Just for closing out the weekend with something a bit riveting. This: One of the Boogie 410 cabs and a widebody open-back 112.
Just buy this image alone, it is evident they are not stock cabinets. The EV logo is showing through the grill cloth.
SPOILER ALERT: The Boogie 410 cab is not stock either.
I do have another 410 but it is not suitable for the music I like to play. It fairs ok, so far the only amp I was able to get some decent tones despite having more midrange and low end was with the JP2C. I was foolish thinking I could build a mini 410 stack. It is not out of the question though. I will have to modify the other one to do just that. If you did not notice what I did with the 410 cab, I put the speaker jack on the top. Simple trick in removing the back panels and swapping them, then to rotate the jack plate so it reads right side up. This cab was transformed from 180W 10" creambacks to 200W of Jensen power: Silverbird 10, Electric lightning 10. To be honest, after doing this to the 410, it was epic with the Badlander 100W head. It is even better with the Reissue IIC+. Did not have the swamped bottom as you would get if you dialed in any bass. However, there were limits on how high you could run the 750Hz slider on the GEQ. The amber guitar is what I was using. It has a thin maple lamination over a mahogany body. Talk about some coupling between guitar and amp. Of course I was right in front of this cab stack. I was using a short guitar cable and sitting down. I could tell the EV was providing content but the 410 was more dominant. Later on, I disconnected the 112 cab and moved the V212 to get in some of the action. If I do the other 410 cab, I will get the same speakers. the combination is nice and aggressive.
This is more incentive to mod the other 410 cab. I may choose the same speakers or look for something that has a bit more bottom. These Jensen speakers just rip as good as the V212 but more punchy and immediate. This was fun and quite enjoyable change from the V30 V212 or the 412 cabs. Most of the noise floor I was getting with the 12 inch appeared to be far less noticeable. Note: the mod 410 adds in some weight compared to the stock form. The magnets are thick and heavy on the 10-inch speakers. It weighs close to a Mark V90 combo, ok that is an exaggeration but it is close. Cab in standard form is 39lbs. The modified 410 with the Jensen speakers I have in it now weights 47.9lbs. 3lbs heavier than a Mark V35 combo. That brings in more balance to the stack. If the amp was the heaviest object, it would be top heavy and easily tipped over if on carpet like it is here.
I guess my next plan is to upgrade the other 410 cab. By itself, I thought the IIC+ sounded really good. Did not feel the EV classic was a good fit. Something with the tone of the amp I suppose. It is not bad but I favored the V212 but that modified 410 is something else. Just as aggressive but more tight and focused. I see no value in keeping the other 410 in stock trim. Sure, I hate spending money only to find out it did not meet expectations. Case in point, the stock preamp tubes just made the IIC+ a bit bland. I had the NOS tubes on hand so it was not additional cost as money was spent 5 to 10 years ago. The bigger issue was this amp cost how much? $3600 and it did not wow me right out of the box? That is a bummer man. Now it sound great but took some NOS tubes to get there. At least the stock power tubes are good. Still feel the Mark VII is the best of the three (IIC+ Ri, JP2C and Mark VII). I still have the stock tubes in the Mark VII (Ok, I did not care much for the STR445 green but got some yellows and problem solved). JP2C, the STR443 are junk. The original STR440 did not last long before making static noises. I went through two sets, odd those same tubes work well without issue in the MWDR. I went to the expense of buying STR415 from Mesa. Actually, their price for the quad was quite fair considering what it would cost from other places.
The IIC+ Reissue does have some potential. I am also thankful it is not an ice pick like the Mark V90 I bought in 2012. I often question why I still have it.