How nimble are higher-end cabinet manufacturers?

[Warmuth]

Originally Posted by nashvillebill

Actually, i think some of the cab manufacturers are more nimble than we give them credit. With CNC routers, they can pop out a new cab design in minutes and spit them out by the hundreds or thousands, no sweat.

However, what they cannot change is the general perception of the buyers. Peavey for example might come out with the "best" cabinet in the world (frequency response down to 1 Hz, flat response, 110dB sensitivity-- just to make up ridiculous numbers) but if it's unconventional, it won't sell. The mass buying public wants a 410 or 115 or 215. Just like kids that are starting out on guitar,they've got to have that 100 watt Marshall stack.

I don't have any preconceived notions of bass tone so my journey will be long, expensive and perilous because I will chase
my tone until I find it. Without any real knowledge of what I'm even after I'm experimenting with mass produced stuff since it's available, well known, generally affordable and easily discharged on craigs list.

Guitar wise it's a different story. I know precisely what I want. A Marshall stack. In my head, that's what I want to hear and there's been no improving it to me. Boutique stuff either copies or adds features but the standard JMP/JCM800 into a 412 vintage 30 celestion cab is the sound I want, period. The first time I ever fired one up it was like a thousand angels singing. Nothing will ever better that sound in my ears.

That being said I wonder if it is the same for some bassists? Perhaps they lusted for some particular bass tone that's just the standard in their mind and it involves ampeg 810 cabs and anything else is just different but not the sound they're wanting to hear.

Could be apples to oranges since guitar cabs aren't talked about in the same way bass cabs are.

[Anthbass]

Good read. I miss Bill.

[swspiers]

Originally Posted by nashvillebill

Actually, i think some of the cab manufacturers are more nimble than we give them credit. With CNC routers, they can pop out a new cab design in minutes and spit them out by the hundreds or thousands, no sweat.

However, what they cannot change is the general perception of the buyers. Peavey for example might come out with the "best" cabinet in the world (frequency response down to 1 Hz, flat response, 110dB sensitivity-- just to make up ridiculous numbers) but if it's unconventional, it won't sell. The mass buying public wants a 410 or 115 or 215. Just like kids that are starting out on guitar,they've got to have that 100 watt Marshall stack.

Oh, it would sell. And some folk on TB would try to spread the word, and then get relentlessly attacked for touting the latest and greatest fad

[Green Lantern]

If I want an Ampeg sound, I will buy an Ampeg amp and their cabinets. One of their cabinets will offer me the sound and weight I am looking for. Same thing if I want a SWR or Eden, etc. I look at buying bass amps the same way I buy guitar amps. If I do t like the speaker sound of a manufacture, I won't buy their amp. These custom speakers can sound great, but for me I want the speaker cabinets designed for the amp I purchased. Granted I did trade in my old Boogie cabinet for a SWR. But that was only due to the Boogie being so deep (hard time fitting it in my car) and its heavier weight. The SWR had a brighter mid sound and was not as deep sounding in the lows. I liked both cabinets, and with the adjustment of the EQ on the amp I could get the cabs to sound similar....to the sound I wants from my setup.

[joelb79]

I find it funny that this thread died for 6 months and was brought back to life by some cabinet builder.