410 & 115 OR on their own??

4001 · #1 10-26-2010, 02:47 PM

Here's a question that I have.
I thought that I've read on here somewhere that having a 410 AND a 115 although it looks cool in magazine ads and in stores, really dosen't make much sense.
So, do you run a 410 with a 115 or either a 410 OR a 115.

I played through a 410 & 115 stack that was the backline for me at a gig I played this past weekend.
The amp system sounded great with the 410 and 115. BUT I didn't get a chance to toy around with the amp and cabinets. It left me wondering....how much of this sound is the 410??
How much is the 115?? Is it really necessary to have both? Does the bottom end improve to any extent to justify having to add the 115?

The amp was a GK Backline 600, and although it's a cheaper GK and low power, it sure sounded really good to me. I have no idea if it was in BI-AMP mode or full range either.

Or is just a 410 enough? I'm currently looking at the GK 700RB-II head and probably one of the GK 410RBH cabs to go with it, unless there is a better 410 that matches up better with that head.
Or how about a 412??
What do you all think??

Isn't there a GK rep. that visits here?

Sartori · #2 10-26-2010, 03:23 PM

If the 410 was on top, most of what you were hearing was probably the 410.

greenboy · #3 10-26-2010, 03:28 PM

Everybody should buy a 410115 cab right from the git go - a single cab with four 10" and one 15" drivers in it. Then, later, when asking for "upgrade" advice as people would tell them that it's best to always use identical cabs... they could then buy another 410115.

Simple!

4001 · #4 10-26-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sartori

If the 410 was on top, most of what you were hearing was probably the 410.

Yeah, that's what I read on here, somewhere. It's at or closer to your ear.
One person suggeated that if the 410 was at a lesser ohm rating like 4 ohms, the 8 ohm 115 would then work better?

I played through just a single 410 and it sounded great.

Oh, and is it better to have the cab on the floor or is it OK to put it on top of 2 milk crates to get it up a foot higher?
Do you loose a lot of tone if it's not rattling the wood floors?

JimmyM · #5 10-26-2010, 03:34 PM

NO MILK CRATES EVER!

use a proper amp stand or a black wedge, bro. makes you look a million times more pro. i use a piece of 2x2 painted black. you have to get it up like 27 inches to start losing floor coupling according to the engineers on here, so either way will get you the same basic result. but no milk crates. not even if you have a black cloth over them. everyone knows they're milk crates.

chicago_mike · #6 10-26-2010, 03:40 PM

Jimmy....The sole porpoise of milk crates is to lift cabinets off the floor. They serve no other porpoise than to inform drivers that the street corner they are turning on is destitute...

give those plastic ocean contaminates some love!

JimmyM · #7 10-26-2010, 03:44 PM

NO MILK CRATES EVER!!!

BassmanAd · #8 10-26-2010, 03:44 PM

What Jimmy said.

hamertek98 · #9 10-26-2010, 03:48 PM

I bought into the 410/115 hype years ago. I noticed right away the 115 was there for looks (IMO). Did a lot of reading here on TB, borrowed an identical 410, whammo - I saw the light. Traded for an identical 410. Do I need 2 410's? Absolutely not, but damn does it look cool. We do a lot of outdoor shows - mainly use 'em both for those.

I'd check out a bunch of different cabs (if possible), and choose what sounds best for you. Some 410/115's sound really good bi-amped. 2 115's can be killer, too.

Good luck.

BassmanAd · #10 10-26-2010, 03:49 PM

Actually, joking aside, what's the general consensus on raising cabs? (Regardless of which food container you use.)

I play through a 4x10 most of the time so whenever possible I like to get it as close to my head as possible, mainly I guess so I can keep the volume lower and still hear myself. Does it really have a noticable affect on the sound or doesn't it matter that much cos I'm running a DI to FOH anyway? I can't tell, I'm getting deaf in my old age...

hamertek98 · #11 10-26-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

NO MILK CRATES EVER!!!

Never looked at her the same way since that movie hehe.

chicago_mike · #12 10-26-2010, 03:51 PM

Sorry bro..... in reality..milk crates might be the only thing. I am not kidding here. AS much as they may be poo-poo'ed. I can think of a few clubs where all you can do is milk crate the amp because theres not enough room to tilt the cab back.

There a club in Washington D.C. like this, one in Georgia, a couple in Chicago..these clubs are all over.

JimmyM · #13 10-26-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanAd

Actually, joking aside, what's the general consensus on raising cabs? (Regardless of which food container you use.)

I play through a 4x10 most of the time so whenever possible I like to get it as close to my head as possible, mainly I guess so I can keep the volume lower and still hear myself. Does it really have a noticable affect on the sound or doesn't it matter that much cos I'm running a DI to FOH anyway? I can't tell, I'm getting deaf in my old age...

i usually don't bother raising cabs but i do like it when i'm using a 115 or 410 by itself and i'm not too lazy to do it. much better than not hearing the whole range of your cab.

BassmanAd · #14 10-26-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i usually don't bother raising cabs but i do like it when i'm using a 115 or 410 by itself and i'm not too lazy to do it. much better than not hearing the whole range of your cab.

It is a sweet sweet sound to be able to hear the full tone. Possibly why I'm going deaf...

Sartori · #15 10-26-2010, 04:19 PM

Right now I use a 1x15 and 2x10 rig, with the 1x15 on top. I'm switching to a 2x15 soon, though.

4001 · #16 10-26-2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

NO MILK CRATES EVER!

use a proper amp stand or a black wedge, bro. makes you look a million times more pro. i use a piece of 2x2 painted black. you have to get it up like 27 inches to start losing floor coupling according to the engineers on here, so either way will get you the same basic result. but no milk crates. not even if you have a black cloth over them. everyone knows they're milk crates.

I'm not using them. Somebody told me to try that and I could cover them with some black material.

4001 · #17 10-26-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

NO MILK CRATES EVER!!!

OK.OK.
No milk crates!

4001 · #18 10-26-2010, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sartori

Right now I use a 1x15 and 2x10 rig, with the 1x15 on top. I'm switching to a 2x15 soon, though.

OK. And why a 215 for you?
I have also been interested in a 215.

I wonder what one would pair up good with a GK 700RB-II?...

Sartori · #19 10-26-2010, 05:20 PM

I figured out that I liked my 15" speaker more, which isn't surprising. For some reason, I've always preferred 15"s to 10"s, and it's not because I need "more low end" (you can get more low end from quite a few 4x10"s anyway).

While one can't really generalize too much about speakers, my 15" cab tames some of the high end of my setup, making it sound less harsh. Also, I happened to have a guitar 6x12 on hand whose box as it turned out was also used for a pretty good 2x15 design.

Once finished, I'll use that for my large rig, and my 1x15" for my small rig, and dump the 2x10", which sounds okay with the other cab, but not really what I like on my own. Plus it has carpet instead of tolex, which sucks.

If you like GK stuff, probably either an 8x10/two 4x10 setup or a 2x15/two 1x15 rig would probably work. Depending of course, on which cabs you use. Not all 10" speakers sound the same, and not all 15" speakers sound the same.

4001 · #20 10-26-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sartori

and it's not because I need "more low end" (you can get more low end from quite a few 4x10"s anyway).

While one can't really generalize too much about speakers, my 15" cab tames some of the high end of my setup, making it sound less harsh.

It's that 'taming' that I think I like about 15's as well.
I'd like to try a GK 700RB-II with a 410 and a 215.

The only question is who makes good 410's and 215's?
Does anyone that uses GK heads use the cabs as well?
They don't make a 215.