[quote name='Conan' post='952808' date='Sep 11 2010, 03:24 PM']Totally agree with Marco on these points. The quality of construction is great, but a few of the details of the finish do slightly let the package down IMO. Having tried the previous touring Compact I think I prefer the metal grille plate to the "Fender-style" cloth (which could also be a bit tighter...). The painted coating on the cab is a bit "slippery", so you may need a non-slip mat or something to stop the amp being accidentally pulled off the top...
Anyway, I used the Compact with my LH500 at rehearsals on wednesday evening. I enjoyed the sound a lot, and the best thing of all is that my 12 year old son could carry the cab in one hand into the studio!! How cool is that?!
Once it was set up, it did look a bit small compared to the Ashdown stack that I am used to (No sh*t, Sherlock!) but the sound soon showed that size does not matter. Punchy but deep. Rounded and warm. Smooth but biting. Clear but raunchy... It certainly brought the mid-range to the fore far more than the 410s do, which was nice as I like a rather "mid-heavy" tone. Volume wise, it had no problem at all - even though at 8 ohms the amp would only be putting out around 300w. It would be great if the Compact was available as a 4ohm version as well.
Our keyboard player (who is also a sound engineer) was very impressed with the sound. The guitarist thought the tone was great, and cut through well - but as he put it, he could "hear me, but not feel me". Which I take to mean that some of the real low end was missing. Not sure I agree with him, but he's entitled to his opinion I guess!
If nobody minds (I think WoT is next in line) I'd like to use that cab again this wednesday as we try to nail some new tracks. The style of music, BTW, is mostly eighties rock and "hair-metal" kinda thing (Van Halen, Winger, etc), so fairly straightforward bass lines that really need to cut through and provide a sound foundation to the guitars and keys.
So, all in all, a great cab that does exactly what it says on the tin. One or two minor drawbacks (finish quality and 8ohm impedance chiefly), but it's main advantage is it's mass. I just can't believe how light it is! And that quality pretty much outweighs the minor niggles.[/quote]
The 8ohm issue is worrying me too, as my amp classes as "totally weedy" according to the website. Good marketing there