• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

jar546

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
206
I know we will get a lot of opinions here but I am hoping that there is a common denomintator or some good advice beside the "buy what sounds good to you" reply.

I am in the market for a 4x10 cab for use with my Hartke HA4000 and MM SR5 HH.

I play mostly classic rock, rock, blues, etc and was wondering which cabinet seems to work best for that those types of genre with the EB MM SR5 HH?
 

REMUS

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2007
Messages
24
Location
UK
How much are you looking to spend and does it matter if it's new or used?
 

jar546

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
206
Cost is not necessarily an issue as much as quality and durabiltity.

Hey, my last name is Remas by the way.
 

jar546

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
206
Sound, quality and durability. Looks don't make decisions for me.
 

REMUS

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2007
Messages
24
Location
UK
Quality and durabily = Mesa road ready cabs imo, expensive, but you state this isn't an issue.

MESA Boogie 4x10 Road Ready Bass Cabinet

RR4x10fnt.jpg


Cool, but I take my screen name from the Roman legend.
 

Aussie Mark

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2003
Messages
5,646
Location
Sydney, Australia
Sound, quality and durability. Looks don't make decisions for me.

Who mentioned looks?

I mentioned weight - ie. can you handle a 100lb quad, or would you prefer something lighter

I mentioned carpet v tolex - ie. a durability question

I mentioned metal grille v cloth - ie. a durability question

I mentioned sealed v ported cab - ie. a sound question

And, I mentioned horn or now - ie. a sound question

All these (and others) would be factors in a purchasing decision. As would a number of other questions - power handling rating, frequency range, SPL, 4 or 8 ohm, castors or not, yada yada yada. Don't go TB on us.
 

REMUS

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2007
Messages
24
Location
UK
Efficiency is also something you might want to take into consideration, but there really is no substitude for going out and trying them out before hand jar.
 

INMT

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
735
Location
Montana
I take 2x12 cabs over 4x10's every time. They just seem more "natural" sounding to me. I should mention I turn off the horn/tweeter in any cabinet loaded with them. Last thing I want to hear is that annoying "click" or the like comming from my amp.
 

jar546

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
206
Who mentioned looks?
When you asked grill type and cloth I just assumed.

I mentioned weight - ie. can you handle a 100lb quad, or would you prefer something lighter
The weight is not a problem but lighter would be smarter IMHO

I mentioned carpet v tolex - ie. a durability question
Durability as stated, want durability

I mentioned metal grille v cloth - ie. a durability question
Durability, want durability

I mentioned sealed v ported cab - ie. a sound question
Me not know what the difference in sound is

And, I mentioned horn or now - ie. a sound question
Probably yes if needed

I have a Hartke HA4000 rated 400watts at 4 ohms so I would prefer a 4ohm cabinet OR two 2x10s (ease of carrying) rated at 8 ohms each.

Thanks for your help
 

jar546

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
206
I have heard a few things about the 2x12 cabs. Are they becoming more popular?

I would think that you are pushing more air with 4 10" speakers at 314 sq. inches VS 2 12" speaker totalling 226 sq. inches.
 

REMUS

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2007
Messages
24
Location
UK
I take 2x12 cabs over 4x10's every time. They just seem more "natural" sounding to me. I should mention I turn off the horn/tweeter in any cabinet loaded with them. Last thing I want to hear is that annoying "click" or the like comming from my amp.

I don't own a 2x12" cab, but I have a GS112 at the moment, I am hopeing to add a DB112 later next year to help fill in where the GS series neglects.

But in relation to your post, I would certainly agree that good quality 12" speaker based cabs provide a more natural tone.

I have heard a few things about the 2x12 cabs. Are they becoming more popular?

I would think that you are pushing more air with 4 10" speakers at 314 sq. inches VS 2 12" speaker totalling 226 sq. inches.

Sensitivity (in db) is what you're looking for. Sensitivity is rated in decibels @ power over distance, typically watts over meters. A speaker that puts out 100dB @ 1W/m and handles 800W max is going to put out ~129dB. Two speakers that put out 100dB @ 1W/m and handle 800W max are going to put out ~132dB due to coupling. Four speakers are going to put out ~135dB.

