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anybody using four 1x15" cabinets stacked vertically as their main rig?

#121
I'm gonna go ahead and guess that some of the folks clutching their pearls over the mere thought of a 4-15" rig probably play 2-10" combos, possibly Fender Rumble's. I notice that there's a contingent of TB users who play with very low stage volume and small combos that just seem absolutely appalled at the idea that some bassists like to move some air.
 
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#122
Fat Steve said:
I'm gonna go ahead and guess that some of the folks clutching their pearls over the mere thought of a 4-15" rig probably play 2-10" combos, possibly Fender Rumble's. I notice that there's a contingent of TB users who play with very low stage volume and small combos that just seem absolutely appalled at the idea that some bassists like to move some air.
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I've played plenty of gigs through Ampeg 8x10s, one of my favourite backlines I use is two EAW JF560 PA speakers with a 15" low end and 2" compression driver (the joys of being a sound engineer), I'm definitely not in the very low stage volume group and I like having air moving behind me although the level I play at is appropriate for the situation I'm in. That was really my point, if I absolutely needed 4 15" cabs or 2 8x10s then I'd happily use them, it's just not realistically all that often such backlines genuinely are required (and in saying that I'm not by any means suggesting they're never required or shouldn't be used).
 
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#123
Id love to be able to set up 2x215. I regularly use a 215 cab. Unfortunately id need a bigger venue and much louder band to play with, and ear plugs, and a bigger car. Oh, and the band would have to upgrade as well, theyre playin 20-50 watt guitar amps, 100 watt powered wedges (keys) and our monitor set up is only 2 to 3 monitors for the whole band. Its all relative!
 
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#124
jbd5015 said:
Id love to be able to set up 2x215. I regularly use a 215 cab. Unfortunately id need a bigger venue and much louder band to play with, and ear plugs, and a bigger car. Oh, and the band would have to upgrade as well, theyre playin 20-50 watt guitar amps, 100 watt powered wedges (keys) and our monitor set up is only 2 to 3 monitors for the whole band. Its all relative!
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You can be really loud in small venues just fine.
 
#125
What is not being understood is the physics of 4x15" in an array versus a typical 2x15". Since you have doubled your surface area, you have now doubled your output (theoretically). Now that you have an array your sound falls off at 3db instead of 6db (theoretically). This means that you are now 6db louder below FS at the audience than before. For Doom and other genres where they are using low tunings or effects with massive subsonic content, this is substantial. Combine this with a compressor limiter where your signal above FS stays the same and you have gained a crap load more low end response. That is why you may "need" 4x15's.
 
#128
winegamd said:
What is not being understood is the physics of 4x15" in an array versus a typical 2x15". Since you have doubled your surface area, you have now doubled your output (theoretically). Now that you have an array your sound falls off at 3db instead of 6db (theoretically). This means that you are now 6db louder below FS at the audience than before. For Doom and other genres where they are using low tunings or effects with massive subsonic content, this is substantial. Combine this with a compressor limiter where your signal above FS stays the same and you have gained a crap load more low end response. That is why you may "need" 4x15's.
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Assuming you're not playing through a PA that works fine, but as you're talking about physics I'm sure you're aware of the potential issues a big bass backline could cause in small/medium size venues if you do run through a PA with subs if the system isn't accurately time aligned to the bass cab? All that's going to happen is the backline and low end of the rig are going to fight each other down the entire length of the room. It isn't always about what's best for you standing on stage, it's often about getting it right for the situation which will ultimately give the audience who are paying to see you a better experience.
 
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#129
PaulNichols said:
Assuming you're not playing through a PA that works fine, but as you're talking about physics I'm sure you're aware of the potential issues a big bass backline could cause in small/medium size venues if you do run through a PA with subs if the system isn't accurately time aligned to the bass cab? All that's going to happen is the backline and low end of the rig are going to fight each other down the entire length of the room. It isn't always about what's best for you standing on stage, it's often about getting it right for the situation which will ultimately give the audience who are paying to see you a better experience.
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For a small club, more than likely, with a rig this big, it would not go through the PA. Plus, most small venues probably wont have the "subage" to handle what this rig would be putting out. For a stadium, or large outdoor festival, where there is a large stage, there is less chance for interference except for maybe close to stage. There is always going to be a grey area in between the two, as well.

