2X10 Cabs for a new SR5 HH

[OldManMusic]

I just bought a new Stingray 5 string HH to go with my '79 Stingray 4 string (I am the original owner, so I guess that makes me vintage too). Now I'm getting ready to upgrade the speakers. I see some GK Goldtone 2x10 cabs that say they handle down to 30Hz. I'm sick of carting my 15" cab around. Any of you 5-string gurus have any thoughts on this kind of a rig? I dont need to vibrate the nails out of the stage, but I want the audience to hear the low B string. BTW I'm already using a GK head.

 

[Smakbass]

A good quality 2 x 10 will sound great with a 5 string, I find 15s a lil too woofy for myself...

I use a pair of 12s normally but I do plan on getting one of those Bergantino Neo 2 x 10s as well...

Just ordering another bass so it will be awhile down the road.

 

[Brim]

I'm Eden biased as i've run a single 210xst with my wt550 head with 5 string basses including my SR5 for the last three years. It's the perfect size / wattage rig for my church (300 seat auditorium). The 210xst is supposedly tuned for 30hz on the low end and believe it gets the job done (it takes my Dingwall low B very easily and reproduces it like thunder).

-EDIT-
oh yeah...it fits in the trunk of VW Golf GTI along with a 4-space skb very confortably. I normally stow my bass in its hard case up front in the passenger seat. I used to lay the back row down and put everything back there but it tended to move around when I took turns (1.8L turbo charged inline 4 is too fun to drive like an old lady). Anyhow, the cab weighs close to 60 lbs which is not bad for non-neo drivers and its size.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I'd steer clear of the GK Goldtone cabs unless you like REALLY honky mids.

Personally i'd recommend GK (RBH or Neo), Ampeg, Bergantino, and Epifani.

 

[bovinehost]

I just bought a new Stingray 5 string HH to go with my '79 Stingray 4 string (I am the original owner, so I guess that makes me vintage too). Now I'm getting ready to upgrade the speakers. I see some GK Goldtone 2x10 cabs that say they handle down to 30Hz. I'm sick of carting my 15" cab around. Any of you 5-string gurus have any thoughts on this kind of a rig? I dont need to vibrate the nails out of the stage, but I want the audience to hear the low B string. BTW I'm already using a GK head.

Well, first, congratulations on the SR5 HH. Lots of interesting and useful tones in that monster, eh?

I had a Stingray in 1979, too - just to let you know that I'm not that proverbial spring chicken, either, and have (with age if not an overabundance of wisdom) a common sense approach to amplifying my fivers, which I play almost exclusively now.

In the old days, which you will no doubt also remember (there were big reptiles and we all lived closer to the water), I think the prevailing wisdom was 15s. I know that's all I had for the longest time. Further proving my claim to dinosaur status, I can see from here two different 1-15 cabinets. They haven't moved in a long, long time.

I went to an Ampeg 4-10 Classic cabinet years ago and don't believe any cabinet has ever served me better under such grueling and diverse conditions. It handles the low B with authority. In a really big club or outdoor venue, I'll use the 4-10 and, if my band wants to present a macho appearance (and someone will help me hump all this crap), I'll go ahead with the matching 1-15. But it's overkill.

For the last two years (almost), my go-to rig is a Markbass Little Mark II with a 2-10 and a 1-15. I've been experimenting a lot lately with just the 2-10 - because I am, above all else, lazy. For the average venue and certainly for rehearsals and whatnot, the 2-10 is plenty for the low B.

So I know nothing about Goldtone cabs or GK at all, but if you're thinking there are 10-loaded cabinets what will give you what you want, I do think you're absolutely right. Maybe not the ones you mentioned, or maybe so....Stanky doesn't seem to like them much, and I know he's got good tone....but tens are where it's at.

Jack

 

[ratfart]

Like jack, I can remember carting around some big bad cabs' remember the Peavey 3220? 2 18" and 2 10", I had one and biamped with two Peavey heads. I'm not a real vertically blessed individual, I almost needed a step to reach the top head! I then down graded to a 2 15" cab and one head, then to 410's and never looked back from the 10's.
I have tried out the goldline cabs from GK and they do sound pretty decent, but the 10's are a little on the harsh side and lack some warmth. That being said, you may be able to warm up the tone by tweaking the EQ.
What GK head are you using, that may be a factor as I think those cabs are rated at 300w or less?

 

[p5string]

I use a setup identical to Brim with my SR5 except I use two 210xst cabs for larger gigs and a single for smaller gigs. Kicks major booty.

 

[kirkm24]

IMO, ACME makes the best 2x10 cabinet especially for handling a low B. Of all the 2x10's I have played, the ACME produces the most deep, bottom end yet still maintains plenty of crisp articulation and punch. These are hi-fidelity 3 way cabinet designs and they are cheaper then Bergantino, Epifani and Eden cabinets. They run about $550 brand new but you have to order them sight unseen fortunately, he gives everyone a 2 week trial period and he will pay return shipping if you don't like it. Cons of this cabinet are you need at least 500 watts to push it adequately.

If the ACME doesn't float your boat, consider a Schroeder cabinet. They have various speaker combinations that allow you to have a powerful, yet compact single cabinet solution for the majority of any gigs you would have. The cons are they are more expensive than the ACME cabinets.

