Types of Bass cabs

leehinson · #1 07-18-2010, 11:01 AM

I recently purchased a mesa powerhouse 4X10 and was trying to figure out which cabinet to pair with it. I do not know if i want another 4X10 a 15 or a 2x12. I like a nice round bottom end sound, but I want it to sound tight and my experience with 15 inch subs in the past is that they have a tendency to have too much bottom and not enough definition. Any Comments on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

BassmanPaul · #2 07-18-2010, 11:36 AM

A 4x10 and a 1x15 pairing is very poor. The 4x10 will leave the 15 in the dust for efficiency and power handling and will probably go lower. The best pairing for a 4x10 is another identical cabinet.

Paul

Rick Auricchio · #3 07-18-2010, 11:40 AM

+1

A 2x10 is also a good pairing with a 4x10. You then have the flexibility to choose the cabinet(s) for whatever gig you're doing.

billfitzmaurice · #4 07-18-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

+1

A 2x10 is also a good pairing with a 4x10. You then have the flexibility to choose the cabinet(s) for whatever gig you're doing.

Just be sure the impedance of the 410 is half that of the 210, so that power is equally distributed among the six drivers.

Mr. Foxen · #5 07-18-2010, 11:54 AM

If you don't like the sound of the cab you have, get rid and get a different cab. If you do like it, but want louder, get another the same.

PunkSweeper · #6 07-18-2010, 12:02 PM

RickenBoogie · #7 07-18-2010, 01:03 PM

+1 the best pairing of ANY cab, is another identical one. 100% of the time. And, the 410/115 mix is pure myth, (popular as it is), and provides absolutely zero "more bottom". If you like how the PH 410 sounds, get another. Otherwise, back to the beginning.

countrybass007 · #8 07-19-2010, 02:18 PM

The purpose of two identical cabs is to get identical sound from each cab. The best rigs I've heard were usually a mixture of different sized speakers. I remember hearing Bobby Vega playing through a 410 and 15 cab and it sounded great. Maybe the 410 was overpowering the 115, but the 115 was putting some nice lows into the overall mix. Phil Lesh used a combination of 18s and 12s and got a great sound. Maybe best pairing is not always best sounding.

countrybass007 · #9 07-19-2010, 02:24 PM

And yes, I know the cabs were probably powered with seperate amps in both my examples. Bobby Vega did appear to be using a single Hartke head. I have usually used seperate power for my various cabs, but my Boogie D180 sounded great with the 118 and 112 I used with it for four years.