New Cab Day: Schroeder 1212BMF

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My Schroeder 1212BMF arrived today and I spent sometime with it in the underground storage area of my condo (not a great place to test cabs because of the cement floors, walls etc, but its the only place I can use to test cabs at my house).

I used it with both my LMII + VT Bass and my TC RH450. It sounded good with both amps, but the LMII /VT combo definitely sounded better, much fuller and rounder. Also bumping up the 40hz of the LMII really helped give it more low-end.

The Schroeder 1212BMF sounds WAY better than the older "classic" 1212R version I used to own. Much less colour and MUCH more even sounding. A real night and day difference. If you have been thinking of upgrading to the Schroeder 1212BMF from the 1212 slant version I would definitely look into it.

I bought this cab to use in particular situations where I needed maximum portability in a standalone cab, but still needed a good amount of volume. I think it will do very well at satisfying that criteria and it may even become my first call cab. Have to say though that my 15/6 will always be used for outside gigs or where I need to be really loud.

As far as build quality its pretty good but not awesome. There is a couple spots where the rhino lining was not applied properly and you can see the ply underneath. Not more than a square centimetre, but there nonetheless. Other than that I haven't noticed any issues. I'll have to crank it up at rehearsals to see if there is any grill rattling etc. I am happy with the price I paid for it (used) so I am willing to overlook its imperfections.

This cab is super light and I should be able to pop it into the front seat of my Honda Civic no problem.

[Mike Shevlin]

Nice review~ I've had my eye on the BMF1215~ or whatever it's called~ but I don't know if anyone has one yet~

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Yeah, I've seen some posts on the 1215BMF floating around. I had the 1515L for a very short time a couple years ago. I really disliked that cab. It had no definition and sounded boomy. The bandleader I was playing with at the time told me to never it bring back to rehearsal again. In all fairness I did have it made 2" taller as I wanted maximum low-end out of it (while still fitting into my car). Jorg said that's why he thinks I was unhappy with it. Also, I've read that other TBers have dug the 1515L schroes so it could be just me being picky.

The 1212BMF sounds VERY different from the 1515L. Not boomy in the least... in fact the opposite.

Edit: I remember now that the 1515 I had was an "L" angled driver version and NOT a BMF with both drivers facing front. I am guessing the 1515BMF would sound way better than the 1515L

[jnewmark]

Was always curious about this cab, wondering how it stood against other 212's like the Berg and Genz Benz. I owned the Neox 212T for awhile, but found it very awkward to schlep, especially with a head on top. Those top side handles are useless, imho. Can't wait for some comparisons. How you doing with your LDS problem 112's ?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Was always curious about this cab, wondering how it stood against other 212's like the Berg and Genz Benz. I owned the Neox 212T for awhile, but found it very awkward to schlep, especially with a head on top. Those top side handles are useless, imho. Can't wait for some comparisons. How you doing with your LDS problem 112's ?

Very nice cab... VERY tight and bright (like the 115+). Very lightweight, very loud. IMO, not in the same universe as the Berg AE212 regarding even voicing and true low end, but a great cab given its small size and very low weight if you are cool with the low end compromise. The Neox212T kind of sits in between the BMF212 and AE212 to me regarding mid response and true low end. IMO!

[MarTONEbass]

Congrats on the new cab, sounds like a winner!

[::::BASSIST::::]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Was always curious about this cab, wondering how it stood against other 212's like the Berg and Genz Benz. I owned the Neox 212T for awhile, but found it very awkward to schlep, especially with a head on top. Those top side handles are useless, imho. Can't wait for some comparisons. How you doing with your LDS problem 112's ?

We are in the process of getting the LDS 112s sorted out. I expect its going to take awhile, but I'm don't mind waiting.

I really need to get this cab into different rooms to get a better feel for its tone profile, but so far I am liking it alot. I will no doubt have to boost the lows, but with my LMII + VT the sound is very round and punchy at the same time.... which is exactly what I want. It is so much better than the classic 1212R. I was a little bit concerned about them being too similar, but this thing is a whole new animal.

[mrpackerguy]

I am a happy owner of one as well. Coming from Acme's, noticeable dip in low end response, but the thing is, it cuts through so nice without having to have stage volume cranked, and the mid definition is not harsh, just present. Saturday night I ran it with a new Shuttle 9.0 I just got and it was more pillowy than the Mpulse 600 I ran it with at the gig before that. Next up, the 1212BMF with the F500, then after that, the EA Micro. I really really like this cab. Haul in is a cinch, too. I had the folks at Custom Covers in Michigan make me a nice black vinyl cover for it. For me, this cab has become a "one cab solution".

[bucephylus]

Originally Posted by KJung

Very nice cab... VERY tight and bright (like the 115+). Very lightweight, very loud. IMO, not in the same universe as the Berg AE212 regarding even voicing and true low end, but a great cab given its small size and very low weight if you are cool with the low end compromise. The Neox212T kind of sits in between the BMF212 and AE212 to me regarding mid response and true low end. IMO!

Ken,

Have you A/B'd the 1212BMF next to the AE212? What you are saying makes sense, but I'd be curious about actual comparisons.

Thx

[bucephylus]

I have two of these; use one with a Shuttle 6 for most FOH supported gigs, and use two with a ShuttleMAX 12 when I want more push. Nice balance of portability, sound level, and tone for my purposes.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bucephylus

Ken,

Have you A/B'd the 1212BMF next to the AE212? What you are saying makes sense, but I'd be curious about actual comparisons.