 

[phat5]

IMO, ACME makes the best 2x10 cabinet especially for handling a low B. Of all the 2x10's I have played, the ACME produces the most deep, bottom end yet still maintains plenty of crisp articulation and punch. These are hi-fidelity 3 way cabinet designs and they are cheaper then Bergantino, Epifani and Eden cabinets. They run about $550 brand new but you have to order them sight unseen fortunately, he gives everyone a 2 week trial period and he will pay return shipping if you don't like it. Cons of this cabinet are you need at least 500 watts to push it adequately.

If the ACME doesn't float your boat, consider a Schroeder cabinet. They have various speaker combinations that allow you to have a powerful, yet compact single cabinet solution for the majority of any gigs you would have. The cons are they are more expensive than the ACME cabinets.

+1 for the Acme B-2 cab. But................they don't cut thru very well with 2 half stacks on "11" They are a flat sounding cab, not voiced for hard rock; imo. They do however throw down the low end, a generous amount!

 

[kirkm24]

+1 for the Acme B-2 cab. But................they don't cut thru very well with 2 half stacks on "11" They are a flat sounding cab, not voiced for hard rock; imo. They do however throw down the low end, a generous amount!

The Schroeder cabinets on the other hand, are voiced to cut through well in a live band setting and because of their extreme efficiency 104db vs. 93db of the ACME, they cut through a live mix like a knife! A lot of people don't like the low mid hump of the Schroeder cabinets and they don't put out the massive low end of an ACME but they cut through better than most cabinets, are very loud, full of punch and won't "fart" out on a low B.

You also need to consider the fact that most places now have PA support (even the small bars I gig at) so you really don't need a massive rig. Just run direct out of your head or with a DI and use your stage rig as a monitor for yourself and the band. I try to keep my stage volume as low as possible but still be easily heard across the stage.

 

[phat5]

The Schroeder cabinets on the other hand, are voiced to cut through well in a live band setting and because of their extreme efficiency 104db vs. 93db of the ACME, they cut through a live mix like a knife! A lot of people don't like the low mid hump of the Schroeder cabinets and they don't put out the massive low end of an ACME but they cut through better than most cabinets, are very loud, full of punch and won't "fart" out on a low B.

You also need to consider the fact that most places now have PA support (even the small bars I gig at) so you really don't need a massive rig. Just run direct out of your head or with a DI and use your stage rig as a monitor for yourself and the band. I try to keep my stage volume as low as possible but still be easily heard across the stage.

Kirk, is the Schroeder 1212L a 4 ohm cab? And are you using your LM-II to power it?

 

[Baird]

IMO Bergantino 2x10's are the best sounding with SRs. I have yet to take the Berg plunge and my Ampeg 2x10 cabs are almost as good. I am using a Markbass head though, not GK.

 

[OldManMusic]

Thanks to all for your comments and recommendations. I ended up choosing a Markbass CMD 102 2x10 Combo on three key elements. First, after searching through many message threads here and other forums, Markbass consistently received many great reviews and comments. It may not have always been folk’s top pick, but it was certainly in many people’s top 3. Second, it's lighter than the many of baskets of laundry that are stacked up in my kid’s rooms in my house. Luggin only 44 pounds of amp and speakers is heavenly. Third, I found one at my local GC and I've never heard a warmer, heartier amp/cab combo in such a small package in my life. I may not sell my old amps and cabinets until this thing proves itself with a few gigs, but it sure made me think about it.

 

[MingusBASS]

I love my Bergs...you can't go wrong with them.

 

[slaine01]

I had the Markbass 2x10 combo (and even bought the 2x10 extention cab as well) and hated it with my Bongo 5 - sold it and went back 2x10XST Eden.
I found the Markbass was to hard to get the sound I liked due to the horn not being able to be attenuated.
Horses for courses - its a subjective thing but if Markbass makes you happy then go for it.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I found the Markbass was to hard to get the sound I liked due to the horn not being able to be attenuated.

Nothing a screwdriver and a pair of side cutters can't fix.

 

[nashman]

+1 Eden D210XST (not XLT). Check the stats on this cab ... power handling, efficiency, frequency range etc.

 

[mynan]

I found the Markbass was to hard to get the sound I liked due to the horn not being able to be attenuated.

True, it doesn't have an attenuator, but the VLE knob does essentially the same thing as an attenuator.

 

[Brim]

Thanks to all for your comments and recommendations. I ended up choosing a Markbass CMD 102 2x10 Combo on three key elements. First, after searching through many message threads here and other forums, Markbass consistently received many great reviews and comments. It may not have always been folk’s top pick, but it was certainly in many people’s top 3. Second, it's lighter than the many of baskets of laundry that are stacked up in my kid’s rooms in my house. Luggin only 44 pounds of amp and speakers is heavenly. Third, I found one at my local GC and I've never heard a warmer, heartier amp/cab combo in such a small package in my life. I may not sell my old amps and cabinets until this thing proves itself with a few gigs, but it sure made me think about it.

Cool! Glad you found your sound!

 

[Brim]

+1 Eden D210XST (not XLT). Check the stats on this cab ... power handling, efficiency, frequency range etc.

Nash, if I had a 212xlt we'd have identical rigs! But seriously, I just do not need anymore cabs for my current playing situation. The 210xst gets the job done...and looks cute (or so my wife says).