Ampeg cabs

[la bam]

Hi all,

Just after opinions on Ampeg cabs.

Any experiences? Ones to miss? Compact ones? Lightweight ones?

There seems to be loads out there.

I'll save time and say an 810 is completely out of the question.

[Lozz196]

I had an SVT410HE and it was a nice sounding cab, nice balanced sound,  and used an SVT410HLF on tour last year, again nice cab. They have a reputation for being very low end biased but as I had a twangy overdrive sound it worked very well.

[la bam]

Cheers lozz. Is there much difference to look for between the HLF series and HE etc?

[Cat Burrito]

I've owned several and rate them highly. I moved to Orange a while ago but Ampeg was always solid & reliable. The Portaflex cabs were great. Medium weight but sturdy. I had a 4x10 (the heaviest), a 2x10 and a 1x15. The heavy ones have side handles so easier to carry and all have super cool retro stylings. My personal favourites & I loved flipping the lid with the head underneath.

I also had the SVT ones which were older. These looked good, sounded great but were heavier. I always ran mine with Ampeg heads but did have a phase of using an old 1978 alll valve Fender Bassman head (brilliant sound, heaviest rig ever) and an Orange Terror head - again sounded great. 

New(er) more lightweight cabs exist now but I think the Ampeg stuff is so classic & iconic that most owners don't mind the weight as they sound great and are no heavier than the stuff players had in days gone by. 

[Lozz196]

47 minutes ago, la bam said:

Cheers lozz. Is there much difference to look for between the HLF series and HE etc?

Well aside from that the HLF is a deeper more low-end biased cab, it’s also 4ohms and a fair bit bigger, though has inbuilt castors you help move it about. I used each amp with different amps & bands so difficult to be objective but I’d say the HE was more what I would recognise as the traditional Ampeg sound.

[grandad]

I gigged for many years with a Peavey Max160 into a B115E in pubs & clubs.

Well made, strong, good handles and castors. Warm deep sound. Weight 46lbs, fairly easy lift. Not made anymore.

Edited October 24, 2020 by grandad

[stu_g]

I had a 1510 I used for years,I loved that cab,great sound.

[Marvin]

I had one of the B410hlf 410s. It was a great sounding cab. It could shift a serious amount of air. Big. Built like a tank... unfortunately weighed about the same as well. 

Having owned one, I always look to see what Ampeg stuff is for sale.

[Pow_22]

Ive played them exclusively the last few years from 610, 410he, 410hlf, B410 to my current 212av.  Wonderful cabs for my type of sound (vintagey, P bass, flats etc).  Tried to go lightweight a few years back at significant cost but it was too much of a compromise tone wise.  

[Reggaebass]

How do the 115’s shape up, I’ve been browsing them lately 

[bazzbass]

On 25/10/2020 at 01:34, la bam said:

I'll save time and say an 810 is completely out of the question.

then it doesn't matter what you get, the 8x10 is THE Ampeg tone. Any other cab will sound like a similar spec cab of any make

[BassAdder60]

I have the PF115LF which I use with my PF800

Light, comes with castors, side handles etc

Seems to cover the low and high end well especially for rock 

Mine was just over £300 new 

[Reggaebass]

What’s the difference between the, PF115LF,     SVT115E, and  PN115HLF , cheers 

                                                               

[BassAdder60]

The Portaflex HE variants have the flip tops ( I don’t like ) and sealed cabs 

The PF115LF is a ported cab and no flip top and sounds deeper I think 

They are all decent but I don’t fancy latches holding my cab top together !

[Reggaebass]

How does the SVT compare with the other 15s

[NAS Bass]

I had a 410HE for a number of years which served me well in all manner of gig situations - highly recommend!

 

 

[skychaserhigh]

My 212AV is the best cab I've had in years , well recommended. 

[0175westwood29]

had a 610hlf really do miss that it was a great cab! for me it was a mini 810. also the mini 210's are great aswell!

 

[Bluescaster]

Hi. Like one of the above comments, I changed to lighter cabs in the last year. Now using Markbass. I always still look up the Ampeg gear as I used to have a 4 X 10  and a 1 X 15 paired. Was way more power than I needed. Loved the sound of Ampeg and can see myself going back to it in the future. Great gear. 

[Dan Dare]

I had an SVT210HE, which I really liked. Not too heavy, portable and small enough to fit in the car boot. I ran it with an SVT15E, which worked well, but I really wanted another 210HE (which were no longer made). I eventually sold both and got what I have now (which I'm very happy with, but they cost me quite a bit). And what do you know? I came across a mint used 210HE a short while later. Sod's law.

Edited January 14, 2021 by Dan Dare

[Lozz196]

I had an SVT410HE & 210HE set up. Paired with an SVT3-PRO it sounded great, but just as I bought it all my band split up, so after a while I sold it all and went lightweight (for a while).

[bigjimmyc]

I accidentally acquired a BSE410HS last week. I'm not an ampeg fanboy by any means, but I'm truly surprised by the excellent deep sounds from this sturdy unit. I had planned to trade it out but not so sure now.

[grenadillabama]

I have an early SVT 410HE and it is only 200 watts. It is sealed and fine for low volume gigs. The newer ones are 400w , I believe. The handles are spring-loaded and the weight is about 90 lbs. I saw Swervedriver with a SVT head and one SVT 410HE. 

[afterimage]

Have a portaflex 2x10  nice and punchy paired with a Ampeg pf50t

Great Sounds

[BassAdder60]

I have the PF115LF ported non flip top cab 👍