EMPEROR cabs????

[helenforsdale]

Yeah, I've thought about trying to track one of those down - haven't been able to, but they generally go for pretty cheap. I know the Jesus Lizard sound came from the EV-15s. I know he used Dietz cabs, and those had the same speakers.

I'm still using my SVT Blueline - no 800rb, but I'm thinking about that or an Acoustic 370.

No, no Tronographic Rusty Box - I'm not that much of a nerd.

Originally Posted by snowblinder

The speaker setup that I imagine would suit you nicely is two 400 watt EV-15L's. The older Mesa Diesel and Roadready cabs came stock with these. They're awesome. Your 800RB through a couple of these will instantly get you into that Jesus Lizard/Shellac zone tone-wise, especially considering you are playing an EGC. Just curious, do you also use a Tronographic Rusty Box?

Anyway....just my two cents on the matter.

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by helenforsdale

I guess to my ears, there's still a pretty significant difference when I hear rigs with different size drivers

About the same amount of difference as there is between rigs with the same size drivers. Or even the same drivers, because there is more to it than drivers, and driver diameter is pretty much none of it.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

About the same amount of difference as there is between rigs with the same size drivers. Or even the same drivers, because there is more to it than drivers, and driver diameter is pretty much none of it.

+1

Every single 215 is going to sound different, as is every 410, or any other cab that uses different designs or components (there are exceptions here, but they were engineered to sound the same).

If "12's just sound a certain way" then there would only be limited discussion on speakers because your tonal options would boil down to 10", 12", or 15".

This is not the case at at, so using the same 12" driver you can build different cabs around it and get different voicing. Some may be lower or higher than others, but this is not attributed to the diameter of the speaker.

To paraphrase JimmyM: Good cabs sound good, and bad cabs sound bad.

If you like the way one cab sounds, good, but know that it is not due to the driver size alone.

[NKBassman]

Originally Posted by helenforsdale

Okay, so what's your take on all this? You've worked on your Emperor a lot and clearly have messed around on other rigs.

My take:

Emperor does absolutely beautiful woodwork, no question. I didn't have any problems while dealing with them, and I got exactly what I ordered within a reasonable time frame. Fit and finish was spotless, the pricing was right, and my 2x15 cab is super easy to move and fits perfectly into the back of my car. It was (is) exactly what I wanted at the time, and I was (am) happy.

However, I noticed right away that anything I put on top of the cab did NOT want to stay up there, even at moderate the-wife's-gone-for-an-hour levels in my basement. This is a very obvious design flaw that ended up with both my amps going in for service several times with broken solder joints. I also noticed the midrange seemed very harsh/brash and the cab didn't respond very well to EQ adjustments at the amp. This was a problem because I play in a few different bands and use totally different tones for each.

So, I started digging around to figure out why all this was happening, and quickly learned that there's a ton of science behind "proper" speaker cabinet design (bass cabinet design is particuarly demanding), and there's a lot more variables involved than just building a pretty box and putting some speakers in it. Sure you can do that and it will make sound, and some people may even like that sound and think it's the greatest tone ever, but it's pretty much a crap shoot if you're not considering all the other variables involved (electrical/mechanical speaker properties, box size, porting, bracing, lining, etc).

I'm not trying to blast Emperor by any means, or trying to imply I know more about speaker design than they do. They do a great job building a particular product and don't use any ridiculous marketing to try and make it out as being anything more or less than what it is. However, the more I learned about the science of cabinet design the less satisfied I became with my cab. I fixed what I could which took care of the vibration issue and improved the tone a bit, so I'm happy with it now, but I don't think I'd go down that route again in the future. I need more from my cabs these days.

[NKBassman]

Originally Posted by helenforsdale

I miss the days when this stuff was simpler. Like I said, I'm playing hardcore, not rocket-science. The answer was easy - SVT Blueline through an 8x10. Now, there are a billion options.

It is still simple. Pick a cab that fits your size/weight requirements. Try it out, and if you're satisfied with the way it sounds, then you're done! No rocket science required.

I guess to my ears, there's still a pretty significant difference when I hear rigs with different size drivers - I'm never like "oh wow, that sounds like an eminence" - nor have I ever heard anyone else say that.

To my ears there's a pretty significant difference when I hear rigs with different 4x10 cabs. Or 2x15s, or 8x10s cabs, or whatever. I'm never like "oh wow, that sounds like a 12"!" I'm usually like "Dayum that sounds good! I wonder who makes it, so I can nerd out on it later at home... or maybe it's his amp... or what pedals is he using? Could it be his bass?!>! Or maybe it's some sort of super sound-guy wizardry?!>!>@#>! I need a beer."

I should clarify - my back isn't that bad. I'm just sick of lugging an 8x10 around, so I sold it. I hate 4x10s, looking for something that size, but a better sound.

What is it about 410s that you hate? It's very possible you just haven't played the right 410... For instance, Ampeg makes a few different 410s, and I don't think anyone will ever tell you that a 410HLF sounds like a 410HE. They're completely different designs, and they sound like it. Not to mention that almost any company dealing in bass gear makes a 4x10, and if they all sounded the same there wouldn't be much point. SWR sounds different from Hartke sounds different from Ampeg sounds different from Aguilar sounds different from Mesa sounds different from Emperor sounds different from Bergantino sounds different from Peavey sounds different from Hiwatt sounds different from Orange sounds different from Electric.... well maybe not those last 3, but you get the idea.

