Avatar cabs? Thoughts?

[LilTort3608]

Okay, so here's the deal. I am in the market for a new bass cabinet because mine is completely crapping out. I currently have a 1969 ampeg B25B 2x15 cab. I absolutely looooove the sound i can get from it, BUT have absolutely no power from it. I was originally thinking to add an extra cab so I could keep the tone, but it's a 4 ohm cab.

I have a markbass little mark tube 800 head and I want to find something punchy so my tone doesn't sound a million times different. Someone told me about Avatar bass cabs recently and i was intrigued. does anyone here use Avatar cabs? I know nothing about them haha.

I was looking at the B212 Neo, or the B410 Neo cabs both at 8 ohms so I can add on if i'd like. Any preferences/ suggestions about Avatar?

[DWBass]

Been a user for the last 8 years! 'Nuff said! Currently using a Markbass LMIII and it kills! My band, especially the drummer, loves this combination!

[mntngrown]

The avatar neo 2x12 sounds great with a MB LMII but I hear on this forum that the lmtube is voiced different.
If you love the Ampeg check into fixing it.
I was able to rehab old speakers by replacing the foam surrounds that connect the paper cones to the metal rim. you can see if they need it. The foam will be falling apart.
Replacement drivers is another option but you will appreciate how light the Avatar neos are.

[cashpoor51]

mabe through a couple of new eminence neo's in your 2x15
and bring it back to life
theres a lot of threads floating around for finding the right
replacements

Just a thought

[jam.majors]

I really like cashpoor51's idea. I mean, c'mon... it's vintage and you already like it!

[shoot-r]

IMHO, Avatar offers the best inexpensive bass cabinets on the market.
There's cabinets that cost two to three times what the Avatar's sell for.
Are the high-dollar cabinets worth the difference?
Only your ears can decide.
You may or may not like the Avatar sound...but the same can be said about "every" manufacturer's cabinets.
I went form high-dollar, brand name bass cabinets to two Avatar Neo 210 cabs that are stacked as a vertical 410.
Haven't regretted the change for a second!

[TussinBot.]

I love my avatar 212 cab, but since finding this thread Boutique 3-way 115 and 215 on a budget I might be headed in another direction! Carvin Pa speakers that sound great for bass. $279 brand new for the LS1503

[morgan138]

A bandmate ordered a 1x15 Avatar cab years ago. When it came, the jack plate said it was the wrong impedance. So I took out the speaker to make sure it wasn't just a mis-labeled plate. The whole speaker was mounted off-center so some of the holes were stripped out and were crumbling the front baffle particle board. I ended up having to rotate the whole thing and re-drill a whole new set of holes because the thing was such a mess. Not a huge deal, but definitely the worst workmanship I'd ever seen in a cabinet.

This might've been a fluke, and they might have better quality control now, but it was kind of a bummer. Maybe I'm just holding a grudge, but I would definitely buy a random used cab and/or replacement drivers before going Avatar.

[craig.p]

Interesting question. I used to have a B25B cab with the stock (crap) speakers, and I know what you mean by "punchy." And you're right -- you can't hit them with too many watts before they start squawking about it. I have two Avatar B212s, and I'd have to say they're not the same sound as the B25B. They go a lot deeper and are nowhere near as "blatty" in the midrange.

Replacing the speakers in the B25B might work well as long as you understand that these cabs were sealed/non-ported but were built with "leaks" cut into the front baffle -- one for each driver enclosure. So, I'd like to see you get the input of an enclosure designer like Bill Fitzmaurice before you proceed on a driver swap.

I think much of the sound you like so much may have to do with the fact that the original drivers are marginal at best, and develop "character" at relatively low power levels. I've seen lots of cases where bass players replaced the cheap stock fifteens in Ampeg and Sunn cabs with Altec 421s or JBL D140s and wonder where their "sound" went. (It went into the dumpster with the Eminence drivers they discarded.)

Another option would be to try to duplicate the tone you like with some type of front end kit (tube drive/cab modeling), which would give you a lot more flexibility in cab/driver selection.

[craig.p]

Wanted to add one more thing. I think there was a recent thread about a guy whose MB LM800 would auto-protect with loud, heavy, trebly slaps sent to a cab with a crossover and tweeter. You may want to find that thread and read it. I may have the details wrong or even the whole thing wrong but please check it out anyway. As you know, the Avatars have crossovers and tweeters.

