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Double Bass 110 for upright sound with Promethean 500

CTForde

CTForde

Oct 9, 2012
340
148
NWOhio
#1
so i learned a lot i didn't know reading up here on extension cab choices/ (not)mixing sizes...

i have a Promethean P5110 with the removable head and am now looking for a 110 extension cab @ 8ohm w/ at least 250watt rating to use either alone w/ the P500h or as extension for the 5110 combo.

would love something that is maybe a little bit more conducive to upright, as i find the cab that comes with the combo fairly 'modern' sounding.

any sugguestions?

has anyone tried the EdenEX or Overton 110s with a promethean?
 
#2
mormoyboy said:
i have a Promethean P5110 with the removable head and am now looking for a 110 extension cab @ 8ohm w/ at least 250watt rating to use either alone w/ the P500h or as extension for the 5110 combo.

would love something that is maybe a little bit more conducive to upright, as i find the cab that comes with the combo fairly 'modern' sounding.

any sugguestions?

has anyone tried the EdenEX or Overton 110s with a promethean?
Click to expand...

Eden cabinets are more modern sounding, like the cab on your Promethean. The new Bergantino CN 112 is a beautiful sounding cabinet, but costs a bit more. You may be able to find one of their older AE 112's for sale on the used market.
Unfortunately, unless you want to go with the AI Ten2 I can't think of many 10" 8 ohm cabinets out there.

Ric
 
#3
You may be able to find an Accugroove Tri-110 used. I found one not that long ago that only weighs 29 pounds. They don't come up used that often but on the week I found mine there were four of them.

Wally
 
#7
Try a single 12" with no tweeter, or tweeter rolled off.

I've had luck mixing 10's with 12's, 12's with 15's.

I do agree that a 4-10 with a single 15 or 18 is a bad mix, and crossing over a 4-10 is a waste.

I love my Markbass single 12 (for EUB or BG)
 
#8
mormoyboy said:
...would love something that is maybe a little bit more conducive to upright, as i find the cab that comes with the combo fairly 'modern' sounding.
Click to expand...

Pardon the dumb questions, but I'm interested in learning more about what upright bass players are looking for in a small cab. I'm not a musician myself so I'm probably the only one on this board who doesn't know instantly what you're talking about, but if you don't mind...

Can you tell me what sort of tone you're looking for when you say "maybe a little bit more conducive to upright"? A bit warmer and/or smoother?

And what to you mean by "fairly 'modern' sounding"? Too bright/aggressive?

Thanks!
 
#10
DukeLeJeune said:
Pardon the dumb questions, but I'm interested in learning more about what upright bass players are looking for in a small cab. I'm not a musician myself so I'm probably the only one on this board who doesn't know instantly what you're talking about, but if you don't mind...

Can you tell me what sort of tone you're looking for when you say "maybe a little bit more conducive to upright"? A bit warmer and/or smoother?

And what to you mean by "fairly 'modern' sounding"? Too bright/aggressive?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Duke- I think it's an entirely reasonable question. I am really wondering about e same gigs.
My assumption is electric players - particularly those that slap and tap - prefer a more "modern" sound - maybe more flat across the frequency spectrum??? Not sure it means that...
- While some (most??) upright guys look for a "warmer" more "organic" sound that I have no idea how to express in frequency curve associations.

Despite being an experienced sound-guy that makes EQ tweaks based on people's frequency references: "nasal" "brassy" "warm" - sometimes I guess right and make the right tweak - more often I fail and we try other terms to get there...
Few know that they want "a 4db bump around 400 to open up the mud" or similar statements - even those that are good about this get stumped by some rooms - new gear...

I am not actually an upright bassist compared to most.
Started as a cellist - that cello is now tuned to a bass tuning in the bass octave...
Sounds great w/ a david gage pickup through the P5110 with some highs rolled off (or low end boost) or via the vibe control set to 'vintage'

Someone much smarter than I supposedly said "talking about music is like dancing about architecture..." I think this applies to our TB discussions of tone as well -

but yes - I find the Promethean - when all zeroed out - to bee a somewhat "bright" and "forward" sounding "modern" amp.

And yes - I am looking for a cab that I can add to the 5110 - or use alone with the Promethean head that is "warmer" sounding - maybe with some added low end.
I'm thinking maybe a tweeter-less 12" could do that - but some swear I should not mix speaker sizes - seems here on the upright side of things more folks are open to a 10+12 off the same amp...?

Sorry for the rant...
 
#14
mormoyboy said:
Someone much smarter than I supposedly said "talking about music is like dancing about architecture..." I think this applies to our TB discussions of tone as well -

but yes - I find the Promethean - when all zeroed out - to bee a somewhat "bright" and "forward" sounding "modern" amp.

And yes - I am looking for a cab that I can add to the 5110 - or use alone with the Promethean head that is "warmer" sounding - maybe with some added low end.

I'm thinking maybe a tweeter-less 12" could do that - but some swear I should not mix speaker sizes - seems here on the upright side of things more folks are open to a 10+12 off the same amp...?

Sorry for the rant...
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time, very much appreciated.

I don't see any danger in combining cabs with different size drivers as long as you recognize that one of them will reach its limits first, so pay particular attention to that because the robust cab could possibly mask the distressed cries of the lesser cab. There can be sonically detrimental interactions from combining cabs, but there can be sonically beneficial ones too, so on that score it's hard to make an accurate blanket statement. Yeah it's not ideal, but it may still be quite the worthwhile improvement.

So if you add a 112, just make sure you let the 110 set the limits for how hard you push them.

As for dancing about architecture, would that be like songs about buildings and food??
 
#16
mormoyboy said:
Hmm...
So since the 10 in the combo is rated at 250 watts (8 ohm)
Maybe a 150 watt 8 ohm 12?
Click to expand...

Usually the rated power handling of the cab is the thermal limit (where you start running the risk of melting the voice coil if you keep it up), and in most cases fartout sets in well before that - which is a good thing! We want some warning before it's too late!

Having a lower thermal power handling rating on the 12 just means that, if for whatever reason fartout doesn't warn you in time, the 12 will overheat before the 10.

So if it was up to me, I'd probably want them both to have about the same thermal limit, 250 watts in this case, as you probably don't want the 112 to be the limiting factor. Then stack them with the 110 on top, where it's easier for you to hear if it gets distressed.

Hey this is just a non-musician speakergeek winging it here - take the advice of a fellow musician over mine.
 
#17
mormoyboy said:
Duke- I think it's an entirely reasonable question. ...
Click to expand...

+1. I would say that a good UB cab is not something with flat 20-20k frequency response, or that reproduces exactly the signal from the pickup or mic. Too much low, and the sound is not transparent enough in a gig setting. Too much high and you amplify unwanted fingerboard noise. There is very little tonal content above 5k, imo. Personally I find 10 and 12 ported cabs tend to have a punchier and livelier sound which for me works better for upright than sealed cabs or larger drivers. I think that what is meant by "modern sound" is a rig which has full highs and lows and maybe some compression. "Crisp" rather than "thumpy". Something Victor Wooten would like but Ron Carter probably wouldn't. My personal take on the subject only. I'm sure many would disagree.
 
#19
mormoyboy said:
Someone much smarter than I supposedly said "talking about music is like dancing about architecture..."
Click to expand...

Frank Zappa. One of the greatest quote generators of the late 20thC. Another is: “Most rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read,” . Never conciliatory. Here is a clip of him putting the US senate in their place during hearings on the topic of rock lyrics/warning labels/censorship. I miss him dearly.
 

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