Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It seems like there are quite a few ampeg fans on here. Of all the 810's I've heard, the ampeg is the most appealing, and that's the current cab I'm researching. So, what heads would you use with ampeg cabs, in particular the 810?

I'd imagine many will say SVT. I just wish they weren't so expensive. What do you say about an all SS 800 watt head? What about a hybrid?

8 x 10's bass cabs were made first for SVT's in 1969. No one else caught on until fairly recently, now everyone and their brother makes them, a 4 x 10 is just half an 8 x 10 and a 2 x 10 is half of a 4 x 10, they all descend from the original 8 x 10's, which were a radical departure at the time. I think Marshall had an 8 x 10 but I'm not sure when they started making them, and they were guitar cabs anyway. A tube SVT and an (Ampeg) 8 x 10 go together like a horse and carriage, haha! All these new three hundred watt tube heads are similar to SVT's. SS heads IMHO just don't have the depth of a tube head. Buy one they're worth it.

10s don't cut it for me at all. They're too farty and I have blown a couple. Give me a 15, or 2.

I love 10s but what I need to go with an 8 10 cabinet is a moving truck and a couple of strong movers ... I prefer a couple of 2x10 cabs ...

Joshua, the hybrids are cool, they deliver a lot of power at a very tube-like sound. Of course, the sound and power you get from an all-tube head is a beautiful thing, and if you can afford one and you like the sound, it's really hard to go wrong with that.
Your other option is to get a tube preamp and a power amp and go that route.
Personally, plain old SS is my least favorite route, but they work in a pinch, and there are plenty that aren't without merit, either. At any rate, as long as you have enough power to properly push an 810 it should be good.
Me, I'm quite happy with my Markbass TA 501 and 610 stack!

A chiropracter.....

...earplugs...

A lot of companies jumped on the 810 band wagon, but I'm not aware of one that actually contains (4) sealed 210 compartments. That's what gives the Ampeg it's unique sound. They're surprisingly manageable too considering the size. As long as there are no stairs to deal with. Then, you just grab the drummer to help you.

An SVT is clearly the way to go, but if you go with a hybrid, or full SS, make sure you get something with at least 900 watts to give you the dynamics and headroom of a 300 watt tube amp.

I've got an extremely original '74 SVT I'll be unloading soon. The feet, grill cloth, and (1) screw(!) are non original. It's been freshly re-tubed and serviced by some local tube amp pros (Minstrel Music in Niles, IL). I've got a local guy who wants first dibs, but drop me a line if you're interested in case he doesn't go for it. I've been happily using an SVT III Pro for ten years now through various cabs, and I hate to see my SVT just sitting there. Time to let it go.

Hi Joshua,

I run Trace/Boogie/Ampeg in just about every type of cab and speaker configuration offered, 10's through 18's. Much depends on where we are playing, and what for.

I lean toward a Trace biamped into a 410 & 115 cabs. In the "living room" it sounds the best. I resisted the SVT/810 for years due to size & weight considerations. I finally gave in and picked up the above Ampeg new in 2005. At first blush I was not impressed. I had trouble dealing with the load of rumble they can deliver, and it took a while to learn how to use her. Still, at practice my response was tentative. The revelation came when used in "combat". The way it held & supported the band, (three piece), was amazing. It supplies a rich, warm and thick backdrop for the others to work around so to speak.

I have tried the 810 with my Trace & Boogie heads, it is not the same in my experience. There is something magical about the SVT/810 combo. It is a load for the typical room, or a swinging jazz trio at a small restaurant, but if you are looking for a vintage thump to carry a rolling band, you got it.

Ampeg makes the SVT-6 Pro and SVT-8 Pro which are the hybrid tube pre/MOSFET out and are 1100 and 1300 watts respectively at the 4 ohms the 810 cab is. The 8 Pro has the original 70's SVT preamp circuit in it, and will drive 2 ohms to 2500 watts - thats for two 810 cabs! LOL

The modern Ampeg SS SVT heads that are meant for the SVT cabinet are pretty good, and actually sound a little punchier and tighter than the tube version, but the tube version overall is just so much better than the SS versions, and it is more reliable too. You can use anything as long as the impedance matches up to the cabinet, but for my money, the 8x10 + vintage tube SVT is the way to go.

I'd run an Ampeg SVP-CL pre-amp into an SVP1600 stereo power amp. 600 watts per side in stereo at 2 ohms. Bridged, it puts out 1200 watts at 2 ohms...1600 peak. I have one and it's awesome! Although the pre-amp has tubes, the SVP1600 is solid state which keeps weight down a lot.

Hey Greg, how is it that the SVT is more reliable than a SS? I always thought it was the other way around. Also, how often does one have to retube an SVT, and how much does that cost?

And to anybody else, what kind of wattage would you throw at the 810 for the best results? Since it handles 800 rms, wouldn't you risk melting the speakers if you go above that?

I've heard the 810 used with an SVT-3PRO and it sounded excellent. It's a 450 watt head, so would that be enough to push the cab without working the head too hard?

If I had an 810 cabinet I would hook it up to my Ampeg b2r ...

Which is an SVT-3 Pro without tubes - all SS.