Thoughts on this mix of Genz-Benz cabs?

Pilgrim · #1 11-04-2010, 03:29 PM

I have a G-B Shuttle 6.0 and a pair of the 12T cabinets. A local music store has a slightly used STL-210T cab (2 10's in a 36-pound cabinet).

I'm really tempted to trade one of my 12T cabs for the 210T...but I pause to consider whether trading a 12 for 10's will help me gain much. I'd have the Shuttle 6.0 docked on a 12T and the 210T cab as an add-on.

Anyone running a combination like this? I'm curious to know if this has been tried, and what you heard from the combination.

Musicman20 · #2 11-04-2010, 05:52 PM

Keep it as 2 x 112s.

superbeast101 · #3 11-04-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I'd have the Shuttle 6.0 docked on a 12T and the 210T cab as an add-on.

So you woyld have the 12T sitting on top of the 210T?
I think that combo would sound far better the other way around.

SactoBass · #4 11-04-2010, 06:13 PM

Pilgrim, based on what I have read and learned, it is best to stick with matching cabs.

IMO.

kosmicwizard · #5 11-04-2010, 08:11 PM

I recommend taking your head and a 12 down to the music store, and see if it sounds better than the 2 12's do to you. I would also put the 2X10 on top of the 12 and I would stand it vertically, put the head to the side. If this is better than the 2 12 you currently have, trade the 12 you brought with you for the 2X10 and go home to your complete rig, if not, at least you know for your self that is not something to consider again. Your ears are a better gauge than our opinions. Cheers.

RColie · #6 11-04-2010, 08:17 PM

Yes, conventional wisdom says use matching cabinets. However, even though I usually follow conventional wisdom, I just started testing out this very combination of one STL-210T and one STL-12T.

I've only tried it twice - once in our rehearsal space and once at a gig in a very large car dealer's showroom with a lot of glass, tile and other reflective surfaces. At the rehearsal (our drummer's large carpeted living room/dining room) the cabinets seemed to compliment each other nicely. I put the 112 on top and the 210 on the bottom. The 210 is considerably louder and has stronger lows. At the car dealer the acoustics were so tough I couldn't really say what was going on.

I'll be interested to hear other's comments...

Bob

Pilgrim · #7 11-04-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Pilgrim, based on what I have read and learned, it is best to stick with matching cabs.

IMO.

I've read the same thing and that's part of my concern.

Quote:

..At the rehearsal (our drummer's large carpeted living room/dining room) the cabinets seemed to compliment each other nicely. I put the 112 on top and the 210 on the bottom. The 210 is considerably louder and has stronger lows.

I wondered about that...and this kind of BTDT is encouraging. I suppose the only way to sort it out is this:

Quote:

I recommend taking your head and a 12 down to the music store, and see if it sounds better than the 2 12's do to you. I would also put the 2X10 on top of the 12 and I would stand it vertically, put the head to the side. If this is better than the 2 12 you currently have, trade the 12 you brought with you for the 2X10 and go home to your complete rig, if not, at least you know for your self that is not something to consider again. Your ears are a better gauge than our opinions. Cheers.

Might be a weekend project........

agedhorse · #8 11-04-2010, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmicwizard

I recommend taking your head and a 12 down to the music store, and see if it sounds better than the 2 12's do to you. I would also put the 2X10 on top of the 12 and I would stand it vertically, put the head to the side. If this is better than the 2 12 you currently have, trade the 12 you brought with you for the 2X10 and go home to your complete rig, if not, at least you know for your self that is not something to consider again. Your ears are a better gauge than our opinions. Cheers.

I second this suggestion. See if you can get the 210 on trial and compare it in whatever environments you are familiar with. It's going to be very subjective IMO.

Pilgrim · #9 11-04-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agedhorse

I second this suggestion. See if you can get the 210 on trial and compare it in whatever environments you are familiar with. It's going to be very subjective IMO.

I was hoping you'd drop in. Any comments about the differences in designed frequency response of the 210 vs. the 12T?

agedhorse · #10 11-05-2010, 09:50 AM

In MY opinion, the differences are a bit more of a voicing and tonal variation rather than a "frequency response" thing. Yes there are differences, if's like seasonings on food... something that is probably best taste tested. (I hate being ambiguous about tone like this.)

