Anyone here have or used to have an Ampeg 810?

[G-bitch]

Reason I ask is that I’ve just got back off a two week holiday in the states including seeing a couple of friends bands at gigs and rehearsals – all using fridges – which are basically just your defacto standard backline over there, and they sounded bloody fantastic.

I’m currently using an old Ampeg V4 head with a Marshall VBC 412 cab (budget choice mostly) having tried it with a selection of ported cabs, the difference with a sealed cabinet design was very noticeable (I’d always thought that the differences lauded on Talkbass etc. using sealed cabs with valve heads would be fairly minor – wrong!). Anyway, I generally prefer the sound of tens and would love to get a fridge to match the valvey goodness of the head and to have the iconic R&R bass stack. Is that daft?

The weight is a bit of a put-off (75kg vs 49kg for the Marshall) but at the end of the day, I’ve generally got someone who can help (the missus is a good strong lass ) and I’ve a trailer that it’ll fit in quite nicely with a drop rear so I can just slide it up (oo er).

How many of you got one and then sold it? They don’t come up second-hand all that often so presume it’s a wait and see job as they certainly aren’t worth paying £800 new for. Anyone know of any used ones about at the minute? I’ve got until the end of September to sort it – the Mrs has never seen the Marshall cab so if she doesn’t know that I’ve changed it to something even bigger/heavier then my conscience will be clear (we’re both supposed to be having a major clear out of stuff – fortunately, the porn stays but gear is lower down the rung in her view LOL). I like the idea of one that's battered and bruised; it'll match the head better.

What a f***ing rambling mess, sorry folks.

[cetera]

[quote name='G-bitch' post='40477' date='Aug 2 2007, 03:27 PM']fortunately, the porn stays but gear is lower down the rung in her view LOL[/quote]

Good girl! lol!

[Dood]

Ya know.. this is gonna sound wierd.. so I'll try to explain!

I LOVE the sound of a big 8x10 cab... There's nothing quite like the sound of a dirty SVT, P bass and Ampeg 8x10 cranking out the lows..

but I really cant seem to get on with Ampeg cabinets. They to me have a 'tone' of their own (which is a good thing) but to me (and my gear) always seem to colour the sound in a way that I don't want.

I used to have an SVT 2 Pro and the best sound I ever got out of it was on Hartke 4.5XLs.. a real giant killer. The Ampeg equivalent just left me wanting and desperate to get rid of the 'ampeg cab tone'. I now have an Epifani 6x10 and am very impressed with 'the lows'.

Interestingly, on the discussion of tone, I am looking forward to cranking up my new Pod with.. yes you've guess it, Ampeg models!!!

So, to sum up. Yes, they are great cabs.. and I would love to 'wear' the Ampeg name. I actually think there are better 8x10's out there. (or 6x or 4x) especially now Neo cones are more prevalent. for example, I used to own 2 Tech cabs, that were 24Kg each and rated at 1200W RMS a piece. Thats a 2400W 8x10 weighing half the weight, in essence. My epifani is..ummm 32Kg I think, 1500W RMS.

Just a few thoughts!

[The Funk]

Ampeg fridge, eh?



You mean like this?

[alexclaber]

Never owned one but I can see the appeal. I would never pay the obscene prices Ampeg charge for what is essentially eight cheap 10" woofers in a simple box. This is near as dammit the speaker they use:

[url="http://www.bluearan.co.uk/menu/index.php?id=EMIALPHA10A&product=Eminence_Alpha_10_150W_10!dquote!_Driver&browsemode=category"]http://www.bluearan.co.uk/menu/index.php?i...semode=category[/url]

Keep an eye out for a well used one, or consider building your own - make it from 1/2" ply and make it a 6x10" instead of an 8x10" and you'll save yourself a ton of weight but get the same tone and only fractionally less output.

Sealed cabs tend to roll off at a higher frequency - usually around 150Hz and then the response gradually decreases eventually dropping at 12dB/octave lower down. Ported cabs stay flatter lower and then drop at 24dB/octave - but many have a mid-bass hump tuned in around 100Hz to fake sufficient bottom.

Alex

[stingrayfan]

Unless you've got a roadie, an 8x10 must be a real pain in the arse. Go for two 4x10s and then you're not always shifting the fridge about!

Edited August 2, 2007 by stingrayfan

[joegarcia]

I used to really dislike them but having used a few recently with vintage SVT's (provided backline at some festivals I did over the summer) I am converted.
So many of my favourite bass sounds came from one. Although I'm not sure how much of it was down to the SVT or the cab. I had the pleasure of using a 70's SVT with my usual cab (an Aguilar GS412) as seen in my avatar and that was easily the best tone I've ever had though.

