bass speaker cab question

[Smidgelton]

Alrighty. As soon as I sell an instrument, I'm going to be looking into a new rig. I really like 1x15" cabs for serious low boom. My question is what type of cabinet should be ideal to accompany the 1x15"? I've been thinking about a 2x12 but I'm unsure. I don't know enough. I'm looking in SWR amps by the way.

While on the subject of bass, should I mic the cabs or go DI when playing a show? What's a good DI to check out? I don't have much live experience.

[brandondrury]

I always thought that the 4x10 and 8x10 cabinets had more than enough low end for anything I'd ever need to do. Depending on the music, I usually give the deep frequences to the kick drum anyway so the difference between 10", 12", and 15" is lost. In a live setting this may be different. This may not apply if you are playing reagea.

What kind of music are you playing? I see a lot of rock bass players who are obsessed with low end, but usually that type of tone does not fit in their mix very well. I'd like to see more Guns N Roses bass sounds every once in a while. Of course, guitar players also think they want enormous low end in their tone. So does the drummer. You end up with a mess.

As for DIs, there are many. A lot of good bass heads come with one. The Sansamp DI is pretty cool. What is your budget?

Brandon

[Smidgelton]

Since you mention GnR, Duff has an awesome sound. If I could closely channel his sound at all, I would be in love. The style I'll mostly be playing is rock. I also love playing punk and metal (I play a bright fucking orange Ernie Ball Musicman Sterling).

My budget right now is low. I've got an instrument to sell before I can buy anything. But I'll work hard for that high dollar piece of dollar piece of equipment if it is truly better and won't end up dissapointing me.

[brandondrury]

I'm no bass player, but I know that there is a tremendous difference in the hands. In other words, the best way to get a great bass sound is to be a great player. A lot of it is timing, but the biggest part is feel. Some bass players just sound amazing.

If I was a bass player, I'd focus on getting the light touch and groove. As for gear, I'd think the bass makes the biggest difference. I'd get a high end bass before I bought an expensive amp. It's kind of backwards from my opinions on guitars, actually.

I don't want to flap my jaw too much, because I'm not overly knowledgable on the subject.

Brandon

[slapinandpopin78]

if your into the GnR sound, then you might want to go with a 2 12 and a 4 10. Duff dosnt have alot of bass in his sound, but alot of in your face mids, the 12s will give you the mid punch much more than a 1 15, and the 4 10 will take care of the hi-mids and highs.

as for a DI, i recomend the MXR M-80 over the sansamp, its cheaper, and has more EQ(bass mid and highs, while the sansamp has just lows and highs), a gate, clean and distortion levels, color switch. So it can be use to get alittle grind to.

andy

[brandondrury]

Duff dosnt have alot of bass in his sound, but alot of in your face mids, the 12s will give you the mid punch much more than a 1 15, and the 4 10 will take care of the hi-mids and highs.

Just don't be fooled into the notion that a 4x10 bass cabinet doesn't have any bass. 4x10s go as deep as any rock guy would ever need to go, in my opinion.....unless you just had some really off the wall type of bass tone.

Brandon

[slapinandpopin78]

i do agree a 4 10 will produce nice lows, i used a 2 10 and got good low end out of it, but all im saying is that its much less low end than a 1 15 IMO, not that thats not alot of low end, just 15s have crazy amounts

10s will deffanatly push more air, and be much more punchy.

andy

[Sloom]

You're just going to have to try a lot of stuff. Manufacturing and design- the reality- will defy your expectations from one to another. I have an EV B-115 loaded with a Peavey BW 1505 speaker. Lots of mids and top as well as round, fat lows. I like to use a 210 on top. I have a Markbass Traveler 210 that I don't like- very brash and aggressive. On the other hand I've got aan Avatar 210 Neo, which is natural sounding, lots of convincing low end and a nasty tweeter if you want it.

Now if you want pretty reliable solid and authorative lows, get a nice roomy 215 and dial that sucker in with a little EQ. 215 kills.

Okay, SWR's 410s do too. Really huge and very nice sound, almost hi-fi if you dial in a mids-hump. Keep it trad-phat and you're slaying the room.

[Rakie]

Try a Schroeder 21012 (Two front fired 10's and a Side fired angled 12")

They're kinda expensive, boutique bass gear. But it gets incredible lows and bigger fuller tone then pretty much anything out there.

A second big one is Accu Groove, they make bass cabs with lows, mids and highs, including some with 21" subs for notes lower then the Low B.

I'm pretty serious into bass... I've been playing a long time.

Here's a great site to look at boutique, High quality gear.

Bass Central

My favorite heads are Thunderfunk, Favorite basses are Fbasses and Dingwalls.

Serious cash though.

[jastacey]

I'll give my 2 cents worth ( I'm a Bassist and have been playing for about 30 years ) I've had all kinds of equipment over the years and what I have and like ( sound wise ) is a 4x10 cab which is ported and a 1x15 cab which is vented, I also have the 8x10 cab ... here's my thought on a 4x10 cab there are 2 varities sealed & vented, the sealed ( 2 tens in one chamber - Like the Ampeg )will give you pretty punchy sound , but it will roll off above the lowest fundamentals ( it is this design that made the Ampeg sound ), then there is the ported 4x10 cabinet, this has a sound that is very much like the sealed cabinet but it is a little deeper sounding and alittle less constrained ( I'm currently using a old Crate 4x10 cab ) .... as to the 1x15 driver, you have a couple of choices shallow basket ( speaker cone ) or Deep basket, the peaver 1502 Blackwidows and the JBL E140 are shallow baskets and they are very good speakers, in the proper cabinet ... the EVM 15B speaker is a Deep basket and is The best bass guitar speaker in the 15" size, when mounted in the proper cabinet ( I have mine mounted in the EV 606 cabinet ... EV published some cabinet designs many years ago and they are still available for download on the web and they are pretty easy to build ) The sound of an EVM 15B in a 606 cabinet is very punchy and throaty and it is made for the 4x10 cabinet ... 4x10 are smooth & punchy and the very punchy ... throaty EVM are an over all great sounding set-up ... I once had a Sonic 1x15 cabinet and had a Peavey Black Widow ( 1502 ) in it and it was a pretty good sounding set .... one MUST remember sound is very subjective and everyone has there likes and dislikes ... once you've settled on your guitar and amp ... play around with the speakers ( they are your connection to the world ) ... also one must be aware of the room that you're playing in, some places have really bad acoustics and nothing will fix that .... Welcome to the chase of the ideal sound ......... !!!!!!!!! have fun ... I sure have