Looking for new bass cab.

[killa]

I am looking for opinions on affordable bass cabs that aren't too hard on the back. I have to be able to keep up with a marshall 4x10 guitar cab. Was thinking about this one but I don't know if it will be enough to keep up. http://avatarspeakers.com/home/product/b212/ . I currently am using a mesa boogie powerhouse 6x10 although I don't think I have ever come near using it's full potential.

[Sydney]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Questions:
Genre of music?
Size of Venue?
Type of Venue? ( do they have FOH system or do you provide )

[killa]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Metal
Usually small clubs. Some with sound some without.

[Paul O]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Why not just put more power into the 6x10 by either cranking up the amp you got or by getting a larger one?

[killa]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Why not just put more power into the 6x10 by either cranking up the amp you got or by getting a larger one?

The point was I would like a smaller lighter cab that is easier to carry. The mesa will get plenty loud but is very awkward and heavy to move.

[Sydney]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Metal
Usually small clubs. Some with sound some without.

I guessed it was probably Metal by the choice of a marshall 4x10.
The 2x12 would probably work out fine in small venues; particularly if a FOH system can take a D/I feed from the bass.
Granted often a band is going for a look ( big gear ); but as the guy who runs sound - most bands can get by with a lot less gear and a lower stage volume, especially in a small clubs.
It gets real hard to mix clear - a band running too loud.
Necessary tone can be obtained without the use of a large stack and power brakes ( like Marshall users ) at lower SPL.
So I know guys who have downsized to small studio and combo amps, and just mic-up if necessary.
After-all above 87db the muscles in the ear attempt to protect themselves.

[alphaGT]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

I recently bought a TC Electronic 2x12 for the exact same reasons. And for stage use, against my Marshal cab using guitar player, it does fine. And is one of the lightest 2x12's on the market. In larger venues, I also have a Trace Elliot 1x15 I add. But the real issue is your amp. I also bought an Orange tiny terror 500 watt amp that weighs 11 pounds! With my old Trace amp, which weighs 50 lbs. it was barely cutting it, but the Orange is flat out awesome and brings it right to the top, can't say enough good things about the Orange. I drive an Ampeg 8x10 with it at practice and it's earth shaking, crack the concrete bass! But, the 2x12 does bring that same tone to the stage and sounds amazing once reinforced by the FOH subs. We play old school metal, Judas Priest, WASP, Krokas, plus classic stuff like AC/DC Aerosmith, etc. I have also considered buying an Orange 2x12' which is isobaric, and very small for it's output. But it's expensive and weighs more than the TC Electronics, and rated for more watts. I've also seen another local band whose bassist uses a TC Electronic 2x12 combo, and it kicks ***! Most impressive. It also has a class D amp like the Orange, rated at 450 I believe. So long story short, the amp is equally important to the speaker cab.

[killa]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

I recently bought a TC Electronic 2x12 for the exact same reasons. And for stage use, against my Marshal cab using guitar player, it does fine. And is one of the lightest 2x12's on the market. In larger venues, I also have a Trace Elliot 1x15 I add. But the real issue is your amp. I also bought an Orange tiny terror 500 watt amp that weighs 11 pounds! With my old Trace amp, which weighs 50 lbs. it was barely cutting it, but the Orange is flat out awesome and brings it right to the top, can't say enough good things about the Orange. I drive an Ampeg 8x10 with it at practice and it's earth shaking, crack the concrete bass! But, the 2x12 does bring that same tone to the stage and sounds amazing once reinforced by the FOH subs. We play old school metal, Judas Priest, WASP, Krokas, plus classic stuff like AC/DC Aerosmith, etc. I have also considered buying an Orange 2x12' which is isobaric, and very small for it's output. But it's expensive and weighs more than the TC Electronics, and rated for more watts. I've also seen another local band whose bassist uses a TC Electronic 2x12 combo, and it kicks ***! Most impressive. It also has a class D amp like the Orange, rated at 450 I believe. So long story short, the amp is equally important to the speaker cab.

Now you have me thinking about a new head too (have had my old ampeg b2r so long I forgot how lacking it is power wise ). Have had my eye on this one for a while http://carvinamplifiers.com/collecti...-bass-amp-head. Think I'll pick one up and keep my eye out for a used 212 that needs new drivers.

[Sydney]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Something for the Lead Guitarist:
A Seymour Duncan Convertible: A notable endorsement

( A friend has a SD Convertible Head designed for rack mount )

[killa]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Just remembered I have a sansamp PSA.1 laying around. Maybe I'll.just get a crown xls 1500 or2000. This would cover bass and guitar.

[alphaGT]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

I'm not a huge Carvin fan, but that does look like a lot of amp for the money! By comparison the Orange was expensive, around $900, I got a store demo for $600. TC has a small class D amp as well, rated 450 watts, reasonable price. Into 8 ohms, of course. I have seen a local bass player that had a home made cab, with a regular stereo PA amp, worked fine, but there just is no substitute for the real thing. My new rig, especially the Orange, is what took me up from a mediocre bass player to a recognized up and comer. A tone monster! Plus my new Spector NS-1A, great tone is half the battle. From my practice combo at home, to my rig at band practice is like going from a VW to Fararri! That bass slam that demands respect! I cut weight because I had to, I'm disabled and am not supposed to lift anything over 25 or 30lbs, but I actually went up in quality and standing with the new rig. Shop around, test drive some gear, spend the money. Long after the cash is forgotten you'll be loving that rig!

