Basslite S2012 - WOW!

Clammy · #1 11-01-2011, 12:23 AM

Tonight, I reloaded my Marshall 1520 4x12 cab with a quad of Basslite S2012, and I'm really impressed! these things have WAAAAY more bottom end than the Celestions I replaced. They're also quite a bit louder!

So it's been a LONG time since I bought any new speakers, and it was those now replaced Celestions about 11 or 12 years ago. I know speakers break in, but I don;t know how the tone changes as they break in. What can I expect as these guys break in? And another question: According to Eminence's specs, the recommended volume for a sealed cab is 1.1 - 1.3 cu. ft. per driver. The cab I loaded them into comes in at just under 1.5 cu. ft./driver. Will this be a problem? If so, would adding lining to the cab fix that?

Thanks.

Cheers!

billfitzmaurice · #2 11-01-2011, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clammy

What can I expect as these guys break in?

They'll get better.

Quote:

The cab I loaded them into comes in at just under 1.5 cu. ft./driver. Will this be a problem?

No.

Quote:

If so, would adding lining to the cab fix that?

All cabs should be lined, period.

Clammy · #3 11-01-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

They'll get better. No.
All cabs should be lined, period.

Thanks!

Cheers!

rpsands · #4 11-01-2011, 08:55 AM

I'd line it, and probably go a little thicker than in a normal ported box.

Perfect call on the drivers. Any of those old guitar cabs, the S2012's about as good a retrofit as you're going to get. Damned shame they got the neo price hike so badly. Have yet to hear of someone doing this retrofit that wasn't happy with it

sickest beast · #5 11-01-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

Perfect call on the drivers. Any of those old guitar cabs, the S2012's about as good a retrofit as you're going to get. Damned shame they got the neo price hike so badly. Have yet to hear of someone doing this retrofit that wasn't happy with it

I think the cabinet he (clammy) is mentioning is actually an 80's Bass series cabinet, not designed for guitar. I've seen pictures of them, the JCM800 Bass series are almost double the thickness of regular Marshall guitar cabinets.

Glad to hear the speakers sound good. I'm having all kinds of interest in these old Marshall cabs lately.

Clammy · #6 11-01-2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sickest beast

I think the cabinet he (clammy) is mentioning is actually an 80's Bass series cabinet, not designed for guitar. I've seen pictures of them, the JCM800 Bass series are almost double the thickness of regular Marshall guitar cabinets.

Glad to hear the speakers sound good. I'm having all kinds of interest in these old Marshall cabs lately.

Yep, it's a mid-80s JCM 800 Bass Series cab. Same dimensions as a regular straight front Marshall guitar 4x12, but about 3 inches deeper. It's ported too. But I sealed the ports, cause those Celestions REALLY didn't like being in a vented cab! I considered opening the ports again (there are 4 rectangular ones between the speakers), but since the cab wasn't designed for those drivers, and I'm pretty clueless where WinISD is concerned (I've tried using it, but it may as well be Chinese), I figureed it would be safe to leave it as a sealed cab. I'll get some lining for it, though. I've read a lot of posts here, recommending 1.5" matress toppers from Walmart.

Cheers!

rpsands · #7 11-01-2011, 09:29 AM

Do not use mattress toppers! Those things are hit or miss.

Quilt batting in the roll is the safest way for retrofits.

billfitzmaurice · #8 11-01-2011, 09:31 AM

Vented tuned to 45Hz as opposed to sealed will give you about 3dB higher sensitivity and 4dB higher maximum output in the lows.

Clammy · #9 11-01-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

Do not use mattress toppers! Those things are hit or miss.

Quilt batting in the roll is the safest way for retrofits.

Ah, ok. What thickness would you recommend? And where does one buy that stuff?

Thanks.

Cheers!

Clammy · #10 11-01-2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Vented tuned to 45Hz as opposed to sealed will give you about 3dB higher sensitivity and 4dB higher maximum output in the lows.

I'd love to do that, but I've tried using WinISD, and it just confuses me, hehehe... I know the internal volume of the cab, and the volume occupied by the drivers, as well as all the T/S parameters, but when I try to model a cab in WinISD, I just get lost.

Cheers!

rpsands · #11 11-01-2011, 09:43 AM

Joann's fabrics, Michael's, whatever craft store. not sure if you have the same there, but any fabric/crafts store should have it.

I typically use layers of the relatively thin stuff.

Clammy · #12 11-01-2011, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

Joann's fabrics, Michael's, whatever craft store. not sure if you have the same there, but any fabric/crafts store should have it.

I typically use layers of the relatively thin stuff.

Ok, we have a couple of places around here. How do you attach it?

Thanks.

Cheers!

sickest beast · #13 11-01-2011, 10:03 AM

staple gun?

sickest beast · #14 11-01-2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Vented tuned to 45Hz as opposed to sealed will give you about 3dB higher sensitivity and 4dB higher maximum output in the lows.

would a length of PVC pipe be needed as a port? or would a cut-out vent be sufficient?

rpsands · #15 11-01-2011, 10:13 AM

3m Spray adhesive is what I prefer.

billfitzmaurice · #16 11-01-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sickest beast

would a length of PVC pipe be needed as a port? or would a cut-out vent be sufficient?

That depends on a variety of factors, too involved to go into here. The answer can be found here:
The Speaker Building Bible - Techtalk Speaker Building, Audio, Video, and Electronics Customer Discussion Forum From Parts-Express.com

Petebass · #17 11-02-2011, 01:13 AM

Well we know the cab is 6cu.ft. From there we can work out what the tuning would be if you just returned the ports to their original condition. All we need is the length, width and depth measurement of the 4 existing ports. Don't forget the depth... Everyone forgets the depth.

With any luck the existing ports might already be in the ballpark. If not, we can work out what to do next.

Clammy · #18 11-02-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petebass

Well we know the cab is 6cu.ft. From there we can work out what the tuning would be if you just returned the ports to their original condition. All we need is the length, width and depth measurement of the 4 existing ports. Don't forget the depth... Everyone forgets the depth.

With any luck the existing ports might already be in the ballpark. If not, we can work out what to do next.

Cool! I'll measure the ports tonight.

Thanks.

Cheers!

Clammy · #19 11-02-2011, 08:38 PM

Had a short rehearsal tonight, and I didn't have a chance to measure the ports. Probably won't be til Monday before I can do it.

And Holy HELL those Basslites sound amazing! SO much more bottom end!!

Cheers!

Sparky Mark · #20 11-03-2011, 05:14 PM

I made two small ported 1 x 12 cabs using S2012s and they're bloody brilliant even if I say so myself. If I want a quick and easy schlep I have no concerns over taking these in place of my Bergs.