What's a good inexpensive cab?

chrispizzy · #1 09-05-2010, 03:20 PM

I have a GK backline head and I've been running it through a GK cab for a while, but I planning on picking up another cab to just thrash around with I was wondering what is reliable and inexpensive...looks mean nothing only the sound!

JimmyM · #2 09-05-2010, 03:24 PM

if only the sound is important, scratch inexpensive. unlike most everything else in the mi world, with speaker cabs, you absolutely get what you pay for. cheap out on the bass, cheap out on the amp, but if you cheap out on the cab, you can have the greatest bass and amp in the world and it will sound like your dog farting. you don't have to pay top dollar, but you need to be willing to pay more than a couple hundy new.

RickenBoogie · #3 09-05-2010, 05:01 PM

HUGE +1 your bass cab is at the top of the list concerning tone. Cheap cab will never equal great tone. For the money, look into Avatar spkr cabs. Not cheap, but not expensive either, and from all I've read on TB, they sound good.

chrispizzy · #4 09-05-2010, 07:14 PM

Well i've been looking at a few Avatar's on Craigslist and I knew nothing about it....are they an older brand?

TussinBot. · #5 09-05-2010, 07:22 PM

Theyve been around since the mid 90s. They make quality cabs for the price, if you can pick one up used you should run with it. I got my 212 neo+tolex for 200 bucks off craigslist and love it. Great customer service too if youre gonna buy new.

Rumblefisher · #6 09-05-2010, 07:25 PM

Not really...known as a bang/buck company. Good tone in a RELATIVELY inexpensive package.

IMO, Low Down Sound makes the absolute best cabs out there (not counting audiophile boutique designer cabs). For $500ish, you can get a lightweight (30 lbs), armored car sturdy cab that sounds excellent. I have a 1x15, and it's loud enough to cover playing in front of 1,000 people and be heard clearly by people at the far end of the crowd.

pnut166 · #7 09-05-2010, 07:26 PM

+1 on what Jimmy said. I bought a rig awhile back kinda spur-of-the-moment. I never actually owned a rig, only combos. But a nice pre and power amp was completely defeated by the crappy cabs. Lesson learned on my part.

muddycreek · #8 09-05-2010, 07:26 PM

Avatar's a good choice.

Handy at all? Pick up an Eminence Deltalite or two or four of some flavor and build a box based on their recommended tuning

Bassdirty · #9 09-05-2010, 07:29 PM

Acoustic.

chrispizzy · #10 09-06-2010, 08:45 AM

does this look like a worth while deal? http://burlington.craigslist.org/msg/1936906462.html

Bmorefoozler · #11 09-06-2010, 09:13 AM

Look for Carvin, Peavey, Hartke or Avatar used. All seem to have a stigma that drastically reduces resale priceing vs other cabs.

Not that I'm disagreeing that the Cab is one of hte best places to spend money on, but simply that if you NEED a cheap cab to get sufficeint volume a midsized cab (2x12 or 4x10) will provide a good bang for the buck.

edot3021 · #12 09-06-2010, 09:19 AM

I definitely think it is worth the extra wait time and saving money to get something that you are going to keep around and will be happy with long term. Or you are going to be 3, 6, 12 months down the line trying to sell what you bought with little loss just to get something better.

lakedmb · #13 09-06-2010, 09:32 AM

Here's a 2x12 also that is within your price range. No clue how it compares to the 2x10 you listed, just wanted to give another option incase you missed it.

http://burlington.craigslist.org/msg/1893057930.html

GeoffByrne · #14 09-06-2010, 09:40 AM

Carvin LS1503 as recommended by Greenboy.

See here (big read):

Boutique 3-way 115 and 215 on a budget

gruvlow · #15 09-06-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bmorefoozler

Look for Carvin, Peavey, Hartke or Avatar used. All seem to have a stigma that drastically reduces resale priceing vs other cabs.

Not that I'm disagreeing that the Cab is one of hte best places to spend money on, but simply that if you NEED a cheap cab to get sufficeint volume a midsized cab (2x12 or 4x10) will provide a good bang for the buck.

Out of all of those I have owned the Carvin Redline 2x10. I have to say that my cabinet has been awesome for me for over 10 years. The new ones cost around $250. Not sure why they have a stigma but they have made a lot of changes with their product line including their basses. Check em out.

chrispizzy · #16 09-07-2010, 11:19 AM

I checked out that other craigslist ad thanks so much man good find, I'm going t look into it today!

Jim Campbell · #17 09-07-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispizzy

I have a GK backline head and I've been running it through a GK cab for a while, but I planning on picking up another cab to just thrash around with I was wondering what is reliable and inexpensive...looks mean nothing only the sound!

go used,and consider the sound/reliability/resale/portability before the brand.....as well you might think in terms of using whatever you choose to reinforce your current rig,as well as other uses