[shoot-r]

Originally Posted by morgan138

A bandmate ordered a 1x15 Avatar cab years ago. When it came, the jack plate said it was the wrong impedance. So I took out the speaker to make sure it wasn't just a mis-labeled plate. The whole speaker was mounted off-center so some of the holes were stripped out and were crumbling the front baffle particle board. I ended up having to rotate the whole thing and re-drill a whole new set of holes because the thing was such a mess. Not a huge deal, but definitely the worst workmanship I'd ever seen in a cabinet.

This might've been a fluke, and they might have better quality control now, but it was kind of a bummer. Maybe I'm just holding a grudge, but I would definitely buy a random used cab and/or replacement drivers before going Avatar.

Years back a guitarist I was working with ordered a brand new Marsh*ll 50 watt head and matching 412 slant front cab, it sounded weak, took it apart, two of the speakers hadn't been wired up and half the speakers screws were never installed.
I picked-up a Amp*g 410 cabinet. It had a terrible rattle, took it apart, the interior bracing boards where laying in the bottom of the cab, it had never been fastened in.
I was helping a music store owner/friend of mine unbox some brand new J*L p.a. cabinets. Pulled the cab out of the box and the front metal grill fell off...screws had never been installed.
Every manufacturer has some equipment gettin' made at the last minute, just before quittin' time on a Friday!

[Pandafist]

I toured pretty extensively with a 410 neo. It was great because it got loud, sounded 'OK' and because of how light and small it was.
Downside - I somehow managed to blow the horn coil at least 3 times with nothing more than passive pick-ups and a green muff (not even totally dimed either). I ended up just bypassing it before deciding to sell it altogether.

I'll never buy another Avatar.

Sorry. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

[DWBass]

Wow! I see a few folks have had issues. Like I said earlier, I've had my cabs (B210 & SB112) for 8 years now and not one single issue! I fully expected to have worn these out by now! They are still kicking. I've spent a hellova lot more money on basses and amps! I have bought an SWR Goliath Jr III, a GK 4x10 and a Hartke 4x10 and all of those are gone! Still have the Avatars!

[sykes of christ]

Over priced and poorly constructed.

[SlingBass4]

I have personally known a number of folks who have nothing but the highest praise for Avatar cabs, and use them on a daily basis with little to no issues -ever. I, myself, have a set (for sale BTW) that I bought empty and modded them with the assistance of a couple speaker techs (one from Eminence). Killer cabs that were replaced as my #1 go to's only because I acquired a pair of Epifani T-112NYC cabs (very similar in in size, sound, and dependability). Is anybody'sproduct perfect? No! Have no fear, however, of any of Avatar's products

[shoot-r]

Originally Posted by Pandafist

I toured pretty extensively with a 410 neo. It was great because it got loud, sounded 'OK' and because of how light and small it was.
Downside - I somehow managed to blow the horn coil at least 3 times with nothing more than passive pick-ups and a green muff (not even totally dimed either). I ended up just bypassing it before deciding to sell it altogether.

I'll never buy another Avatar.

Sorry. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

A local guy near me uses a Amp*g 410 HLF cab that he's quit counting the times he's blowed the light bulb in it, he finially blew the bulb and horn.
I blew a horn out of the Ed*n cabinets I was using before I went with Avatars............I'm just sayin', you can have problems with "any" manufacturers equipment no matter what it cost.

[wskorupski]

I just picked up the 4ohm 410 NEO about a month ago. I've been using it with a LMII. The weight/sound/price was exactly what I was looking for. It's been perfect for every gig I've had it on so far. Projects real nice, gets as low as i want it. I really have no complaints.

I was using a 2x15 peavey before it... but that thing was a monster (jeez like..120lbs) and just wasn't loud enough to be worth the haul.

I love it and I'd totally recommend it!

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by LilTort3608

does anyone here use Avatar cabs? I know nothing about them haha.

Anyone here? Avatar? Nope. Nobody here. Never heard of 'em.

MM

P.S. (haha)

[iualum]

...there's a ton of Avatar info available using search ...I've played through them, excellent cabs...only thing keeping me from using them is that they don't have a 215...wrote Dave ~6 months ago about this & he's working on a 215, but have heard nothing on it since, guess time for a follow up ...

[martybernal]

I couldn't be more happier with this rig.