A question I expect entirely subjective answers to.....

[Wesley R]

1x15 because I did from October 1974 until July? 2002.

 

[J Wilson]

Utterly subjective, one man's opinion:

I would prefer a single 15. If it has to have a tweeter-ish device, I'd prefer a small speaker as opposed to a horn device, maybe a well-matched 3" or 5". If it doesn't, that's OK.

I could care less about an all-tube amp, a tube preamp in front of SS or Class D is fine if I must. And a 50w amp for me is a door stop or paper weight. I have too many bad memories of not enough amp.

 

[Drredplate]

1x15 as pushes more air. I prefer sound of 15

 

[dbsfgyd1]

So, like any good GenX player, I've had pretty much every possible amp combo possible, from SVT's to Peavey's to SWR's to Edens and so on and so on.
If you were looking for a cab - SMALL cab - and it was being powered by a 50W tube head - would you want a 2x10 or a 1x15? Why? And don't cheat say "both." Yeah, yeah, yeah. But let's pretend you can literally only bring one to this gig - mid-sized club with a PA.

This is not subjective, but I would want to use my Eden D-210-XST. Great tonal range and very efficient to squeeze out the maximum amount of dBs from that 50 watt head. That said, it's not exactly a small nor a light cab by today's standards.

I'm also sure it's not the only efficient cab in the market. In general, if I was looking for a cab to mate up with a 50 watt head for medium size clubs, that cab would have to be very efficient and pointed at my head, and closer to my head with each additional player on stage.

Now, if you have monitor support as well as FOH support, it doesn't matter as much what cab you have, if having one at all except most tube amps need to be connected to a speaker or else magic smoke.

'Just my two cents. Best wishes.

 

[instrumentlevel]

I've tried different things, but have kept coming back to single 15s since starting bass in the early 80s. It all depends on the design, of course, but i find them more reliably give me the deep I'm looking for.

These days, I'm loving my Mesa Subway 15, sometimes two at a time.

 

[Stewie]

A TL606 with an EVM15L. Not exactly small, but will sound amazing and get the most out of 50 watts

 

[KJMO]

The 15" I had beamed like mad, so based on that I'd choose the 2x10. If not, the 15 has slightly more area, so I'd take that. Kind of interchangeable, given equal quality, etc. I haven't noticed this being the case, but shouldn't the 15 be able to be lighter?

 

[Camaro69]

2 votes for 15

cuz I have them daisy chained together

 

[Killing Floor]

How about a 215? Or 212.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

115

 

[ezstep]

2x12.

 

[Topkat13]

I guess if those were my only choices and I decided not to go the 2 x 10 route I would go with the 1 x 15.

 

[Al Kraft]

For me it depends on the cab and how its voiced. Just so I'm not ducking the question I would probably favor something like a Mesa SW115. I like how versatile and balanced that cab is. It provides a very full bottom end, is clean and articulate up top, and does it all without sacrificing a rich mid voice with no noticeable peaks or valleys.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It would depend on the cabs. If you were looking at Mesa Subway, I'd go with the 210, but the 115 wouldn't sound bad if that was what you chose.

 

[Turnaround]

Well, it means a 1x15 has greater surface area than a 2x10.

And 2x12 beats both.

 

[logdrum]

Quince

 

[LiptonJigglers]

Every 210 cab I've played through has been utterly useless. They've farted out way to early, I simply avoid them now.
So, it only leaves 15's... 15's are my go to cabs. Been playing them regularly for 25 years. In that time, only 1 single 15" cab has let me down ie: farted out to early. Orange OBC115.
Every other 15 or 215 cab I've owned has been superb.
Right now I'm in possession of an Aguilar DB115, Markbass CL152 and Labsystems 115 with twin front ports.

 

[GreyBeard]

Fifty watt amp is for bedroom practice.

My first gigging amp was a Fender black face bassman with a small 2x12 cab. It had 2x6L6 power tubes and was rated at 45 watts I think. I played a lot of gigs and made a lot of money with a bedroom practice amp.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I would choose a 115, only because I played through one for several years, I'm accustomed to the sound of a 115, and can probably EQ a 115 to my liking in about any room. That being said, I also have a 210 & have played it by itself a couple times on acoustic gigs.

 

[joelns]

For me it depends on the cab and how its voiced. Just so I'm not ducking the question I would probably favor something like a Mesa SW115. I like how versatile and balanced that cab is. It provides a very full bottom end, is clean and articulate up top, and does it all without sacrificing a rich mid voice with no noticeable peaks or valleys.

From the cabs I have played, this one. It's outstanding.