4x10 and 1x18 or 6x10 whats better?

captainlowA · #1 08-20-2010, 09:49 PM

I'm in a doom metal band and i need a devastating low tone i have a carvin B1500 and i need a cab but i can't decide witch to get a 4x10 and a 1x18 by vader cabs or a mesa boogie 6x10 and eventually get a 2x15. im only playing local small venue shows abut i want to have a lot of head room if you know what i mean. any advice would be great to better my choice.

JimmyM · #2 08-20-2010, 10:32 PM

DBTOYS · #3 08-20-2010, 10:39 PM

2end that 610

FarkusSWR · #4 08-20-2010, 10:42 PM

3rd that 610

agreatheight · #5 08-20-2010, 10:46 PM

Most people here are gonna tell you 610, but I play a 410 + 118 and it kills. If you can try the gear out, do so. I don't know about the Vader stuff, I have played a Mesa 610 and it was pretty damn nice. So, to sum up, um... yeah, try it if you can.

captainlowA · #6 08-20-2010, 11:14 PM

what 4x10 and 1x18 do you use?

MIJ-VI · #7 08-20-2010, 11:15 PM

4x10 + 6x10...

lowend range · #8 08-20-2010, 11:19 PM

6x10 without a doubt. I have a 6x10 RoadReady since 2001 when they redesigned the cabs with new grills. It is without the a doubt the punchiest, most devastating cab I've ever played through.... and I play LOUD.

St Drogo · #9 08-20-2010, 11:39 PM

Could you guys maybe elaborate a bit as to why one or the other is better, instead of just naming your favorite? Which option would provide you with more volume? Clarity? Power? Reliability? Flexibility? frequency response? and so on.

mcrracer · #10 08-20-2010, 11:55 PM

If you want loud and low a biamped setup would take you there. One cab for your mids and a subwoofer to take you as low as you want to go. Take a look at this...
http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/DR250.html
for your mids and highs and this...
http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/T39.html
for your lows
Go to the forum to read up on why this is the best system in my opinion and many others. You can also ask specific questions about your needs.
http://billfitzmaurice.info/forum/
You will need 500 watts or less to go as loud as you could possibly want. It does not take a whole lot of watts and giant speakers to get loud and low. It just takes a properly designed system. I have no affiliation with BFM , I am just a very satisfied user of these speakers.

babebambi · #11 08-20-2010, 11:55 PM

If you like 15"s then I would suggesting going with one 215 now, and get the second 215 when the need arises. It's not that 15"s has a certain inherit tone; but let's face it, companies built them to fit into stereotypical tone profile.

Mixing different cab design in a rig is risking business, the odds are not in our favor. That's why I always suggest a same cab solution. Unless you are willing to investing your time and energy on top of the money to go for a proper bi-amp rig.

A vertical array of 15"s have the best compromise between power handling and horizontal dispersion.

JimmyM · #12 08-21-2010, 12:21 AM

no, sorry, i can't elaborate why i like the 610 better.

actually it's the mixing cabs thing. there's just no need for it, plus it opens you up to possible phasing problems unless you use two different amps with two different sounds, such as a clean/dirty rig.

JSK5String · #13 08-21-2010, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

actually it's the mixing cabs thing. there's just no need for it, plus it opens you up to possible phasing problems unless you use two different amps with two different sounds, such as a clean/dirty rig.

+1 This is exactly why I run a VT Deluxe into a two sided power amp into a 2x10 and a 1x15. I can use the seperate volume contols on the amp to mix the two to what I need, or sometimes even shut one totally off.

georgestrings · #14 08-21-2010, 01:27 AM

The Mesa PH 610 is a great cab for modern rock and metal - one of the best cabs ever made, IMO...

calebbarton · #15 08-21-2010, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

4x10 + 6x10...

WOAHHHHH 10X10"'S!!!!! WHOLLLLYYYYY CRAPPP!!!!!

HUnt49 · #16 08-21-2010, 01:41 AM

I use a B1500 into Acme cabs - a B4 4x10 with mid and tweet, and a Low B2 2x10 with no mids/highs.

What you're after with the 18 or 15 cab is that huge low. The combination of the "sub bass" and "bass" controls on the b1500 fed into the Acme cabs will do every bit of huge bottom end that you need. The Acmes can take it and the B1500 can dish it out. You won't miss the 18.

In fact, most gigs I just use the 4x10.

MIJ-VI · #17 08-21-2010, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calebbarton

WOAHHHHH 10X10"'S!!!!! WHOLLLLYYYYY CRAPPP!!!!!

I couldn't agree more..., two 8x10 cabs would be better.

But seriously, IMO if one wants extended lows beyond those which many standard bass cabs can deliver then its time to look at more exotic solutions like those mentioned by mcrracer and HUnt49--bearing in mind that one may end up having to occasionally HPF those extended lows at ~50 - 60Hz in order to combat mix mud in venues with poor acoustics.

rpsands · #18 08-21-2010, 02:13 AM

Neither one of these setups is going to get you devastating low end, in all likelihood.

If I were in a drop tuned Doom metal band using a 1500+ watt bass head, there is only one cab I would consider -- a fEarful 1515/66.

I can't assume too much here, but I'm guessing you (since your nick is "Captain Low A") are playing in drop A. I can't honestly recommend any cabinet on the mainstream market for playing in any tuning below drop D, much less below B0.

If I absolutely had to do it with something on the market, I'd probably buy a pair of Acme B4's or a pair of 8 ohm Flatwounds.

Another option would be to buy something, ANYTHING, for stage monitoring, go with a mid heavy sound on stage (something like a Schroeder or a BFM Jack 112), and dial out all your bottom...then put a lot of money into your FOH subwoofer.

lowend range · #19 08-21-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

no, sorry, i can't elaborate why i like the 610 better.

actually it's the mixing cabs thing. there's just no need for it, plus it opens you up to possible phasing problems unless you use two different amps with two different sounds, such as a clean/dirty rig.

+2

The coupling effect you get from 6 speakers (especially the custom Powerhouse ones on the Mesa) is just kick-you-in-the-chest resonating bass-goodness.

lowend range · #20 08-21-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calebbarton

WOAHHHHH 10X10"'S!!!!! WHOLLLLYYYYY CRAPPP!!!!!

I used to play BOTH of these rigs together. (Just push the two photos together in your mind

The SWR photo resides in my rehearsal space.

I currently just use the Mesa 6x10 on gigs and I can tell you first hand it drowns out a full Marshall JCM AND Mesa Dual Rectifier stack. \m/