Mixing GK Cabs - Advice Please

Midnight_Steed · #1 11-08-2012, 10:22 AM

Hi T'bers,

I am in the midst of orderng my first Gallien-Krueger gear soon. I am eyeing the MB800, Neo 1x15 and a second Neo cab.

There seems to be a multitude of TB'ers who advise against mixing cabs.

In your opinion, should my second cab be (a) Neo 1x15, (b) Neo 2x12, (c) Neo 4x10 or (d) the discontinued Neo 2x10?

If I'd like to mix cabs, there seems to be more support for 115 + 210 rather than 115 + 212. Is there any tonal difference between these 2 combinations?

And how does 115 + 115 sound? I understand most people seem to discourage the 115 + 410 combinations.

I play mainly rock and metal.

Thank you for reading and I hope to hear your views.

Gabe

**CL400Peavey** · #2 11-08-2012, 10:42 AM

The only cab I would suggest you pair with that 115, is an identical 115 cab.

eriky4003 · #3 11-08-2012, 10:46 AM

Midnight Steed,
Can let you know my thoughts on the 2x10 & 1x15 in a few weeks when I gig on the 24th but with an MB500. This is my gigging rig.
I tried both the 2x12 and the 2x10 with an MB200 a few months ago and actually preferred the 2x10. It was a quick call as I was in a small part of the store with another bass player trying out gear. I also wasn't sitting directly in front of the 2x12. There is a highly respected bass player (who's name escapes me) playing with Lincoln Brewster who uses the 2x12 & 1x15 and has had rave reviews for his tone.
At our rehearsal room I use a 4x10 (GK SBX) with the 15" and it sounds great. Bear in mind, my amp puts out 250 W to each cab so I've got wiggle room for the thermal (not mechanical) limits of the speakers. Your amp at 400 W to each cab will be at the high end unless you go with the 2x12 (600 W) then watch/listen to your 15" for signs of stress at high volumes.
Everyone here will advise to listen to your combinations and see which one suits you best. They would be re-miss to not advise to match your cabs. Another idea: 2 2x12's?
BTW, the math on the 2x10 & 115 is good (200 sq inch of spkrs (2x10x10)to 225 sq inch (15x15)). The math on the 2x12 and 115 not as even which may be why the first choice is seen as 'better'. Also BTW, I play mostly rock, a bit of prog & a bit of metal.

nickrs540 · #4 11-08-2012, 10:55 AM

If you like the sound of the 15 you already have why not get another? Unless you don't like the tone of your 15, then why would you keep it anyways.

My advice, If you like the 15 get another. If you don't get one big cab or two of something else.

I personally enjoy my GK Neo 4x12, but I would also love a 2x15.

spector_boogie · #5 11-08-2012, 10:58 AM

I like hearing a 410+212 setup, with the 212 on top and the 410 pushing some air at the bottom.
But if you already have a 115, I'd just say get another 115.
I've tried the 210+115 setup before and wasn't all that, and a 410 or 212 will just overpower it.

Crabby · #6 11-08-2012, 11:09 AM

This topic has been beaten to death regardless of brand. Mixing different speaker cabs may work and may sound good but you are always safer to add a second identical cab if at all possible. This will eliminate the effects of comb filtering which can effectively sound like the cabs are cancelling out certain frequencies when ran together. I have always found that a 210 on top of a 115 kind of ruins the best parts of each cab.

A pair of Neo 115 cabs would be spectacular in my opinion as these are great sounding cabs, lightweight and relatively "modern" sounding. You will never have a problem selling a matched pair of cabs down the road either!

BogeyBass · #7 11-08-2012, 11:16 AM

Mentioned this before in another thread, one of my first rigs was a GK head and 2 1x15 cabinets.

it was great.

2x15 cabinets was the standard for a long time, best setup for any bass player in my opinion.

and yes stay with matching speakers, and even better something that will stack up vertical. such as 1x15, 1x12 , 2x15 or 2x12

the plague of horizontal 10" speakers...be gone, gone forever

dhsierra1 · #8 11-08-2012, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriky4003

They would be re-miss to not advise to match your cabs. Another idea: 2 2x12's?
BTW, the math on the 2x10 & 115 is good (200 sq inch of spkrs (2x10x10)to 225 sq inch (15x15)). The math on the 2x12 and 115 not as even which may be why the first choice is seen as 'better'.

actually what you really should be measuring is displacement because you're moving air, so it's conic surface area times Xmax.

Thus a 15" driver with a 3 mm Xmax will displace half as much as one with 6 mm, so will put out more low end. That's why those super 15s like the Emi 3015LF can get so loud down in the lower frequencies ,their Xmax is around 9 or so mm.

By the same token, you can have a 12" with the same displacement as a 15" if the 12" has a large Xmax, so speaker surface area doesn't really play into the equation as much as one would think. That's (partly) why you have 10s that are "bassier" (eg Emi BP102) than some 15s (eg EVM 15L).

eriky4003 · #9 11-08-2012, 11:46 AM

Thanks, dhsierra1. I'm certainly no expert on all the facets of speaker computations.
I'm surprised no else is concerned with the MB800 cranking out watt for watt to the 2x15s. At 400W potentially going to each of the 15s and their thermal limit being 400W is there no concern for two blown cabs?

nickrs540 · #10 11-08-2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriky4003

Thanks, dhsierra1. I'm certainly no expert on all the facets of speaker computations.
I'm surprised no else is concerned with the MB800 cranking out watt for watt to the 2x15s. At 400W potentially going to each of the 15s and their thermal limit being 400W is there no concern for two blown cabs?

Perhaps the reason volume controls exist

**CL400Peavey** · #11 11-08-2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriky4003

Thanks, dhsierra1. I'm certainly no expert on all the facets of speaker computations.
I'm surprised no else is concerned with the MB800 cranking out watt for watt to the 2x15s. At 400W potentially going to each of the 15s and their thermal limit being 400W is there no concern for two blown cabs?

There is, but you will push the cabs into mechanical limits first. That will present itself as the cab "farting out" which you can hear. So just turn down the bass knob a bit.

Technotitclan · #12 11-08-2012, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriky4003

Thanks, dhsierra1. I'm certainly no expert on all the facets of speaker computations.
I'm surprised no else is concerned with the MB800 cranking out watt for watt to the 2x15s. At 400W potentially going to each of the 15s and their thermal limit being 400W is there no concern for two blown cabs?

Just stay light handed on the master and you should be good.

I have a 115 and 410 setup right now. While I do like its sound I only have it due to availability and funding. I STRONGLY recommend 2 15's.