As far as finding a 2x12 cab, I've seen empty cabs for car trunks, etc. add your own speakers, that could prove a great way to get a nice ground pounder at a reasonable cost. I do believe my cab has Eminence speakers in it.

[killa]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Well I think I'll try using this since I already have one (hardly used ebay find that looked brand new when I got it :D) http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/psa1_1.html with one of these http://www.parts-express.com/crown-x...-ohms--245-502 and then I'll get to finding a new cab.

Alpha have you had bad experiences with carvin? I had them build me a guitar and have been very happy with it. I have read here and there that there electronics use to be not so great but it seemed like the newer stuff is of better quality. I also noticed that they have had some sort of merger with a company called Kreisle that I haven't heard of so who knows what will happen.

The thing I really like about the carvin amp is the parametric EQ. I wish more amps had this.

[killa]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Another question. If I use a pre and power amp should I have a highpass filter? I don't know if a normal bass amp has one built in or not. I assume not but could see it possibly being useful to have one around 30 to 40hz. Then again perhaps a bass isn't capable of going low enough except maybe the initial pull/pluck/slap of the string.

[billfitzmaurice]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

Another question. If I use a pre and power amp should I have a highpass filter?

Yes. Bass amps usually have them built in to the pre-amp circuit.

[alphaGT]

Re: Looking for new bass cab.

I had a few floor monitors from Carvin that didn't last 3 months, blew them up so many times I got tired of fixing them. My cousin had a Carvin full bass stack, two 4x10 cabs with a big head, looked cool, but was decidedly unimpressive. All of this was 10 years ago so I really can't comment on anything new. The department that makes instruments is completely separate from their electronics department, and yes they do make some awesome instruments! I saw a 5 string bass they custom made and it was so beautiful, a real museum piece! Played well too. I like the Tech21 as well, that's a nice piece of gear! And you can't go wrong with Crown amplification as far as dependability, I've got two of the XLS amps. Light weight and powerful.

Before I bought the Orange, I had a Trace Elliot rig. 450 watt head with parametric EQ, it was a nice rig, pushing the Ampeg 8x10. Monstrous! But, the tiny Orange still blows it out of the water! I learned a lot by getting out, watching many other bands, and seeing who had tone like I wanted! "I want to sound like that guy!", and seeing what they used. One guy had a total Mesa Boogie bass rig, 4x10 with rack mounted head, forget the model, but it was one of the most impressive bass rigs I've ever heard! Fender P bass in front. Another bass player that I respect greatly plays a Grundig, Galian/Kruger rig, 4x10 cab, also very impressive! I was shooting for a 4x10 cab when I was buying my stage rig, but figured I would get two 2x12 cabs instead, easier to move two smaller cabs right? But have only bought the one TC 2x12 and never got around to the second one, using the Trace Elliot 1x15 instead. Note that the Mesa rig, the Grundig rig and my old Trace rig, were all very heavy! Hundred pound speaker cabs with 65 pound amps! Exactly what I was trying to get away from, my Trace head weighed 50lbs. The Ampeg 8x10 claims it weighs 200lbs! And I'd swear they lie, feels more like 300! It's a permanent fixture in the basement now, it will be sold with the house when that time comes! Awesome cab, great if you've got roadies. The last few times I played out, other bands asked if they could use my rig, they left their rig in the truck, so I'll take that as a compliment. Each cab weighs 37 lbs or so, and the head weighs 11 lbs. so easy to load in my minivan all by myself. Last night, a friend who has been a local legend bass player for 35 years came to practice, no pressure right? And he was just floored by my bass tone! He was very impressed, that's a good feeling when people like him like your stuff!

But, your Sans Amp and Crown does sound very interesting! I'd be curious as to what that sounds like. It may be great even! Besides the construction of a bass cab, a lot of the weight is speaker magnet, so these TC's have neodymium magnets on the speakers that reduces the weight by 20lbs easy. If you build your own, look for the neodymium magnets. With the Sans Amp it should be easy to swap other amps in and out to see what happens. Easy to experiment. Or, drive multiple amps? Sounds like fun. When it's right you'll know it! Don't cut that guitar player any slack! This is heavy metal!! Slam that bass and shake the ground! The guitar player asked me to turn down and I told him to turn up! I'm kidding of course, someone should be working sound and balancing all instruments, and keeping from ringing your ears at practice (95db max) I started as the sound engineer, and learned bass when the band needed one 8 years later! And that was 9 years ago. It sure beats sitting at home watching TV! Most fun I've ever had. That's the whole secret, as long as you're having fun, you're doing it right! It's that simple. But as a bass player, remember that your rig and guitar say a lot about who you are, and can open doors for you to move up in the world, play with better musicians, etc. if you're like me I'm locked in with friends and have no interest in moving into a better band, but I should! Lord knows I could do better! But, it also reflects on the whole band just as much, if your guitar player has a Marshall half stack, you're in good company! And you want to show equal concern for your gear. Perception is a powerful thing, looking like you mean business, and sounding like a real pro, is not to be underestimated. Even just among friends, it demands respect. So rock on and have fun and good luck with it, sounds like you're on the right road!