[tonyf]

I owned a 410HLF and a 810E for years and have only just sold the 810E because I wanted something a little smaller but with a more modern sound. Times and tastes change. Kinda miss the size-related jokes from as I used to wheel it into gigs.

IMHO, the 810 is a lot of the "Ampeg sound", the design of the cab really helps shift the air and define the huge bottom end. Yeah, the usual stuff stuff said about the size and weight but thats why the cab's got tilt back wheels and the hefty handle on the back. As with anything, one develops the "technique" of moving it about in and out of cars and I managed to move mine about in a Fiesta for a while!

There's enough kicking about used to pick one up sub-£500. In my opinion, if you're after the "rock-tone", the 810E's a definite contender.

T

[Muppet]

I use a SVT4PRO with a 610 Ampeg cab. Much easier to transport than a 810 - more or less the same looks and sound.

[G-bitch]

I looked at the 610, but it isn't a sealed cab. Perhaps I should take me head a try a few cabs out whilst I'm shopping for a practise amp tomorrow/Sunday!

[wizbat]

One 8x10 is great 4 are even better!:-)

[steve-soar]

I used to use a fridge with an SVT, but we used a tour bus, had 2 roadies, and a big rehearsal room with a big lock-up, BIG BIG BIG. They are a bast**d to move anywhere, especially up staircases. At the end of the day they look dead cool and sound great but as Dood says there are lighter and better solutions to be investigated. 30+ years ago it would have been a no brainer.

[lowhand_mike]

in a word, er no

[nash]

ive never really found moveing my 8x10 around much hassle at all. im 8x10 for life.

[warwickhunt]

Only ever played through a couple 8x10" whilst sharing billing (hire rigs) and I can categorically state that you can hear yourself! The whole rig didn't float my boat and I was so glad I didn't have to hump it off stage at the end of the night (or back upstairs into my bedsit at the time).

Of the alternatives on offer, doubling up 4x10 (or multiple 2x10 if your amp can handle it) is good or like Dood said look at the 6x10s out there. I have a ported 2100 watt Tech Soundsystems 6x10 that clocks in at 30kg and yet still has rollers with a top bar and I can lift it on my own as it's only 19" wide. It's always going to be a compromise with off the shelf manufactured cabs, though there is always the self-build BFM option. I really wouldn't want to start that whole debate off again as it has been covered more than adequately on other threads.

Edited August 4, 2007 by warwickhunt

[Marcus]

Hi Guys,

I bought an Ampeg 610 and an SVT classic (new) and was in tone heaven til the Head gave up after about 4 months, replacement head gave up and I was "upgraded" to an Anniversary 810 & head free...... the couple of gigs I did with the 810 before the Anniversary head "expired" I found the 810 lumpy, thic and slow compared to the 610, ports and a horn seemed to suit the live work I was doing. I found the nearfield sound much better with the 610. Ofcourse haveing 4 810's on a stadium would rock but an 810 in the dog & duck just seemed to knock the back wall in while you can't hear the thing 3 feet away....... Great Cab like...... But I wouldn't touch the heads with a scafolding bar !!

[warwickhunt]

[quote name='Marcus' post='41181' date='Aug 4 2007, 08:53 AM']Hi Guys,

I bought an Ampeg 610 and an SVT classic (new) and was in tone heaven til the Head gave up after about 4 months, replacement head gave up and I was "upgraded" to an Anniversary 810 & head free...... the couple of gigs I did with the 810 before the Anniversary head "expired" I found the 810 lumpy, thic and slow compared to the 610, ports and a horn seemed to suit the live work I was doing. I found the nearfield sound much better with the 610. Ofcourse haveing 4 810's on a stadium would rock but an 810 in the dog & duck just seemed to knock the back wall in while you can't hear the thing 3 feet away....... Great Cab like...... But I wouldn't touch the heads with a scafolding bar !![/quote]

OMG that is one serious amount of shoddy gear! Mucho egg on the face of the supplying dealer I imagine.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

[quote name='alexclaber' post='40640' date='Aug 2 2007, 04:08 PM']Never owned one but I can see the appeal. I would never pay the obscene prices Ampeg charge for what is essentially eight cheap 10" woofers in a simple box. This is near as dammit the speaker they use:

[url="http://www.bluearan.co.uk/menu/index.php?id=EMIALPHA10A&product=Eminence_Alpha_10_150W_10!dquote!_Driver&browsemode=category"]http://www.bluearan.co.uk/menu/index.php?i...semode=category[/url]

Keep an eye out for a well used one, or consider building your own - make it from 1/2" ply and make it a 6x10" instead of an 8x10" and you'll save yourself a ton of weight but get the same tone and only fractionally less output.