Thx

Not directly, but those cabs sound so utterly, completely, totally different that it is pretty obvious, even a couple of months apart. The 212BMF sounds very much like the 115L+. I have clips of the 115L+ and the AE212 up on my Youtube channel if you want to compare.

Both very nice for what they are. The BMF212 and 115L+ are freaks of nature regarding weight, size, and volume. The AE212 is just a good, good, good, good sounding cab, but is larger and heavier.

[rpsands]

Downside for the BMF212: Displacement limited to about the same volume as ONE of the op's 3012HO cabinets, once the ports get opened up

Those Celestion drivers just can't take much of a beating down low which limits their overall volume quite a lot unless you turn down the bass, which makes them even more grating on the ears.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Downside for the BMF212: Displacement limited to about the same volume as ONE of the op's 3012HO cabinets, once the ports get opened up

Those Celestion drivers just can't take much of a beating down low which limits their overall volume quite a lot unless you turn down the bass, which makes them even more grating on the ears.

Depends on the tone you are looking for. Tight and bright can sound amazing in many contexts. However, I agree that if you try to dial in a ton of low end to try to make one of these sound wide and deep, those drivers could easily go 'pop'.

[rpsands]

Do you know of anyone who rolls off bass with a Schroeder cabinet? I've never met a single player who grabbed one of those and was like, "Wow, I need to turn down the bass!"

It's time to buy a BFM Jack 12 if that's your thing =) Mine was as loud as my Schroeder 21012R easily in the mids.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Do you know of anyone who rolls off bass with a Schroeder cabinet? I've never met a single player who grabbed one of those and was like, "Wow, I need to turn down the bass!"

It's time to buy a BFM Jack 12 if that's your thing =) Mine was as loud as my Schroeder 21012R easily in the mids.

No reason to roll off the bass with these ever. Why would you think you would want to do that?

Just a slight bass boost and they sound great. Of course, if you really crank the bass to try to make them what they are not, you will be in trouble. Great cabs for what they are. My 115L+ covers gigs way larger and louder than it should, and provides good upper bass and low mid punch in a very small, lightweight package.

The BMF cabs are a TOTALLY different thing from the baffle cabs, or the 21012R or L. The 1212BMF is completely different sounding from the 21012R (I had an L for a short while).

There is a clip of my 115L+ on my Youtube channel with some minor EQ. I think it sounds very nice, and again, is about the lightest smallest cab that can do a loud gig I've come across (as long as you don't want to shake the rafters). The 115L+ sounds quite similar to the 1212BMF IMO and IME. Not for everyone, but nice for what they are.

[rpsands]

Because if you add 3db of bass the displacement available halves, and they already have very little displacement available before distortion sets in.

I'm not saying they're not nice; I'm saying that with the woofers he uses it'll take two of them to get as loud as a 3012HO. If you prefer the tone that's fine. I'm not talking tone, I'm talking SPL.

[bucephylus]

Not sure I agree 100% with some of the details I'm reading. Right now, I have 2 - 1212BMF's stacked vertically with the SM12 on top sitting next to a Berg NV610 that has a Trace Hexavalve on top of it. There are certainly differences in the character of the tone of the two rigs, but I would not say the 1212BMF stack has any less capability to rattle the windows, doors, and your fillings.

The Berg rig has a little more palpable texture in the lower mids (which works well for pizz), where the Schro stack is a little more transparent through that range (better for more techniques). Honestly, I like both sounds, but can hear a difference there.

The 1212BMF is a bit more balanced than the 115L, with a bit more pillow and little less lower mid hump; just overall more even response. IME.

Can't comment on driver limitations, except to say that I am constantly engaged with our sound guy that my rig with a single 1212BMF is too hot for the classic rock band I'm currently working with. But we do have a decent FOH capability.

YMMV

[mrpackerguy]

Originally Posted by KJung

Just a slight bass boost and they sound great.

Touche'.

I've normally got a little PA support and these work just fine. We almost always are playing medium and some larger hotel meeting and conference rooms. The BMF works great for those. As Ken says, with a little bass dialed in, you still get that real pleasing cut-through without the dirty looks from your bandmates. The weight factor is big for me as I've tried to Micro everything. Tone-wise, having owned Bergs, I would guess the Berg 212 is a more complete sounding cab, hi-end to bottom-end and everywhere in between. The Schroeder 1212BMF does one thing, but does it very well.

[watspan]

glad you are happy w/ the bmf. i found happiness w/ the 1212L and a thunderfunk 3 years ago. the 1212L sounds odd by itself, but in an electric guitars/drum kit band mix it cuts through perfectly and never creates any un-useable "boom in the room". I recently confirmed this by recording some gigs w/ a tascam dr-2d digital recorder. I cut through and sound full. plus @ 42# w/ a built in handle/wheels, it's a breeze to load-in/out

[mrpackerguy]

Originally Posted by watspan

glad you are happy w/ the bmf. i found happiness w/ the 1212L and a thunderfunk 3 years ago. the 1212L sounds odd by itself, but in an electric guitars/drum kit band mix it cuts through perfectly and never creates any un-useable "boom in the room". I recently confirmed this by recording some gigs w/ a tascam dr-2d digital recorder. I cut through and sound full. plus @ 42# w/ a built in handle/wheels, it's a breeze to load-in/out

That makes me, you and Embly (Tom) running Schroeder in the Madtown area as far as I know.