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4x10 cab advice needed

kjpollo

kjpollo

Mar 17, 2008
3,456
87
CT
#1
Guys,

I hope to be completing a bass-for-head swap in the VERY near future but thats going to leave me needing a cab.

I play in a hardrock/metal original band (no lowered tunings, YET :p ) as well as a classic rock cover band, mainly a fingerstyle player with a minimal amount of slapping and pick playing mixed in. Both bands have (or will have) 2 guitars going at the same time.

The amps I've been offered all come in somewhere around 300-400 watts and one can go up to 1000 watts at 4 ohms bridged.

My all-important budget for the cab is going to be right around $200 so obviously I'm looking used to maximize the bang to buck ratio.

I figure a 4x10 would be my most versatile choice but I want to know what other options are out there. Also some brand-name suggestions would be appreciated.
This whole head-and-cabs thing is entirely new to me after 30 years of playing combo's. :confused:

Thanks for the help!
 
#2
If you can find a Hartke 410 XL (NOT Transporter), from the early to mid 90s, grab it with both hands.

Not real likely you'll find one at your price point (since most guys who have them, myself included, guard them with their lives)... but in the current economy, you never know.
 
#5
You'll want to spend a bit on cabs. It's better to get quality cabs so maybe look used for good but cheap ones.

A couple of other things as well. The speaker size doesn't tell you a whole lot about cabs and even manufacturer published specs are normally wrong and even completely made up. Also, remember that the wattage rating of cabs is just a thermal rating, many speakers are mechanically rated far lower.

A 410 is not always the best design. If you can find a cab(s) where the speakers can be aligned vertically. It's a better design.
 
#6
MistaMarko said:
$200 is a bit soft for a cab, IMO.
Click to expand...

jaywa said:
Agreed, I think that price point is going to limit the OP's options considerably. And/or is going to force him to take something that's absolutely beat to cr*p.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was figuring that would be the case. I have a possible cash buyer for the bass but he hasnt made up his mind yet.
IF he buys it at or near my selling price, the cab budget gets bumped up to around $300-350. BUT I dont have the commitment from him right now. :(
 
#7
kjpollo said:
Yeah, I was figuring that would be the case. I have a possible cash buyer for the bass but he hasnt made up his mind yet.
IF he buys it at or near my selling price, the cab budget gets bumped up to around $300-350. BUT I dont have the commitment from him right now. :(
Click to expand...

Unless you have gigs right around the corner and have no one you can borrow a cabinet from, I'd advise patience. $300-350 is still at the lower end but puts you in much better position than you are currently.
 
#8
I'll bet if you keep your eyes open, you could find an old beat up SWR Goliath for that much... SWR doesn't get much love these days (which is silly, IMO) and if someone let theirs get a bit knocked around it might go cheap...

A quick Ebay scan shows:
http://cgi.ebay.com/SWR-Goliath-2_W0QQitemZ150350981393QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item23019de911&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A570|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Something to look out for: Lotsa no-name makers have made cabs out of press board and MDF with cheap drivers - - You can't tell what they are from the outside, but you'll sure hear it when you play it, particularly if they've been used a bit (MDF doesn't hold up like real wood, ya know). So be careful, but I'll bet you can do what you need for $200 if you are *patient*.
 
#10
kjpollo said:
Guys,

I hope to be completing a bass-for-head swap in the VERY near future but thats going to leave me needing a cab.

I play in a hardrock/metal original band (no lowered tunings, YET :p ) as well as a classic rock cover band, mainly a fingerstyle player with a minimal amount of slapping and pick playing mixed in. Both bands have (or will have) 2 guitars going at the same time.

The amps I've been offered all come in somewhere around 300-400 watts and one can go up to 1000 watts at 4 ohms bridged.

My all-important budget for the cab is going to be right around $200 so obviously I'm looking used to maximize the bang to buck ratio.

I figure a 4x10 would be my most versatile choice but I want to know what other options are out there. Also some brand-name suggestions would be appreciated.
This whole head-and-cabs thing is entirely new to me after 30 years of playing combo's. :confused:

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
would renting a cab be an option.....l+m (our version of gc)will credit rentals to the purchase price......see if theres a good quality 4x10 and if worse comes to worse and you cant afford the payments you can return it with no harm to your credit.....
 
#12
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#13
Since you are a member of the Carvin club, presumably you are already aware of the BRX 10.4 NEO - which gets rave reviews here on TB from just about everyone who's played one. And it's rated @ 4 ohms too, so it'd be a natural for your amp that puts out 1000 watts into 4 ohms... :hmm:

Agreed that you're not likely to get something of any quality for only $200 - and for $300-$350 only if you buy used - or maybe Avatar. I'd save for the BRX if I were you...

MM
 
#14
might find an old Peavey for that price. generally last forever and sound decent, though it'll be heavy. Also, the new Acoustic brand amps that Guitar Center and musiciansfriend are selling might be worth looking into. They have a 410 for $299, and people seem to generally like them. Doubt there are many on the used market yet though.
 
#18
UncleBalsamic said:
How so?
Click to expand...

Good sounding bass cabinets require drivers with heavy magnets, heavy wood in the cabinets and lots of bracing (i.e., more heavy wood).

If anyone knows of a 4x10 cabinet that sounds as good as my 100-lb Hartke XL and can pump as much volume... but weighs 50 lbs or less... I would love to know about it. But I don't imagine such an animal exists, or if it does, costs about $5,000.
 
#19
Hmmm.... My Epi 4x10 weights a freakin' ton AND it cost a fortune...

Best of both worlds?:rolleyes:

But no regrets here - I have yet to hear a 4x10 that sounds as good as my old NYC...

But to the OP - Be patient. Don't expect that Goliath that I linked to go for less than $300 in the end, but it won't be the only one out there. Have you look on the TB classifieds???
 
#20
jaywa said:
Good sounding bass cabinets require drivers with heavy magnets, heavy wood in the cabinets and lots of bracing (i.e., more heavy wood).

If anyone knows of a 4x10 cabinet that sounds as good as my 100-lb Hartke XL and can pump as much volume... but weighs 50 lbs or less... I would love to know about it. But I don't imagine such an animal exists, or if it does, costs about $5,000.
Click to expand...

See the new trend of excelent and light weight 115 cabs with midrange speakers. They weigh very little (sub-50lbs), are frequently louder than 610s and are generally excellent. Also, depending where you get one, they are not too expensive. In some cases, they're an absolute bargain.

I apologise to the OP for going off topic.
 

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