Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

[audioguy]

Hello,

I want to build a bass cab for a 6-string bass, so am looking for
appropriate drivers - the B string is roughly 31Hz. The genres
are primarily progressive rock, some country and occasionally
jazz standards.

The room is a middlin' sized practice room, and I'd like
to be able to reach decent SPL with very minimal distortion.

Power isn't an issue, I'll worry about what amp to use once
the driver or drivers have been identified and the cab designed.

Cab size isn't a huge issue, but I'd like to stay at 2x 15's
or smaller if possible. A single 15 with a horn or other tweeter
would be terrific, but larger is ok if necessary.

Ideas for a driver or drivers solicited, thanks!

--jim

[killa]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

If It were me I'd use a small mid instead of a tweeter for bass duties. You will want to look at the basslite, deltalite2, and kappalite series IMO. Kappalite are very capable drivers in the low end based on specs. Eminence specs are suppose to be pretty good and have box models done for you already so you could take a look at those if you are so inclined.

[billfitzmaurice]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

the B string is roughly 31Hz.

Moot. There's very little content below 50Hz, even with a low B. With electric bass the power bandwidth lies in the harmonics, not the fundamentals, until you get up around 80Hz. As for appropriate drivers, software modeling will tell you what any driver is capable of delivering.

[killa]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

I haven't tried it with a 5/6 string but I recently tried a highpass of 50hz (lowest highpass my amp can do) on my bass rig and didn't hear any noticeable difference. This somewhat backs up what Bill said (though I don't think he really needs backup :D).

[audioguy]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

Moot. There's very little content below 50Hz, even with a low B. With electric bass the power bandwidth lies in the harmonics, not the fundamentals, until you get up around 80Hz. As for appropriate drivers, software modeling will tell you what any driver is capable of delivering.

Very little content on the fundamental?
I don't have any experience that would refute that, but it seems counter-intuitive. I'll plug the bass into
the RTA and plunk around a bit to see what happens.

As for modelling the drivers, yes of course. My post was an exercise in avoiding that, since
it involves entering the TS parameters for each driver. I'm either lazy or busy, depending on
which story you'd believe... ;-)

Thanks,
--jim

[audioguy]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

Thanks, Killa. I'll check those out.

--jim

[killa]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

Very little content on the fundamental?
I don't have any experience that would refute that, but it seems counter-intuitive. I'll plug the bass into
the RTA and plunk around a bit to see what happens.

Better yet find a way to throw a highpass in and see how it sounds to your ears. I think you will find most bass cabs are not tuned that low.

[killa]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

This is a good short read http://sound.westhost.com/project152-1.htm mostly first couple paragraphs kind of explain that the fundamentals aren't necessarily important. A lot of people also use a highpass to remove the boom/rumble to get a cleaner sound.

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

This got pretty good reviews:

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?216181-Box-Crossover-help-for-guitar-cabinet-needed&highlight=kappalite

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?216475-Kappalite-3015LF-Alpha-6C-Bass-Guitar-Cabinet&highlight=kappalite

[audioguy]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

Better yet find a way to throw a highpass in and see how it sounds to your ears. I think you will find most bass cabs are not tuned that low.

Now that statement makes perfect sense, as does Rod's page on "what is" with bass cabs.

I'm not building something to duplicate a commercial cab, however. I decided to tinker and bought an
acoustic bass guitar, a vanilla 4-string bass and a 6-string. I'm more interested in exploring
what the instruments will do, and finding creative ways to record and produce them.

The entire story is a bit longer than that, but is just about guaranteed to put you to
sleep... ;-)

Thanks,
--jim

[killa]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

If you look up bass guitar highpass you will find that many people who record music use one to clean up the recording.

[audioguy]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

If you look up bass guitar highpass you will find that many people who record music use one to clean up the recording.

Absolutely correct, and with good reason. Maybe even create some harmonics, roll it off even higher and rely on missing fundamental brain tricks to get the sound you want. All good, but not what this series of experiments is intended for...

Color me crazy, but I want the cab to reproduce the instrument with as little color as possible.
I could use headphones, but the interaction with the room is part of what I'm looking for at this point.

Sorry about the false starts - I was trying to compartmentalize and it didn't work. I'll probably end up going to theatrical subwoofers (or ???) to fill in the bottom end.

Thanks,
--jim

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

see my post #5?

[billfitzmaurice]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

Very little content on the fundamental?
I don't have any experience that would refute that, but it seems counter-intuitive.

Not when you consider the string length versus wavelength. The fundamental will dominate when the string length gets to 1/4 wavelength. A 31Hz wavelength is 36 feet. With a 34 inch string length you don't get to 1/4 wavelength until you reach roughly 100Hz. This also explains why the same note played on two different strings doesn't sound exactly the same. The higher up the fretboard, therefore the shorted the string length where it's played, the less the fundamental and the more the harmonic content.

[Sydney]

Re: Driver(s) for 6-string bass cab?

Jim:
In a similar situation; I was sent a recording from a bass player who was looking for extended bass reproduction.
After examining the spectrum of the recording - I recommended to him that he look at some of the 21" pro woofers that offer a low Fs.