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Alternate Positions for Cabs

Alternate Positions for Cabs

  • Total voters
    195
agreatheight

agreatheight

Dec 23, 2005
4,269
33
55
Portland Area, ME
#1
Help answer a debate question I have been having with a friend. I say there it's totally fine to use a cab in an alternate position, for example laying down an 8x10 or standing up a 2x10. He says the can should be played as intended by the manufacturer.

Care to vote?
 
#2
well I admittedly don't know much about the subject, but many 210s i've seen have rubber stands on the bottom and on the side, which would suggest to me that even the manufacturer says its fine to stand the cabinet up however you want to. I'm not sure that I would lay an 810 down on its side, just because that's silly. I dont think it would hurt it, however.
 
#3
It should be fine to use an alternate position. However, just like suggested tone setting in your amp manual, I'd use the recommended position as a starting point. Then adjust the cab as needed for your tone, and sound projection requirements.

Trust your ears, and you'll be fine.
 
#4
When i get my 2x10 (later this week) i intend to stand it upright, so its a tiny bit closer to ear level, and lack of comb filtering.

With my 810, i always play it upright, one of the best parts about an 8x10 IMO is the ability to have speakers that close to ear level. (but with more than one 810 ive seen them piled on thier sides, so they are still close to ear level)

With my 2x15, i use it horizontally and vertically, depends really, unless its on its own, its usually a good cab to have on its sides, really projects and blows the faces off people in the crowd :D
 
#5
Almost every GS112 stack I've seen, shows where folks lay thier cabs flat... so the logo is displayed as it normally would be. However, I prefer to stand them up, because it puts the amp and the tweeter up a little higher.
 
#7
I've got a 210, which I use either with a 112 or a 212, depending on the size of the venue.

When I use it with the 112, I stand both on end to give me better off-the-floor positioning. It works great.

When I use the 212, I lay it flat on top, since the 212 is taller than the 112. That sounds great too.

Therefore, based on my experience, you can do whatever you think sounds good.
 
#8
McHack said:
Almost every GS112 stack I've seen, shows where folks lay thier cabs flat... so the logo is displayed as it normally would be. However, I prefer to stand them up, because it puts the amp and the tweeter up a little higher.
Click to expand...

I stand my G-K Neo112 on its end, except with the woofer on top. That extra height helps, and I would do the same thing if I had a traditional side-by-side 2x10. I think it makes an even bigger difference there.
 
#9
The main reason you wouldnt want to put a cabnet such as a 2x10 facing upwards would be the removal of coupling from the floor which would reduce the volume the cabinet can produce. however, that depends on the positioning in the room as well.


Standing a 2x10 on its side is a great way to get the 10's closer to YOU and make them sound different. It all depends on how you want to use it. I did that all the time with my 210.
 
#10
I usually always stack vertical, no matter which way the logo is intended ... if in a 'boomy' room, this would be very helpful to break the stage coupling effect, even get it up on something off the floor ... and vice versa if that situation applies ... it may not only help sound dispersal being vertical, it helps to get things up where you can hear them better ... especially if you are old and half deaf ... :)
 
#11
I like setting my bass cab on something so it's not directed at the back of my legs. Such a position would be fine if my ears were where my hamstrings are (then again, some people say I have my head up my a**, so there you go).

My FAVORITE positioning of cabinets is facing backward, away from the band. Then they're miked and run into the board so that you can listen through the monitors without interference from your cabs. Sammy Kershaw's sound man mics the band that way, and the sound is just tremendous.
 
#16
agreatheight said:
Help answer a debate question I have been having with a friend. I say there it's totally fine to use a cab in an alternate position, for example laying down an 8x10 or standing up a 2x10. He says the can should be played as intended by the manufacturer.

Care to vote?
Click to expand...
Put your cab however you want. The choice is YOURS!

(But if you insist on strapping one onto each side of your head people may stop wanting to play with you!)

:D

Joe.
 
#18
agreatheight said:
He says the can should be played as intended by the manufacturer.
Click to expand...

The manufacturer does what looks good, not what sounds good. Tall and thin stacks don't look as cool as short fat ones, but cabs usually sound best if they are aligned so the speakers are in a vertical line, so tall skinny stacks is the way to go.

Alex
 
#20
alexclaber said:
The manufacturer does what looks good, not what sounds good. Tall and thin stacks don't look as cool as short fat ones, but cabs usually sound best if they are aligned so the speakers are in a vertical line, so tall skinny stacks is the way to go.

Alex
Click to expand...

I might have to try that, but it'll mean that my stack will be over 7 feet tall (Felix Pappalardi, anyone?), and i'll need to put the heads on the floor or on a chair.

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