Genz Benz Shuttle extension cabs Mix-n-match?

atticpenny · #1 09-12-2011, 12:50 PM

Hey Genz Benz Shuttle users... Those of you who use an extension cab, do you match the speaker size, or do you mix and match? Curious about how each combination of cabs/speakers affects your tone... thanks!

BassmanPaul · #2 09-12-2011, 01:13 PM

The rule of thumb is to use identical cabinets when adding speakers.

lpdeluxe · #3 09-12-2011, 01:23 PM

I have a minimal Shuttle 3.0-10T to which I added another G-B 10T cab. Plenty loud for the drummer to hear. Now I also run my Mesa/Boogie Walkabout head into a pair of 10Ts; light weight rules.

rodl2005 · #4 09-12-2011, 03:27 PM

I generally use my Shuttle 6 into a Bergantino 212 cab,
but have used it into a NV215, 2x115 Mark Bass cabs, & a Berg 410, sounds great & loud into all of 'em!
& the Mesa WA into all your 4x10's would crush! As the WA can do 2 ohms......
But either amp into a bigger 4 ohm cab will get you LOUD!
300w is heaps if you've got the speakers to move the air!
Remember Lemmy from Motorhead uses a 100w Marshall but with 4x15's & 4 or 8 12"s!
Not exactly a small

atticpenny · #5 09-13-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

The rule of thumb is to use identical cabinets when adding speakers.

Strange. I've often seen bass players mix a 15" and a 4x10". I figured some might do the same on a smaller scale (e.g. 12" and a 2x10"). After searching for a more generic pros/cons of mixing cabs, I see that there are certainly plenty of opinions on the matter. lol.

powerbass · #6 09-16-2011, 09:01 PM

I use the Shuttle 3.0-8t combined with the GB 10" extension speaker for upright bass, no problems and sounds great

agedhorse · #7 09-17-2011, 04:47 PM

Mixing with a purpose can be a good solution, as can be using identical cabinets. The main concern is to use cabinets with similar properties... ie. do NOT mix a folded horn with a bass reflex (there are ways to do this but it's very complex and more costly) and also be sure that the polarity is the same... some manufacturers do not adhere to the "positive on red or + terminal = outward cone motion".

atticpenny · #8 09-19-2011, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agedhorse

Mixing with a purpose can be a good solution, as can be using identical cabinets. The main concern is to use cabinets with similar properties... ie. do NOT mix a folded horn with a bass reflex (there are ways to do this but it's very complex and more costly) and also be sure that the polarity is the same... some manufacturers do not adhere to the "positive on red or + terminal = outward cone motion".

Just curious if you would mind expanding on the idea of "mixing with a purpose?"

(I'm certainly going to not mix/match dissimilar cab properties as you mentioned). I'm actually just trying to decide if I should match up my STL 6.0-12T with another STL-12T extension cab or with the STL-210 extension cab. Would I expect specific tonal results with one or the other, or would it be potentially a random result?

There are so many opinions out there on mixing cabinet/speaker sizes, with lengthy discussions on what is best (one person points out that mixing two full-range cabs with different speaker sizes can have mixed results, since normally for optimal use of assigning frequencies to speakers, a crossover must be used. Makes sense to me, but I don't know if there are other considerations as well). Sadly, I'm not in a position to try both before buying (I have to buy online), so I'm looking to see what people's experiences are with it (tonal differences mostly). Thanks!

agedhorse · #9 09-19-2011, 12:52 PM

For example a compact cabinet and a larger but similar cabinet so that for small gigs you could just take the compact cabinet but for larger gigs add in the larger one.

Between the 210 and the 12, I think either would be fine but there's a little bit of tome difference between the two that's more of a personal taste thing. If it was me, I would go with a second 12T.

**ExaltBass** · #10 09-19-2011, 01:03 PM

Shuttle 6.0 with 2 Eden cabs; XLT210 & XST210 Great combo! (IMHO of course)

sixandeightstringer · #11 10-04-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atticpenny

Strange. I've often seen bass players mix a 15" and a 4x10".

In my old live rig, I mixed a 2x10 and a 1x18:

However, I was bi-amping them; my preamp sent a separate feed for the lows and highs into separate power amp channels optimized for the purpose. When mixing cabs, that's the course I recommend. Usually, a 4x10 and a 15 or 18 will have such wildly different impedance loads, wattage handling, and efficiency that it would be very hard to get things to sound right - the changes you make in EQ to better the 15 just make the 4x10 sound wonky, and vice-versa.

When using a single amp, mixing like cabinets is the easiest way to get it right. Not to say you can't make a mixed set sound good, but I bet it's a lot more work.

lpdeluxe · #12 10-04-2011, 02:47 PM

Here's the rig I traded in on the Mesa/Boogie:

Plenty loud enough for outdoor jobs, reasonably light...but not as light as the one I posted earlier.

shockley · #13 10-07-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

The rule of thumb is to use identical cabinets when adding speakers.

I know plenty of bassists that gig with (210, 115) or (410, 115)...

It all depends on convenience and what type of gigs you play, in my opinion.

RickenBoogie · #14 10-07-2011, 01:36 PM

True, it's a very popular pairing. BUT, just because it's popular, doesn't make it the best pairing. Quite far from it.