I'm shopping for a cab, but...(long-winded warning)

My name is Mudd · #1 10-17-2010, 01:05 PM

Ok, so how does one choose a cab that they can't actually audition? I'm seriously looking for something (probably a 210 w/horn, maybe a 410 w/horn, 300-or-so-watts and probably @ 8 ohms so I can add something else later on) to mate with my still-en-route Trace Elliot AH130SM, but my choices locally are limited to the usual collection of stuff on the floor at GC (Acoustic, Ampeg, GK, and a few random used items); there's a mostly-guitar shop up in Fresno that sometimes has a few Hartke 210 aluminum-coned cabs; and the stuff on Craig's List offered by folks who never get back to you when you respond to their ad. Being that my budget is around $350/400 max the Ampegs are out of reach, the GK cabs are usually the Backlines, and I'd like to see if I can do a little better than an Acoustic (not necessarily a dig as I own an Ac B20 and love it, but still...) which is about the only thing I can both afford and can demo beforehand.

I've been reading thread after thread after thread here for the past couple of weeks and the Avatar 210 sounds (err...make that - reads) nice, and a new one w/tolex is pretty much my budget's upper limit; there's a used Eden 210 in the classifieds that falls inside my budget; same for an SWR 210 Goliath Jr...any and all of these sound (...read...) like they'd be a good investment, but since I can't actually plug into them and see how they sound with my still-not-here-either Trace, it's all somewhat-educated guesswork.

This setup will be my home rig for awhile, btw, but I'm also trying to think ahead somewhat as far as a gig opportunity (blues, rock) goes. Know also that I'm not necessarily in a hurry to find a cab...I'm still working on raising funds. This purchase will have to be a good one tho, as I cannot afford to buy something simply to test-drive it and then sell it off if it doesn't do it for me and start all over.

So here I am asking for opinions, suggestions, etc on this...what's my next move?

JimmyM · #2 10-17-2010, 01:14 PM

either find a bass specialty shop with a big selection of cabs in your area or buy on faith. i will say this, though...reviews of stuff on here tend to be pretty accurate, and i've found that most of them that get into the specifics match up pretty much to what i think when i play them as well.

will33 · #3 10-17-2010, 01:17 PM

Used gets you more for your money. If you end up not liking it you put it up for sale and use that money to pick up something else. If you end up buying new from GC or various websites, many of them have a return policy as long as you get it back in new condition. Many as long as 30 days. Keep all the original packing. Wrap it in a blanket or something when you take it places, don't set drinks on it, etc. Most of all, don't let anybody else use it.

shoot-r · #4 10-17-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

Ok, so how does one choose a cab that they can't actually audition? I'm seriously looking for something (probably a 210 w/horn, maybe a 410 w/horn, 300-or-so-watts and probably @ 8 ohms so I can add something else later on) to mate with my still-en-route Trace Elliot AH130SM, but my choices locally are limited to the usual collection of stuff on the floor at GC (Acoustic, Ampeg, GK, and a few random used items); there's a mostly-guitar shop up in Fresno that sometimes has a few Hartke 210 aluminum-coned cabs; and the stuff on Craig's List offered by folks who never get back to you when you respond to their ad. Being that my budget is around $350/400 max the Ampegs are out of reach, the GK cabs are usually the Backlines, and I'd like to see if I can do a little better than an Acoustic (not necessarily a dig as I own an Ac B20 and love it, but still...) which is about the only thing I can both afford and can demo beforehand.

I've been reading thread after thread after thread here for the past couple of weeks and the Avatar 210 sounds (err...make that - reads) nice, and a new one w/tolex is pretty much my budget's upper limit; there's a used Eden 210 in the classifieds that falls inside my budget; same for an SWR 210 Goliath Jr...any and all of these sound (...read...) like they'd be a good investment, but since I can't actually plug into them and see how they sound with my still-not-here-either Trace, it's all somewhat-educated guesswork.

This setup will be my home rig for awhile, btw, but I'm also trying to think ahead somewhat as far as a gig opportunity (blues, rock) goes. Know also that I'm not necessarily in a hurry to find a cab...I'm still working on raising funds. This purchase will have to be a good one tho, as I cannot afford to buy something simply to test-drive it and then sell it off if it doesn't do it for me and start all over.

So here I am asking for opinions, suggestions, etc on this...what's my next move?

I replaced my big ole' heavy, high-dollar, Ed*n 212XLT cabinet with two Avatar Neo 210 cabinets, (use em' as a vertical 410)...I couldn't be happier!!!

My name is Mudd · #5 10-17-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

either find a bass specialty shop with a big selection of cabs in your area...

No such thing aside from GC*, which is what prompted my posting to begin with. From here, closest would be in either the Bay Area or SoCal, but getting there would eat into the purchase budget.

* editing to explain that this is the San Joaquin Valley and I'm surrounded by literally thousands of acres of agriculture; here in town, we have GC and a few pawnshops...that's it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Used gets you more for your money...

Totally aware of that, which is why I've been trolling the classifieds here. Also totally aware of GC's return policy, and I'm lucky in that I know a couple of guys who work in our GC and they've offered to let me bring my head and a bass in to audition what they do have available, which I intend to do.

