Best Bass Reasonably Priced Cab (<$1000?)

donalddemon · #1 08-05-2010, 06:48 AM

My bassist wants to upgrade his cabs because they are sounding tired and worn out. The speakers are farting out too. He runs either a Peavey 1x15 TVX115 or a Warwick 4X10 Procab410. When he runs both together it doesn’t sound too bad but by themselves it sounds weak.

I was telling him about the Mesa Powerhouse cab with a 15 and 4 four 10’s in one enclosure and he likes that idea but is not able to spend $1500 on it.

Is there any other cabs that combine 10’s with a 15 or 18 and are reasonably priced? Any other cabs you recommend? FYI he runs a Hartke 3500 350 Watt head.

panama · #2 08-05-2010, 06:57 AM

A used Ampeg 810e on craigslist. $400-$700 depending on condition.

donalddemon · #3 08-05-2010, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panama

A used Ampeg 810e on craigslist. $400-$700 depending on condition.

The refrigerator cab? I don't think he wants to lug that beast around, lol.

carbonfold · #4 08-05-2010, 07:27 AM

GK 412 Neo (new $899 used $500-$750)

Under 100 pounds, perfect size for hawl'n around, and will blow the tiles off the wall...... "IF" you can find one, get it! I was lucky and picked up a used one from MF for $500ish shipped to my door.

dhomer · #5 08-05-2010, 07:50 AM

IMO, there ain't anything commercially available I would run my signal through.. The answer is to build your own. I have a 2-12 BFM Omni TB which I wouldn't trade for a whole GC full of bass cabs. A fEarful-type design would be worth the effort as well. Anything else is a compromise..

georgestrings · #6 08-05-2010, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donalddemon

I was telling him about the Mesa Powerhouse cab with a 15 and 4 four 10’s in one enclosure and he likes that idea but is not able to spend $1500 on it.

Is there any other cabs that combine 10’s with a 15 or 18 and are reasonably priced? Any other cabs you recommend? FYI he runs a Hartke 3500 350 Watt head.

I'd recommend abandoning that approach - if you compared the Powerhouse 1200 directly to either the PH215, PH610, or PH412, you'd quickly see that combining 10s and a 15 in the same box is a terrible idea... IME, the PH1000 and 1200s are the worst cabs Mesa ever put out - and were purely marketing ideas, without a shred of design science behind them...

When I bought my PH610, I A/B'd it with a PH1000 for awhile before buying - the 610 got louder, had stronger lows, and was way clearer voiced - it flat out spanked the PH1000...

- georgestrings

georgestrings · #7 08-05-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbonfold

GK 412 Neo (new $899 used $500-$750)

Under 100 pounds, perfect size for hawl'n around, and will blow the tiles off the wall...... "IF" you can find one, get it! I was lucky and picked up a used one from MF for $500ish shipped to my door.

This sounds like a pretty decent solution for the OP...

- georgestrings

Joe Nerve · #8 08-05-2010, 08:09 AM

I've owned and played through countless cabs and have never gotten more bang for my buck than with my Bergantino NV610. I am CERTAIN now that I've been rehearsing reguarly through SVTs that the NV610 puts out more volume and is tighter and punchier than the Ampegs. A lot easier to move around also. If you're not familiar with Bergantion cabs you can research them here. I don't remember exactly what I paid for mine, but it was completely worth the investment. Think it was right around the 1G mark. I've seen em used for 7 or 8 hundred.

donalddemon · #9 08-05-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbonfold

GK 412 Neo (new $899 used $500-$750)

Under 100 pounds, perfect size for hawl'n around, and will blow the tiles off the wall...... "IF" you can find one, get it! I was lucky and picked up a used one from MF for $500ish shipped to my door.

That looks promising, too bad it's discontinued. Is huge, like the Ampeg cab?

donalddemon · #10 08-05-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhomer

IMO, there ain't anything commercially available I would run my signal through.. The answer is to build your own. I have a 2-12 BFM Omni TB which I wouldn't trade for a whole GC full of bass cabs. A fEarful-type design would be worth the effort as well. Anything else is a compromise..

