Casters or not? On riser or on floor?

StuartV · #1 10-17-2010, 09:50 PM

I have my first gig ever on bass this Friday. I'm starting to fret the details (pun intended

). I reckon I know enough to know that I should ask people who know better than me.

I went by the venue where I'll be playing to check out the stage arrangements. There is no stage. The band is on a concrete floor in a corner. There is about a 6" riser for the drums.

My rig is an Aguilar GS210 cab and an Aguilar GS115 cab (and an Ampeg SVT 2 Pro head). I have casters for the 115 that I can put on or leave off. I expect to stack the 210 on top of the 115 (with front of the cabs aligned), and the rack with my SVT on top of the 210. That's how I have it at home, for practice.

For the gig, should I put the casters on the bottom of the 115 or leave them off? And should I set the stack on the drum riser or on the concrete floor?

I'm asking because of the effect that it will have on the sound to have the bottom cab directly on the floor versus up off the ground. I'm guessing that, with the casters on, it won't really matter whether the stack is on the floor or on the riser. But, with no casters, on the floor versus on the riser will make a much bigger difference. But I don't really know, and I don't know which would be better (assuming all those things do make a difference).

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Dark Barn · #2 10-17-2010, 10:15 PM

I'll take a shot at it.

Mechanical coupling shouldn't occur on a cement floor so the sound should be the same whether you have the cab directly on the floor or on casters.

This doesn't answer all your questions but, on one count, if you do put the cab on the cement floor the casters shouldn't be an issue either way.

Edit: Some large wooden stages can be super boomy, the one time you'd want to reduce or eliminate mechanical coupling is when you hear too much low end boom, or uneven boominess in the lower range, like one of your notes, say for example your Ab is unevenly loud in relation to your other notes.

Oh yeah and good luck on your gig!

rodl2005 · #3 10-17-2010, 11:28 PM

Either! Won't make virtually ANY difference. I used to have that 1x15- great cab! But that height- will still give ya coupling to the floor- but as said- on the concrete- not so much I s'pose-- I know not too much re concrete,

BUT I'd be leaving the casters ON- easier to move- brings the rig up nearer to ear height etc..... no point removing 'em.

ErnieD · #4 10-17-2010, 11:51 PM

I like the response I've read here when this same question was posed in a few threads about losing low end with casters on. The reply: "If it does loose lowend, turn the bass knob up"

I just installed some 3" casters onto my UL410-II cab. I've used this cab twice at gigs sanz casters; has huge booty. Gonna try it with the casters on at next gig. If I notice less lows; guess I'll turn the bass knob up some. Yep.

Actually, in some rooms/stages this cab mighta had too much booty. So maybe if its abit less bottom, might be nice.

'Course less booty may only be good when applied to cabs.....not the ladies. As Quagmire...GIGGITY GIG! AWRIGHT

audiomitch · #5 10-18-2010, 12:25 AM

Casters = easier to move.

Leave them on.

Have fun.

StuartV · #6 10-18-2010, 06:55 AM

Thanks for the responses (and the good wishes).

I reckon I'll put the casters on and, if the drummer leaves me room, also put the stack up on the riser for the extra height.

Can't wait!

rodl2005 · #7 10-18-2010, 04:56 PM

U should have a great sound. I LOVED the Aggie GS115. Only reason I got rid of it was that I was going ALL Bergantino basically & I got offered a Mark Bass STD HR115 at a price I couldn;t pass up- so the NEO loaded -almost 1/2 the weight thang got me. :-/

Even tho I DO like the GS115 sound more than the MB HR115, at nearly 50 y.o. the weight issue...............
BVut that GS115 is a lovely warm, round BIG sounding 1x15".
Enjoy!

billfitzmaurice · #8 10-18-2010, 08:43 PM

Three inch casters will make no difference in the sound, no matter what the floor material. As for mechanical coupling, with a well built cab there's no such thing. A flimsy cab will vibrate, and those vibrations can be transferred to an equally flimsy floor. But those vibrations pale in comparison to the acoustic output of the speaker, and it's those acoustical vibrations that give rise to boom on a flimsy floor, not mechanical coupling.
But as for that concrete floor, nasty. If possible bring along some carpet to place in front of your amps to clean things up.

StuartV · #9 10-18-2010, 08:47 PM

Thanks for the help, Bill!

SurferJoe46 · #10 10-18-2010, 10:47 PM

I agree with BFM here and the carpet trick (I bet you knew I would - someday, huh Bill?).

I just go one step further and put a single ply carpet under the whole corner of where I usually get to place my 115 cab and 210 combo.

I get a little more sound consistency that way wherever I am playing and it's easier to EQ when you've got a design that works pretty much the same way every time.

Oh - I leave the wheels on both cabinets too. No problems for me as they don't roll off. I do set the brakes though.

Oh, gawd! I just noticed that I related using my 115 under a 210 - and that's been run around the flagpole like a chicken with it's legs cut off a few pages ago on another post. Sorry Bill.

will33 · #11 10-18-2010, 10:56 PM

I'd say bring as many scraps of carpet as you can. Putting a piece under the mic stands or putting the windcovers on them can help sometimes or fastening some on the wall(s) behind the band if it's practical and can be removed with no trace left behind. We played a halloween gig like that once in some post-artsy-weirdo-modern big house/estate that was all concrete/steel/marble/granite etc. The industrial look............Good luck.

rodl2005 · #12 10-18-2010, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

I'd say bring as many scraps of carpet as you can. Putting a piece under the mic stands or putting the windcovers on them can help sometimes or fastening some on the wall(s) behind the band if it's practical and can be removed with no trace left behind. We played a halloween gig like that once in some post-artsy-weirdo-modern big house/estate that was all concrete/steel/marble/granite etc. The industrial look............Good luck.

Been there!!!

AWFUL..... I think it's so they can HOSE out the place next day

But yeah- even in "higher class" establishments????????

Oh for the '70's- carpeted floors AND walls, velour curtains, indoor plants

aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

SurferJoe46 · #13 10-18-2010, 11:14 PM

That'd be worse than teeing off in a tiled bathroom.

will33 · #14 10-18-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Oh for the '70's- carpeted floors AND walls, velour curtains, indoor plants

aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Sounds much better....

and yeah.....they "thought" they were high-class.

And yes, it does look like you could hose it out the next day and be back at square one.........lifeless.

Bassamatic · #15 10-18-2010, 11:25 PM

If you want to really blow everyone away - put your cabs into the corner at 45 degrees. The walls act as a big horn for the bass. I do this with my little MarkBass 12" combo and play 200 person venues at 1/2 volume and rattle the walls.

Regarding carpets - bring a nice thick piece to stand on! Makes a big difference at the end of the night.

Have a great time.

vin*tone · #16 10-18-2010, 11:34 PM

Keep the castors on. I used to stack my quaddy on its side so it didn't roll around during a gig. works a charm.

aledeville · #17 10-19-2010, 01:18 AM

If you have the amp in a rack, you could put the two cabs on top of it, the 210 even vertically...

StuartV · #18 10-19-2010, 08:02 AM

Thanks for all the replies, guys. Based on what you all have said, I think I'll just bring my drum rug and roll it out. Put the stack at the back of it, so most of the rug is on the floor out in front of the stack. And put the casters on the 115. I don't have casters for the 210, but, really, it's small enough I don't really see needing them.

My amp is in a rack, but I don't really want to put it down at ground level and stack the cabs on top of it. I think that would be possibly dangerous (risk of accidentally getting kicked - it's a 6U and the amp is on the bottom), defeat the use of casters, and be a pain to reach to make adjustments.

First gig on Friday! Yess!!