thoughts on a 2 cab /sometime stereo rig

[Big B.]

Hey TB'ers, thinking about moving from a 4x10 to a 2 cab setup and would be interested in your thoughts. I am looking at a stacked 2x10 rig or some equivalent. 90% of the time I would run them mono but I occasionally play with an experimental group and would like to get into some stereo effects and guitarish distortion (more proof that idle hands are the devil's workshop). I use a QSC PLX 1202 power amp so two 4 ohm cabs would be getting around 500 watts a side. I have even considered four 8 ohm 1x12 cabs for the ultimate modular setup. I am not not shy with the B string and need cabs that candle fully handle a solid B.

I prefer more of a clean, studio type tone (active PU's, 6 strings, and such) and have never needed more volume than my eden 410 XLT could put out. I am definitely looking for top shelf stuff. Markbass, Epifani, EA, Bergantino, etc...

what has peaked my interest so far:

Acme B-2
Markbass 604 or 804 (pricey but interesting)
Epifani 3x10

Any thoughts would be welcome.

[kosmicwizard]

Would a couple of these do it for ya? LDS Neo-Tec 400 Watt 2-10
or a couple of these? Bag End D10BX-D
Just my thoughts at the moment. Cheers.

[billfitzmaurice]

Stereo effects all take place well above 100Hz, in the directional frequencies, and the cabs need to be spread apart at least six feet. But it's bad news if you separate cabs that are working below 100Hz. If you want stereo to sound really good you need a tri-amped rig, one amp and a large speaker to handle below perhaps 200 Hz, and a stereo rig with a pair of small cabs for above that.

[Big B.]

I have looked at some Bag End gear but dont know if thats the direction I want to go. I am not familiar with LDS. I will give them a look as well. Thanks.

[Bassflute]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Stereo effects all take place well above 100Hz, in the directional frequencies, and the cabs need to be spread apart at least six feet. But it's bad news if you separate cabs that are working below 100Hz. If you want stereo to sound really good you need a tri-amped rig, one amp and a large speaker to handle below perhaps 200 Hz, and a stereo rig with a pair of small cabs for above that.

in real world performance, this is not the case. It is good to have a high-pass effects loop, or if you can somehow eliminate the lows from the effects (in my case, internally in the Lexicon MPX1), but the speakers can be side by side; I've run stereo rigs for over 20 years and RARELY got them six feet apart...in fact, they sound hollow and the ****s like that...they even sound better than mono with the cabs stacked...Bill is perhaps confusing PA/home audio/studio systems with what actually works well with a bass system.

BTW, if I don't have enough credibility for you, look at Stanley Clarke's stereo rig - it ain't 6 feet apart either. Or Alain Caron's, or....

Cameron

[Rick Auricchio]

Bill is suggesting that spreading the bass cabs is a bad idea. Since the primary instrument is bass, stacking them serves the better purpose. Stereo effects are secondary to good bass tone.

As Bassflute says, they poorly reproduce bass when separated.

As for the quality of stereo effect with the cabs stacked, that depends on several factors. Are the individual cabs miked? If so, then the PA splits the L/R signals widely. But if there's no PA, then separation depends on the distance from the individual cabs. Sure, you can hear separation from three feet out front, but don't expect the audience to hear stereo separation from 20 feet away.

[Big B.]

The majority of the time I would need the stereo setup will either be through a stereo p.a. or in a room small enough that no p.a. is needed beyond kick drum and vocals. My primary goal is a setup that will allow me to enjoy the sound of the stereo setup on stage. I would send each side as a d.i. to the board so the sound guy can handle it out front. Again, 95% percent of my gigs are plug and play so the majority of time I will be running mono. The stereo setup is what I get to play with for fun.