PA speakers as cabs, anyone tried this?

Electricblue · #1 08-05-2011, 03:29 PM

Anybody use PA speakers for a live setup? I mean, powered by a bass head?

rpsands · #2 08-05-2011, 03:48 PM

Most PA mains have too low of xmax to work well as bass cabs. The ones that have enough excursion are either huge and heavy, or expensive, or both.

Typically, you'd need a subwoofer to make it work well.

Overall, not a great idea--subs extend lower than you need for electric bass and can mess up the room sound pretty badly. And cost a lot and tend to be crazy heavy.

For a good solid PA rig that compares to an SVT 8x10 well, you're looking at a high end 1x12+horn on top of a high end 15" subwoofer. To the tune of quite a lot of money if you can even find the subwoofer with a passive crossover worth a crap (unlikely). You'd wind up wanting to go pre/power to make it even have a decent shot of sounding good.

Rafael · #3 08-05-2011, 04:30 PM

I think if you do a quick search you'll find this asked and [excessively] answered, but in general the response goes like this:

What specific combination? PA speakers is too general a term to mean anything. I'm positive there are some that would work great, and just as positive there are some that would absolutely NOT work....to answer your question I have indeed played through a pair of giant PA sub cab that were like half "W" horns with 18" drivers. About 6 feet wide and at least two feet tall. The pair took up half a wall. But the low E......hmmmmmm.....bassilicious.

dogbass · #4 08-05-2011, 04:37 PM

Well, Carvin's LS1503 series of 3-way PA cabinets certainly got alot of love on TB as an outstanding bass cabinet. Some changed out the stock woofers for Kappalight 3015LF's if I recall, but stock it's a pretty good cabinet for bass.

Its light (58lbs or thereabouts) and relatively inexpensive. In fact, it may be a bit too light as one of its weaknesses (IMO) is a bit of rattle at certain resonances. But it sounds nice.

rpsands · #5 08-05-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogbass

Well, Carvin's LS1503 series of 3-way PA cabinets certainly got alot of love on TB as an outstanding bass cabinet. Some changed out the stock woofers for Kappalight 3015LF's if I recall, but stock it's a pretty good cabinet for bass.

Its light (58lbs or thereabouts) and relatively inexpensive. In fact, it may be a bit too light as one of its weaknesses (IMO) is a bit of rattle at certain resonances. But it sounds nice.

Not too light...not braced enough and the grill might not be recessed enough.

Problem with the 1503 stock is the excursion of the 15 still. Whole cab won't get anywhere close to as loud as Carvin's 4x10 Neo would, for example, despite similar size and weight.

mowburger · #6 08-05-2011, 06:33 PM

I'm using a Carvin LS1503 on top of a crappy Nady 18" sub, and It's working great. Power is supplied by Drivecore XLS2000. At this point another LS1503 would probably be more than I would ever need.

I'm GASing for a fEarful 15/6/1 tho.

IMO most PA cabs arn't gonna work that well as a bass rig.

**IvanMike** · #7 08-05-2011, 08:10 PM

If it's a good PA cab, it can be a thing of beauty.

Ace Marconi · #8 08-05-2011, 08:26 PM

We gig with 600 watts/channel of 18 inch subs, and 600 watts/channel on top of that, stereo, bi-amp for our normal gigs. I simply live to hear my b string through the Pa.

Blues Bass 2 · #9 08-05-2011, 09:57 PM

These are kind of a backward PA cab , Avatar 112 bass cabs converted for PA use . They have Delta pro 12s and a Pyle waveguide with a Selenium Driver . They work very well as pole mounted PA tops with subs but also make awesome bass guitar cabs .

DukeLeJeune · #10 08-05-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blues Bass 2

These are kind of a backward PA cab , Avatar 112 bass cabs converted for PA use . They have Delta pro 12s and a Pyle waveguide with a Selenium Driver . They work very well as pole mounted PA tops with subs but also make awesome bass guitar cabs.

Very interesting; I've also looked at that specific woofer/horn/compression driver combination as a possible PA top. And yes, the Delta Pro 12 has enough excursion to double as a decent bass cab. Did you do the conversion yourself?

Electricblue · #11 08-06-2011, 02:02 AM

Thanks for all the replies, they are all taken into consideration.

I know it depends which PA cab. How about this one or this one?

Looks pretty good for the money, and I could use a decent PA for vocal use anyway.

Blues Bass 2 · #12 08-06-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeLeJeune

Very interesting; I've also looked at that specific woofer/horn/compression driver combination as a possible PA top. And yes, the Delta Pro 12 has enough excursion to double as a decent bass cab. Did you do the conversion yourself?

Hey Duke , yes I did the conversion . I had to add a 1/2" birch plywood piece over the old horn cutouts I had in them for a pair of Peavey horns . I made these PA cabinets about 7 years ago and our soundman put the Delta pros in them to replace the Delta LF speakers that came with them . I put the new horn and crossovers in this year after building my 115 econowave cab and hearing how smooth they sound for bass . Here's a pic of what they used to look like .

fudgemaster · #13 08-06-2011, 10:32 AM

Hi. Just thought I'd tell you about my fairly new kustom reissue dual 15" pa tuck n roll cab. Got it a couple yrs ago from MF like new for $200 plus ship. Weighs in at 90 lbs. Can you say rollers? Got a pic @ eminence eps-15c post here. Also more pics at Gibson epiphone forum under my home page albums. Just tap lil guitar and album. Post on intro, amps, epicenter, & low down. You can find my name. Btw the kustom 15"s are full range eminence. The horn doesn't even factor unless you twang a lot of treble. I go for old school fender jbl type sound. These remind me a little of the large showman sound. Best of luck. Fudgemaster.

fudgemaster · #14 08-06-2011, 10:36 AM

Hi. Just thought I'd tell you about my fairly new kustom reissue dual 15" pa tuck n roll cab. Got it a couple yrs ago from MF like new for $200 plus ship. Weighs in at 90 lbs. Can you say rollers? Got a pic @ eminence eps-15c post here. Also more pics at Gibson epiphone forum under my home page albums. Just tap lil guitar and album. Post on intro, amps, epicenter, & low down. You can find my name. Btw the kustom 15"s are full range eminence. The horn doesn't even factor unless you twang a lot of treble. I go for old school fender jbl type sound. These remind me a little of the large showman sound. Best of luck. Fudgemaster.

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