^ this, too, is one of the reasons why there is (kids, dont read further
)... no "best for metal" 
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18" - why no love?
- Thread starter Szyszaczek
- Start date
)... no "best for metal" 
When I'd only been playing about a year I bought the Carvin red line stack with the 4x10 and 18. The only part that didn't suck REALLY BAD was the amp. Well, until, after two years, one side picked up a crackle that went away when you hit the side of it.
I understand Carvin's basses are pretty good, though.
Because they have no response up where the overtones lie which is where most of your tone comes from. Put an HF driver in it and you still have the critical mid frequencies missing. Even PA systems that use 18s for subs often are tri-amped for bass, mids and highs, with appropriate speakers for each frequency band.
wow man. Interesting dialog in philosophical discussions - not so much when dealing the physical world and physics in general.exactly... just imagine 7 billion differing realities (which is reality), and if what you say is true, how can equipment that just a few humans "made-up", be the absolute truth for so many other people? (science seems to think results from machines are the end all, and i dont)
The idea that the science of acoustics, physics, electricity, was "made up" by a "few people" is kind of absurd. Remember, all the speakers that are being considering were built by people using some aspect of the science of acoustics that you are dismissing with your perception based belief.
Do you not believe in gravity, or electricity because of the same belief system ?
Perhaps you are some one who does not believe in time because its just a made up system ?
No one would say you are not entitled to your views of what kind of system sounds better to YOU. A common expression here on TB is "play what you love, love what you play" but to scoff at the science itself is kind of dull.
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Well, I'm going to have a tough time believing that you can build a cab with 18s in it that can sound like, say, one with 10s. If the speaker itself can't produce anything above 400 hz, you're not going to be able to get the mids and highs of 10s no matter how you tune the cab.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
You sir took the words right out of my mouth I say we must get together over a cup of tea to further these discussions I'll have my trusted man servant Sebastian make all of the necessary arraignments I look forward to your letter of acceptance.
I knew a guy who had two 18" Bullfrog Cubes...when I played through them on stage, it sounded like he EQ'd them really Treble-y...but get off them stage, where the Crowd is? Bass heaven!
I knew a guy who had two 18" Bullfrog Cubes...when I played through them on stage, it sounded like he EQ'd them really Treble-y...but get off them stage, where the Crowd is? Bass heaven!
I have a lot of respect for guys that are willing to lug the really big stuff around. 412, 118, 415, etc. The fewer people use it, the more it can really become someone's signature sound. Even if this is better or that is better or whatever.
I am a scientist in my day job (kind of, I'm an engineer). Not much music was made because the science was better. Don't get that confused, plenty of music was made because of newer tech, but that's not really the same thing.
Sorry not to have much in the way of substance to add.
I am a scientist in my day job (kind of, I'm an engineer). Not much music was made because the science was better. Don't get that confused, plenty of music was made because of newer tech, but that's not really the same thing.
Sorry not to have much in the way of substance to add.
I like 18's. I've owned in the past two SWR's. At one point I would gig out with a country band one of those SWR's it had a kinda old school country tone going. I also keep one of those older Peavey 1820? at a rehearsal space with a old beat to hell GK 800rb and it does what I need it too. Lastly my 69 Acoustic 360/361 just flat out sounds wonderful.
Many people and things fear things that are not small, fear of giant things is stung in the human subconscious that is why Godzilla movies are important as well as King Kong and other large scary things, it's no difference with tonez...
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I like to use a 1x18 with a 2x10 with an Ampeg head ...It sounds good and it freaks out those who say don't mix cabs.
I used to play through an Acoustic 301 1x18 folded horn cab in a blues band in the 80s. But usually with an 18 you need another cab that get a higher frequency response.