I've got some verellen questions - so I'm gonna get my ass over to that forum.

Good call!

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by helenforsdale

I miss the days when this stuff was simpler. Like I said, I'm playing hardcore, not rocket-science. The answer was easy - SVT Blueline through an 8x10. Now, there are a billion options.

I guess to my ears, there's still a pretty significant difference when I hear rigs with different size drivers - I'm never like "oh wow, that sounds like an eminence" - nor have I ever heard anyone else say that.

I should clarify - my back isn't that bad. I'm just sick of lugging an 8x10 around, so I sold it. I hate 4x10s, looking for something that size, but a better sound.

I've got some verellen questions - so I'm gonna get my ass over to that forum.

That's because Eminence makes tons of different models of drivers.

You would hear about the same difference between different models of cabs with the same size drivers. A Sunn 2000S or 200S cab does not sound the same as a TL606 type design (such as the Mesa Diesel 15 cabs), which doesn't sound the same as a Peavey 215D, and so on. Just like an Ampeg SVT410HE sounds totally different from a 410HLF. Both use 10" drivers, and the two models are even from the same company, but they sound totally different.

[tahbass]

I think personal preference is still the best indicator. If the science isn't necessarily there but you love the way a cab looks/sounds/feels/etc., then go for it. I still use my Emperor cabs today and I love them for the band I use them in. Would I use them for every application musically? No. But for the project I use them in (really loud post metal/sludge metal), I couldn't be happier with the way they sound.

[tahbass]

And if you want to hear some Emperor bass cabs in action, visit www.huldratheband.bandcamp.com. Every single song is recorded with a Stingray 4-string through a massive pedal board running through a Sunn 300T and Emperor 4x12.

[knivesarequiet]

So my Webers should be here in a couple of weeks. My plan is to add lining once I open up the cab. I wouldn't mind adding some bracing but I'm not sure where to start. There's quite a few different opinions on the web about this stuff and I don't want to waste my time doing something that's not effective. If anyone here has added bracing to their Emperor (remember mine is the staggered 4x12) I could use some advice. Thanks in advance

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by knivesarequiet

So my Webers should be here in a couple of weeks. My plan is to add lining once I open up the cab. I wouldn't mind adding some bracing but I'm not sure where to start. There's quite a few different opinions on the web about this stuff and I don't want to waste my time doing something that's not effective. If anyone here has added bracing to their Emperor (remember mine is the staggered 4x12) I could use some advice. Thanks in advance

Get a sheet of 1/2" baltic birch, and some PL premium. Copy the bracing scheme in the fEARful cabs (plans are free). The trickiest part will be clamping or putting pressure on the pieces once they are in place.

[NKBassman]

Originally Posted by knivesarequiet

So my Webers should be here in a couple of weeks. My plan is to add lining once I open up the cab. I wouldn't mind adding some bracing but I'm not sure where to start. There's quite a few different opinions on the web about this stuff and I don't want to waste my time doing something that's not effective. If anyone here has added bracing to their Emperor (remember mine is the staggered 4x12) I could use some advice. Thanks in advance

Good plan. I braced my 2x15, but never uploaded the pics. Ill see if I can find them and I'll post them. I went really overboard, and you could probably get away with less bracing than I added.

[morewattsplease]

I actually have a staggered 4/12 as well and would be interested in bracing and lining info as well.
Also, I made myself a "ghetto anti vibration stand" for mine and it made a difference as far as rattling my house and such

[helenforsdale]

After repeatedly e-mailing the company with no reply (I just wanted dimensions) - I said **** it. Found a Mesa diesel 2x15 for $300 and went for it.

Sounds great - although that thing vibrates like you wouldn't believe. Gotta figure out a solution to that.

[helenforsdale]

Tone sounds killer. How dropped are you, C? A?

We'll see if my Mesa does well for me. Haven't had a chance to really use it yet, but have a tour of the NE in Jan, so it'll get broken in then...

Originally Posted by tahbass

And if you want to hear some Emperor bass cabs in action, visit www.huldratheband.bandcamp.com. Every single song is recorded with a Stingray 4-string through a massive pedal board running through a Sunn 300T and Emperor 4x12.

[tahbass]

Thanks!

[tahbass]

We are tuned to drop B, so B, F#, B, E.

[tahbass]

We are tuned to drop B, so B,F#, B, E. Sorry, phone keeps being silly and not posting stuff right.

[MikeD1687]

Got this a little while ago. 2x12 above 2x15.

Flame away.

[J-O]

Originally Posted by MikeD1687

Got this a little while ago. 2x12 above 2x15.

Flame away.

Great looking cab, but seems like an odd speaker combo. How does it sound?

[chillerthanmost]

Is it divided inside (sealed 2x12 above and vented 2x15 below)? Would love to see some pictures of the inside if you can pop the back open and snap a shot.

Figured the divided aspect of it would add bracing to the cab, but if its sealed above is it also insulated? Also, this might have been answered before, are the vents below just cutouts or is there a type of inner design (from the way everyone's been speaking, I highly doubt it) down there? I can't imagine it would just be cut outs. At least a board of plywood to direct the air out in that direction?