Schroeder Cabs

AtomicPunk · #1 04-28-2011, 05:36 AM

Having been on the search for a lightweight single cab solution recently, I settled on the Genz 112NeoX. Recently I've been looking at Schroeder cabs and never realized how light they are! Even their 2x15 is pretty darn manageable.
But the question is, what do they sound like? I listened to the clips on their website but it's not my style of playing at all, so it's hard to judge. Do they have any problem with low end in the small cabs?

jonesn4bass · #2 04-28-2011, 05:51 AM

This response probably won't be so helpful to you as I play a Schroeder 6x10, not a 1x12, but IMHO they have all the low end you'll need. I play in a hard rock band that tunes to drop B and this cab takes everything that I throw at it with ease.

For reference, I parted with Berg NV425 to get the Schroeder and don't regret my decision in the least!

Best of luck!

**JxBass** · #3 04-28-2011, 05:53 AM

The Schroeder cabs are very mid present and punchy. My favorite is the 15L+, of which there was a dedicated thread started by KJung. It was very loud and event across the spectrum and as Ken described it, the best Super 12" on the market.

solarplexus · #4 04-28-2011, 06:01 AM

I just received a 1210L that I bought here on TB yesterday. I rehearsed with it last night with my band. Yes, they are mid heavy, but with my Carvin BX500, I could get the low end I need. I could hear myself perfectly. VERY punchy, I was not used to that sound before. I like it alot.

sratas · #5 04-28-2011, 06:06 AM

I had for some months a 1212L, with Neodimium woofers and black rhino cover....mmmh. I must confess that I'm not a great fan of these cabs but maybe you are more interested in a non-biased review.
So, the cab is pretty lighweight bought it with the trolley that allowed me to carry it without any effort. Good.
The fit and finish was not as I expected, first the back label stated that mine was a 1515L but was a 1212L, a little mistake. The big thing was that the cab was poorly built. I mean, huge unwanted noises from the housing, grille rattling, even a rusty grill, huge breathing noise, almost windy, from the bass port, impossible to use in a studio situation and very annoying at low volume gigs. I fixed some of this issues but...
The sound is absolutely personal. I mean, no high fidelity at all, the Schroeders put an heavy blanket on the sound of your bass and amp, if you like it, it is ok, if you do not like...the sound has little bass content, no supporting tones here, and, more important, a great bump in middle frequencies ranging from 220 to 600 Hz, a big big bump. Highs are extruded by a horn that is so so, sounds a bit disconnected from the sound of the woofers and is quite irony in nature. This voicing makes the cab really loud, really loud but some notes just jump from the cab whereas others struggle because some notes are boosted by the non linear frequency response of the cab. Do you use a low B? Forget it, no real bass consistency in these cabs. Do you play loud, aggressive stuff? It will do the job and you will be heard all over the concert hall, do you play a softer musical genre or prefer a more refined and classy sound, better to look elsewhere. IMO of course.

4-string · #6 04-28-2011, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonesn4bass

This response probably won't be so helpful to you as I play a Schroeder 6x10, not a 1x12, but IMHO they have all the low end you'll need. I play in a hard rock band that tunes to drop B and this cab takes everything that I throw at it with ease.

For reference, I parted with Berg NV425 to get the Schroeder and don't regret my decision in the least!

Best of luck!

Another 610L user here. Despite the fact that it is a 6x10 and a large cab, I don't really find it to have much real lows at all. It is loud as hell, light and small (for a 6x10) and can be EQ'ed to almost anything except a huge, fat low end. I haven't scoped it, but it seems to me there is a pretty steep rolloff below 100hz or so. IMO!

I had no chance to try it before I got it, and was expecting a huge low mid bump. Can't say that there is, but instead it has a mid-mid bump to my ear.

I have had it for 3 years now, and it works great on the gig.

My only point is, Schroeders are an acquired taste, and you should try before you buy if possible. I don't think you would find that 2x15 to sound like any other 15" cab. Which of course could be a good thing, YMMV!

lomo · #7 04-28-2011, 06:12 AM

I have owned 15+L, old style 1212L, new BMF 215. All were super light and rather loud. They were all midrange bazzokas markedly lacking in freq below around 250Hz. Some love that. Not for me.