Yeah I guess building a custom or one himself is an option. I would imagine anything custom being expensive.

donalddemon · #11 08-05-2010, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

I'd recommend abandoning that approach - if you compared the Powerhouse 1200 directly to either the PH215, PH610, or PH412, you'd quickly see that combining 10s and a 15 in the same box is a terrible idea... IME, the PH1000 and 1200s are the worst cabs Mesa ever put out - and were purely marketing ideas, without a shred of design science behind them...

When I bought my PH610, I A/B'd it with a PH1000 for awhile before buying - the 610 got louder, had stronger lows, and was way clearer voiced - it flat out spanked the PH1000...

- georgestrings

Interesting. I was wondering how well the 10 + 15 cab concept worked, especially if they aren’t partitioned in the cab.

I just emailed him about the Traynor TC1015. It seems like if that’s the route he wants to take it would be a really nice option. Anyone have experience with them?

donalddemon · #12 08-05-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I've owned and played through countless cabs and have never gotten more bang for my buck than with my Bergantino NV610. I am CERTAIN now that I've been rehearsing reguarly through SVTs that the NV610 puts out more volume and is tighter and punchier than the Ampegs. A lot easier to move around also. If you're not familiar with Bergantion cabs you can research them here. I don't remember exactly what I paid for mine, but it was completely worth the investment. Think it was right around the 1G mark. I've seen em used for 7 or 8 hundred.

Cool, I will look into those.

markkoelsch · #13 08-05-2010, 08:27 AM

If you and your bassist have some capabilities in woodworking I would build a Fearful 15/6. It does not appear that tough of a build, and from what folks are saying it is probably as good as, if not better, than just about anything on the market regardless of price. Check the link, which will take you to the Fearful wiki. I am planning on doing this over the coming winter...well maybe a FearB 15/6.
http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.p..._12/6_%26_15/6

Soverntear · #14 08-05-2010, 08:31 AM

used epifani ul-410 under 1000 and just amazing

Bting · #15 08-05-2010, 09:11 AM

2 Avatar 2x12's (8 ohm)
or
1 Avatar 4x10 and a 2x12 (all 8 ohm)

carbonfold · #16 08-05-2010, 10:26 AM

It's not discontinued and it is approx the same size as the SVT610 but lighter

Quote:

Originally Posted by donalddemon

That looks promising, too bad it's discontinued. Is huge, like the Ampeg cab?

Raymeous · #17 08-05-2010, 10:46 AM

Carvin BRX10.4 Neo

I'm a fan (and owner) of this guy. It has a ton of tonal depth and can handle my dual MM style humbucker 6 string without farting out. It's ported, has an adjustable tweeter, weighs in well under 100lbs and is on sale for $499 at the moment.

Spec's copied from the Carvin website.

- 4 Neodymium 300w 10" woofers
- 1" Titanium HF driver
- Impedance: 4ohms, power handling: 1200 Watts
- Reproduces Frequencies from low B (26 Hz to 22k Hz)
- Sensitivity: 104dB @ 1w and 135 dB @ 1200w
- DuraTex™ scratch resistant,weatherproof polyurethane cabinet
- Size: 24.5" wide x 18" deep x 27.75" high
- Weight: 76 lbs
- Made in San Diego, California

http://www.carvinguitars.com/product...uct=BRX10.4NEO

rockstarbassist · #18 08-05-2010, 11:45 AM

Under $1k?

Berg NV610/215/412, or Mesa PH610 or 412.

By a long ways.

rpsands · #19 08-05-2010, 11:49 AM

A fEarful 1515/66 is the win here

Andrew266 · #20 08-05-2010, 11:50 AM

[QUOTE
]2 Avatar 2x12's (8 ohm)
or
1 Avatar 4x10 and a 2x12 (all 8 ohm)
[/quote]

+1 Been a fan of 12s lately though.

Ampeg SVT 410hlf or 610 maybe or if your looking for smaller try the Orange OBC410, Geddy Lee is using them now and from what I've read around here they sound real good.