Aguilar GS112 impressions & question

[campersand]

I recently got an Aguilar gs112 with the intention of getting another one if I liked it (thanks to everyone who responded to this thread with recommendations). Last night I tried it out with my dance/pop cover band. I loved it in some ways and didn't love it in other ways.

The good parts: It blended with the rest of the band so amazingly well. Even though it was quieter than the Peavey 215 I'm used to (of course), I could hear myself in a way that I never could with the Peavey. And it smoothed out and strengthened the whole range of my bass. Locations on the fretboard I've always thought of as dead spots and therefore avoided sounded solid and strong in a way they never have before.

The not as good parts: It was lacking in the deep, punch-you in-the-chest bass frequencies that my 215 has a ton of. And I didn't get any of the midrange growl that I can get, particularly with a pick, out of my 215.

I know I can't expect a 112 to rival a 215, but my question is... If I get another gs112, will I get the deep bass that I don't hear in the single cab? Or is there another 112 or 210 that I should look at getting a pair of instead?

 

[Al Kraft]

I've been pleasantly surprised at the difference between a single 112 cab and two of the same cab, especially with the added fullness/power in the lower register. In your case with a reference point being a 215, the fact that you weren't totally disappointed with the lack of room filling lows says a lot about your new cab. A second cab will make a very noticeable difference based on my experience.

As for any weakness/shyness in the mids, the Aguilar cab that would be better for that would be a DB IMO. The DB cabs are more mid forward than the GS to my ear. However, an additional GS cab and some EQ'ing could easily get you where you want to be depending on the degree of mid presence you like. Since you bought the GS cab, I'm assuming it sounded okay until you needed to hear yourself on stage in a mix. A second cab will get the sound you already like closer to your ears and at a higher volume level - that may be all you really need.

I'd say that with all the things you liked about the GS112 (and it is a sweet cab), the only thing you need to be 100% happy is another one. No reason to change brands/models if all you really need is more of what you already like, but just don't have enough of. I hope that's a helpful perspective.

 

[campersand]

Al, thanks for the very informative response! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear.

 

[Monkey]

I'd say that with all the things you liked about the GS112 (and it is a sweet cab), the only thing you need to be 100% happy is another one.

I agree. I gigged with GS112s for many years and the difference between one and two was dramatic. I loved the big, pillowy lows I could get with two, and they were pretty light and easy to get around. Good cabs. They were a bit mid-shy, but I was happy with them for a long time.

 

[chadds]

The mid shy is the problem. It works if your bass or eq are very middy. Your punch however comes from good mids. The highs are okay, the lows just wonderful.

 

[Al Kraft]

The mid shy is the problem. It works if your bass or eq are very middy. Your punch however comes from good mids. The highs are okay, the lows just wonderful.

The problem I have choosing between the GS and the DB cabs is that while the DB is more mid forward, it has its own unique mid range sound - not quite an Ampeg vintage type tone. If you like its mid presentation you're golden, but it didn't work for me. With the GS, to my ear, you can tame down the low and high end a bit with EQ, introduce more mid signal at the bass and/or preamp and get as much mid richness as I would ever want. It's a trade-off, but I like the full smooth voicing of the GS better and think you can easily find a way to slot into a mix with them. YMMV!

 

[TuneMan]

I recently got an Aguilar gs112 with the intention of getting another one if I liked it (thanks to everyone who responded to this thread with recommendations). Last night I tried it out with my dance/pop cover band. I loved it in some ways and didn't love it in other ways.

The good parts: It blended with the rest of the band so amazingly well. Even though it was quieter than the Peavey 215 I'm used to (of course), I could hear myself in a way that I never could with the Peavey. And it smoothed out and strengthened the whole range of my bass. Locations on the fretboard I've always thought of as dead spots and therefore avoided sounded solid and strong in a way they never have before.

The not as good parts: It was lacking in the deep, punch-you in-the-chest bass frequencies that my 215 has a ton of. And I didn't get any of the midrange growl that I can get, particularly with a pick, out of my 215.

I know I can't expect a 112 to rival a 215, but my question is... If I get another gs112, will I get the deep bass that I don't hear in the single cab? Or is there another 112 or 210 that I should look at getting a pair of instead?

Two cabs definitely sound more than twice as full as one (kind of like 2+2=5). Many people are stacking them vertically to make it taller & easier to hear, and smaller footprint on stage.

