Sooo frustrated, last time I will ask, I swear

[Thumpking]

I have posted an Agiular VS Boogie poll and Boogie Powerhouse won out. I know they make awesome stuff and have owned Mesa products in the past.

Now I am wondering about speaker configuration. I want separation (2 cabs), but I am not sure of what configuation to get. The frustrating thing is that Boogie dealers are so few and far between, you cannot just go "plug in" somewhere with your head. I have put in a call to the regional Boogie rep and left my info. No place in Nashville that I can find has Boogie cabs in stock.

I have read every post (I think) about possible speaker configurations. Thanks for Stumbo for many of them. But opinions are so varied, and I guess I am dumb for asking again. I have not yet givcen my setup amnd music type:

1978 Bassman 100 (slightly hot-rodded)
2004 Fender Precision Deluxe
1998 Ibanez SR400 with active EQ
Music style: Think Stone Temple Pilots groovier stuff. Very 70's, but with an edge.

I have watched the Mesa Bass Day vids on YouTube and the session player really seems to like the 2x10 + 1x15, (as well as the poll that was on here VS 4x10. I know I cannot go wrong with Boogie, just want to get the right setup for this head, my basses and styles.

OK. Now I will stop pestering you guys. Thanks for your always valuable input.

[steveksux]

The right answer is not in the poll.

Find the 1 speaker configuration you like, and add a 2nd one if you need more volume. Stack them in a vertical line array.

If you pick a pair of 2x10s, you get speakers like this:

O
O
O
O

Randy

[Din Of Win]

You're gonna get a lot of personal preference answers here.

Haha, so here's mine...

A P bass and 'groovier 70's sounding stuff' screams 2 15's to me.

[RickenBoogie]

2 of the same is always better than 2 mixed cabs. In this case, the better options would be- 2x 1x15, 2x 2x10, 2x 2x12, or even 2x 1x12.

[Fetusyolk]

Originally Posted by steveksux

The right answer is not in the poll.

Find the 1 speaker configuration you like, and add a 2nd one if you need more volume. Stack them in a vertical line array.

If you pick a pair of 2x10s, you get speakers like this:

O
O
O
O

Randy

+1

this is how i stack my 2x10s and it works great. also +1 to using the same type of speakers

[Din Of Win]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

2 of the same is always better than 2 mixed cabs. In this case, the better options would be- 2x 1x15, 2x 2x10, 2x 2x12, or even 2x 1x12.

I feel the same... i never follow all the math behind it.

I bet 2 2x12's stacked:

O
O
O
O

would be pretty killer.

[Jazzman]

What ever you get, make sure you get two of the same cabinets. The suggestion of two 2x10's in a vertical arrangement is a good one!

[Din Of Win]

For those of you that do the tall 2 2x10 stacks:

How is the stability? I would worry about my head making it unbalanced... it'd look like a big 'T'...

[Sartori]

Where is the 2x15 option?

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

For those of you that do the tall 2 2x10 stacks:

How is the stability? I would worry about my head making it unbalanced... it'd look like a big 'T'...

place the head on another stack,road case,or even the floor....the gains from the vertical array will be worth not being able to put in on top.....i know one guy here who advocates doing that even on wider cabs as he feels the cab vibrations shorten tube life

[OldHack]

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

You're gonna get a lot of personal preference answers here.

Haha, so here's mine...

A P bass and 'groovier 70's sounding stuff' screams 2 15's to me.

+1

[Jazzman]

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

For those of you that do the tall 2 2x10 stacks:

How is the stability? I would worry about my head making it unbalanced... it'd look like a big 'T'...

I would venture to guess most who are doing this aren't using big honking mounted-in-wooden-cabinet heads. Those micro heads are pretty small and will sit on top just fine.

[Sartori]

I still say 2x15.

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by steveksux

The right answer is not in the poll.

Find the 1 speaker configuration you like, and add a 2nd one if you need more volume. Stack them in a vertical line array.

If you pick a pair of 2x10s, you get speakers like this:

O
O
O
O

Randy

And the resulting mids & highs dispersion pattern would be more like this (the lows are largely omnidirectional):

^
i
< - - - - O - - - - >
< - - - - O - - - - >
< - - - - O - - - - >
< - - - - O - - - - >
STAGE

That way you, your band mates, and your audience will hear more of your bass' true tone and note articulation throughout a venue.

[Mark Olson]

You really, really ought to consider two of the same 115.

[JimmyM]

ya, matched cabs rock. i like them all...15"s, 12"s, 10"s...whatever. but they have to match.

[meatwad]

I'm with ya jimmy. I just did a gig and the backline was an Eden Traveller pushing eight Eminence twelves broken up in four stacked, ported cabs. The total rig was completely different from my svt in sound and feel, but those multiple 12's sounded deep and smooth. A 15" or even a pair of 10's could have sucked the tone out, as it seems like mixed cabs put a hole in the mids while phasing each other out. IMO, of course.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by meatwad

I'm with ya jimmy. I just did a gig and the backline was an Eden Traveller pushing eight Eminence twelves broken up in four stacked, ported cabs. The total rig was completely different from my svt in sound and feel, but those multiple 12's sounded deep and smooth. A 15" or even a pair of 10's could have sucked the tone out, as it seems like mixed cabs put a hole in the mids while phasing each other out. IMO, of course.

i agree 100%. at the very least, performance is unpredictable with mixed rigs. some work better than others but they all sound a little off to me.

would llike to rock a rig like that sometime. only 812 rig i ever used was a friend briefly letting me plug into his marshall stack.

[I Forget]

Originally Posted by Thumpking

I know I cannot go wrong with Boogie, just want to get the right setup for this head, my basses and styles

At the risk of being a drag.... yeah you can go wrong.

If you really want to get the right setup then you need to plug into it and hear it. Being drawn by a brand name (any brand) who may make very attractive equipment is a mistake imo. Far better to buy cabs you've heard and liked than untried magic ones. If you feel frustrated now how will you feel if a new boogie rig doesn't hit the nail on the head? You should at least try the stuff you can get access to so you know what it is that you're rejecting to buy gear you haven't heard. What if you try something that sounds great?

[countrybassist]

I don't like mixing cabs. I'd go with 2 210's