Eden vs SWR (input request)

[Derwin Moss (bassdude63)]

What's the census about Ampeg? They've been bought and sold at least 3 times-I like the SVT3 & SVT4 heads, and they're pro-series cabinets sound good too. I'd agree that my SVT2 does'nt come close when compared to the original Hull-Era SVT heads-nor does the SVT Classic head, for that matter.

[Peter Hess (locutusofborg10)]

i'm currently using an SWR Workingmans 2004 with a Peavey 410 and a Peavey 115.  the quality of the sound makes my epic sing.  while it doesn't have the power of some other amps it will definitely cut it in small to medium venues.

[Wally Malone (wally_malone)]

Jumping into this thread late reading it for the first time. I've owned an Eden Metro for a few years now. I used it as a stand alone and have also added an Eden 210XLT and/or Eden 410XLT cabs. Just recently I sold the Eden cabs and bought an Accugroove 112 cab that has a twelve, a six and two tweeters. I got to use it playing a Christmas  party with a six-piece band and  it kicked. I sat the Accugroove on top of the Metro because I like the sound I'm hearing from it. Down  the road I'm looking at getting a second 112  Accugroove and going the amp and preamp direction. I've been considering the Stewart 1.2 or 1.6 and will try all the preamps  I can  at the NAMM show in two weeks.
 
Wally

[Yahya AbdurRaheem (yahyabb)]

Yo, J.  Plug your new cab into an Aguilar 350 or 750 Head.  It will give you a new perspective.  Enjoy.

[Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)]

Hey 'Y' Welcome to the site. Thanks for the tip.
Stoney

[Simon Taylor (staylor)]

I can't really say how the newer ampeg heads compare to the older, but my current rig is an ampeg SVT4 Pro head w/ a PR410 HLF cab.  Performs beautifully!!  Best sound I've had yet.  Great low end support and it can handle most club situations I've played in (small to medium) by itself, though I do prefer to direct out to the house sub so I don't have to blast everyone off stage!!
 
Only down side for me is once the cabinet is cased up and ready to travel the thing practically weighs a ton -- ok, ok, it only weighs about 200 lbs. in the case . . . but still that's way too much for me and another guy to lug up and down the stairs to our studio!
 
As such, I've been very interested in trying out an Eden 210 XLT (I think that's the model) as a smaller more portable rig.  I'd still take the 410 to gigs, but for anything less than a public appearance, I would rather have a more reasonably sized rig to transport -- it would be nice to believe that I could have good sounding bass in a package that I could also manage to carry to the rehearsal/jam by myself!

[Derwin Moss (bassdude63)]

Simon, I really like the setup you're running. Especially that PR410 HLF cabinet. I tried one when they first came out-what a killer tone! My SVT2 sounds fantastic, I just wish it had more headroom. Out of the amps I own it has THE rock tone when it's cranked. I don't know if the Eden takeover will be a bad thing-I hope not, but I think St Louis Music has done a great job resurrecting the Ampeg line of bass amps.

[Simon Taylor (staylor)]

Hey thanks, Derwin!  Yeah, the PR410 HLF is a pretty amazing cabinet.  However, the SVT4 Pro is what I've really come to love!  Mine was out of commission for a couple months this summer -- had some component in the power amp circuit go out, but it was all still under warranty -- and I had to play a few shows where the best rig I could put together consisted of my PR410 HLF combined with an Ampeg B2 or B3 -- can't remember.  Anyway, let me just say that it paled in comparison.  Without the bridge mono (which I currently run until I can get some roadies to carry around 2 PR410 HLF's, hehehe) and without the onboard compression, I was constantly trying to compensate with my fingers for the lack of good punch, but this just made the overall shape of the sound totally uneven.  I was SOOOO happy to get my SVT4 Pro back!
 
I hadn't heard anything about an Eden takeover.  When did that happen?

[Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)]

Hey Simon,
 
The Eden Acquisition just recently took place.  Here is a link I posted a littler earlier in this thread regarding this:
 
http://www.usmusiccorp.com/pr/eden.htm  
 
Mikey/

[Simon Taylor (staylor)]

Ah, right.  Now I remember when you made that post, Mikey.  I misread Derwin's mention of it to mean that Eden had acquired SLM.
 
I have to admit that I've not really been a fan of the products that US Music Corp puts out.  It all seems like fine gear, but just as an example, I've never in recent years looked at a Washburn guitar and thought, wow, now that is the sweetest piece of gear!.  It's usually something like, gee that looks like a fair piece of equipment.
 