I have GS cabs and also a SL112, which is more mid-forward and punchy than the GS's warm, wooly sound (also only 26 lbs.!!). I've combined them, also put the SL112 or a GS112 on top of a GS212, which I call the "short stack," and it packs a wallop.

I have the Mesa Subway 1x12, and stack that on top of a Mesa Powerhouse 1x12. The different voicings of the cabinets compliment each other. I haven't mixed Mesa and Aguilar cabs, but the Mesa Subway D800 head sounds amazing through the GS series cabinets. The Mesa Subway 1x15 is the smallest, lightest, punchiest 1x15 I've heard. I just sold my Powerhouse 1x15. A 1x12 on top of a 1x15 is pretty solid.

 

[chadds]

Two cabs definitely sound more than twice as full as one (kind of like 2+2=5). Many people are stacking them vertically to make it taller & easier to hear, and smaller footprint on stage.

I have GS cabs and also a SL112, which is more mid-forward and punchy than the GS's warm, wooly sound (also only 26 lbs.!!). I've combined them, also put the SL112 or a GS112 on top of a GS212, which I call the "short stack," and it packs a wallop.

I have the Mesa Subway 1x12, and stack that on top of a Mesa Powerhouse 1x12. The different voicings of the cabinets compliment each other. I haven't mixed Mesa and Aguilar cabs, but the Mesa Subway D800 head sounds amazing through the GS series cabinets. The Mesa Subway 1x15 is the smallest, lightest, punchiest 1x15 I've heard. I just sold my Powerhouse 1x15. A 1x12 on top of a 1x15 is pretty solid.

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Someone is having way too much fun!

 

[And I]

I have two 112s (GK neo). When I use 2 I definitely get more low-end extension.

 

[Al Kraft]

I have two 112s (GK neo). When I use 2 I definitely get more low-end extension.

Same for me, and it's quite surprising. As someone mentioned earlier about the sound difference, it's like the math comes out to 2+2=5, and not just for the GK Neo's either.

 

[And I]

Makes sense, lower frequencies require a lot more air to be moved to be heard as well as higher frequencies. Double the speaker cones means double the air moving, all other things being equal (which they're not (but it still works!! crazy!!)).

 

[TuneMan]

Makes sense, lower frequencies require a lot more air to be moved to be heard as well as higher frequencies. Double the speaker cones means double the air moving, all other things being equal (which they're not (but it still works!! crazy!!)).

I think the two speakers couple together to form one big sound wave that sounds more than twice as loud. Also, some people playing with one cabinet put it on a chair or road case so they can hear it better. With 2 cabs, the bottom one gets the benefit of floor contact resulting in more bass, and the top cab is more mid-prominent. Vertical stack helps the ability to hear the speakers as well.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

...The GS, to my ear, you can tame down the low and high end a bit with EQ, introduce more mid signal at the bass and/or preamp and get as much mid richness as I would ever want. It's a trade-off, but I like the full smooth voicing of the GS better and think you can easily find a way to slot into a mix with them. YMMV!

I agree with Al's statement on the GS112 cabinets. I use a pair of them, which I usually power with an Aguilar TH500, and I love this setup. A pair of GS112's can put out lots of punch, you just have set your EQ to emphasize the necessary frequencies. I've also powered my GS112's with my Crest CA9/Demeter HBP-1 rack setup, and they do a great job IMO.

I haven't tried the DB Series cabinets, but I'm a huge midrange tone guy. While some folks feel the GS Series cabs are mid-shy, I've personally always been able to dial in the mids I need via my eq section, on both my TH500 and my HBP-1.

I've often wondered if the folks who feel the GS112's are mid-shy are looking for upper midrange "honk" or "bite". Maybe I like their voicing because I can get the most punch from lower midrange frequencies, think John Paul Jones' tone on the earlier Led Zeppelin albums.

 

[campersand]

Well, I purchased another GS112 from the TB classifieds and it should hopefully be here by next Friday for my gig that night. So I'll let you all know how it goes. I do like some high mid growl/bite sometimes, so we'll see if I can coax that out of the gs112's. I'm excited to hear how the two sound together, based on everyone's feedback in this thread!

 

[Al Kraft]

Well, I purchased another GS112 from the TB classifieds and it should hopefully be here by next Friday for my gig that night. So I'll let you all know how it goes. I do like some high mid growl/bite sometimes, so we'll see if I can coax that out of the gs112's. I'm excited to hear how the two sound together, based on everyone's feedback in this thread!

