Adding an extension speaker to a combo..

[SGT. BAKER]

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?

If were me and I didn´t need a several power, I´g get ride of this Ashdown and I´d get some combo with enough watts just to hearing the bass good enough on stage. The main reason is that I don´t like to carry on with two or more stuffs, so I´d go to another combo just to carry on lonely one stuff. Maybe you should take a look to Markbass combos.

 

[iualum]

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.

Agreement on both counts.

And regarding the 2nd, when it came to "does it 'technically' work?" the answer was yes. But even though displacement was roughly the same for the 115 & 210, out in the room, the tone was left wanting.

 

[SteveCS]

Just one other comment - if you are combining cabs from different manufacturers make sure both cabs are in phase - you don't want one pushing when the other is pulling. If they are not in phase things can start to sound a but strange but it is a simple fix to either open the cab and reverse the connection at the input socket. If you don't want to do this, you could always cross-wire a speaker cable (and mark it in some way so that you know it is cross-wired)...

 

[KramerDon]

So...I've got a similar situation,a Markbass players school combo 150watts@8ohms w/the built in 15".It's got an extension speaker female jack and bumps up to [email protected]'ve been watching Craigs list for a quality 2X10'' 8ohm cabinet at a good price,I've been able to get loud enough for what I play in my praise band but I've always thought stuff sounded a little better with more headroom/power and I like the idea of getting the speakers up closer to my ear.Can't I take it for granted that a Carvin or Hartke cabinet will be in phase w/my Markbass 15"? I just assumed the positive would always be the male jack tip?
Thanks for any explanations/advice!!!

 

[SteveCS]

Convention says yes, the tip from the amp will be 'hot' and you should be able to assume your cabs will be the same, but they 'might' not be. If things sound a bit weird (thin or hollow) then it is worth checking the phase. I'm not saying that this is a panacea for all ills, just something to be conscious of.
In a bi-amp setup, it is possible for the x-over and amplifiers to introduce phase shifting that interferes with stuff at or around the x-over frequency. Not normally a problem but if one of the amplifiers is inverting phase (e.g. because there are effects processors between the cross-over and the 'high' power amp and not on the 'low' side) it could get quite nasty.