8x10 too small for an upright?

[BigBohn]

i was just wondering if an 8x10 cab, for say the SWR Megoliath, would be suitable for an upright bass. anyways, are uprights made to go real loud or just sorta be heard. please, no flaming. thank you.

[rablack]

trying to be civil....

No. rockabilly setups aside, most folks here use one or two 10" and/or run through a house P.A.

Do they "go real loud?" If you mean rock 'n roll levels - No, unless you mess with it so much that it doesn't sound like a double bass anymore

Sorta be heard? If you've been playing music which requires a 8x10 stack for any period of time doesn't that render everything in the "sorta be heard" category?

[Andrew_S.]

I'd say an 8X10 is a little overkill if you ask me. I play with a 2X10 and hold my own with an electric guitar and 5 piece drum kit.
I normally play small clubs and bars and have very little problems. Unless you're planning on playing an arena or something, I seriously doubt you'd need soemthing that large...

[BigBohn]

Ok, thank you for your replies.

[amcrory]

When I saw the Paladins a few years back, the bassist played through a GK 800RB running through an SVT 810. He was using a set of P-Bass pickups (magnetic) screwed to the bottom of his fingerboard.

I could "feel" what he played more than "hear" it.

-a

[hillbilly]

and it sounded like a woofy p-bass did'nt it?

[amcrory]

My '73 P-Bass sounds like a Stanley Clarke Alembic Model I compared to that doublebass

-a

[TvOZ]

I was talking to Thomas from the Paladins early this year. I asked him about his setup and he reckoned he now plays thru a GK400 into a 1x15 straight from his bass fitted with a Underwood pickup. Really simple. He said he'd been down the 'technical' path with all the different pickups and equipment and so on but couldn't be bothered with it. When I mentioned volume he said "Hey, if they can't hear me they'll just have to turn down" His tip for me was to concentrate on getting good tone from the bass. He is a friendly bloke.

[Andrew_S.]

Now that sounds more resonable...

[jazzbo]

I would have put money on the fact that this was a BS thread.

[dhosek]

Originally posted by Andrew_S.
I'd say an 8X10 is a little overkill if you ask me. I play with a 2X10 and hold my own with an electric guitar and 5 piece drum kit.
I normally play small clubs and bars and have very little problems. Unless you're planning on playing an arena or something, I seriously doubt you'd need soemthing that large...

And if you're playing an arena, then your stage amp isn't going to be what the audience is hearing anyway.

I've never understood the reason for having big high-powered amps on stage. No, wait, I have: It's pure penis compensation. If the room's too big for 100-150 watts of power (and I've played in 2000-person rooms with a 100 watt amp being my only reinforcement), then you should be going through the FOH sound system anyway (when I played at Soldier Field last year, again, I only had my 150 watt combo amp and a direct box).

Your amp needs to be powerful enough to cover a decent sized room playing with an unmic'd drummer. I've always done fine with 100-150 watts of power and a drummer with a modicum of musical sensibility.

Actually since last January, I've eschewed drummers, preferring to work with a hand percussionist instead. You get a different level of musicality, more interesting colors and you're set apart from the rest of the crowd.

-dh

[Marty Forrer]

I once saw a loud rockabilly player who had to stuff yhe bass completely full of towels to stop feedback. He might as well have played a P bass, but he had the "look", and that's important for that type of band.

[Aaron]

Wow, people i can agree with. I beleive by using a combo and plugging into the PA (if needed) i will not have back problems in the future. I don't get my ideal tone when using amplification through upright, but i may get a outboard preamp pretty soon.