Is 2 1x15 cabs a bad idea?

Victim026 · #1 08-24-2011, 12:34 AM

Hey guys!! New member here, not a newbie to bass, but I'm just getting back in after having to sell off all my gear 4 years ago to pay bills. I just purchased a GK 1001RB 1x15 combo that will be arriving later this week. Now I've played with 1x15 combos in the past and loved the sound I've gotten out of them, however I've never had the opportunity to play a setup with 2 15's. Now I just stumbled upon an incredibly reasonably priced GK 1x15 RBH cab that would match the combo I purchased. I'll mention right now the price is hard to pass as he wants $200 for a $640 cabinet. Any thoughts on running 2 15's at all? I was originally gonna save up to eventually get theGK RBH 410 but it's $900 so it's gonna take quite awhile. I'm gonna be playing in two different bands, one that is indie rock and one that is a mix of blues/rockabilly.

Alper Yilmaz · #2 08-24-2011, 12:50 AM

I used to have two 1x15" Bag End's and loved the sound of them. The only reason I sold them was they were a bit on the heavy side and it was not practical for me to schlep them around. Yet, I do not see any other reason not to like them, as long as they are decent cabinets...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victim026

Hey guys!! New member here, not a newbie to bass, but I'm just getting back in after having to sell off all my gear 4 years ago to pay bills. I just purchased a GK 1001RB 1x15 combo that will be arriving later this week. Now I've played with 1x15 combos in the past and loved the sound I've gotten out of them, however I've never had the opportunity to play a setup with 2 15's. Now I just stumbled upon an incredibly reasonably priced GK 1x15 RBH cab that would match the combo I purchased. I'll mention right now the price is hard to pass as he wants $200 for a $640 cabinet. Any thoughts on running 2 15's at all? I was originally gonna save up to eventually get theGK RBH 410 but it's $900 so it's gonna take quite awhile. I'm gonna be playing in two different bands, one that is indie rock and one that is a mix of blues/rockabilly.

Stumbo · #3 08-24-2011, 12:57 AM

I think it would be great to have a 2x 2x15 stack. Should sound great. Be sure the ohms of the cab match up to the head.

Also, good for convenience and portability.

Two 8 ohm cabs per the manual. http://www.gallien.com/manuals/1001R...r_s_Manual.pdf
You'll get 540watts with the two cabs. Should do whatever you want it to as far as tone/volume goes.

Since it's a matchin g GK cab, don't really see any downside to this. Stacking the cabs will give you better dispersion as well.

Let us know how it goes.

bongomania · #4 08-24-2011, 01:24 AM

A 2x15 stack is a thing of awesomeness. As long as they're good cabs, individually well suited to each other and to the amp, two 1x15's is a great choice.

rodl2005 · #5 08-24-2011, 01:31 AM

Love 2x15"s! Whether it's 2x115s or a single 215 cab. Go for it if the ppl who know about matching cabs etc agree. IOW, I'm no expert

1n3 · #6 08-24-2011, 01:34 AM

I agree with Stumbo. Also, a 115 will be a better match for your combo than a 410. This comes up frequently here; see the FAQs for more on this.

Victim026 · #7 08-24-2011, 01:48 AM

Thanks for the advice, looks like I'll probably go pick up the cab then. I'll post pics once I get everything in

makohund · #8 08-24-2011, 02:05 AM

Do it.

craig.p · #9 08-24-2011, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

As long as they're good cabs, individually well suited to each other and to the amp, two 1x15's is a great choice.

^Yep. "Individually well suited to each other" is the watchphrase. Do not underestimate its importance. Just because each cab has a fifteen bolted into it doesn't, on its own, satisfy that criterion. It looks to me like the combo cab and the extension cab are totally different enclosure styles. You may get cancellations and/or reinforcements all over the place. Or maybe not. This sort of crap shoot is why it's usually best to stick with identical enclosures. The good side to this particular situation is that the cab is cheap enough to allow a flip-sale for what you paid for it if things don't work out.

PSPookie · #10 08-24-2011, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

A 2x15 stack is a thing of awesomeness. As long as they're good cabs, individually well suited to each other and to the amp, two 1x15's is a great choice.

QFT

rummy · #11 08-24-2011, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

A 2x15 stack is a thing of awesomeness. As long as they're good cabs, individually well suited to each other and to the amp, two 1x15's is a great choice.

+1

hover · #12 08-24-2011, 06:14 AM

Whut is it with bass players and orange walls in their music room? Mine are orange too. And a few other bass guys I met then jammed with later? Orange walls. hahahaha.

Love it, love the stack, love the Stingray.

2 15's? Make everything shake. Total awesome. I'm heading back that route soon. Most likely a pair of fearful 15/6 tubes.

the yeti · #13 08-24-2011, 06:22 AM

it's only a bad idea if you have a problem with awesome.

tdub0199 · #14 08-24-2011, 06:22 AM

Just Do It!

nysbob · #15 08-24-2011, 06:26 AM

I've been using two single 15" cabs for the past 20 years or so...unless it's a quiet gig and only one is necessary.

Why on earth would it be a bad idea?

thumpbass1 · #16 08-24-2011, 08:15 AM

As a veteran 15 user who has also run through a good variety of other cab configurations over a few decades, running two individual single 15 cabs together is a good thing in and of itself. It's up to you to decide if such a configuration delivers what you want.

topcat2069 · #17 08-24-2011, 08:34 AM

I run a RB 1001 II into 2 NEO 1X15 MK I cabs and I love it..... but then I've always played through 2 15s one cab (2X15) or 2 (1X15)

pbassnut · #18 08-24-2011, 08:44 AM

I'm a blues player myself and play small enough venues where one 15 will cut the mustard for me 99 44/100% of the time. However, I like the tone of two 15s better ... particularly if they're matched like your proposed setup would be ... there's a certain "girth" that you get with a pair of them. What I ended up doing was getting a Schroeder 1515L which is a 40 pound cabinet that is about the size of a Mesa Boogie 1x15, but sports two 15s that can handle 800 watts and is very efficient ... old school thump with old man size and weight.

Col Pruse · #19 08-24-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the yeti

it's only a bad idea if you have a problem with awesome.

hilarious!

My setup is the exact same as rummy's pic. Except for my GB streamliner and G&L. definitely no problem with awesome.

pbass2 · #20 08-24-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col Pruse

hilarious!

My setup is the exact same as rummy's pic. Except for my GB streamliner and G&L. definitely no problem with awesome.

Mine's similar---a LMII I got used, and 2 matching Dr. Bass 1x15 Neos (one bought new, one used). Very much awesome--and it didn't break the bank either!