Speaker cab configuration for old man

[jimraygilliam]

Hey all... After playing primarily jazz for the past 40 years I have been asked to join a jump blues/R&B/funk band and I need to upgrade my cabinet to add volume. I currently play thru a GK 400RB-IV into an Avatar 1x12/4ohm cabinet. Now I know I cannot add another 4ohm cabinet due to impedence problems. Would it be a good idea to consider replacing the 1x12 cabinet with 2 2x10 8ohm cabinets? I need to keep the weight down ( I am 63 years old and don't have a large vehicle). My thinking is I could use one of the 2x10 cabinets for the smaller jazz gigs I do and add the other to player the louder stuff. I have read all the past posts and kind of get lost in it all. I really appreciate your thoughts! Jim

[rpsands]

Gallien Krueger MBE-212 in 4 ohm is how I'd roll. Any gig that needs more than a 400 RB into that is probably too loud in my opinion. I already won't tolerate anything that loud for stage volume, sure as hell wouldn't at your age.

If you want two separate cabs, I'd consider a couple MBE-115s.

Be mindful: These cabs are good, but cheap. Test'em out, and if the mids are not to your liking it could be as simple as adding some polyester batting to the cab walls.

[GassieBall]

I love my Epifani 2 x 112UL. Light, modular and full sounding.

[okcrum]

I went with 8 ohm 2x10 and 1x15 (2 of each). Single cab for the small shows, 2 cabs for medium sized, and 4 for outdoor w/o PA support. As rpsands mentioned, any of the 2x10, 2x12, or 1x15 choices should work well, especially with neodymium drivers.

[shoot-r]

Originally Posted by jimraygilliam

Hey all... After playing primarily jazz for the past 40 years I have been asked to join a jump blues/R&B/funk band and I need to upgrade my cabinet to add volume. I currently play thru a GK 400RB-IV into an Avatar 1x12/4ohm cabinet. Now I know I cannot add another 4ohm cabinet due to impedence problems. Would it be a good idea to consider replacing the 1x12 cabinet with 2 2x10 8ohm cabinets? I need to keep the weight down ( I am 63 years old and don't have a large vehicle). My thinking is I could use one of the 2x10 cabinets for the smaller jazz gigs I do and add the other to player the louder stuff. I have read all the past posts and kind of get lost in it all. I really appreciate your thoughts! Jim

If you like what the 4 ohm Avatar 112 sounds like I'd suggest keeping it for when you only need one, full power cab and call Avatar and order two, 8 ohm, Avatar Neo 112 cabinets.
Or, if your wanting to keep costs down, order a 8 ohm 12" Neo speaker from Dave of Avatar, put it in your old cab and order one brand new 8 ohm Neo 112 cabinet. That'll give you two 8 ohm cabs.
I'm gigging with two, 210, 8 ohm, Avatar Neo cabs that I use as a vertical 410, (love em'), each of my 210 cabs weighs in around 44 lbs., your Avatar Neo 112 cabinets come in at 39 lbs.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by jimraygilliam

Hey all... After playing primarily jazz for the past 40 years I have been asked to join a jump blues/R&B/funk band and I need to upgrade my cabinet to add volume. I currently play thru a GK 400RB-IV into an Avatar 1x12/4ohm cabinet. Now I know I cannot add another 4ohm cabinet due to impedence problems. Would it be a good idea to consider replacing the 1x12 cabinet with 2 2x10 8ohm cabinets? I need to keep the weight down ( I am 63 years old and don't have a large vehicle). My thinking is I could use one of the 2x10 cabinets for the smaller jazz gigs I do and add the other to player the louder stuff. I have read all the past posts and kind of get lost in it all. I really appreciate your thoughts! Jim

a lot of ink has been used here as to the use of 2x2x10's in a vertical array....seems that this would work for you.....light enough,loud enough,flexible enough

[4Mal]

GK MB500 into a single fEarful 12.6. Loud, light. Or MB 500 in to a pair of the Avatar 8 ohm SB-112's - more to cart around, not as deep but not bad. and they have the advantage of being commercially available - although fEarfuls do come up for sale now and again.