Either way this has gotten off topic of "can/how can it be done" and evolved into "does it need to be done".

So, yes it can be done, and we have plenty of examples of how. Proper implementation,however, is another thread....
 
#130
winegamd said:
For a small club, more than likely, with a rig this big, it would not go through the PA. Plus, most small venues probably wont have the "subage" to handle what this rig would be putting out. For a stadium, or large outdoor festival, where there is a large stage, there is less chance for interference except for maybe close to stage. There is always going to be a grey area in between the two, as well.

Either way this has gotten off topic of "can/how can it be done" and evolved into "does it need to be done".

So, yes it can be done, and we have plenty of examples of how. Proper implementation,however, is another thread....
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I'm a house engineer at two venues that are less than 300 capacity, both have substantially more low end capability than a 4x15" bass rig but I'd still need to time align the PA with such a backline (which to be fair is good practice with any size backline). I didn't use stadium or large festival stages as examples because having mixed stacks of shows that size I already know it won't interfere with those systems much for anyone except maybe the first few rows.
 
#131
PaulNichols said:
I'm a house engineer at two venues that are less than 300 capacity, both have substantially more low end capability than a 4x15" bass rig but I'd still need to time align the PA with such a backline (which to be fair is good practice with any size backline). I didn't use stadium or large festival stages as examples because having mixed stacks of shows that size I already know it won't interfere with those systems much for anyone except maybe the first few rows.
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There is the difference. I dont live in a small city, 190k, and the 300 capacity or smaller venues that have subs can probably be counted on one hand.
 
#134
winegamd said:
What is not being understood is the physics of 4x15" in an array versus a typical 2x15". Since you have doubled your surface area, you have now doubled your output (theoretically). Now that you have an array your sound falls off at 3db instead of 6db (theoretically). This means that you are now 6db louder below FS at the audience than before. For Doom and other genres where they are using low tunings or effects with massive subsonic content, this is substantial. Combine this with a compressor limiter where your signal above FS stays the same and you have gained a crap load more low end response. That is why you may "need" 4x15's.
Click to expand...

Add in I want all that low end sensitivity because I want that SPL with the sound of my 100w valve heads.
 
#137
PaulNichols said:
It had everything to do with the OP's question, you just seem to have gotten distracted by your own little agenda and missed that point.
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Did you use vertical 4 15s and post a pic of it then? Because, hey look at the OP question:
Bob_Ross said:
Anyone use this configuration regularly? Got any pics of your rig?
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#139
Fat Steve said:
I'm gonna go ahead and guess that some of the folks clutching their pearls over the mere thought of a 4-15" rig probably play 2-10" combos, possibly Fender Rumble's. I notice that there's a contingent of TB users who play with very low stage volume and small combos that just seem absolutely appalled at the idea that some bassists like to move some air.
Click to expand...
In my case, 2x12's or 4x12's depending on the gig. Not so different but not coming from a culture of insane stage volumes can cause folks to question. How far are all those 15's projecting off the stage anyway? In a small venue it's probably fine. Outdoors....without sub support...dunno. But that's not my world. I'm more curious than anything.
 
#140
PaulNichols said:
I might be completely mistaken about this, but I thought we were talking about the OP rather than you?
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Well....

Mr. Foxen said:
He probably got misguided by the guy who kept referencing how many gigs he'd been involved with that were nothing to do with the OP, or the OP's question.
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My point is that when ever the argument of "Just make use of the PA because every venue has a fantastic PA with subs and monitors and a sound guy...." comes up it is a red herring argument. I would bet a beer that the average bass player doesnt have much if any PA support for his sound.
 
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