4-string · #8 04-28-2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sratas

I had for some months a 1212L, with Neodimium woofers and black rhino cover....mmmh. I must confess that I'm not a great fan of these cabs but maybe you are more interested in a non-biased review.
So, the cab is pretty lighweight bought it with the trolley that allowed me to carry it without any effort. Good.
The fit and finish was not as I expected, first the back label stated that mine was a 1515L but was a 1212L, a little mistake. The big thing was that the cab was poorly built. I mean, huge unwanted noises from the housing, grille rattling, even a rusty grill, huge breathing noise, almost windy, from the bass port, impossible to use in a studio situation and very annoying at low volume gigs. I fixed some of this issues but...
The sound is absolutely personal. I mean, no high fidelity at all, the Schroeders put an heavy blanket on the sound of your bass and amp, if you like it, it is ok, if you do not like...the sound has little bass content, no supporting tones here, and, more important, a great bump in middle frequencies ranging from 220 to 600 Hz, a big big bump. Highs are extruded by a horn that is so so, sounds a bit disconnected from the sound of the woofers and is quite irony in nature. This voicing makes the cab really loud, really loud but some notes just jump from the cab whereas others struggle because some notes are boosted by the non linear frequency response of the cab. Do you use a low B? Forget it, no real bass consistency in these cabs. Do you play loud, aggressive stuff? It will do the job and you will be heard all over the concert hall, do you play a softer musical genre or prefer a more refined and classy sound, better to look elsewhere. IMO of course.

I believe there were some issues with the Schroeder cabs at one point. Mine has been flawless, no rattling or other issues. Jorg has been great to deal with.

To my ear, the clarity is great.

Again, different strokes.

jonesn4bass · #9 04-28-2011, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4-string

I believe there were some issues with the Schroeder cabs at one point. Mine has been flawless, no rattling or other issues. Jorg has been great to deal with.

To my ear, the clarity is great.

Again, different strokes.

Couldn't agree more! He's quick to respond to inquiries and knows his stuff!

+1000 on Clarity. You're right about REAL low end. My Berg had more of the warm lows, but it didn't cut through in the band setting.

In the context of what I need it do, there are plenty of lows. Would I use it to play dub? Absolutely not. Does it handle a B well and punch through a LOUD drummer and two guitar players pushing Mesa half stacks - with ease!!

Obviously, YMMV, IMHO, AFAIK, etc etc

AtomicPunk · #10 04-28-2011, 06:22 AM

Thanks for the responses thus far, everyone. Yes I use a 5 string bass, active, like a strong low end in my sound, that's what prompted me to ask the questions...

bucephylus · #11 04-28-2011, 10:49 AM

I currently own 2 of the 15L cabs and 2 of the 1212BMF cabs.

I will probably sell one of each coming up.

Taken alone and driven with one of the modern micros, these things are quite amazing, although they do not have that nice low end texture that bigger cabs have.

The 1212BMF with significant eq'ing to eliminate some nasties around 800 to 1k area is most impressive, reasonably even down to the 200 Hz range and absolutely blows the 15L out of the water.

The 15L is terrific for rehearsals and smaller gigs.

My original thought was to drive pairs of these to get a modular system that could go big. What I have found is that the absence of low end texture becomes really annoying at higher volumes. Way too much cut and not enough support.

I have considered adding a Bag End sub to the 1212 and may still check that out for larger gigs, but the bag is somewhat expensive.

IMO, KJung's point to focus on single cab solutions makes a lot of sense. Modularity is a nice idea, but unless pairs of cabs are really designed to be used in tandem, the pairings do not necessarily produce better results, and apparently sometimes worse.

IMO/E

PBFACTOR · #12 04-28-2011, 10:52 AM

slight hijack....is that my old 6x10 schro?

x

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonesn4bass

This response probably
won't be so helpful to you as I play a Schroeder 6x10, not a 1x12, but IMHO they have all the low end you'll need. I play in a hard rock band that tunes to drop B and this cab takes everything that I throw at it with ease.

