Small-gig amplification: 1x12 or 2x10?

kamakiriad7 · #1 08-28-2009, 11:26 AM

Hey doublers,

I've got a big bunch of small jazz combo gigs coming up in the fall and I need a small cabinet. My current setup for electric is a Markbass little mark 250/Markbass traveller 4x10 cab, but a 4x10 is far too big to be carrying to these gigs.

I'm going to use the Markbass head for the upright, but I'm stuck between using a 1x12 or 2x10 (I'll determine the brand later). Does one provide more bottom than the other? What do you use? Why do you use it? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Chris

hdiddy · #2 08-28-2009, 11:42 AM

PhilJones Flightcase, either 150 or 300. I have the 150 and love it.

stylonpilson · #3 08-28-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamakiriad7

Does one provide more bottom than the other?

Depends upon the exact specs of the speaker and enclosure.

S.P.

Ric Vice · #4 08-28-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamakiriad7

Hey doublers,

I've got a big bunch of small jazz combo gigs coming up in the fall and I need a small cabinet. My current setup for electric is a Markbass little mark 250/Markbass traveller 4x10 cab, but a 4x10 is far too big to be carrying to these gigs.

I'm going to use the Markbass head for the upright, but I'm stuck between using a 1x12 or 2x10 (I'll determine the brand later). Does one provide more bottom than the other? What do you use? Why do you use it? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,Chris

In theory you should be able to build a box with either 1 x12 or 2x10's and get pretty close to the same results, but since no two boxes are designed in the same way IMHO, you have to look to the companies that built DB friendly boxes. Some of the ones that come up time and again in Talkbass Threads are cabinets built by Euphonic Audio, Bergantino, Aguilar, Acme, Schroder, and Epifani. That's not to say there isn't something else out there it just seems like most of the cabs that work with DB are designed by smaller independent builders. One
builders 1x12 ( I'm thinking of the EA Wizzy M Line, and Schroder Mini 12+) could potentially be better sounding with a particular instrument than someone else's 2X10. Of course then there's the new Acoustic Image Ten2 cabinet. Hard to say without giving them a test drive.

Ric

adbass · #5 08-28-2009, 02:18 PM

I've always preferred a 1x12, but that's just me. You really have to do some extensive listening to make an informed decision.

Then, again, you could just get whatever is cheapest and is going to work and spend your time practicing instead.

. . . I'm so burnt out on gear . . . .

99.999% of the time it's your playing that's going to leave an impression, not your gear.

tornadobass · #6 08-29-2009, 10:03 AM

I'm a fan of the Wizzy 12. I have a pair to be used either singly or together, depending on the situation. A 210 cab seems to have less definition than the 112 for upright bass.

drurb · #7 08-29-2009, 10:41 AM

I'm a Wizzy 1x12 fan as well. Sure, it does depend on the particular design but there are a number of really fine 1x12 cabs that (IMO) leave little to be desired (so far as amplification can go, anyway). So simpler seems better. I say this with the caveat that, for me, amplification of the DB is a necessary evil that involves compromise.

fdeck · #8 08-29-2009, 11:20 AM

There's no hard rule about which configuration gives more low end. In fact the low end response of any sealed or ported box speaker can be duplicated with a speaker of different size.

Considering high end response, 10's can be crossed over directly to a tweeter without a hole in their off-axis response curve. The Wizzy uses a whizzer cone to extend the high end range of a single driver. Many of us who use 12" systems simply live with the lack of high frequency response.

unobasso · #9 08-29-2009, 12:26 PM

I just happened to have tried an Eden Nemesis 2x10 against my EA 1x12 CXL and while the 2x10 was warmer, it also was muddier.

Oddly enough, the 2x10 was 12lbs. lighter but that wasn't enough of an upside for me to purchase it.

JeffKissell · #10 08-29-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

I'm a Wizzy 1x12 fan as well. Sure, it does depend on the particular design but there are a number of really fine 1x12 cabs that (IMO) leave little to be desired (so far as amplification can go, anyway). So simpler seems better. I say this with the caveat that, for me, amplification of the DB is a necessary evil that involves compromise.

Agreed!

But if I had to choose... and I did...I think the Wizzy 12 is the simplest, best sounding cab for doubling.
I have used it for both basses for a while now and the combination of tone, useful volume, weight and size is pretty damned hard to beat. It's big enough for any non PA supported gig I've ever had and it's small enough to be unobtrusive when very little support is needed.

With the doublebass I've always found something I could live with and occasionally had great results. This bass also gets played quite a bit with a mic straight into a PA (no amp or pick up) or straight up acoustic.
The slab ALWAYS sounds great.

-J

ToneRanger · #11 09-05-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamakiriad7

1x12 or 2x10 - Does one provide more bottom than the other?

Depends how it's tuned.
My Eden 210XST has a lot more bottom end than my Eden 112.
However, in my experience, I usually want a lot LESS bottom end for upright than for BG, so for small/medium upright gigs I take the 112.