| Reviewer
| Chuck Dietrick
|
| Experience
| 20+
|
| Email
| bonkers@ev1.net
|
| Review date
| August 20 2001
|
| Manufacturer
| Ampeg
|
| Model
| SVT1540HE
|
| Price
| Used
|
| Item owned for
| 6 months to 1 year
|
| |
|
| Dimensions
| Very Large
|
| Weight
| Very Heavy - 153 lbs
|
| Power
| 500w
|
| Speakers
| 4 x 10" with horn in upper compartment, 1 x 15 in lower compartment |
| |
|
| Ohms
| 8 ohm full range, 4ohm + 4 ohm bi-amped
|
| Other
| Classic design with black tolex, black grill, tilt back casters and ba |
| |
r type handle
|
| |
|
I bought this cabinet used for use in larger venues. It's large size and
weight are intimidating at first, but once you are used to how to move it
around, you can negotiate everything but stairs fairly easily. It is very
efficient - it does not require a lot of power to get good tone and
volume.
I like the combination of 10's and 15's for bass. I play classic rock,
blues and metal, and this cabinet works well for all three. Big tone, with
deep lows (boomy, if desired) and good midrange definition from the 10's.
The horn adds a little sparkle to the top end. It has a three position
selector to dial in full horn, -6db, or off, so you can adjust the amount
of highs.
I drive the cabinet with an Ampeg SVT350H head and it makes for a good
combination. Classic big Ampeg sound, plenty of volume that carries well in
large and small rooms alike. Warm and friendly, like a Fender P-Bass (which
I play, along with a Jazz and Stingray 5). I've never had to push the
cabinet hard with the Ampeg head.
I have also tried a Sun 300T all tube head with this cabinet, but I
couldn't get a good tone in the short time I experimented with this
combination. Too muddy and dark sounding.
I have had one small problem. The input panel offers full range (8 ohm)
inputs and also a bi-amped option, at 4 ohms per input - weird combination.
The panel uses switching input jacks. The full range input died and the
cabinet went dead. Fixed by local tech - the jack had a loose connection
internally.
Ampeg has excellent customer service. They have responded quickly to all my
Emailed questions and comments. Unfortunately, they have stopped building
this cabinet, according to my local dealer. It has a lot to offer the
player that is willing to put up with the size and weight. I recommend
trying one out if you can find a good used example.
| Construction
| 90% | 
|
| (Typical durable Ampeg - tolex does split on impact)
|
| Clarity
| 85% |
|
| (Not hifi - think classic tone)
|
| Volume
| 98% |
|
| (Very efficent)
|
| Portability
| 50% |
|
| (Large, heavy and awkward)
|
| Customer Service
| 90% |
|
| Value
| 90% |
|
| (Can be had cheaper than an 8 x 10)
|
| Overall
| 90% |
|
| (Warm, loud and classic sound - recommended!)
|
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