My main 'problem' is that there just aren't that many options for touchy-feely auditions hereabouts (in one regard I'm kinda surprised that GC even opened here). About now, I wish I were still living up in the Bay Area and had better hands-on choices.

will33 · #6 10-17-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

My main 'problem' is that there just aren't that many options for touchy-feely auditions hereabouts .

Being able to play a gig, or at least a rehearsal is obviously the best audition there is. Aside from that there's only so much you can really tell. You use your experience and your ear and make as educated a guess as you can and make use of return policies and/or re-selling. As far as internet reviews, the players here seem to give pretty accurate/good advice as compared to the rest of the web.

THORRR · #7 10-17-2010, 01:42 PM

I traded my heavy stack of 15's and big amp for 2 Avatar B410 Neo's and a Markbass LM III - 800w.

Light as a feather + sound BIG as an elephant.

Worth a look at least, and Dave gives a money-back guarantee (minus shipping, which is only fair)

I'd bet you wouldn't be returning anything you buy there:
www.avatarspeakers.com

Call and tell him your needs and style and he'll make a good recommendation - Service Plus from Dave.

My name is Mudd · #8 10-17-2010, 02:03 PM

The Avatar is definitely my preference if I buy new as it'd be the easiest to match with a second one later on, most likely.

My name is Mudd · #9 10-20-2010, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THORRR

...and Dave gives a money-back guarantee...

I just noticed this...not according to the site -

"All items we sell are not sold on a trial basis and are not returnable." (from the ordering info page)

...do you know something different?

UncleFluffy · #10 10-20-2010, 07:16 PM

Did you consider the Carvin BRX 10.2 when making your shortlist? It's another high bang-for-the-buck cab that many folks (including me) seem to be happy with.

Nearest Carvin store looks like 3hrs from you, though, so it's still probably not going to be a try-before-you-buy unless you were over that way for other reasons as well.

My name is Mudd · #11 10-20-2010, 08:26 PM

I did, but I don't think that the Trace will have enough power for it...the Carvin site says that the 10.2 is rated @ 600 to 1200 watts.

UncleFluffy · #12 10-20-2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

I did, but I don't think that the Trace will have enough power for it...the Carvin site says that the 10.2 is rated @ 600 to 1200 watts.

Shouldn't matter. I'm normally driving mine with an SVT-CL with the volume way down and I still need earplugs.

dminer · #13 10-20-2010, 09:09 PM

I can't comment on the Eden or SWR 210's but I did get an Avatar neo 210 and it's a great deal. I still take my old hartke 210 transporter to rehersals because well, it's easier to transport...but for live gigs, it's the Avatar or Avatar and Hartke with my LMIII...great bang for the buck...I did add locking coasters and a heavy duty strap handle to my A 210 neo for ease of movement (even though it's a neo it's still pretty bulky compared to the hartke and anytime I can roll instead of tote/lug my gear I'm happier.)

My name is Mudd · #14 10-21-2010, 06:17 PM

The more I read about the Avatar 210 Neo, the more I think I'll get one. The Trace is supposed to arrive tomorrow - I will try the Acoustic cabs first (since I can), but...

noahw1 · #15 10-21-2010, 06:21 PM

I love my two Neo 2 x10" Avatar cabs. The first one I got I bought new from them and it was great and found the other on CL for about $100 less than the first but was only two weeks old! Great speakers.

will33 · #16 10-21-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

I did, but I don't think that the Trace will have enough power for it...the Carvin site says that the 10.2 is rated @ 600 to 1200 watts.

Just because a cab says 600 watts doesn't mean you need big power to drive it, you can drive it with 1 watt if you want to. Search "displacement limit" on here. That's info you're never going to get from a manufacturer but that or most any other cab will start farting out long before it gets to it's "wattage" rating. That rating is just adding up what all the voice coils are thermally rated for, which is fine as long as you don't play the bass.

Rapisme · #17 10-21-2010, 06:34 PM

Check the TB classifieds..

Adam Bomb · #18 10-21-2010, 06:45 PM

Just spitballing here:

What cab did dude (dude you are buying the head from) use? Did he like it? Does he have any sound clips? Can you buy it off him? (The cab)

Have you googled your head? Err, I mean ...

... I found "I use a Trace Elliot AH130SM head through a Bag End 1x15 and a Tubeworks 1x12" (http://www.justplainfolks.org/ubb/Fo...ML/000045.html ). Maybe there are other leads out there.

It sounds (reads) like Avatar would fit the bill. Provided it sounds good. Which I can't imagine it wouldn't. Assuming that you and I both think the same sounds sound good ... *falls into the rabbit hole*

--Bomb

woody357 · #19 10-21-2010, 06:55 PM

One word "EPIFANI"

My name is Mudd · #20 10-21-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Search "displacement limit" on here.

Already have, but thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rapisme

Check the TB classifieds..

Practically lived there this past week.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Bomb

What cab did dude (dude you are buying the head from) use?

Bought it from TBer FilCo (from this ad) who used an EBS 115 and I didn't even think to ask if it was available, but I want two 10s more than one 15.
- And editing to say that I've googled the crap out of the amp...not a whole lot of info on the for-real British Trace heads aroundnow beyond what's available thru the British Audio Service site and random threads here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by woody357

One word "EPIFANI"

More than I can afford, plus they all seem to be on the east coast (shipping, etc)