Why has the 10 inch speaker become the bass standard?

bassdude51 · #1 03-13-2011, 06:50 AM

For guitarist, the 12 inch speaker is the standard. For us bassists, the 10 inch speaker is the standard. Why? Why do guitarist use a bigger speaker than us?

billfitzmaurice · #2 03-13-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassdude51

Why do guitarist use a bigger speaker than us?

Because that's what was loaded in the Fender Twin, Vox AC30 and Marshall stacks, the three amps that defined the genre. They used twelves because 45 years ago they had to. Guitar'd players continue to use twelves because that's what's in the pictures from 45 years ago. Really. If Hendrix, Clapton, etc. had used sixes then that's what guitar'd players would be using today.

But to be fair bass players also buy based mainly on looks, and what their favorite hero plays through.

**xed** · #3 03-13-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassdude51

Why do guitarist use a bigger speaker than us?

They're "compensating"

BlindtheCarrier · #4 03-13-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xed

They're "compensating"

Haha...nice!

mcm · #5 03-13-2011, 08:19 AM

because of advertising. the standard for me is 12 or 15. never had luck with 10's.

mophead · #6 03-13-2011, 08:40 AM

Where in the bass rule book does it say 10 inch speakers are the standard?

I can't find it anywhere?

Nev375 · #7 03-13-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xed

They're "compensating"

Can you blame them? Their instruments are so much shorter than ours.

**Coolhandjjl** · #8 03-13-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mophead

Where in the bass rule book does it say 10 inch speakers are the standard? .......

It's merely the proliferation of all those 4x10 cabs vendors. Not much engineering involved, but has a big wow factor for those who shop retailers like GC.

**StrangerDanger** · #9 03-13-2011, 08:44 AM

Ampeg 8x10 AKA The Fridge

Nick901 · #10 03-13-2011, 08:59 AM

I bought a 4 x 10. Had to also by a 115 to get any deep sound. You can keep your 10" speakers. I've seen the Ampeg 8 x 10 cab. I'm still not sold on them.

Mr. BassmanPT · #11 03-13-2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcm

because of advertising. the standard for me is 12 or 15. never had luck with 10's.

i completely agree with this. better tone for me comes from 12 and 15 speakers. of course this is personal, no rules here.

edit: i do not like 810 tone, give me 412 or 215 instead

will33 · #12 03-13-2011, 09:15 AM

That's about the most cones you can fit in a typical squarish box. Disregarding other "design issues" it follows the more speakers = louder thing. Yeah, the fridge started it and when SWR started making the 410+tweet thing, everybody started copying that design and it stuck. Doesn't mean it's right or the best at all, just worked.

Downunderwonder · #13 03-13-2011, 09:32 AM

Trace Elliot claims to have "invented" the 4x10. Why so popular? Darned if I know. Probably the loudness to dollar ratio + coolness factor.

will33 · #14 03-13-2011, 09:35 AM

Maybe Trace did, I don't know. The SWR's seem to be the ones that set off the craze over here.

bassplayer8953 · #15 03-13-2011, 09:43 AM

I played my Carvin bass head into an SWR 8 x 10 and I gotta admit, it sounded plenty deep, with plenty of definition. But I wouldn't want to drag an 8 x 10 around, period.
4 x 10's I've tried have left me wanting more pants-leg shaking bottom end, which I get with my 1 x 15. So I tag my 1 x15 with a 2 x10 for definiton. Fits in my car well, handles the power my amp puts out, & sounds good. Best of both worlds. I know plenty will say they're a mis-match, but so is basically every pa system out there...for good reason. Different drivers for different jobs. (The fact that I've probably replaced or reconed 5 - 10" speakers for every 15" I've had to repair also enters into the equation: I don't want to constantly be replacing drivers.)

ButtUglyJeff · #16 03-13-2011, 10:43 AM

I blame modern rock...

prd004 · #17 03-13-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

I played my Carvin bass head into an SWR 8 x 10 and I gotta admit, it sounded plenty deep, with plenty of definition. But I wouldn't want to drag an 8 x 10 around, period.
4 x 10's I've tried have left me wanting more pants-leg shaking bottom end, which I get with my 1 x 15. So I tag my 1 x15 with a 2 x10 for definiton. Fits in my car well, handles the power my amp puts out, & sounds good. Best of both worlds. I know plenty will say they're a mis-match, but so is basically every pa system out there...for good reason. Different drivers for different jobs. (The fact that I've probably replaced or reconed 5 - 10" speakers for every 15" I've had to repair also enters into the equation: I don't want to constantly be replacing drivers.)

I have played through a 1x15 paired fith a 2x10 as well and it sounded fantastic, if it sounds good do it! I don't use this setup anymore but one thing I really loved about it is that it essentially gave me three different rigs.

I did switch to an Ampeg 6x10 for a few years, and later to an EDEN D410XLT.

But just to play Devil's advocate, the PA systems you reference are all run through crossovers and different speakers are doing different things.

Jeff Scott · #18 03-13-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

4 x 10's I've tried have left me wanting more pants-leg shaking bottom end, which I get with my 1 x 15. So I tag my 1 x15 with a 2 x10 for definiton.....I know plenty will say they're a mis-match, but so is basically every pa system out there...for good reason. Different drivers for different jobs.

PA systems use crossovers to eliminate unwanted areas of the frequency range from going through different sections of their speaker arrays, are you doing the same for your 2-10/1-15 setup?

bassplayer8953 · #19 03-13-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

But just to play Devil's advocate, the PA systems you reference are all run through crossovers and different speakers are doing different things.

^^^Obviously. But the combination is what you hear; different speakers (& the rest) working together to give you the whole sound of the band.

My Carvin is bi-amp also...but the tone through the 2 x 10/1 x 15 setup is great, bi-amped or not. 10' & 15's working together, for a combination of punch & boom...

bassplayer8953 · #20 03-13-2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

PA systems use crossovers to eliminate unwanted areas of the frequency range from going through different sections of their speaker arrays, are you doing the same for your 2-10/1-15 setup?

Crossover in a bi-amp setup? hmmm...yup.

...but with the push of a button, the rig becomes full range. The combination works well, either way.