a question about a cab.

[Dmonster]

so i have been playing guitar for about 6 years. I am finally going to give bass a try. Im excited about it.

Im basically wondering if there is a BIG difference between a "bass cab" and a "guitar cab"

it would be a lot cheaper for me to just buy a head and throw it on the cab from my guitar amp. but i just wanted to make sure it would work. it doesn't have to be the best, just looking for a decent sound.

it's probably a noob question, but i wanna make sure i budget this purchase properly.

Thanks.

 

[dj150888]

Short answer - Yes, they're different. I wouldn't recommend playing bass through a guitar cab for any extended period at any remotely high volumes.

 

[René_Julien]

A rather large difference actually.

Guitar speakers and bass speakers are very different.

First of all, generally speakers for bass can handle more power, because you need more power for bass.

Guitar speakers are not good at all for handling the frequencies of a bass guitar. This has mostly to do with the fundamental notes and harmonics.

Most (every) bass cab is closed back. This is important for the speakers to handle the lower frequencies. (I can't give the full technical explanation.)


It can be done, using guitar cabs for bass, but it's not advisable. Especially if you are not sure what you are doing. And it mostly only works great at low volumes.


I seriously recommend investing in a bass cab.

You can use your guitar head most of the times for bass. Not much problems with that (if any, except not enough power.)
Depends on taste if this is recommendable.

 

[smogg]

Yes, there is a big difference between the two. At very low (and I mean VERY LOW) volumes a guitar cab will work. But, boost up to jam or gig volume and you'll run into all kinds of trouble (ie: week tone, unwanted breakup/distortion, and eventually speaker failure).

Just read up on bass gear and go used to minimize the hit on your wallet.

 

[waleross]

Yes and Yes. Ok , I just got a Marshall 50 watt tube head with a 412 cab for guitar. I am tempted to run one of my basses through it just to test it but there is no need. I have however I have run one of my guitars through my bass rig (svT4 and a 810E) sounds killer and I can't harm the amp or speakers even if I turn it way up. I would spend a little more for a good bass cab. I prefer (4) ten's but its not the rule do your HW shop around. Same thing goes for bass heads which come in many sizes . ......have fun

 

[YellowJacket]

I'm in basically the same boat as this guy here. I just traded my Rectocab 4 x 12 with side armour for a Fender P-bass which I am absolutely loving. I never liked playing bass before since I only had access to instruments that were dogs. The best I played was a SGR but I really didn't 'click' with that instrument. Now I can't wait to pick up the instrument to play everyday and I'm intending on getting lessons and practicing regularly.

The long story is that I ordered some hardware and guitar speakers and built a 2 x 12 with my father in law which sounded incredible. We then ordered parts to build another one so that I could replace the 4 x 12 and use the massive funds invested in that to get a bass. So, here I am now and I need gear for the bass. I have been using my Dual Recto at low volumes for practice but on the advice of Mesa Boogie, I don't use it aside from that because I don't want to cook my $300 G12m Heritage.

I initially saw an SWR 100watt practice combo with a 15 inch speaker in it for $350. In guitar speak 100watts is loud so I figured it would be adequate but upon advice from my friend who is a smokin' bassist, he said I'd at LEAST need 300watts. I decided that my Dual Rectifier can put out a maximum of 120watts of tube tone when using the silicon diode rectifiers so it would be just as loud as the SWR but sound better in the process. A survivable stop gap situation at least.

The plan for now is to acquire a great sounding 210 and use that with my guitar head at maximum power until I have cash to afford a real bass head and figure out what I like. I'm completely clueless as to what that is. The long term plan is to run the 210 with a 115 and a head of some sort, whatever floats my boat. I found an Ashdown 210 locally for sale for $220 and I figure that is a permissible sum to pay to turn my guitar into a decent practice / rehearsal amp. Apparently the bass cab can handle 350watts and the speakers are incredibly high efficiency, something that will make the most of every watt coming from my guitar head.

thoughts . . .

 

[René_Julien]

I'm in basically the same boat as this guy here. I just traded my Rectocab 4 x 12 with side armour for a Fender P-bass which I am absolutely loving. I never liked playing bass before since I only had access to instruments that were dogs. The best I played was a SGR but I really didn't 'click' with that instrument. Now I can't wait to pick up the instrument to play everyday and I'm intending on getting lessons and practicing regularly.

The long story is that I ordered some hardware and guitar speakers and built a 2 x 12 with my father in law which sounded incredible. We then ordered parts to build another one so that I could replace the 4 x 12 and use the massive funds invested in that to get a bass. So, here I am now and I need gear for the bass. I have been using my Dual Recto at low volumes for practice but on the advice of Mesa Boogie, I don't use it aside from that because I don't want to cook my $300 G12m Heritage.

I initially saw an SWR 100watt practice combo with a 15 inch speaker in it for $350. In guitar speak 100watts is loud so I figured it would be adequate but upon advice from my friend who is a smokin' bassist, he said I'd at LEAST need 300watts. I decided that my Dual Rectifier can put out a maximum of 120watts of tube tone when using the silicon diode rectifiers so it would be just as loud as the SWR but sound better in the process. A survivable stop gap situation at least.

The plan for now is to acquire a great sounding 210 and use that with my guitar head at maximum power until I have cash to afford a real bass head and figure out what I like. I'm completely clueless as to what that is. The long term plan is to run the 210 with a 115 and a head of some sort, whatever floats my boat. I found an Ashdown 210 locally for sale for $220 and I figure that is a permissible sum to pay to turn my guitar into a decent practice / rehearsal amp. Apparently the bass cab can handle 350watts and the speakers are incredibly high efficiency, something that will make the most of every watt coming from my guitar head.

thoughts . . .

350W, that's the Ashdown ABM series. That 2x10 is a great cab.

For me this one sounds too warm (for the tone I'm going for, I tried it with Gallien Krueger and Ashdown ABM and MAG amps).
And my opinion is that it's rather heavy for a 2x10 cab.
Otherwise, great cab.

I have no clue how it would sound with your Mesa Dual Rectifier...
I think that can be awesome.
Would make an interesting little rig.