Who knows though, maybe US Music Corp will climb a rung on the quality ladder rather than dragging Eden into the mediocrity stew of oblivion.  At least it's good to see that founder David Nordschow is staying on in R&D.  I suspect we'll know the day that David leaves will be the day that Eden is likely doomed to the genre of classic gear.
 
On the flip side, here I am enjoying the new Ampeg gear, so it goes to show that any line of gear can have its resurrection -- just depends on who is on the product development and management teams I suppose.

[Joey Wilson (bigredbass)]

As he's an AMPEG clinician, I suspect Dino could clue us in on their resurrection by St. Louis Music.  I have the greatest respect for SLM and the Kornblum family.  They have been around for years as an honorable company.  I personally think the Alvarez-Yairi guitars are the most overlooked and underestimated acoustic guitars out there.
 
And I must admit there are a few succesful 'revivals' out there.  Could anyone deny the job that Bill Shultz has done with Fender?  I live here at the home of Gibson, who has done a laughable job of the same task.
 
But I still prefer the smaller companies with the original owners.

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

Hey Guys,
 
Thought I'd chime in.  I heard my name mentioned.  There is a great book on the history of Ampeg put out by Hal Leonard.  It gives the history of the company from Everett Hull all the way to present day.  It really is very interesting.
Ampeg has switched ownership quite a few times.  From Magnavox to Selmer (yup the horn folks).  It really is a miracle that they survived all those changes.  Remember Harley being bought by AMF.  Don't worry, I'm not going there!!!  LOL
Anyway, I was an Ampeg user since I was a kid and it's just an amp that I've always used.  I love the new gear that's out there too.  Aguilar, Eden, SWR, I just know what works for me and being a stubborn Greek, it's hard for me to change.  
One thing that SLM pays a lot of attention to is their customer service.  Yeah their stuff breaks as does anyone's, but, there's never any problem getting it fixed or replaced.
The other thing that they've done is to stay true to the original Ampeg concept build what works.  Again, sure they've come out with some pretty ridiculous stuff but, that's the price for trying new stuff.  The original SVT never went away.  They've made different variations of the SVT but they never replaced the big 'ol 300w tuber.  Their best selling cab is still the original 8x10 fridge.  They won't even put a horn in it because it will mess with the original design.  As far as the other lines they carry like the Alvarez-Yairi guitars, take a look at a Bob Weir Yairi, it's absolutely beautiful.  
I get nervous and a little sad when I see a nice family owned company get taken over by coporate America.  That's why I have the outmost respect for Mica, Susan & Ron and the whole Alembic family, as brother Paul L. calls them Alembicians.  You'll never see quality sacrificed for quantity.
I think the Kornblum family has done a pretty respectable job in keeping with the Ampeg tradition though.  I'm not just saying that because I'm a clinician either, I'm a clinician because I believe in the product as I have since I was a kid.

[Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)]

BTW- I was just reading back and I read Derwin's comments about Ampeg old and new.  Man, I don't know.  I've got an original '69 SVT and a '94 SVT Classic.  The Classic holds it's own against the '69.  It sounds a little more refined but I've been told it's mostly because the circuitry from the '69 is either too impracticle or simply unavailable to reproduce.  I actually use the Classic more because it is more reliable. They don't make them like that anymore is a true statement but I have to say I'm happy with the Classic.  Now if they could get the same sound out of a 10lb package, my back would love me!!!!!

[Michael (mic104)]

I also tried to scale down my equipment...
After testing several combos I now stick to the following solution:
For small gigs I prefer a Hughes & Kettner 4x10, which is powered by an SWR Mo'Bass.
For bigger stages I have to carry the full load:
2 Hughes & Kettner 4x10 plus 2 Hughes & Kettner 1x15, SWR Mo'Bass.
Sure, a lot to carry around, but that's 900 Watts for my Essence...

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

I think I'm going to ruin my reputation here but I can understand thoose selling a brand to another company very well. For the selling side is most of the time a question of pure surviving. Alas there is also a factor taking the money and run in it too playing.
For the buyer it serves the completion of it's rangeof products.  
Some of those buy-overs work very well some are not working that good. You have to understand that in some cases the consequence would be the dissappearance from the market. Its succes depends on the intentions and respect the buyer has for the bought. And I agree: it's not easy to do that!
 
Paul