12 Inch Cab Opinions Please

[Llewellen]

Big thanks to everyone who posted comments, advice, suggestions and tips. I have learned a lot and discovered some cab makers I didn't know even existed. My initial list of contenders has been altered substantially, with only Euphonic Audio remaining in the hunt. I have been very impressed with the knowledge and thoughtfulness that has gone into the interesting cabs from Audio Kinesis and Mike Arnopol Soundworks.

When I make some final decisions and have a system up and running, I will report back to wrap this up. That could be a few months from now.

Thanks again.

 

[briandavismurph]

Bag End S12-NView attachment 3397337

I have had tremendous success with Bag End cabinets..their 12” is a classic.

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I couldn’t agree more I picked up this bagend cabinet empty and loaded it with a Kappalite 3012 LF and couldn’t be happier with the punch in the power in a ridiculously small footprint. I’m running it with a GK 500 MB

 

[Llewellen]

Lots of fine suggestions above. Just thought I'd add that I find my 12/6/1 (cube form factor) great with upright, fretless, and conventional 5-string.

Have not used anything smaller than a Mesa Prodigy head, so the 50 watt head might be an issue, though there is only a modest difference in theoretical loudness between your 50 watts and the 200 watts from my clean(ish) mesa tube head.

What specifically is your head? Bassman? Dynaco? Ampeg? ??

I couldn’t agree more I picked up this bagend cabinet empty and loaded it with a Kappalite 3012 LF and couldn’t be happier with the punch in the power in a ridiculously small footprint. I’m running it with a GK 500 MB

I agree that BagEnd cabs look very interesting, especially this one:

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Sensitivity of 103dB seems to indicate that 50W may be enough in low volume gigs. It is heavier than the others under consideration (ferrite mags?) and I wonder about dispersion.

 

[mmbongo]

I agree that BagEnd cabs look very interesting, especially this one:

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Sensitivity of 103dB seems to indicate that 50W may be enough in low volume gigs. It is heavier than the others under consideration (ferrite mags?) and I wonder about dispersion.

I would be very wary of that 103db rating. That would mean it is the same SPL as a Barefaced 6x10. And I don't see that happening.

Barefaced Bass - Six 10

 

[Jim Carr]

...there is only a modest difference in theoretical loudness between your 50 watts and the 200 watts from my clean(ish) mesa tube head.

What specifically is your head? Bassman? Dynaco? Ampeg? ??

Still curious about your amplifier. Homebrew tube head? Marshall guitar head? Repurposed hi-fi component?
Création d'amplificateurs à lampes dans une boutique française?

 

[Llewellen]

I would be very wary of that 103db rating. That would mean it is the same SPL as a Barefaced 6x10. And I don't see that happening.

Barefaced Bass - Six 10

I agree, be cautious but how would one go about asking them to prove it? If you look at the company profile and history, it doesn't look like they're in the business of fudging numbers. I'm old enough to remember being in studios that used UREI control room speakers, which were developed by the founder way back when.

Bag End Loudspeaker systems, amplifiers system processors

 

[Llewellen]

Still curious about your amplifier. Homebrew tube head? Marshall guitar head? Repurposed hi-fi component?
Création d'amplificateurs à lampes dans une boutique française?

I haven't purchased anything yet because I'm still scoping out whether I can put together a system that meets all or most of my critical criteria. These are the two most likely:

https://www.frenzeltubeamps.com/mini-bassman

Trinity Trip Top

Both of them should do about 50W running KT88s

There is also this one which expands the range of cabs that will work but violates my size/weight criteria to some extent:

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[Liam Wald]

So many great cabs... Schroeder, Epifani, Bag End, Aguilar, Mesa, Bergantino, Eden, Hartke.
It's like WOW, pick a flavor. You can't go wrong they are all fantastic!

 

[Mike Arnopol]

I spoke with Mike today about his MAS112 and it seems very interesting and appropriate to my needs. He said that was the MAS model most suited to a low power tube amp. Do you have any experience with the build quality of his cabs?

Sorry, but one thing I forgot to mention---for your use if I used the 3012HO sensitivity would go up to 103.5db as opposed to 99.5 with my custom Eminence. This cab was suggested by a (now deceased) TB member. His goal was using his 30 watt tube amp! This cab used to be in my catalog but when I got the custom Eminence I figured 99.5 was good enough. It's really difficult making the decisions of which speaker should remain and which I should trim. Otherwise I'd leave myself with 30 speakers in my line! I've made a few cabs like that for low power tubes. Oh wait---the model number was MAS112LPT (low power tubes) !