So if both the 8" and 12" speakers put out 100dB@1W/m, 800W max, the 2x8 will be 3dB quieter than the 4x12. However, the 4x12 is (again, most likely) going to push lower frequencies than the 2x8. This example assumes the cabinets are both tuned to their optimal specs, the optimal cabinet size, doesn't factor in excursion/xmax, vented vs sealed cabs, etc.
 
Last edited:

INMT

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
735
Location
Montana
Years ago (and brother I mean years ago) I used 2 GK 41210,I think that was the name. They had 4-12's in a folded horn config. and 2- 10's with high pass caps on them. Each being run by an 800 RB. These cabs were a little taller and a few inces deeper than amped 8x10's. Needless to say they were heavy and killed small animals at 30 yards. Then I went to 2 1x15 cabs, then to 2 2x15 cabs then to 2 8x10's then 4 4x10's then to 2 1x18's with 1x10 in the same cab,then 2 4x12's then 2 4x10's then 2 2x10's (I added one more 2x10 to make 3). Current main bass cabs, 2 2x12's.

All cabs/amps were various makers, GK, Marshall,Standel, Bag End, Trace, *ender, Carvin, Mesa, Hartke, SWR. The current cabs are SWR's (no horn BTW).
At this point I apologize to "J" (analogmage on this forum) because he had to deal with my ever changing bass cabs/amps for a few years.
My point is what rocks today may not rock tomorrow, but may rock again next week. So go test out whatever you can get your hands on and remember to listen to the cab at about 15 feet away as well as up close. You'll know why when you do it ;).
I also add with the mesa cabs, the Road ready option is SO worth it.
 

Lync

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 6, 2004
Messages
85
Location
Albany, NY
The HA4000 is Hartke's hidden gem IMO. Cool head!

I would look into the Hartke 4200-it is a heavy 4x10, but has casters like my 6x10 Ampeg. Sometimes if the cab is taller it is easier to move around (as long as stairs aren't involved).

Here's a pic:

4200-web.jpg
 

mynan

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
2,695
Location
Spring Lake, MI
The Markbass 2x10 setup in my combo is great with my SR5 HH. I can only imagine how great it would sound with 4 Markbass 10s.

I had the GK 1001/2x12 combo before I got my Markbass rig. IHO, the 2 12s were a little tighter than a 15, but not quite as punchy as I would have liked them to be. There is more depth there than with 10s, but the clarity wasn't there for me.
 

DTG

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,759
Location
Ireland
I will tell you on friday how the mark bass 4x10 (4ohm) with the LMII head holds up against two very loud guitar players !!! cant wait to test out this rig !!
 

dmarotta

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 4, 2007
Messages
190
Location
Thousand Oaks
You should seriously take a look at the Markbass cabs. I just used the 6x10 and 4X10 cab in Europe for three weeks with my Bongo and it was incredible. The Marbass company has worked very closely with Musicman over the years and there is defintely something special about the combination of these two companies. When I got back to the states I ordered an SD 800 head along with a 4x10 and 2x10 cab.
 

strummer

Enormous Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2005
Messages
4,518
Location
Safe European Home, Stockholm, Sweden
I'm not too fond of 4x10's, but the MarkBass 4x10 works real well, as does an ampeg box I can't remember the name of (it's got vents below the drivers, some AMpeg nut will probably know the model no).

But please try 12" and compare to 10", I love my GS112's:)
 

Chuck M

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Messages
174
Location
San Antonio, TX
I use an SWR Goliath, III and like it a lot. My Aguilar GS212 goes to a lot more gigs than the 410. A 212 is a great choice and sounds a bit smoother than a 410.

Chuck
 

oli@bass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
4,272
Location
Switzerland
I play mostly classic rock, rock, blues, etc and was wondering which cabinet seems to work best for that those types of genre with the EB MM SR5 HH?

What you really really want is this:

SVT-810AV_LG.jpg


With the matching SVT head.

However, I don't have the space and muscle to lug around this thing either, so I settled with the next best thing: SWR 8x8 The Henry and SansAmp RBI Preamp with SWR Poweramp. As "rock" as any non-ampeg can get. IMO

(But since everybody else here praise MarkBass, give them a chance...)
 
Top Bottom