Pilgrim · #11 11-05-2010, 04:19 PM

I understand what you mean - "tone" is about as ambiguous and vague a term as I can think of!

And let me add my thanks for all you folks at G-B being so responsive to questions in TB threads. I just love this gear.

I think I'll just let it be. I find it hard to justify spendin g the $ when I can already thump the room with the pair of 12s. I checked the response specs of the 210 and 12T on the G-B site, and it appears that the 12 actually has a few HZ lower reproduction capability on the low end that the 210 does...not that I would expect to be able to hear the difference.

Pilgrim · #12 11-25-2010, 10:18 AM

This weekend I may take my Shuttle 6.0 down to the store and try it with the 210 connected - that speaker is still there and it seems like a nice opportunity to check it out.

Oldtimer · #13 11-25-2010, 11:30 AM

Pilgrim, Are the 112T cabinets the Neox 112T or shuttle? If you have Neox 112T's and may change one of them, I might be interested!

Pilgrim · #14 11-25-2010, 12:18 PM

Mine are the Shuttle cabs...sorry!

Oldtimer · #15 11-25-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Mine are the Shuttle cabs...sorry!

Of course! That would have been way to convenient.

Pilgrim · #16 12-01-2010, 10:30 PM

Well, I went back two or three times and kept trying the 2x10 - and yesterday I bought it. One of my 12T cabs is now at the store on consignment...I don't need 2 separate 12's and the 2x10. I hear more depth from it, and a fuller sound.

The 12T/Shuttle 6.0 combo sits very nicely on top of the 2x10...a perfect fit, the cabs match in size and it makes a nice mini-stack!

chuck3 · #17 12-01-2010, 10:43 PM

nice ... no disagreement with anyone, just an observation. I understand the matching cabs logic. But I've gigged the Shuttle 6.0 210T with the 112 as a second cab, and it sounded very nice. I wasn't facing a trade-in like the OP, it was just what I had at the time so I used it.

Of course, I've also used the Shuttle 6.0 210T by itself, and I've also put it on the 112 by itself, and those sounded nice. And now I run the bass into an EBS ValveDrive, then into the Shuttle 6.0, then into a Schroder 212 @ 4 ohms and that not only sounds really nice, it's driven all the small animals away from our practice space.

JimmyM · #18 12-02-2010, 12:29 AM

mixed cab rigs can sound nice sometimes. if they have similar phase relationships, you'll get minimal to no phasing (i suspect that since they're both shuttle cabs, this could be happening). or they might combine in a way that sounds pleasing even if they phase a little. but the results are unpredictable so it's always best to either match or try before you buy.

Pilgrim · #19 12-02-2010, 06:43 AM

Initial results from a half-hour noodling around on the combination of cabs are good. If there were phase problems, I'd hear them in a small practice room - but none are present in this case.

I'm hearing a little fuller bottom end, and I like it. Even though my upcoming gig Dec. 10 doesn't require both cabs, I'll bring both and enjoy the sound at moderate volume.

Pilgrim · #20 12-02-2010, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck3

nice ... no disagreement with anyone, just an observation. I understand the matching cabs logic. But I've gigged the Shuttle 6.0 210T with the 112 as a second cab, and it sounded very nice. I wasn't facing a trade-in like the OP, it was just what I had at the time so I used it.

Of course, I've also used the Shuttle 6.0 210T by itself, and I've also put it on the 112 by itself, and those sounded nice. And now I run the bass into an EBS ValveDrive, then into the Shuttle 6.0, then into a Schroder 212 @ 4 ohms and that not only sounds really nice, it's driven all the small animals away from our practice space.

I may use the 2x10 solo some of the time, but the 12" combo is so light - and the dock for the amp is so convenient - that it's pretty easy to bring both and play stackum. Each piece (combo and 2x10) only weighs 36 pounds.

Of course, with both cabs connected I have 600W on tap, which for many gigs is like killing a fly with an elephant gun...but the volume knob goes down as well as up.