 

[Llewellen]

I emailed Euphonic Audio to ask about the dispersion characteisitics of their Wizzy-112 M-Line cabinet and received this response:

"The cone output at 30 degrees off-axis starts to drop off around 2.5KHz. On Axis the response goes to about 8Khz.

The side firing ports output starts to drop off at 250Hz."

Is this considered to be good, bad or about average for 12" ported cabs (although this one is actually a t-line)?

 

[Mike Arnopol]

It's not a true transmission line. A transmission line cab that goes below 80 hz would be at least twice the size. I'm very familiar with the EA bstuff as I used to be an endorser.

 

[astheshipsails]

If you haven’t decided yet on the amp, o would be happy to chat with you about my Frenzel Mini Bassman. I have a lot of thoughts about how it compares to other tube amps and what kind of bass and cab pairings work better with it.

 

[Llewellen]

If you haven’t decided yet on the amp, o would be happy to chat with you about my Frenzel Mini Bassman. I have a lot of thoughts about how it compares to other tube amps and what kind of bass and cab pairings work better with it.

Thanks. I haven't finally decided on the amp. It's down to the Frenzel Mini Bassman or this one from Trinity Amps here in Canada. Both are based on iconic vintage designs (Fender and Ampeg, respectively) and both are comparatively uncluttered (which I like).

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Your thoughts and experience with the Frenzel would be much appreciated. PM me if you would like.

 

[Wasnex]

As was explained before, don't get caught up in sensitivity ratings because you can't compare apples to apples. Cabinet A might be 103 db...but at what frequency? If it's 103 db at 4000hz then it might be 95 db at 60hz where Cabinet B is rated. Just something to keep in mind.

Pretty sure the Wizzy will sound significantly louder with 50W than either of the 3012LF cabs, but not go as deep.

 

[Heavy Blue]

Imo Mike's 112 is a better match for a 50 watt tube head than any of my cabs.

Classiest post of the year to date!

 

[Wasnex]

I would be very wary of that 103db rating. That would mean it is the same SPL as a Barefaced 6x10. And I don't see that happening.

Barefaced Bass - Six 10

I haven't played the Bag End S12, but I have played the S15 and it was super efficient (also spec'ed at 103dB 1w/1m). IMHO it was all mids, with no fat on the bottom and very dark on top. It got loud with just a little bit of power, but if you fed it big power it tended to compress instead of getting much louder. The S15 is rated for 300W continuous, but I don't really see much point in feeding one more than about 150W.

I would expect the Wizzy to have a bit wider frequency response and similar efficiency.

 

[Wasnex]

Classiest post of the year to date!

Yep, Duke is funny like that .

 

[Djadja]

Continuing my quest for a small cab to mate with a 50 W all tube head for small, low volume gigs playing mostly 5 string fretless in duo or trio settings. After a lot of searches, listening to available sound files and email exchanges with the builders I think I have narrowed the search down to these 3 contenders. I live in a very small community so there is no chance to hear these in action, much less try them in a retail store. So, opinions and comments from TB users, positive, negative or thumbs down would be much appreciated.

• Greenboy Audio - fEARful 12/6 or Fearless F112
  
• AccuGroove - Tri 112L
• Euphonic Audio - NL112

Thank you.

Read through the thread today - don’t know how I missed it in April - and it looks as if you haven’t purchased a cab yet.

One person mentioned the Genzler BA12-3... I’d put it back on your list.

I too play fretless as my primary instrument. The Genzler has a nice solid bottom - deep and round without getting sloppy, sweet trebles that never get harsh, and most of all a vocal midrange that brings out the characteristic attack envelope of the fretless. Add the excellent dispersion of the line array and it makes for a very cool cab.

 

[zon6c-f]

Continuing my quest for a small cab to mate with a 50 W all tube head for small, low volume gigs playing mostly 5 string fretless in duo or trio settings. After a lot of searches, listening to available sound files and email exchanges with the builders I think I have narrowed the search down to these 3 contenders. I live in a very small community so there is no chance to hear these in action, much less try them in a retail store. So, opinions and comments from TB users, positive, negative or thumbs down would be much appreciated.

• Greenboy Audio - fEARful 12/6 or Fearless F112
  
• AccuGroove - Tri 112L
• Euphonic Audio - NL112

Thank you.

Bergantino HDN 1-12: light weight, strong sound.
Bergantino “family” is best customer service I’ve had; like that old school mom n pop feel only with state of the art amps/ cabs! I’ve had no issues and prompt personal email response with any questions regardless of how lame on my part or a tech question. Whereas Ive been scolded or put down when asking questions of the great BFM