Hi all.
This is just a thought - I've never done anything like this before - so I'm asking some questions before I'll consider it viable.
I have an Ampeg B3158 Combo. It's really a well constructed heavy Ampeg cab. It tilt's back onto 2 casters, and has handles each side and one on the top for lifting. Great. Not only that - but it fits snug into the boot of my car length, height and breadth (vw polo) - So snug I can shut the boot, and leave the parcel shelf in.
I love it - It's perfect except for one thing. IT JUST NOT BLOODY LOUD ENOUGH. It used to be - until we got a new drummer (for whom I've started wearing earplugs to play with). Now it's no where near. Due to the evils of gig gear sharing - I've seen 4-5 bands use it - all of whom have remarked how much they liked it - it's much louder than you'd think for a 150W solid state combo, especially in big rooms for some reason... and it's never been not loud enough - until now, and since I've started playing with a bastard son of Animal / Moon / Bonham.
Anyway, I digress. It's a biamped 150W B3 head (one 50W and one 100w, although I have a feeling there's 3 power amps sections) - One 8" 50w 4ohm driver and a 15" 150w (according to the parts list) 8ohm Woofer.
For those who don't know what these combos look like - here's a picture.
Mine's an older one - looks far more "classic" Ampeg than that. More like a thin, tall svt15e speaker cab with a built in head.
So - I decided to get a new rig. I've decided I want an svt3-pro, which is good. That bit's done. (I think!)
Now the problem comes with the cab. I would really like to be able fit a cab in the boot of my car - parcel shelf down.
So - I got to thinking - Why not take the head out of my B3158. An svt3-pro head might even fit the hole left, I've checked the dimensions and it's pretty close...
Then replace the 15" and 8" speakers with new 8ohm ones - making it a 4ohm cab and getting the full 450W from the svt.
I reckon the combo is worth £250-£300 - it's in really good nick. Which would be enough to put towards an ampeg b15 and some sort of 2x10.
If I did the upgrades, the speakers would cost about £100?? which would be about the same price as me selling the combo and buying 2 new cabs (£350-£400). But then I'd be stuck with transportation issues.
So basically the choice is -
1) Upgrade the speakers - have no transport problems, not have to find a buyer for the combo, not have to find new cabs - only have a 15" and 8"
2) Sell the combo - buy 2 cabs - have transport issues, have to do all the buying and selling, driving and picking stuff up - have a 15" and two 10s (and have gear that's built to do what I'm using it for!)
Does anyone think upgrading the speakers is a good idea? Or am I just being a tosser?
Please be blunt.
Cheers
John