Hey all, I've come across a cool old sunn 1x18 cab and was wondering what people's opinion are on 18 inch speakers. I currently run 2 4x10 cabs and am looking for a bit of variety.
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18 inch speakers?
- Thread starter Masonc
- Start date
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- Tags
- 18 inch speakers cabs
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,077
- 5
- 221,170
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Try it yourself, I probably wouldn't choose it myself.
Run Away. (My Opinion)
that goes for PA as well.
that goes for PA as well.
I had an Ampeg SVT 18 years ago. It was cool but I traded it for other single cabinet options that suited me better at the time.
I used to have an Eden 18. ( I was much younger then and didn't mind lugging ridiculous things around) I used it underneath an Eden 210.
The 210 alone had a nice sound, the 18 gave it a magnificent pear-shaped tone that was heavenly.
Wouldn't use an 18 on its own, tho.
The 210 alone had a nice sound, the 18 gave it a magnificent pear-shaped tone that was heavenly.
Wouldn't use an 18 on its own, tho.
What is the intent of the 118? Is it considered a full-range bass cab or a sub intended for PA duty?
I have four cabs loaded with EVM18B. Two of the cabs are really too small for the drivers. They are a reasonable size, probably around 5.5 cu ft, but they don't sound great.
The other two cabs are home-built EV TL405s set up in step-down mode. These play down into the high 20hz range and have a response that rises a bit into the mids. They sound really good with some of my amps and not so good with others. AFAIK these cabs are really only good for about 100W each, but they are pretty darn efficient so they get plenty loud for bass. However, they are way too big and heavy to gig at 13 cu ft each. If I had a do over, I would probably build a pair of TL505s, which are only 7.1 cu ft.
I have had multiple audio shops recommend the EVM18B. Never seen any other player use one though.
In the 90s I ran an SWR Redhead (original version) for a couple of years. This amp had a 210 that was tuned super low. It had a tendency to get lost in the mix on stage. I added an SWR Big Ben, which is a 118 cab. To my ears the Big Ben filled in the low mids rather than pumping up the sub bass.
The folded horn variety, 118MH, Colosseum, is different than the front facing one. More similar to the Acoustic
360/361 model. Is that what you're looking for?
360/361 model. Is that what you're looking for?
If it sounds good to you, go for it.
Standalone 18's, that day has pretty much passed.
Standalone 18's, that day has pretty much passed.
Is it one of these:
Or one of these:
If it's the first. Like Wasnex said about the SWR, they were more full-range with a low mid bump.
If it's the second. Despite the look, they don't offer a sub sound as we would expect today. More like half of an Acoustic 361.
In my youth, I had played through both.
I just wrote the same thing before seeing your post
OMG, I played through cabs like that back in the Cro-Magnon era. Now that I think about it, it always sounded like listening to bass through a wall from the next room. The Mumble Rumble !Is it one of these:
View attachment 7538141View attachment 7538142
Or one of these:
View attachment 7538143View attachment 7538144
If it's the first. Like Wasnex said about the SWR, they were more full-range with a low mid bump.
If it's the second. Despite the look, they don't offer a sub sound as we would expect today. More like half of an Acoustic 361.
In my youth, I had played through both.
Good job! I wasn't going to illustrate my question, as you did!!I just wrote the same thing before seeing your post
It was the first one you showed. The seller has replaced the speaker I'm not quite sure with whatIs it one of these:
View attachment 7538141View attachment 7538142
Or one of these:
View attachment 7538143View attachment 7538144
If it's the first. Like Wasnex said about the SWR, they were more full-range with a low mid bump.
If it's the second. Despite the look, they don't offer a sub sound as we would expect today. More like half of an Acoustic 361.
In my youth, I had played through both.
My buddy in high school had the Sunn Coliseum with two front loaded 18s. Used a Gibson EB3. Wow, talk about low end. He used a pick so it wasn't as muddy as it could have been.
First I'd want to know what he put in there, so I could find its specs on the Internet and see if it's is a reasonable match with that cab.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,077
- 5
- 221,170
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
The bottom folded cabinets sounded dreadful with little pitch definition. The top cabinets are ported cabinets with a tapered port, much better midrange though could be beamy.Is it one of these:
View attachment 7538141View attachment 7538142
Or one of these:
View attachment 7538143View attachment 7538144
If it's the first. Like Wasnex said about the SWR, they were more full-range with a low mid bump.
If it's the second. Despite the look, they don't offer a sub sound as we would expect today. More like half of an Acoustic 361.
In my youth, I had played through both.
I had a Road440 Head with matching Cab, back from '72 to '84 which had an 18" forward facing behind a mesh grill, cab ported at bottom (front). It was a monster, could easily handle the 300 watt output of the head. Cab weighed about 80lbs. It's really hard to compare it to modern cabs, with smaller speakers, which have a much better overall frequency response, and sound warmer. Back then we didn't have overhead support so I needed it for outdoor gigs, in order to be heard. The Ampeg 4x10s were nowhere near as loud as the 18" outdoors. Then again, the 18" didn't sound as good indoors.
As I've said in other threads, back then I figured if I couldn't play better, I'd play louder.
Given the weight, and the limited response, I'd pass.
As I've said in other threads, back then I figured if I couldn't play better, I'd play louder.
Given the weight, and the limited response, I'd pass.
Probably the biggest reason that the Ampeg B-18N didn't sell all that well was the cabinet was quite heavy. Sometimes you just don't need a speaker that reproduces the fundamentals on the E String. The B-15N cabinet works like a High Pass filter.
