...I think I'm going with 12's

eastcoasteddie · #1 01-19-2011, 07:14 PM

I have a few cabinets that I have acquired over time. One of which is an old SWR Working man's 12 combo that I turned into a 1x12. Soon after I did that, I picked up an Avatar Cube 1x12 on ebay. Together, the two 1x12's make one tremendously LOUD, earth-moving, and punchy mini-stack.

But recently, I decided to give my 4x10 some legwork....and I feel that it just doesn't compare. I have fallen out of love with my tone using the 10's and I decided to put my 4x10 up on CL....

The mini-stack is definitely loud enough to play with live and I have much faith in it. Heck, I might even pick up a 2x12 cab in the future.

Has this happened to anyone else...realize that 12's are the answer?

side note: how is the Avatar SB 212 Neo?

anonymous02282011 · #2 01-19-2011, 07:18 PM

The stacked twelves will likely give you better dispersion, but other than that there's nothing inherent in the sound of 12 inch speakers ... or 10 inch speakers for that matter.

In other words, you can make a speaker box with 10s sound just like a speaker box with 12s ...

It sounds like you simply like the sound of those cabs better than the one 4x10.

Happy music-making.

christw · #3 01-19-2011, 07:21 PM

I'm with adbass. Speaker size isn't that big of an influence. Cab design, ported vs sealed, speaker xmax, and total speaker area used matter a heck of a lot more than the size of speakers used.

PS- I want to pronounce adbass like badass.

BigOldHarry · #4 01-19-2011, 07:22 PM

Things change. Play 12's for a while... you may to back to 10"s, you may change to 15"s... I tried the 12" thing for a while - maybe it was the cab, but it didn't send me (Aguilar GS212)

MuzikMan · #5 01-19-2011, 07:27 PM

I definately agree with the above. Driver size does not dictate tone. Box design is far more important. I can get the same tone out of my 1x12 as my 1x15, just not as loud.

TomB · #6 01-19-2011, 07:30 PM

I made the same switch, not for any inherent sound improvement, but I like the choice of either 1 or 2 of the same cabinet depending on the gig. Those 2 options provide all I need for now. But then the sound of Ag DB 112's was certainly part of the benefit of the swap. Like you, I may think about a 2X12 some time because I like the two cabs for most gigs, even when I might get by with just one.

mcm · #7 01-19-2011, 07:31 PM

i dont know all the scientific stuff about speakers, drivers, etc, but to my ears 12's are killer.

MuzikMan · #8 01-19-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcm

i dont know all the scientific stuff about speakers, drivers, etc, but to my ears 12's are killer.

All 12's?

Monsterbass74 · #9 01-19-2011, 07:36 PM

I would love an 8 X 12.

BigOldHarry · #10 01-19-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcm

i dont know all the scientific stuff about speakers, drivers, etc, but to my ears 12's are killer.

all 12"s?

ithump4 · #11 01-19-2011, 07:39 PM

Just wondering if a 2/12 cab would be sufficent (playing) with a 5 piece band and what amp you would put with it ? Currently use 1/15 (Fender) combo. Mostly classic rock,country, and some of the (50's & 60's) doo-wop. Just wondering. any input would be appreciated.

Joebone · #12 01-19-2011, 07:40 PM

Cabinet design/construction is a big part of the picture, but I've ALWAYS dug 12's for bass, going back to the 1970's when I played trombone rather than bass, but paid attention to what folks were using. 12's in an appropriate cabinet always struck me as providing the ideal balance of thump, projection, tone and articulation.

jacojbass · #13 01-19-2011, 07:44 PM

I used to be a 10's kinda guy, got into 12"s the past year and love em' .....

BigOldHarry · #14 01-19-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ithump4

Just wondering if a 2/12 cab would be sufficent (playing) with a 5 piece band and what amp you would put with it ? Currently use 1/15 (Fender) combo. Mostly classic rock,country, and some of the (50's & 60's) doo-wop. Just wondering. any input would be appreciated.

It flat-out depends on the cab & amp. Just saying "12s are great" doesn't mean much at all. I've play 10"s, but I've played some 10" loaded cabs that sounded AWFUL. So it really depends.

christw · #15 01-19-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

It flat-out depends on the cab & amp. Just saying "12s are great" doesn't mean much at all. I've play 10"s, but I've played some 10" loaded cabs that sounded AWFUL. So it really depends.

I agree 100%

MuzikMan · #16 01-19-2011, 07:51 PM

I practice at home with a 2 x 6 transmission line cab that sounds fantastic, with -3db of about 40hz. I have played out of a 2 x 12 cab that sounded like farts. I have also played out of a 2 x 12 cab that sounded great.........go figure.

drdunwoody · #17 01-19-2011, 08:03 PM

I had the Aguilar GS212 cab someone mentioned and although I liked the sound solo, it didn't seem to cut through the mix despite being pretty loud. I have read on this forum that GENERALLY, two single 12" cabs will sound better than a single 2x12 cab. Can't tell you why but that is what I've read on here. I now play a pair of BagEnd cabs each with a 15" and it is low AND punchy. You might not like the 2x12 as much as the pair of cabs you have now. The real question is, can you handle the mismatch?

Interceptor · #18 01-19-2011, 08:04 PM

Once I started having to move my gear several times a week, logistics became a dominant influence.

I like having a pair of twelves for what I do. My work ranges from wine shop jazz to a big church to outdoor country.

I really like have the option of bringing one or two cabinets to cover the job. I have dug into the idea of a "super 12" and find it attractive, but I'm not going there out of finally coming to grips with the realization that what I have works. I wouldn't mind having something smaller than a 112 for some of the really little jobs, but I'm no longer willing to put the brain space into design / build.

I've been able to coax very usable tones out of tens, twelves and fifteens. Every cabinet I've played through had strengths and weaknesses.

Here's the key: once you figure out what you need tone wise out of a rig and how to hear and eq to get there, it then gets easy. Once you've got that nailed, you'd be surprised to find out how easy it is to get that sound of any competent rig!

MuzikMan · #19 01-19-2011, 08:08 PM

Well said Interceptor. It has taken some time but I can now get my sound out of many different rigs these days. In fact my bandmates have pointed out to me that I always sound like me in spite of my tendancy to change gear as often as my socks (did I really type that out loud)...........Stupid GAS !!!

anonymous02282011 · #20 01-19-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

I'm with adbass. Speaker size isn't that big of an influence. Cab design, ported vs sealed, speaker xmax, and total speaker area used matter a heck of a lot more than the size of speakers used.

PS- I want to pronounce adbass like badass.

Frankly, 99% of the time I play Jim Bergantino's original IP112. For bigger gigs, I add the extension cab, the HT112.

I love those cabs for their sound and portability.

When I first started playing bass (about 16 years ago) I used a Sonic cab with 12" EV speaker. It sounded good, but the Bergantino cabs are in another league.