered in to a Guitar Center and they had the BA210. The thing gets very loud very fast! Not too heavy, though a little bulky. I don't know if I'd ever use the scrambler, but that's one thing--there's no OD on the PF-350. That, of course, could come from my Zoom b3... Yeah, this is why I want advice!

There actually IS OD on the PF350...crank the gain knob into the red.

The PF210he will go deeper in the lows and go louder than the SVT 210av, but some of us dig the rolled off lows of the 210av and don't need the extra power handling. I think they're both terrific cabs, though, so decide what's more important to you and act accordingly.

 

[The Regulator]

If you are in doubt about volume with a 210, for some more bucks you should check out the SVT-212AV.

 

[AMJBASS]

I'm currently using a pair of svt210av's with a PF350 head(or an Aguilar TH500) and it's a fantastic sounding rig. I've owned a ton of great gear including boutique cabs like Bergantino, Baer, Aguilar etc and the SVT210AV's give me what I'm looking for. A pair stacked vertically is a beautiful thing