Bassman 100 guys, what cabs do you use?

PunkRocker33133 · #1 10-31-2011, 10:12 PM

I'm looking for a new cab to pair with my Bassman, and I need opinions. Right now I'm using an old Peavey 410 TVX, but it doesn't get loud enough for my band. So, the question is, should I go 810, 215, 412? What?

I'm open to both new and used, but I'd really like to keep it under 600 bucks.

Edit: for the record, I'm playing pop punk/post-hardcore in the vein of Title Fight, Touche Amore, Have Heart, and Defeater. I like a grindy tone, and play a J-bass with quarter pounders and a pick. I also use various fuzz pedals, and don't like ported cabs or tweeters.

Dustin Teel · #2 10-31-2011, 10:23 PM

If you like the sound of your rig, and volume is the only issue, simply add another 410TVX. They can be had for a rather low price used.

As far as different speaker setups such as 810, 215, and 412, it gets much more complicated. A 215 will not necessarily be louder than a 410. You could just ditch the 410TVX and get a 410 with much more efficient drivers and you would achieve greater volume.

810s and 412s will obviously move more air. I would wager that most prefer 810s, one significant reason being that such a setup puts speakers closer to your ear level and allows you to hear yourself better on stage. I, personally, use a 412 cab and like it just fine.

Regardless of all that, if you're a purist, the best answer would be a 215 with very efficient drivers capable of high maximum SPL. Unfortunately, as pros such as BFM will tell you, you will be hardpressed to find a company that is truthful with such specs. Regardless, I am of the opinion that two vertically aligned drivers (15s in this case) are superior to a square of 10s, 12s, 8s, etc. because there is less frequency cancellation when drivers are aligned vertically vs. horizontally.

You've got a lot of options.

will33 · #3 10-31-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkRocker33133

for the record, I'm playing pop punk/post-hardcore in the vein of Title Fight, Touche Amore, Have Heart, and Defeater. I like a grindy tone, and play a J-bass with quarter pounders and a pick. I also use various fuzz pedals, and don't like ported cabs or tweeters.

Well, that pretty much narrows it down.

Glad to hear you're a fan of bassman's though, one of my favorites.

PunkRocker33133 · #4 10-31-2011, 10:30 PM

I honestly don't like how it sounds much, mostly because with such a low wattage head, the ports eat up a lot of headroom.

will33 · #5 10-31-2011, 10:32 PM

The ports aren't what's eating up the headroom.

PunkRocker33133 · #6 10-31-2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Well, that pretty much narrows it down.

Glad to hear you're a fan of bassman's though, one of my favorites.

They're definitely one of the more underrated bass heads as far as I've seen. I've used it for low volume folk/acoustic stuff with a borrowed 115, to what I'm doing now. My problem is just that I always feel like there's a better option out there than the Ampeg 810, when there's honestly probably not.

will33 · #7 10-31-2011, 10:35 PM

They're great tone heads quietly.

Do you not like the tone when it's turned up or is the tone ok with you, you just need that louder?

PunkRocker33133 · #8 10-31-2011, 10:37 PM

The tone is great to me, it gets incredibly crunchy and takes fuzz really well. Especially with the channels jumpered. At low volume, it has the sweetest clean tube tone ever. I just really want that edge of grit tone as loud as I can get it, so I can use pedals to push it to actual distortion

johnk_10 · #9 10-31-2011, 11:21 PM

IMO, a good 2x15 cab with JBL E130's will get you about as much volume and headroom possible since they're still probably the the most efficient speakers ever made at 105db 1w/1m.

Luckie · #10 10-31-2011, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

IMO, a good 2x15 cab with JBL E130's will get you about as much volume and headroom possible since they're still probably the the most efficient speakers ever made at 105db 1w/1m.

Of course, good luck finding E130s. They're rare IME...

johnk_10 · #11 10-31-2011, 11:28 PM

They're around. you just have to be a little patient. another option is that you can buy two E140's that are in need of a recone fairly cheap, and then recone them as E130's.

toobalicious · #12 11-01-2011, 04:54 PM

not to seem dense, but isnt the impedance of your 4x10 8 ohms? thats your problem, or at least one of them. to get maximum output from your amp, you need to run it into a 4 ohm load.