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Adding low-end to a rig with sub cabs

Jared Houseman

Jared Houseman

Jul 5, 2018
738
793
#1
I have a bfm jack 10 that I love the sound of but it doesn't have much low end. It feels like it rolls off around 50hz. Would adding a dedicated sub still sound good and not get muddy. I still want a clean tight sound but want that extra low end.

I'm looking at greenboys 12in sub or a bfm tuba 24. I'm leaning towards the bfm because the driver is much cheaper and I don't need the extra power handling of the greenboy. On the other hand the bfm looks much harder to build. (Ive build some desk speakers but have little cab building experience)
 
#2
No experience with the aforementioned cabs, but, in the past I had an Accugroove Tri112 + Gordo 118 sub, powered by a Mesa MPulse 600, and it didn't sound great like I'd hoped. You really need power to push a big driver like that, and with that amp split between the 2 cabs, the Tri112 by itself sounded way better.
I'd just get a solid 112x2 or 112+115 or 2x115 or 215 setup, should be plenty of beef and avoid an outright 'sub' but that's me!
 
#4
Downunderwonder said:
If you can build a Jack you can build a Tuba.

I don't know that a sub is really what you want though. Subs on stage are apt to add mostly mud.

Having only one ten is more likely the problem. Solution might be two tens, or retire it and get two twelves.
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I didn't build my jack but I do want to build an additional one in the future. Hopefully it'll fix my problem. A 12 sounds nice but I want something that pairs with what I already have
 
#5
Is there any reason you wouldn't want to use PA as reinforcement to your sound? It might be a bit of a pain to use a crossover system in your stage rig, as each driver would need it's own mic, mixer channel, and additional work from the FOH. I tend to use my rig without PA support for bar gigs, but at that point I'm not too worried about hitting the brown note. Sub bass is hard to manage what you hear on stage vs. what the audience hears.
 
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#6
Jared Houseman said:
I have a bfm jack 10 that I love the sound of but it doesn't have much low end. It feels like it rolls off around 50hz. Would adding a dedicated sub still sound good and not get muddy. I still want a clean tight sound but want that extra low end.

I'm looking at greenboys 12in sub or a bfm tuba 24. I'm leaning towards the bfm because the driver is much cheaper and I don't need the extra power handling of the greenboy. On the other hand the bfm looks much harder to build. (Ive build some desk speakers but have little cab building experience)
Click to expand...

Sometimes simply.moving more air will lead to the perception of "more low end". I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you'll likely enjoy adding another identical cab to what you have.
 
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#7
lokikallas said:
Is there any reason you wouldn't want to use PA as reinforcement to your sound? It might be a bit of a pain to use a crossover system in your stage rig, as each driver would need it's own mic, mixer channel, and additional work from the FOH. I tend to use my rig without PA support for bar gigs, but at that point I'm not too worried about hitting the brown note. Sub bass is hard to manage what you hear on stage vs. what the audience hears.
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I mostly want more lows for my personal enjoyment at home. Right now I'm not playing with a group that needs much amp power but any pickup gigs I do would be without pa support. But sounds like an additional jack 10 is the solution.
 
#11
Jared Houseman said:
I have a bfm jack 10 that I love the sound of but it doesn't have much low end. It feels like it rolls off around 50hz. Would adding a dedicated sub still sound good and not get muddy. I still want a clean tight sound but want that extra low end.

I'm looking at greenboys 12in sub or a bfm tuba 24. I'm leaning towards the bfm because the driver is much cheaper and I don't need the extra power handling of the greenboy. On the other hand the bfm looks much harder to build. (Ive build some desk speakers but have little cab building experience)
Click to expand...
Are you playing gigs without pa support? If so I'd recommend another cab. If you do have pa support and just want to feel the bass more check this out.
 
#14
Jared Houseman said:
I have a bfm jack 10 that I love the sound of but it doesn't have much low end. It feels like it rolls off around 50hz. Would adding a dedicated sub still sound good and not get muddy. I still want a clean tight sound but want that extra low end.

I'm looking at greenboys 12in sub or a bfm tuba 24. I'm leaning towards the bfm because the driver is much cheaper and I don't need the extra power handling of the greenboy. On the other hand the bfm looks much harder to build. (Ive build some desk speakers but have little cab building experience)
Click to expand...

Muddy is 100 to 200hz

Too much sub will make the bass boomy ... under 100hz.

I think a powered sub and a small bass amp would work good together
 
#20
From a guy who built a pair of J12L... the low end becomes noticeably more significant with two cabs plugged in vs just one! Definitely helps balance some of that hotter midrange.

Take that with a grain of salt as I haven't gigged mine, just home practice since I can't really take them out right now...
 

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