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10's vs 15's

#3
bgwatts said:
What's your prefered speaker .10" or 15" and WHY?:help: Seems like you have to over EQ a ten ,to me. Can I just prfer 15's or will I get laughed out of the forum?;)
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It is personal preference, so you should not be laughed off the forum.
My only 10 is in my practice amp, so it doesn't really count, but in general, 10s are punchier, and MAY be lacking in the bottom octave. 15s are more laid back, and deliver effortless bass, but MAY lack the punch of the 10. As always YMMV.
 
#4
I use a 1x15 ... but usually just for rehersal, I also like it for old skool tone using a P bass ... I'm going to add a 2x10 on top though (maybe the best overall choice) ...

What I use depends on where, and what I'm doing so I use the above rig some, and sometimes just 2x10s or 4x10s or 8x10s ... but usually 8x8s ... The SWR "Henry" is about my favorite cab.
 
#6
I always rated 15's has my speaker of choice, that was until I bought an EBS Proline 4x10 cab and now I'm torn between the two. 15's have the bottom which we love but the 10's have the punch. If you can afford to buy a 4x10 and 1x15 cab, just turn up the volume and pin people to the back wall!
 
#11
I think it has to do somewhat with the cabinet
design as well.

One example is the Acoustic 360 used by Jaco and others.
It has an 18" speaker and is pretty punchy
and bright.

For 5 or 6 string bass it may be better to have
10's though...
 
#14
It's really the design of the cab and how it fit's into the rest of your rig and of course, the sound in your head. What it is you're trying to achieve. I've heard 2x10's that went incredible deep but lacked punch (Eden Nemisis) and 1x15s that are solid but mid-range focused (Music Man 115RH w/JBL, Sunn Beta w / JBL's), 2x10's with a broad 'vintage' character (Bag End). There's just more to it than 10's vs 12's vs 15's ...
 
#16
I switched to 410 when the Hartkes came out.

Prevailing theory at the time was that strictly 10s was where it's at (the Hartkes were essentially modelled to be like half an Ampeg 8x10, with input from Jaco, who had been using the Ampegs before).

I loved the punch, but felt that bottom was missing, especially for contrabass.

I lobbied hard for the 15s with both Ron Lorman and Larry Hartke when I was there a couple of times at their factory in "the good old days".

I've since added two 115 cabs, and the combo of 2 15"s and 4 10"s actually makes for a very articulate rig. You can stack it high for projection, or spread out the two 15" cabs to couple the floor more.

I drive the cabs with an 800RB GK head, and run the two 15" cabs off the bottom in biamp for the full 300 watts (essentially 150w to each 115), and send the top amp's 100 to the 410.

10s or 15s?

Both.
 
#17
10's, they have the definition and best for a punchy sound. Used to use 15's but they are too rubbery sounding by themselves. I will add a 15" if I need more bottom for some old skool sound. But got a new small amp with 12" and good compromise between the two.

In old days I used to play JBL 2 x 15", but when SVT's came out with the 8 x10's I was sold on 10's. That punchy sound can't be beat.
 
#18
I dont think anyone will laugh at you for using 15's. We might laugh at you for using crappy 15's however.

Ive used 2x15 before. I can dig it.

For what I do now- pretty technical prog metal- I am using 10's for the extra punch and high/midrange clarity. In some venues that have poor accoustics for low bass, I suffer a little.

If I was going to use a "compact" rig, I'd probably use a 1x15.
 
#19
i was recently pleasantly surprised by the GK 212 neo at a local store. more bottom end than my 115 and more articulate. more compact too.

i think it depends on the cab itself. i can't see how a normal-cost 115 would sound better than an array of 10's or 12's. i played an epifani 410ul recently that had the lot, bottom, punch and highs.

i would love to try out a NV215, as reports around here suggest they are articulate aswell as strong on the bottom.
 

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