[mrpackerguy]

2 eight-ohm Acme Low B2s would be a versatile set up and relatively lightweight (50# each). Driven with a head or rack system at or near 1000w like a Shuttle 9.0 or a Carvin B1500 or B2000, you'd have plenty of oomph and headroom.

Or, you could go the route I did - Schroeder 4 ohm 212BMF with a Shuttle 9.0 and Markbass F500. Versatile for both rock and jazz gigs (my primary use) and ultra portable.

At 23 lbs, the TL806 with Eminence Neo 3012HO driver is great for most of what I do. I'm building a second this fall (along with another 15" version). If you need the crispy highs, I highly recommend the Greenboy 12/6 as a "do-all" cab. Unless your band is simply too loud, the single Greenboy or a dual TL806 setup is perfect.

Here's my TL806 (1x12) with a Traynor YBA1A MkII head for size:





I have also used this TL806 (1x12) cab with the TL606 (1x15") to good effect in large venues and outside. Both with the latest Neodymium drivers (Eminence 3012HO and 3015 respectively).

By the way, there are also plans for building 2x12 and 2x15 TL cabinets, if you wish. I probably have the most "miles" on my 2x12.



It also handles all but the largest venues.

[dbase]

Click on my Avatar, I now use two 2x10 Hartke's and can cart them all together with the LH500 amp on one portable handtruck. I'm 64.

[jimraygilliam]

Guys, I really appreciate your taking time to give me your valuable advice on this. Shoot-r's suggestion seems to make really good sense to me. "order a 8 ohm 12" Neo speaker from Dave of Avatar, put it in your old cab and order one brand new 8 ohm Neo 112 cabinet." I do like my SB-112 a lot and hate to give it up. So nice for small gigs. Once again, thank you all so much!

[jackcheez]

Get one good 2 X 12.

I'm an old guy who plays in an 8 piece Motown/soul band. The 2 X 12 is a lot of fun to play through.

[ninepoundjammer]

If you like your 1x12 then you'll probably dig a dual 8 ohm 1x12 rig, whether you swap out the driver in what you have or buy two new cabs. I recently switched from tens to the Berantino HT/EX 112ER rig and I love it. I don't plan on ever being in a situation where the dual 1x12 isn't enough, and they are very portable, pretty light, and I can bring just one for smaller gigs. A dual 2x10 rig has the same advantages but is likely to be bigger and heavier and if you don't need it, why bother? Of course, if you just like/want 10's, then go for it.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by mrpackerguy

2 eight-ohm Acme Low B2s would be a versatile set up and relatively lightweight (50# each). Driven with a head or rack system at or near 1000w like a Shuttle 9.0 or a Carvin B1500 or B2000, you'd have plenty of oomph and headroom.

I'll go along with this except make the cabinets 4Ω not 8. Looking for a suitable light amp that can run up to four of my B2s I ended up with a BX1500 from Carvin. With its twin 750W Class D power amps its happy down to 2Ω per channel. I am very happy with the amp.

P.S I'm 64.

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by jimraygilliam

Hey all... After playing primarily jazz for the past 40 years I have been asked to join a jump blues/R&B/funk band and I need to upgrade my cabinet to add volume. I currently play thru a GK 400RB-IV into an Avatar 1x12/4ohm cabinet. Now I know I cannot add another 4ohm cabinet due to impedence problems. Would it be a good idea to consider replacing the 1x12 cabinet with 2 2x10 8ohm cabinets? I need to keep the weight down ( I am 63 years old and don't have a large vehicle). My thinking is I could use one of the 2x10 cabinets for the smaller jazz gigs I do and add the other to player the louder stuff. I have read all the past posts and kind of get lost in it all. I really appreciate your thoughts! Jim

I often use two 210 cabs (epifani). Great solution, packs easily, loads easily, sounds bigger than a 410. Get light cabs, if you can.