Amp Upgrade Decision Time!

[Allen_VA]

I've been playing through a GB Shuttle 6.0 for over a year now, and I love the portability and punchiness of it. I've run into a couple shows where I had insufficient BASS PA support and wanted for a bit more volume and low-end response.

I mainly play through a Schro 1210R (4 ohm) for most small gigs, and I've used my Carvin 410 (8 ohm), along with a separate power amp, in addition to the Schro+Shuttle for outdoor stuff.

Now I'm not totally married to either cab particularly, except that I've found that I dig the Schroeder sound, but I'd like some more low-end punch.

As a replacement, I've been researching the GB Shuttle 9.0 and also the StlMax 12.0. They have pro's and con's and I'm pretty much torn as to which direction to go. <For the sake of argument, I'm sticking with the Genz Benz product because I have a local dealer for them, I really like the 6.0, and weight/portability are high on my priority list>.

If I get the 12.0, I can stick with the cabinets I have now and even add another 8 ohm 2x10 or 4x10 if I needed it. It's just a good bit larger, and more expensive.

If I get the 9.0, I can max out what the Schro can handle (and exceed it if I'm not careful), or I can sell it and get an 8 ohm version of it, or something like a 1512L or 1515L.

What would you guys do???

 

[David A. Davis]

Hey Allen, Have you tried your 6.0 through a 1212. Just wondering, I know Greg has a couple of these. What about the 9.0 through your 1210? Although, If you go up to a 12.0 max and add maybe....say a 1215? That should help with the bottom end. Are you still playing you Warwick?

 

[fretster]

Through a series of Talkbass trades, I now have a Shuttle 9.0, in place of the 6.0 I had for a year. The 9.0 is definitely stronger, giving more "meat", more low end, and I guess, more comfort zone when things get loud. It is still under 4 lbs. I'd say as long as you are playing out of a single cabinet, the 9.0 is the way to go. It won't handle a pair of 4ohm cabs though. For me, the 9.0 is fantastic for every situation I have been in.

 

[Allen_VA]

Hey Allen, Have you tried your 6.0 through a 1212. Just wondering, I know Greg has a couple of these. What about the 9.0 through your 1210? Although, If you go up to a 12.0 max and add maybe....say a 1215? That should help with the bottom end. Are you still playing you Warwick?

When I first test-drove the 6.0, I tried it through a 1210R and a 1212L. I liked the crispness of the 1210R at the time, but showroom is one thing, live performance is another! He sold his two Schroeder cabs so he has no stock on anything Schroeder right now as far as I know.

I am still playing the Warwick, and I can dial up some low-boost on it's preamp to fatten the sound up some. Part of me really wants a 1512L for the weight and the "beef" LOL. I really like the 1210R, and I have it up for sale on CL to help fund the purchase of SOMETHING new Just not sure what yet LOL.

If I go 9.0, my next dilemma is whether to buy an 8 ohm cab, like a 1512L and stack it on the Carvin 4x10 I have now for outdoor gigs, etc. If I go with the 12.0, I'll want to keep at least 1 4-ohm cab.

Decisions, decisions!

 

[Allen_VA]

Through a series of Talkbass trades, I now have a Shuttle 9.0, in place of the 6.0 I had for a year. The 9.0 is definitely stronger, giving more "meat", more low end, and I guess, more comfort zone when things get loud. It is still under 4 lbs. I'd say as long as you are playing out of a single cabinet, the 9.0 is the way to go. It won't handle a pair of 4ohm cabs though. For me, the 9.0 is fantastic for every situation I have been in.

This is the way I've been thinking for a while now - the 9.0 does sound ideal for most things. 900W compact cabinets are darn rare, and I'm trying to stay conservative with matching amps to cabs to reduce chance of speaker damage.

I'm really leaning to 9.0 + 1512L right now. Hmmm...even a 1512L with a 9.0 at 500W (8 ohm) is close to my 600W from my 6.0 into my 1210R (4-ohm). Maybe that's the best solution, then I could pair the new cab w/ my 4x10 for 900W and lots of cone area...

 

[David A. Davis]

I'd like to try a 9.0 through a 1212r, just to see what the difference is.

 

[fretster]

<snip>
and I'm trying to stay conservative with matching amps to cabs to reduce chance of speaker damage.

Remember, you can blow out a speaker with a lower powered amp just as easy as with a high powered amp. You have to use your ears, and listen for signs of distortion that indicate the cab is not happy. When you hear that, turn down!

 

[Allen_VA]

Looks like 12.0 it is!

I'm really into the small/portable cab instead of large multi-speaker cabs, and there's a real limit in what those small cabs can handle. 900W+ 4ohm cabs and 500W+ 8ohm cabs are just rare beasts.

Really, I'm mostly anxious to hear the 12.0's voicing compared to my 6.0. I liked the sound of the 12.0 in the store, but you just can't get a feel for how it's going to sound until you're pushing some volume in a 'live' band setting.

 

[Jim Carr]

...I've run into a couple shows where I had insufficient BASS PA support and wanted for a bit more volume and low-end response...

As a replacement, I've been researching the GB Shuttle 9.0 and also the StlMax 12.0...

If I get the 12.0, I can stick with the cabinets I have now and even add another 8 ohm 2x10 or 4x10 if I needed it...

If I get the 9.0, I can max out what the Schro can handle (and exceed it if I'm not careful), or I can sell it and get an 8 ohm version of it, or something like a 1512L or 1515L.

What would you guys do???

I think you are on the right track. More of both power and cabs. I've had a number of similar experiences where the PA support was not doing it, and my 8 ohm 210 Epifani was not enough, nor was my Goliath II 410. In other cases, I needed to go alone (no PA support) and the 210 + 410 was barely enough.

I have lots of power (CA6), so I looked at my cabinets. I loved the tone of the G II, but it was the weak link.

In the course of hunting for an Epifani 410, I learned that I could combine a 210 8 ohm cab with a 4 ohm 410 and each of the 6 tens would get (theoretically) equal power, maximizing the output of my CA6. It has worked well.

Advice: Look carefully at your speaker situation, and try adding more of the same size and type of drivers. With a lot more power behind them, you will really notice a difference.