What do you really gain with a 2nd cab?

[SteveC]

I have a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T and I love it. It's all I need for most gigs. Occasionally when we do our outdoor gig I push the little combo a bit. It's a jazz quartet. Anyway, I was thinking of adding a 1x10 to get the full 300 watts from my head. But, by having two separate cabs, do you really gain like you would with a 2x10 where you have added cab volume, etc.

Please, let's not debate my choice of amp. Don't tell me I need a 4x10 or 2x12, etc.it's only a few times a year. I am just wondering if I'll really gain anything with an extension cab, or do I just suck it up for the few gigs a year where I wish I had a touch more?

[dmrogers]

It was my experience when I added a second cab to my rig (it was an identical cab), the sound was much fuller and just filled the room. I'm not talking about the increased volume (which you can certainly get with a second cab) It just had a fuller deeper tone. It wasn't muddy or boomy, my rig sounded complete!

I believe even in situations where one cab would work, I would still use both of mine.

[billfitzmaurice]

A second identical cab gives you 6dB additional output. That's the equivalent of boosting power by a factor of four.

[Munjibunga]

You'll be surprised at the increase of sound and improvement in tone you'll get. I added a GS112NT to my Aguilar AG500-112C combo, and the whole was greater than the sum of the parts. It was like a whole different rig. Lower, louder, fuller.

[calebbarton]

Well thats easy, more cabs.







Ok seriously though, more sound.

[Muzoid]

all the above....

plus, one more trip to the car during load in/out....possibly some choice words spewed when climbing a 60 step, metal fire escape in freezing rain.

[Wes Whitmore]

Just this weekend I used a 2x10 in an acoustic set, but a huge bar. No pa support. The sound guy asked if I could turn up a little more...I was starting to worry that I might start overworking the 2x10av, so I plugged the other 2x10 in, and had to turn the volume way down to blend in with the mains. 6 db is a ton...
Wes

[SteveC]

I have a gig this week so I'm going to try it and see what happens.

[maevinj]

dude, if you have to ask, then you'll never know...

[John Wentzien]

You "gain" a LOT!

[bThumper38]

I play reggae so I don't leave home without my 2x15, and either a 2x10, or 2x12. But people want to hear bass on that gig.

[groooooove]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

You "gain" a LOT!

hah

[WJGreer]

It seems to me like adding cone area (more speakers) is the most effective thing you can do to increase output level. Your rig will certainly sound louder, and not as much because of the increased wattage as the increased radiating area.

Comparing the benefits of two small cabinets versus one larger one is a different conversation - there pros and cons to either solution.

I think a Shuttle 3 and two 1x10 cabinets would make a nice sounding compact rig.

[BassGen]

I use two Mesa 410 cabinets.

The most obvious part is that I am pushing twice as much air. It's not about being loud, it's about moving enough air to be heard. I can play at lower volume with better results.

The second part for me is about hearing myself. No PA support for the rig with our little band. I've been told by more than a few that bass tones don't elevate. If the cab is low to the ground the sound will stay low. So having the second cab in the stack puts some of the sound up where I can hear what I'm playing.

[EricssonB]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

You "gain" a LOT!

*snare-snare, crash!*

Just curious, where do you play in North Dakota? I'll be spending a few weeks up there this Summer at Lake Audobon.

[Interceptor]

I can't imagine playing an outdoor jazz gig with a 110. I'd melt one early in the first set.

Out doors = 2 x indoors rig. I play a ton of outdoor gigs every summer. I also am uncompromising tonewise. Outdoors takes a serious rig to sound fat. Once you loose the boundary effects of a room, bass takes sheer power.

Get the second cab.

[agedhorse]

Benefits of a second cabinet are increased low frequency extension, and increased volume of about 5dB (3dB from the doubling of power and ~2dB due to imperfect coupling).

There is no practical difference between a 210 and the same size 2 x 110 cabinets

[GRAHAM SG1]

I use an extension cab whether I need it or not, it makes my limited ability sound 100% better and that is what its all about .

[SactoBass]

After 39 years of playing bass, I have become a firm believer in stacking a pair of identical cabs. Not only for the improved sound, but also for the easier schlep factor. Sure, it's an extra trip, but for me, I much prefer two lighter trips instead of one "back killer" trip. Both of my rigs are stacked pairs. The Markbass rig (Jeff Berlin on top of a NY151 ext cab) is for rehearsals and for my small to medium gigs, and my US Ampeg SVT-VR on top of a pair of LDS 15/6 nEarful cabs is my outdoor rig and for demolishing buildings upon demand.

[JimmyM]

Steve, you've been around long enough to know that two identical cabs beats one cab in every way, shape and form.