2x12 vs. 1x15+2x10 for Reggae?Advice Please

[JimmyM]

I think Robbie Shakespeare would argue that you don't need 15"s since he's most recently been seen using three SVT heads and 810 cabs. It's all a matter of preference. I think a 212 would get you where you want to go, but I think a 115 would as well. 210's are generally a lot brighter than what you're looking for, so I think it would be wasted in a reggae rig. But a 410, 610, or 810 would be pretty sweet because they have big boxes and can get deep tones plus quick response. But for a small one cab solution, I'd get the 212 or 115.

 

[dubstylee]

Thanks for everyone's input, as it is much helpful. I will probably end up going for 2 seperate 15" cabs. Or, I may try an SWR Big Ben 18. The only thing is finding 15" cabs for a reasonable price. The Big Ben is a hefty price to pay as well. Does anyone else make 18" cabs?

 

[alexei]

I would buy two 15s and stack them, personally. A 215 is unnecessarily heavy and can't be scaled down.

yeah I agree, but the downside of that is that the cab will loose efficiency with that. A bigger box that "stated" in speaker's specifications will give you better low end freqs (of course, a little bigger, not that big).
I could verify that for myself when I built my own 212 cab a little bigger and works awesome with my 5er and 6er. A 20watt amp can make it shake pencils in my desk and dishes in the kitchen to vibrate with a C#, it's kinda fun to do that once in a while.

My back just seized up when I read that lol. 1x15 is friggin heavy as-is.

they should make 4x15 with wheels and a combustion engine for moving it. (and a chair for the driver)

 

[Supertanker]

I have gotten a monster reggae tone from 2-Aguilar GS112s, a GS212, an Aguilar S410, 2 - S410's, a S410 + S210, and a Carvin 1503.

The keys are good reggae technique, a great sounding bass, lots of headroom, great amp/preamp.

Having said that, I would say check out the Carvin BR15.

 

[unclekebm]

I agree with Supertanker, for reggae "lots of headroom" is key...

 

[Sean S]

4x15"

Oh come ON...4x18" at LEAST!

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Played roots reggae for most of my 20's. One thing you may want to watch out for is getting that "reggae tone" onstage. Tons of bottom will just bleed into mics onstage. Especially drum mics. Reggae tone ain't just "mud". There's quite a bit of mids and growl in the best reggae tones. Blasting all the stage mics with bottom end will result in "mud" out front.

If using on-stage cabs for monitoring yourself only, get used to using the mains as a large part of your sound and feel. Of course, if there is no/minimal FOH sound, then try to hit the dance floor using your rig.

You may want to consider bi-amping. Maybe a 1x15 and a 2x10. You could adjust your tone accordingly using a crossover and high/low volumes.

My two cents.