I used to play through an Acoustic 301 1x18 folded horn cab in a blues band in the 80s. But usually with an 18 you need another cab that get a higher frequency response.
a good 18 isn't a bad thing, if you don't want much mids or highs then you'll be well suited with one. A bass cabinet, I am interpreting at this point, isn't purely an engineering problem, it's also a matter of artistic value. Not everybody wants good hi-fi tones, or a super small and lightweight cabinet, or super clean undistorted sound (not just clipping distortion, but harmonic distortion). Heck, if somebody were selling a sealed 410 and a 118 designed to stack for cheap enough, I might just slap a cap in series with the 410 and in parallel with the leads in the 18 and call it a half-decent rig - and if it's heavy, it'll just be harder for someone to steal.
That said, increasingly bassists are becoming more aware of certain limitations and preferences that they may have - some people DO want a good hi-fi tone without worrying about dispersion issues in the mid and tweeter regions; plenty of 18" drivers are going to want easily upwards of 5 cubic feet internal volume for "breathing space" - meaning a large cabinet, which if well-designed will have thick panels and extra bracing, making the cabinet heavier; and a lot of newer neo-designed 15" drivers can really punch above their "size-class" at a smaller size and cost. My current 212 is light enough for me to one-hand carry if I want to show off, is slightly smaller than my old 410, and puts out easily enough bass for me - going with a bigger 18" driver and maybe a 10" mid or two would make a cool rig, but it'd also be BIG.
That said, increasingly bassists are becoming more aware of certain limitations and preferences that they may have - some people DO want a good hi-fi tone without worrying about dispersion issues in the mid and tweeter regions; plenty of 18" drivers are going to want easily upwards of 5 cubic feet internal volume for "breathing space" - meaning a large cabinet, which if well-designed will have thick panels and extra bracing, making the cabinet heavier; and a lot of newer neo-designed 15" drivers can really punch above their "size-class" at a smaller size and cost. My current 212 is light enough for me to one-hand carry if I want to show off, is slightly smaller than my old 410, and puts out easily enough bass for me - going with a bigger 18" driver and maybe a 10" mid or two would make a cool rig, but it'd also be BIG.
I gig regularly with a 1967 Ampeg B-18. It sounds great and fairly EZ to schlep around.. when comparing next to my B-15 and B-12, all 3 sound pretty similar. The B-18 is the loudest (it also has a 50 watt head).
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since using a couple folded horn SUNN 18 cabs ... in the mid 70's ... or an old Ampeg flip-top 18 ... I think basically they break to far away ... ?! the PA subs will hit the back of the room ... ! our stage bass speakers need to cover the stage and the front middle of the dance floor a bit ... smaller speakers, in the right cab, does the trick ... without PA support , bring all the cabs you have of any shape or size ... !!
With a Rock/Metal band I had a bi-amped rig in the early 80s with Bag End cabinets. Two single 18s for the low end and a 2X12 for the mids/highs. Loaded with JBLs. Yamaha power amp and an Ashley preamp and crossover. Sounded awesome, but we also rented box trucks and had a road crew. I'd never drag that gear around now.
It's one or two Aguilar GS112s or if I want to really piss off the guitarist, the DB410.
It's one or two Aguilar GS112s or if I want to really piss off the guitarist, the DB410.
An 18 will "beam" past 750 hz. Beaming is when the driver diameter is as large or larger than the wavelength being emitted.
So even if you can make an 18 produce mids let alone "highs" - they will only be discernible to a listener with a full on view
of the speaker cone. Let's face it - 18's are like a lot of "other" (ahem) "large" things - more fun to look at and wave
at people than to experience! That said they are quite valid in a sub capacity, and I STILL have one 1-18 cab in my shed
just in case I want to do Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom" - I very much agree with Mayer - If you got roadies and somebody else is paying to
carry it around then sure, bring on the double 18 bins!
So even if you can make an 18 produce mids let alone "highs" - they will only be discernible to a listener with a full on view
of the speaker cone. Let's face it - 18's are like a lot of "other" (ahem) "large" things - more fun to look at and wave
at people than to experience! That said they are quite valid in a sub capacity, and I STILL have one 1-18 cab in my shed
just in case I want to do Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom" - I very much agree with Mayer - If you got roadies and somebody else is paying to
carry it around then sure, bring on the double 18 bins!
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