Hi, I play in a Blues / rock band, playing a Fender P Bass through an Ashdown 180w 115 combo. I'm thinking of adding an extension speaker to it, i'm thinking it may help so I can hear myself better as we dont use monitors. Any ideas? Is it worth getting another cab or a totally new set up?
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Adding an extension speaker to a combo..
- Thread starter Martn Gervaise
- Start date
I would add another Ashdown 115. I added a NY151 cab to my Markbass Jeff Berlin combo and love the results. I subscribe to the add an identical cab for best results school of thought.
I have been thinking this same thing for a while. I have a Trace Elliot 2x10 combo, right now it does alright because it has a DI and also the speakers can be mic'ed if PA support is there for gigs, however if not then a extension cabinet would help. When that time comes I'll start looking at a same era 2x10 or 1x15. Many will say to get the same manufacturer and speaker size/config but play around and experiment what sounds the best and works the best for you.
The problem with mixing cabs (different brand and/or cone size) is that it may sound great or it may not. You don't know until you try. When you match identical cabs you may be more likely to get a great sounding rig. Another factor is how loud you play. I've found my matched cab rigs seem to perform well when pushed hard. The mixed cab rigs - not always. Good luck!
The biggie here is can the combo actually accept an extension cabinet. If there is no extension socket provided then the internal drivers load the amp section to its fullest. Even if there is a socket, some manufacturers wire them in SERIES with the internal drivers. Using that type means the amp will produce LESS power.
If it's the Electric Blue 180, I believe they are made to accept an 8ohm extension cab. Guy here used to have one.
I wasn't a fan of the blue speakers, but quite liked the amp when we hooked it up to other cabs.
Your opinion may differ, that's fine too.
Look for an Ashdown 8ohm 15 from the same product line as the amp (EB, ABM, or MAG, etc.).
I wasn't a fan of the blue speakers, but quite liked the amp when we hooked it up to other cabs.
Your opinion may differ, that's fine too.
Look for an Ashdown 8ohm 15 from the same product line as the amp (EB, ABM, or MAG, etc.).
Thanks guys for your replies and advice, it is the Electric Blue 180 and does have an extension socket...
Martin.
Martin.
I am so glad you were at the Do-Re-Mi that night and are able to report first hand how it sounded.
Combining a 115 with a 410 is flushing the 410 money down the toilet. A big-name commercial 115 has no chance of keeping up with a big-name commercial 410 (which has nearly twice the displacement). None. Push the 115 to its limit & the 410 isn't breaking a sweat. Crank the volume to try to take advantage of the 410 & the 115 is sounding like dreck.I am so glad you were at the Do-Re-Mi that night and are able to report first hand how it sounded.
The only good thing about stacking a 115/410 is that the lower box raises the upper box close to ear level. If someone is bound/determined to combine these, fine, it's their bucks. But then they should put the 115 on top so it'll be easier to hear when (not if) the 115 starts to sound bad.
The only caveat to this is if the 115 is an 8-ohm & the 410 is a 4-ohm & the amp supports a 2-ohm load. Then it's a possibility.
Again, combining a 115 (8-ohm) with another 115 (8-ohm) or 210 (8-ohm) is the way to go.
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It's an Ashdown EB180!! 180 watts @4ohm. No way in hell will it push the internal 1-15 and the 4x10he anywhere near their limits. All it did was add another element of tone that I found pleasing to my ears. That was what I was telling the Original Poster because he was asking about adding a cab to an EB180. Not an SVT or a GK1001rb. My advice would have been quite different had that been the question.
I stand by my post as myself and my bandmates were happy with the outcome.
Ken R
If you're happy with the outcome, you're happy with the outcome. Super. Like I said, it's your money.
So 90 watts is going to the 115 & 90 to the 410. The 90 going to the 115 isn't making the 115 work hard, but the 90 going to the 410 is barely taxing it at all. You're getting no more performance from the 410 than you would from another 115 or a 210, but you forked out excess (maybe a lot of excess) bucks for the 410 over a 115 or 210.
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If your 4x10 is 4ohms then you're going to take the EB down to 2.666 paired with the 15. Do what you want. I wouldn't do it.
Just for discussions sake...
IF mixing driver sizes were NOT a factor, and power handling was the only concern, one could use, for example, a quality 8ohm 450 watt 15, (like I own) with an entry or mid level 8ohm 410, rated at 400-500 watts. But what would be the point? Better off with one quality cab.
I used to (until I learned better) run an 8ohm, 200 watt 15, with a 8ohm 250 watt 210, with a 350 watt head. Sounded huge, and amazing as far as I could tell, but I was always on the stage, not out in the audience, where the paying customers were.
