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Amp head and cabinet of different brands

crguti

crguti

Feb 14, 2011
2,599
2,908
Scandinavia
#1
I have seen a lot of bass players using an amp head and a cabinet of different brands. I have been thinking about that, and a matched set (amp head and cabinet of the same model and brand) would be the best because it would reflect exactly how the manufacturer wants to sound his design.
How did you end up with such a setup? is it becasue it was affordable? or because you liked the sound of that particular configuration.

cheers
 
#2
I play cabs of brands different from the amps I play. That is because the companies whos amps I enjoy, do not make cabs I would want. The brand of cabs I play is from a designer who doesnt produce amps.

I think you are giving way tooooo much credit to the majority of manufacturers out there. IMHO the best bass cabs are produced by companies that actually dont make any amps (with the exception of Baer).
 
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#4
None of my stuff really "matches"... GK and Ampeg amps---Mesa and Genz Benz cabs....
d313ab4b.jpg
 
#5
I would advise against mixing cabs of different brands, but mixing heads and cabs is fine in my opinion. I suppose you want them to be close to each other style wise. An all tube SVT head might be weird with some light weight 112 neodymium cabs. Or an old Sun 8x10 might be weird with a Shuttle head. Keep "vintage" tones together and "modern" tones together so they don't fight with each other.
 
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#7
Some companies make better amps than cabs. Some companies make better cabs than amps. Some companies make bad cabs and bad amps.

Seems stupid to limit yourself due to a nameplate. Or some random designer's idea if what you should sound like. Or in some cases what someone has decided will shift units by looking good in an ad.
 
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#9
I like the way my markbass head sounds with my markbass cabs, I love the way my markbass head sounds with my GK cab.

I don't like my gk head with my gk cab, but I like it with my hartke cabs and love it with my SWR cabs, I go back and forth with my gk head and markbass cabs.

Go for what you like, but the other gent is right - mixing cab brands usually doesn't work out too well in my experiences.
 
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#10
socialleper said:
I would advise against mixing cabs of different brands, but mixing heads and cabs is fine in my opinion. I suppose you want them to be close to each other style wise. An all tube SVT head might be weird with some light weight 112 neodymium cabs. Or an old Sun 8x10 might be weird with a Shuttle head. Keep "vintage" tones together and "modern" tones together so they don't fight with each other.
Click to expand...


Is there something trebly wrong with mixing cabs?
 
#11
I think that it's more simply to find and buy an amp (an amp that you like the sound but it's not perfect) and after find your cabinet for a perfect sound.
If we want to find our sound, we need to know how is and then configurate the cabinet.
We can find a lot of differents speakers with different specifications and different sound. I think that it's more important the cabinet than the amp (60 % cab vs 40% amp). But it's my personal opinion.
I know more bassist that play with an amp head and a cabinet of different brands.
 
#14
CL400Peavey said:
You're new here? :woot:

I would actually recommend not even mixing different cabs from the same manufacturer. Best pairing for a cab, is an identical model.
Click to expand...

Hahaha not all that new (It looks like I joined before you;)) I just never worried about amps until more recently. I always used combos/direct for small to low mid-gigs. Now that I'm playing with more gear in front of more people I'm learning the ins and outs. I will check other threads too, however what's the short reason you can't mix them? Is it due to sound canceling? Will my cabs blow up thus starting world war three?
 
#16
nataku333 said:
Hahaha not all that new (It looks like I joined before you;)) I just never worried about amps until more recently. I always used combos/direct for small to low mid-gigs. Now that I'm playing with more gear in front of more people I'm learning the ins and outs. I will check other threads too, however what's the short reason you can't mix them? Is it due to sound canceling? Will my cabs blow up thus starting world war three?
Click to expand...

There are a couple issues.
  • Power handling differences, you will have a weak link.
  • Sensitivity differences, you can have one speaker that will over power the other.
  • Phase cancellations, your sound will not be consistent in the room.
 
#18
CL400Peavey said:
There are a couple issues.
  • Power handling differences, you will have a weak link.
  • Sensitivity differences, you can have one speaker that will over power the other.
  • Phase cancellations, your sound will not be consistent in the room.
Click to expand...

Okay that makes since. However It sounds like if you don't crank it to 11 you could be fine? Is this true, with good tone being relative, as long as you don't over load your speakers it sound like you should in most case be good to go. All but the consistent soud part. But then there that guy below. I just want to hit low notes :bassist:hahahaha.

Esgleas said:
Here it's a mix cabs with a TC250 head.View attachment 413406
Click to expand...
 
#19
nataku333 said:
Okay that makes since. However It sounds like if you don't crank it to 11 you could be fine? Is this true, with good tone being relative, as long as you don't over load your speakers it sound like you should in most case be good to go. All but the consistent soud part. But then there that guy below. I just want to hit low notes :bassist:hahahaha.
Click to expand...

If you look at a classical example, the 410 and 115 pairing, you are not actually increasing your sound with the 115 in most cases. It suffers in sensitivity, and power handling, so it isnt adding any volume but instead is holding back your 410. You could achieve the same volume with the 410 on its own, and not risk blowing the 115.
 
#20
Sound, sound, and sound again! My cabs hit the sweet spot for me - very efficient, and big tone. While I still have my original Eden head, I've been using them with a Demeter instead. Different sound from the WT550, but one I really like.

As the guys above have said about mixing cabs - make sure they are similar loads and efficiencies. For example, I tried pairing two cabs in my youth. An Acoustic with an 18" folded horn, and a 215 JBL loaded cab. Couldn't even hear the Acoustic, because it was so much less efficient than the other cab.
 

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