OT: Amp Question

[mynan]

Just wondering if it is a minority of bass players that I am a part of who prefer a mixed cabinet setup?

I have always prefered a 4x10 with a 15 or 18 and always found somthing lacking with a rig that has all 10s or 15s, or God forbid, just an 18.

I've been doing a little bit of amp shopping online and most of the heads that I'm looking at don't have crossover capability, so it makes me wonder if I'm missing something.

 

[bassmancb]

I've found that having a 1x15 cab added with my 4x10s help with the low end, the 10" speakers are a little more crisp. So I feel like I have a good mix. IMHO

 

[mynan]

I guess my second question would be....If you are running a mixed cab setup, is it necessary to use a crossover?

My experience without a crossover has been that by the time you get a good sound out of the sub, you are crushing the 10s.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I guess my second question would be....If you are running a mixed cab setup, is it necessary to use a crossover?

I say not. Provided you can control the volume individually to each cab, either via a blend knob on a head or the two separate volume controls on a stereo power amp, you can combine two different cabs ok to take into account the different sensitivity and characteristics of the two cabs.

 

[Rano Bass]

No need for a crossover, i guess that's why almost every manufacturer stopped using them.
Even with a full range sistem the speakers separate themselves sonically.

 

[crazybass888]

I've found uses for both.

Early in my bass days I played a 410 / 115 mix and loved it.

Later I went for more of a punk sound with an 810 set up... plenty of boom, but more crisp.

Now that I'm getting tired of lugging that big a** thing around I'm thinking of switching to a Mark Bass 210 combo with a 115 extension cab.

All of it is a matter of preference and lower back strength

 

[mynan]

Here's what I'm running now...

I was low on cash and had a lot of this stuff laying around

Line6 Bass PODxt Live to
BBE 882 Sonic Maximizer to
DBX 223XL crossover to
DBX 266XL compressor to
Peavey PV1500 amplifier to
Custom 4x10 cab with McCauley speakers and
Ampeg SVT-15EN

It actually sounds great, but I think I'm ready for something with a few less knobs. The 4x10 was given to me and supposedly runs somewhere between 6 and 8 ohms and the speakers are supposedly rated at about 750 watts. I'm not really up on those kinds of things, so I'm not sure.

I'm trying to get into something new without having to completely start over.

 

[saxnbass]

I used to be a 2x10 or 4x10 plus 1x15 or 1x18 guy. Then I discovered the EBS Neo-Pro 4x10s. WOW. It has low end and punch and is crisp. I could do with another 4x10 EBS cab. Yummy

 

[DJBenzBass]

Just wondering if it is a minority of bass players that I am a part of who prefer a mixed cabinet setup?

I have always prefered a 4x10 with a 15 or 18 and always found somthing lacking with a rig that has all 10s or 15s, or God forbid, just an 18.

I've been doing a little bit of amp shopping online and most of the heads that I'm looking at don't have crossover capability, so it makes me wonder if I'm missing something.

One thing I've learned over the years of dragging multiple mixed cabinets to clubs is that it's usually not fun. More to carry, more to worry about, and many times, not necessary if it's a smaller room and you are run direct anyway.

While you are shopping, I would suggest you check out the Bergantino HT322. It's a 2x10 + 1x12. It easily has the low end you need. It's a 4 ohm 1000 watt cabinet. I'm pushing 900 watts into it with my power amp, using an SR5 HH beast, and it loves the low B! 1 cabinet does it all for me.
Good luck in your search.

 

[mynan]

Thanks, I'll check that out.

I'm starting to seriously consider a Markbass rig....maybe a 2x10 with a 15, but it's a serious pain in the @$$ getting pricing when there are so many options with the Markbass heads, cabs, and combos.

Any suggestions on a Markbass rig???

My current rig, listed above, is a monster. It's loud and I think it sounds great, but it's too much.

I'm thinking of selling off everything but my cabs and getting the Markbass CMD 102p (the 2x10 combo with the LittleMark II head in it) and hooking up my Ampeg 15 as an extra cab until I can scratch up enough dough to get a Markbass 15. My concern is that it will be underpowered. Any thoughts?

 

[Ryan L.]

I am currently using a Genz Benz 410 XB-2 cabinet. I have always used 10's, I just never liked the sound of any of the 15's I have tried.