Cab advice - 10 or 12 or 15in?

[azzy_wazzy]

I've decided to put bass purchasing on hold for a while and concentrating on replacing my ikkle 15watt combo amp with something better! (however unfortunately this doesn't mean I'm exempted from helping with Trev's guitar purchasing )

Anyhow - amp-wise I'm pretty set on a Markbass Little Mark II - I really liked the one I played through with the Stealth Bongo in London, however I didn't get to try out a range of cabs (only tried the Standard 210), and here's my dilemma.

I'll only have the funds to get 1 cab for a while (for a year or possibly even more) and wanted advice on which of the cabs is the most versatile. I've heard people comment about the advantages of 15'' speakers over 10'' etc, with 12'' seeming to sit somewhere in the middle with plus points of it's own.

It will, for the short term, only be used for at home use - as we're not part of a band, but I'd want one that would be able to hold it's own in a gigging environment.

So, of the following sized cabs, which is most versatile and would stand me in good stead until further notice?

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

I went for 15". I'd prefer an 18" though

 

[silverburst]

I went with 4x10" + 1x18" (SWR).

 

[Alvabass]

I like 1x12 + 1x10 + HF horn.

 

[sandman@midlife]

1x12, you can add the 2X10 later

 

[Kirby]

If you are only using it at home, I would avoid a single 15 just due to the physics of a 15 inch speaker. It generates such a large sine wave that you have to be around 10 feet from it to get a clear convergence of tone from it. Many sound muddy if you are closer than that. Now I have not heard a Mark 15, but I cannot imagine that he has found a way to beat the physics of sound yet.

A 10 or 12 will converge much sooner and have a lower amplitude sine wave thus you can be closer to the speaker and hear a focused note without mud.

Hope this helps.

 

[boomer074]

I use an 8x10 for most stuff. However I do have a 4x10 and 1x18 set up also. I think it really depends on what you are looking for.

 

[Mobay45]

Of what you listed, I think the 210 would be the best choice and you could add another 210 or 112 or 115 later to suit your tastes. I think you will be able to get plenty of low end with some punch even at low volumes with the 210. The more cabs I try, the more I seem to be gravitating back to 10s.

 

[russinator]

Although I like the old school sound of a 15 I voted for 2x10. I have and use both singly and in combination. I find I more often use the 2x10 alone when I use one cab and it has enough low end even with a 5er. YMMV.

 

[Paul_C]

What about considering the Markbass CMD121P combo ?

http://www.markbass.it/products.php?lingua=en&cat=3&vedi=41


Unless I'm mistaken it's the LMII Head in a combo.

You could use it as a practice amp (a 300w one ) and then if you wanted more oomph later you could add an 8ohm extension cab and give yourself 500W.

P.

 

[tkarter]

+1 what Larry said.

tk

 

[Moondog]

What about considering the Markbass CMD121P combo ?
http://www.markbass.it/products.php?lingua=en&cat=3&vedi=41
Unless I'm mistaken it's the LMII Head in a combo.
You could use it as a practice amp (a 300w one ) and then if you wanted more oomph later you could add an 8ohm extension cab and give yourself 500W.
P.

Good idea but I would go with this:
http://www.markbass.it/products.php?lingua=en&cat=3&vedi=39

44lbs!? I may grab one of these things if they show up in my GC

 

[MCBTunes]

10's all the way my friend. The technology is so good in cabs these days 10's can often go as low or lower in the frequency range as 15's.... not sure about markbass though. And they have punch

 

[MCBTunes]

I was just looking at the markbass products page, is it just me or does their stuff look a lot like edens? The 410's have the same port types... etc

I dig the yellow, they are cool looking.

 

[maddog]

azzy,

larry is wise in the ways of bass cabinets. Go with the 210 for now. Will work for most anything. Add another cabinet when it is needed.

 

[maddog]

If you are only using it at home, I would avoid a single 15 just due to the physics of a 15 inch speaker. It generates such a large sine wave that you have to be around 10 feet from it to get a clear convergence of tone from it. Many sound muddy if you are closer than that. Now I have not heard a Mark 15, but I cannot imagine that he has found a way to beat the physics of sound yet.

A 10 or 12 will converge much sooner and have a lower amplitude sine wave thus you can be closer to the speaker and hear a focused note without mud.

Hope this helps.

um, to reduce the amplitude of the sine wave, you turn down the volume.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I voted 2x10, but if you're considering a larger cab at some time, 8x8 is da bomb.

 

[screaminhugger]

I like the 2X10, especially in house and for smaller venues. I have a 2X10 mesaboogie that is ported and has an adjustable horn that is great for this purpose. I am actually selling it to help pay off my new Stingray. send me a pm is you are interested. It is 15 years old and it's been around, so to speak, but sounds great. Asking $225.00

james

 

[Dr Stankface]

I voted for 210 just because you didn't have 212 listed. I love the sound of a 210 but the sound of a 212 just gets me going. With (most) 212s, they can retain the solid punch and clarity of a 210 but can handle more bottom end.

Either would be fine though.

 

[Kirby]

um, to reduce the amplitude of the sine wave, you turn down the volume.

Yes maddog, you are correct. This reduces the wave. I am sorry for the confusion. Been up all night when I originally posted, guess I was a little foggy. The actual wave from a 15 due to the diameter of the speaker and the distance a person needs to be from the speaker to hear the clearest tone is what I was referring to.

Sorry for the confusion. Once again go for the tens!