4X10 bass cab in PA? Good or bad idea?

[jtsteph]

My parents gave me an Orange 4X10 bass cab for my birthday to match my OTB500. So my question is....

Can I use my old Acoustic 4X10 cab in my 400 watt PA system? Or is this a bad idea? Both PA and cab are 400 watt and 8 ohm.

Thanks guys

Jake

[splitcoilsenior]

It'd probably be put to best you with me.

[rbonner]

Jake, you can use anything you'd like in a PA system.

In the olden days probably playing in front of your parents when they were junior high schoolers we used a pair of 30 watt tube combo amps, one guitar and one Bass Y corded the mikes and sat them on chairs.

Silly, but a great sounding PA with a fair amount of power. Since I've owned my own PA at times with nearly $50K invested; I wished at that time we still had the two combos running.

Have fun and make good music.

BOB

[ErnieD]

I've wondered about this too. I've got 8 cabs right now a few, 410s, 212s, 112s, 210's and thought I oughta try our small Yamaha PA head into one or two of em as they are Edens, GB's and we seem to distort our 2 Peavey 1x15's on sticks at times running only kickbass, vocals & keys thru em.

I've got a older, mostly unused, modded Eden D-210 cab that has two Deltalite 2510's II and the cab is now 500 watts @ 4 ohms. When I've used it at practice or small gigs it really puts out some nice big lows. Just thinking it might make a decent sub if we run a 400-500 watt head thru the Yammy's sub-out and into the Eden cab. Guess only way to find out is to try it.

But in this Houston area heat right now, we're doing some afternoon, Sunday biker bar outdoor deck ( covered at least ) gigs. Still its gonna be +100 with heat index this weekend and I'm just carrying a single 212 or 410 w/LMII or F1 to these gigs, cause its too dang hot to be making more n 1 or 2 trips tops.

Maybe I'll try it at a gig in the fall, yeah then I'll know. Anybody else try what OP suggests let us know here.

[Decedo]

LOL!!
In the late 80's I ran through 2 SVT rigs. My buddy's Dad had a little country duo and was playing at a local legion. His bass amp was in for repairs so I lent him one of my SVT's (major over-kill I thought). The next day I went to the legion to pick up my amp and noticed that he ran his bass, mixer and drum machine through my SVT, hehehe. I didn't notice any damage to the amp, and he later told me that was one of the better sounding pa's he'd used in a long time, hehe

[jtsteph]

Thanks for your reply guys!

I'm thinking it would be ok. I'm just concerned about the highs. But then again, "most" bass cabs are built like tanks so .... I think the 4X10 would be ok. As it is now, we use Radio Shack 140 watt 8 ohm speakers now. Very underpowered. I run vocals and some keys through the PA. So I think this would be an upgrade?!?!

Any thoughts on adding the Acoustic 115 in the future along with the 410?

Jake

[billfitzmaurice]

You should take the question to a forum that deals with PA. When there you'll be told that a 4x10 bass cab won't work as a PA top because it has poor midrange dispersion and can't be pole mounted, and it won't work as a PA sub because it doesn't go low enough. It's just not the right tool for the job.

[jtsteph]

billfitzmaurice-Yes, I agree to the PA boards and yes I see your point in regards to bass cab/PA system question I have. You make good sense.

thanks

Jake

[i_got_a_mohawk]

In a pinch, yeah you can use it. Ideal? Not always. But heck, better than nothing!

We've done that in the past where we had to DIY a PA practically on the spot. Cheap mixer -> Peavey firebass -> 410 for vocals

[tom once dead]

ive done many band practices using guitar combos and bass combos for vocals. Always worked. didn't sound great but did the job.

[Bmorefoozler]

Originally Posted by jtsteph

Thanks for your reply guys!

I'm thinking it would be ok. I'm just concerned about the highs. But then again, "most" bass cabs are built like tanks so .... I think the 4X10 would be ok. As it is now, we use Radio Shack 140 watt 8 ohm speakers now. Very underpowered. I run vocals and some keys through the PA. So I think this would be an upgrade?!?!

Any thoughts on adding the Acoustic 115 in the future along with the 410?

Jake

I certainly wouldn't go and BUY more Bass Cabs to use as PA Tops... especially not considering how cheap PA Tops can get...

Like others have mentioned, in a pinch, yes it will work, but not optimally.

IF I were you and I'm not, I would try and sell the cab on Craig's list or even trade it towards for a sub to go with your current tops or better tops.

[lug]

I've used 2 Peavey 4X10 cabs and a Mackie 1400i for PA in a pinch, sounded a lot better than I expected it would. Perfect? No, but quite useable. Honestly sounded better than a lot of regular PA setups I've played through in the past.

[rbonner]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

When there you'll be told that a 4x10 bass cab won't work as a PA top because it has poor midrange dispersion and can't be pole mounted, and it won't work as a PA sub because it doesn't go low enough. It's just not the right tool for the job.

Well of course Bill, you'd probably have found all sorts of fault in my selection of the matched Peavey cabs and amps I had in my $50K worth of PA too.

The PEAVEY REP was pretty pleased though.

But I don't think the intention of the OP was to buy a dozen 410 cabs to use as his PA, just hey I have this cab here, if I plug it in will music come out?

The answer is HELL YEAH. Sort of reminds me of Seventh grade woodshop. The film they played showed the guy jamming a screwdriver through his hand while trying to open a paint can with it.

They explained Simple Charlie or whatever his name was, didn't use a special paint can opener and forced the screwdriver through his hand because he was using the wrong tool for the job.

I got an A in the class, have ALWAYS used a straight blade screwdriver for opening a paint can and have never driven it through the center of my hand while doing so.

SO let's let the kid have his fun. When he can afford a real PA, I'm sure he'll buy one. BECAUSE....

Seems like the bass players always end up owning the PA, the band's trailer, the VAN, the two wheeler, the gig box, the soldering iron and just about every other tool necessary to keep a band running.

BOB

[jtsteph]

rbonner- In fact, I do own the PA, effects pedals, gig boxes, ect..!!!

Thanks for all of your input.

Jake