My only advice is to not be shy about using EQ on the bass, your pedals and/or your head to accentuate what you feel those cabs may be a touch light on. To the best of my knowledge the drivers in the GS and its mid-forward DB sibling are either identical or really close. I was given to believe (could be folklore because I don't know first-hand) that the cabinet materials (which are definitely different) and construction are mostly responsible for the big difference in tone between the two.

What I do know for sure is that the GS does take EQ well and can get a stronger sense of mid presence than its reputation might suggest. Even if it can't get the exact voicing you're looking for, I'm confident it will still be an impressive rig and put a smile on your face. I hope it works out well for you campersand and good luck on the gig!!

 

[campersand]

Well, it's been a few months and I've had several gigs to get used to my pair of GS112's. The verdict is... They're great in a lot of ways but I'm afraid not the ideal cab for me. The main thing I'm still missing (aside from the growly mids, which I can live with) is the super low lows that I got from my 215. This wouldn't be that big a deal, except I like to use an octaver sometimes, and the GS112's distort as soon as I kick in the low octave, even if it's just barely turned up. That's unfortunately kind of a deal breaker.

So, my questions: Is there something I can do with my current setup to mitigate this problem? Is this an issue with 12's in general? Am I going to have to get a couple 115's in order to have something that can handle an octave pedal, or is it specific to the GS112's?

 

[Shishka Bob]

What bass are you using? I must have missed it in this thread. I raise this because, not only is it so easy spending other people's money here, but have you considered Aguilar pick ups? I have a Jazz bass with their hum cancelling pick ups. They get you great control of your tone at the instrument. Might be a reasonable way to tweek out those mids?

 

[Al Kraft]

Well, it's been a few months and I've had several gigs to get used to my pair of GS112's. The verdict is... They're great in a lot of ways but I'm afraid not the ideal cab for me. The main thing I'm still missing (aside from the growly mids, which I can live with) is the super low lows that I got from my 215. This wouldn't be that big a deal, except I like to use an octaver sometimes, and the GS112's distort as soon as I kick in the low octave, even if it's just barely turned up. That's unfortunately kind of a deal breaker.

So, my questions: Is there something I can do with my current setup to mitigate this problem? Is this an issue with 12's in general? Am I going to have to get a couple 115's in order to have something that can handle an octave pedal, or is it specific to the GS112's?

Sorry to hear you're having trouble getting everything you need from those cabs. Weak low end is not something I ever experienced with GS cabs, but then I'm a 4 string player and don't have an octave pedal. I suspect the cabs are just overwhelmed by the sub frequencies as many, if not most typical bass cabs might be.

As for 12's vs 15's, I'm a firm believer that cab voicing and capability is speaker diameter agnostic (within reason of course). You can have annoyingly mid focused 15" loaded cabs and booming sub-woofer cabs with 10 or 12 inch drivers. It's really all about what the cabs are designed to do as total system which includes the drivers themselves and the cab construction (design, tuning and materials).

This will sound counter-intuitive, but you may find that adding in a HPF could help. In some cases those sub frequencies which are unusable by the cabinets are actually creating an amp problem (devouring headroom/creating distortion) and a cab problem (over-driving/overpowering speakers) that prevents your system from delivering the bass fullness it could. If sub-woofer territory is what you're craving, then I'd look to some of the super cabs like Greenboy or Barefaced produce.

My guess is that you're just pushing too high a level of sub lows into those cabs. You might be very surprised at how full they will sound if you dial back/out the low fundamentals of those sub frequencies and work with emphasizing the first harmonics. IME this will enable you to fully utilize the low end a capability of those cabs (and you amp) more effectively. Of course if that leaves you wanting, you may need another cab solution. I find the Mesa Subway 115 to be very full in the low end, but it may not be enough for your needs. I hope that helps!

 

[Shishka Bob]

The more I think about your issue here the more I think that you are looking for the kick from the wrong place in the spectrum. Al Kraft (above post) makes good sense here. The percussive kick from a bass tends more to come from the lo mids, not the bass. If you are running your bass end too high, you very well could be swallowing up any mid oomph. The mids might very well be there, but you're not hearing it or feeling it because of the bass range being too up there. I wounder what would happen if you backed off the bass range, play for a while, and see if you don't find what you have been looking for that way.

 

[campersand]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Bob, I have a Washburn XB-500 that unfortunately has pickups that are a weird size and not very easy to swap out. I'll try cutting different frequencies at my gig tomorrow and see if that helps. I'm not cranking up the bass right now though, the eq is pretty flat other than a boost in the mids.