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Bag End Stack in the House!

Michael Vee

Michael Vee

Supporting Member
Feb 3, 2004
4,711
4,791
#1
I have completed the classic Bag End S15X-D/S15-D stack after acquiring Andertone's S15-D.

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My gawd, it's a monster! A petite monster, to be sure, but I have never heard such blast out of a small bass stack in my life. And I've heard some pretty high-end stacks. If it's volume you want, this combination delivers. The only way you could get much more volume is to go to the Fitzmaurice Design cabinets.

First playing took place with a small rack, pictured above, which contains a Yamaha PB-1 preamp and the Carvin DCM1500. I barely had the DCM1500 on- maybe about 9:00 on both attenuators, the amp running in paralleled input mode, 8 ohm output of the channels into separate cabs. Earplugs were needed, and were in. I'd be afraid to turn this thing way up anywhere short of a 4000 square foot room!

I also tried the stack powered with my Eden WT-390 head. With the dynamic bass boost engaged.. Whoa, momma! Next up, I'll be trying the stack with my Alembic F-1X driving the DCM1500, and with my Carvin PB150-H mini-head.

I like the sound of the S15-D by itself, very close to the same sound as the S15X-D. As others have noted, you do get a lot of usable treble from the S15-D. But man, when you combine these two.. look out. The sound is clean, dense, assertive, full- and can be tweaked to low and vintage, or to snapping and modern.

With all the advancements in bass gear these days, it seems kinda retro to play a Bag End S15 stack, but there is a enduring place in both recent history and in modern bass playing for these guys. This Bag End combination works unbelievably well. I can't wait to play it out live.
 
#8
Bag End S15's are retro like a Fender Jazz is retro. There is nowhere else to go, they define the genre IMHO. I think anything else is either a copy or a compromise. Or a whole different catagory.
Congrats to you, I'm betting you'll love them even more down the line. You will get your money's worth out of them over time.
 
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#9
Specs indicate they are pretty efficient too. Inefficiency is one of my main gripes with a few bass cabs Ive had. Plus tweeters make me unhappy. These may be just what Im looking for in a modern style cab!
 
#10
Congrats, for sure! I currently use that cab stack (for the past year), along with a GK 1001RB-II. Couldn't ask for more in my situation. Even though the tweeter is non-adjustable, the blend is very good, not too bright, etc. I also have a Rock 'N' Roller micro cart for moving things when there's distance involved and one trip desired. I really like the cabs (well, the whole thing). They're kind of rare (depending where you're located), and the name pulls questions out of people. I don't really need anything lighter or "better". It's all in there!
 
#13
That sounds great. I've wanted to get a 2-15 Bag End rig myself. I don't have the need for it for the gigs I do now though. I tried the Bag End 1-12 and 1-15 together once with my Walkabout head. Great sound and very efficient speakers. I imagine 2-15s would be even better.

Will it take a bit of bass boost and how's the weight?. We old guys like to know.
 
#14
62bass, I'll let the guy w/2 BEs properly respond, but my 2 cents is that my S-15X-D supposedly weighs 44 lbs, has great depth all by itself(active & passive 5s & 6s through Eden WT-400); I imagine they will swallow a pretty substantial low boost & give it right back loudly. To the OP, I must have another Bag End 1x15, & it's ALL YOUR FAULT! Thank you. :)
 
#15
I used to have 2 Bag End 15's. Nice rig that cuts through the mix easily. A little lacking in the low end dept. (which is why I switched to Aguilar) but if you have PA support that's no problem. 2 Bag End 15's will cut it in a loud band situation easily.
 
#16
Thanks Bassteban. That's good to know. They certainly are nicely made cabinets. Should handle my 4 string easily.

cb56-I don't need a whole lot of thick botoom end but it needs to sound full and rich. I dislike tweeters and don't care for a hi-fi sound.
 
#17
62bass, I also don't usually like tweeters much myself, but even w/o attenuation, I much prefer the coax to the non-tweeter S-15- I just adjust the treble on the head as needed. Also, I disagree w/the lack of low end comment(mind you I'm neither a scientist nor as picky about tone as some); I like lows, low mids & mids & I am not missing anything w/this cab(I play 5, 6 & & 7 strings & drop down to A). What sold me on it was hearing a pair of Bags w/a GK-800 outside- no matter where I was, the bass was perfectly clear, & the volume didn't seem to change. It was just omnipresent.

Edit: On the hi-fi thing, I imagine these cabs put out what you put into them, though that's just my assumption w/o any A/B, etc. They(it, really; I have one)seem to be on the hi-fi side w/my Eden Wt-400
 
#18
bassteban said:
62bass, I also don't usually like tweeters much myself, but even w/o attenuation, I much prefer the coax to the non-tweeter S-15- I just adjust the treble on the head as needed. Also, I disagree w/the lack of low end comment(mind you I'm neither a scientist nor as picky about tone as some); I like lows, low mids & mids & I am not missing anything w/this cab(I play 5, 6 & & strings & drop down to A). What sold me on it was hearing a pair of Bags w/a GK-800 outside- no matter where I was, the bass was perfectly clear, & the volume didn't seem to change. It was just omnipresent.

Edit: On the hi-fi thing, I imagine these cabs put out what you put into them, though that's just my assumption w/o any A/B, etc. They(it, really; I have one)seem to be on the hi-fi side w/my Eden Wt-400
Click to expand...

Thanks. That's a good endorsment and your description of the sound is pretty well what I like myself. I'm picky about tone but not obsessed with it.
 
#20
Cool stack. The Bag End co-ax tweet and cross over combination is the sweetest high end going IMO. Super smooth and un-horn like! The Bag Ends do fall off a little early (frequency response wise) in comparison with some recent cabs. The cab's naturally roll of very smoothly. No wacky response lumps on the way down. That contributes to really well detailed hi-bass, low & upper mids. This is why people refer to Bag Ends as having cut. It's not that they have cut, they don't have any 'flabby'ish mid-bass bump to mask and boom.

If you like 'em in the house, wait until you get them on stage. You'll be amazed.
 

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