Dissuade Me! (or don't...)

Hactar · #1 11-12-2011, 08:59 AM

OK, here goes.... Please help me decide

There is a Carvin RL118 cab in my area for cheap.
My current rig consists of an Ibanez GSR200/Yamaha RBX170 into a Fender BXR60 (60w/12" combo).
Recently, I acquired a QSC RMX850 and I plan on putting together a pre/power rig (either add a ART tube pre or a Zoom B2.1u as preamp).

I don't really gig as such, merely play in school concerts occasionally and jam with a couple friends. I play classic rock, jazz, and more modern stuff like Massive Attack.

I request the opinion of you experts. To get the cab or not?

For those of you not familiar with the cab or the amp:
Cab is 800w/4 ohms/74 lbs.
RMX 850 is 280wpc@4 ohms or 830wbridged@4 ohms.

Have a nice day.

Rick Auricchio · #2 11-12-2011, 09:22 AM

It would seem better to simply find a 410 cab. The 18 won't go deeper than the 410; speaker size is far less important than good cab design.

A pre/power amp system is a lot to lug around for occasional gigs, but you already have the power amp. You'd want to rack that equipment, which adds cost and weight.

LGT · #3 11-12-2011, 09:24 AM

What's the asking price? I'm not familiar with the carvin, but with all the good deals that come up on CL, you want to spend your money on something good.

hdracer · #4 11-12-2011, 09:25 AM

A 18 ?
No

Hactar · #5 11-12-2011, 09:29 AM

Ah, yes, you are starting to convince me to not buy an 18

However, I do think that this 18 will go lower than most cheap 4x10 cabs
The RL118's asking price is $160 ATM, but methinks I could talk down a bit. (Listing is getting old)

Thanks for the responses guys!

Hactar · #6 11-12-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

A pre/power amp system is a lot to lug around for occasional gigs, but you already have the power amp. You'd want to rack that equipment, which adds cost and weight.

The power amp is in fact racked. What with a GEQ and such in the rack, it weighs 45-50 lbs. Weight is not a huge priority for me. It is heavy though...
However, dollars per watt wins over lbs./watt right now

hdracer · #7 11-12-2011, 09:32 AM

why do you think he only wants $160?

Hint: Nobody wants it.

Hactar · #8 11-12-2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdracer

why do you think he only wants $160?

Hint: Nobody wants it.

Very valid point. You have dissuaded me more. Thanks kind sir!!

will33 · #9 11-12-2011, 09:35 AM

That's a pretty good price for the cab. Whatever it sounds like, it will play louder and lower than your little combo amp.

Seeing as you already have the power amp, IF you do get the cab, I'd consider it a building block towards a biamped rig down the road. Of course, just getting a fullrange bass cab will make the setup much easier, and end up just as loud if not louder. I'd hang on to that QSC whatever you do, those are good amps.

will33 · #10 11-12-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdracer

why do you think he only wants $160?

Hint: Nobody wants it.

Carvin stuff doesn't hold much resale value, especially a 4ohm 18. The actual cab may work just fine. And yes, most people likely don't have a use for it.

sad_katz · #11 11-12-2011, 09:48 AM

There's a Carvin RL118 in my local shop. They put it on the Live Sound-Subs display, instead of with other bass cabs. This tells me the RL118 is a sub only cab and may not be adequate for bass duties. Never tried it though.

fenderslaper · #12 11-12-2011, 12:31 PM

The Carvin 18 runs from 30 to 2000 hz, so it's not a sub. I have a home made speaker cab with a Carvin 18 in it and it goes much deeper than my Goliath III. I think you should go try it out!

Hactar · #13 11-12-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderslaper

The Carvin 18 runs from 30 to 2000 hz, so it's not a sub.

That was my thought too.
But an 18" speaker is awfully flobby.

I'm still undecided

Does anyone have any input on a SWR Workingmans 2x12?
Anyone else use a single 18?

OtterOnBass · #14 11-12-2011, 07:31 PM

What's flobby? A speaker makes the noise fed into it. The box reinforces some frequencies (depending on size) and the cone makes harmonic distortion as it gets pushed, but the sound is not lower or higher than the signal put into it.

I'd say pass. In my opinion, bass cabs are stage monitors for bassists, and this would not be a good stage monitor -- larger cone diameter means smaller dispersion of mids and highs. If a 15 is called "laser beam dispersion," what could an 18 be called?

fenderslaper · #15 11-12-2011, 10:07 PM

" bass cabs are stage monitors for bassists, and this would not be a good stage monitor -- larger cone diameter means smaller dispersion of mids and highs. If a 15 is called "laser beam dispersion," what could an 18 be called?
__________________
Really? Most places I play do not have PA support to the bass. That means that the sound pressure from the stage is all that is heard in the house. Have you EVER used a full range 18? I have, and it can sound quite good. What do you have to back that statement up? And... I don't know what :flobby means either????

Hactar · #16 11-13-2011, 08:12 AM

I was merely using the term flobby to refer to the response of the speaker. It is a full range cab, but 2kHz is a rather low roll off.

Hactar · #17 11-13-2011, 08:16 AM

Another detail to clear things up: I do not foresee having PA support in the near future. Gigs at school are jazz, I just need enough volume to keep up with 3-4 guitarists. Other projects are more along the lines of jamming in a buddy's garage.

Thanks for the interest guys! I'm still on the fence

Avezzano · #18 11-13-2011, 08:18 AM

74 lbs / 33 kg? No, thanks!!! It reminds me of old dynosaurs...

Hactar · #19 11-14-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avezzano

74 lbs / 33 kg? No, thanks!!! It reminds me of old dynosaurs...

What cabs do you use?

Most non-neo 4x10s seem to weigh 80 lbs and up

Compared to an Ampeg 410HLF (110 lbs), 74 lbs seems feather-like.

Bass_Pounder · #20 11-14-2011, 09:58 AM

I used to own a RL118 - key words being "used to"

It is not a terribly heavy cab, in fact I found it real easy to move around.

The problem I had with the cab is that you need to ignore the published freq range specs.

The cab plays low, but not alot of mids or highs at all. It is a terrible "stand alone" cab if you like having mids to cut through. I used it at my practice space combined with a 2X12, and even then, it could not hold a candle to my Mesa cabs, so off it went. Sold it for what I paid for it - $150 (including cover).