Sealed cabs tend to roll off at a higher frequency - usually around 150Hz and then the response gradually decreases eventually dropping at 12dB/octave lower down. Ported cabs stay flatter lower and then drop at 24dB/octave - but many have a mid-bass hump tuned in around 100Hz to fake sufficient bottom.

Alex[/quote]
Mostly spot on. While more expensive drivers tend not to work so well in sealed cabs, the Alpha 10 has sealed friendly specs, and typically is pretty flat to 80 Hz; in an SVT the -3dB (half-power) point is 58Hz. The main source of the SVT 'sound' isn't the drivers or the sealed cab, it's the height of the radiating plane. One can get the same effect from a pair of 2x10s stacked vertically, sans cost, hernia and transportation issues.

[The Funk]

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='41285' date='Aug 4 2007, 03:33 PM']The main source of the SVT 'sound' isn't the drivers or the sealed cab, it's the height of the radiating plane. One can get the same effect from a pair of 2x10s stacked vertically, sans cost, hernia and transportation issues.[/quote]

Thanks, that's all I needed to know.

[peted]

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='41285' date='Aug 4 2007, 03:33 PM']Mostly spot on. While more expensive drivers tend not to work so well in sealed cabs, the Alpha 10 has sealed friendly specs, and typically is pretty flat to 80 Hz; in an SVT the -3dB (half-power) point is 58Hz. The main source of the SVT 'sound' isn't the drivers or the sealed cab, it's the height of the radiating plane. One can get the same effect from a pair of 2x10s stacked vertically, sans cost, hernia and transportation issues.[/quote]
I think that has just given me a wicked idea for a new rig. Thanks for the tip BFM.

[MythSte]

I have to say, After having aquired an 810, Im in love! It isnt [i]That[/i] hard to move around. And the sound you get is soooo thick and punchy. Im sure there are modern alternative ways to achieve this, but i havnt come across any that have really nailed it yet! (however, my experience IS limited compared to most round these parts)

[peted]

Is this what you were talking about BFM? I'm going to make it my mission to make this rig in a store to see what it sounds like.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

[quote name='peted' post='42176' date='Aug 6 2007, 04:08 PM']
Is this what you were talking about BFM? I'm going to make it my mission to make this rig in a store to see what it sounds like.[/quote]That's it as far as the soundfield height is concerned. That doesn't mean you'll necessary care for the tone of any specific pair of 2x10s, but it's on the right track. Find the 2x10s that give you the tone you're after and you're there.

[rodl2005]

Thought I'd add my 2c. My Bergantino NV610 IS a sealed cab-weighs 98lbs, sounds IMHO FAR better than the SVT810-check out TB & threads re the Berg NV series-especially the 610- they call it the 810 Frij killer. For good reason too-it goes lower, is FAR more articulate but still sounds "vintage" & sounds AWESOME with MY V4BH driving it!!! Has NO TWEETER/HORN etc... but spkrs are voiced to handle this. Sounds great with a bit of Overdrive-either the V4BH being 'pushed' or with the Big Muff pedal giving it the fuzz of old sly stone-Larry Graham-style. IMHO & for me Its the best cab I could ask for-easy to move -lighter than my old SVT410HLF- sounds better than an SVT810 I A/B'd it with, & is unassuming in looks- it looks like a nice bass cab, but acts like a HUGE -frij killer!!!!!!!!!
EDIT......... just re-read yr o.p. U R running a V4 ampeg now- the Bergantino NV610 suits this amp LIKE a GLOVE- it's awesome!!!!!!! it's a 4 ohm cab & IME i get MY modern V4(BH) to be plenty loud-IMO as loud as my old SVT3PRO(450w) Check out Anderbass @ talkbass-he has an old V4 & a NV610!!!! I reckon-not only will U find it easier to transport, but the sound will surpass ANYTHING u've previously heard- it's SUCH a great cab. ppl in my bands-have said-they've NEVER heard my bass so clear B4-not modern harsh clear-just lovely pronounced BASS!!!! While not being overly loud for them ... they just say it's the best bass sound they've heard. So do many Audience members!!!

Edited August 7, 2007 by rodl2005

[G-bitch]

Mate, don't think I haven't looked into it - there's no distribution here in the UK and I suspect that it would be prohibitively expensive to import one. Ok, time to email bass central