For reference, I parted with Berg NV425 to get the Schroeder and don't regret my decision in the least!

Best of luck!

jonesn4bass · #13 04-28-2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBFACTOR

slight hijack....is that my old 6x10 schro?

Heck yeah!! and I'm LOVING it. Picked up an RBI to pair it with and I'm getting the best gritty, fat sound I've ever had. Couldn't be happier!

bucephylus · #14 04-28-2011, 11:00 AM

Oh and BTW, no problem with the Low B through the cabs. Most cabs don't reproduce a whole lot (some would argue negligible) of the Low B fundamental. I find no more issue with the B on these small Schro's than I do with my NV610. The missing harmonic content in the lower part of the spectrum is more a "felt" thing than an articulation thing; so, the Low B on the Schro's speaks just fine, IME.

fretno · #15 04-28-2011, 11:19 AM

mini 12 ,Loud , punchy , cuts through bigtime .
My current amp has a scooped EQ somewhat so it's a nice match.

knobbin · #16 04-28-2011, 12:50 PM

I just ordered a Mini12+L for Jorg about a month ago and have been loving it! I play a G&L L-2000, strung BEAD and it can handle the lows, running through a Genz Benz Streamliner900 it sounds defined, punchy and very articulate. Before buying this cab i had only really had experience with 10"s.

I have played through a Shuttle 12" cab, and even owned a NEOX12T for a short period of time.
The NEOX12 sounded big, with lots of lows and low-mids, but still very defined and full range sounding; a wonderful cab. The only reason i got rid of it was because i wanted a small single cab solution with a small footprint and the NEOX12T is a bit larger due to it being ported.

The Mini12 had a tighter low end (for me it works well to compliment the big bottom of the Streamliner), and a definate bump in the mids, which was very pleasant and required me to play with better technique because it really shows all my mistakes!

Played my first gig with this combo the other night, and it sounded huge! The venue has a ampeg 8x10 as a house cab and this thing killed it! I have never had better stage volume and and clarity. When i called to inquire Jorg spoke to me directly and gave me a great deal shipped to Canada, great customer support!

buzzbass · #17 04-28-2011, 01:16 PM

I have nothing but good things to say about my 310212/1212 stack. I consider myself a bottom feeder, tone wise. These cabs give me everything I ask for.

mrpackerguy · #18 04-28-2011, 02:38 PM

I've been running a 1212BMF and describe it as loud, mid-present, easy to haul (36#) and amazing cut through when not using PA support. Construction was lacking, but after some enhancements to the grill using rubber spacers, problems solved. It sounds especially good with he tube head offerings and sounds great with my Mpulse600. Waiting to receive a Streamliner 600 and hoping it works well.

BurningSkies · #19 04-28-2011, 03:22 PM

It pains me to hear reports of poor construction. I have a 1212, from sometime back in 2005 or so (?). I bought it from Jorg when it was pretty close to a garage business. This was well before there were 1212L and 1212R, just the non-neo 1212 and 1210.

The fit and finish of my cab was excellent.I would say its as good if not better than my Berg HT115. I never had a rattle, shake, rust, etc. from anything. To this day its still in use (now for keyboards rather than bass as I've moved on to my fEARfuls)...and the cab faithfully performs regularly.

On the tonal side of things, whelp, it is what it is. My 1212 was a super punchy mid machine. It was a sledgehammer. High volume and just brutal. In the mix, on stage this cab excels at being VERY hearable from all angles. Out in the room I found it to be for the large part, missing. I ended up putting another cab underneath it to give it some heft tone wise.

If you're frequently on stages where you don't have front end reinforcement, I don't think it's the answer.

chuck3 · #20 04-28-2011, 03:29 PM

I am a big Genz Benz fan and have a lot of their gear but my gigging rig for bass guitar uses a Schroeder 1212, the kind with one 12 angled. For its size and weight the Schroeder is a fantastic cab IMO. This is for mid-size bar gigs without PA support for the bass. I don't perceive any lack of low end. I'm playing a passive Fender Jazz into an EBS Valvedrive into a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 with the low end booster engaged.