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

#161
pie_man_25 said:
Isn't that basically the best way to keep up in a loud band with one of those amps? I mean, a lot of people dig them - guitarists and bassists, but for bass it's not a lot of power on tap. Heck, I'd honestly buy one myself and use it with a pair of reasonably efficient 115s, though I don't have four guitarists to keep up with.


Also, I kinda agree with Thor, things have gotten a bit uncivil in this thread.

I don't, and don't have reason to, use a 4x15 rig, vertically stacked or otherwise, but if somebody enjoys it, that's their business - and vice-versa if somebody doesn't. However, I'm kind of in the camp that other than outdoor festivals that have no PA support, I think it's kind of overkill - which of course there is no kill like.
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I always wonder about way how the kick drum competes with large rigs if there is no PA support for instruments except smallish "PA" for vocals.
IME if there is no monitor "support" on stage for kick drum, already on stage the kick drum is drowned by other instruments easily, btw what the hell is a kick drum? Just forgotten!
 
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#162
walls of Sunn 2x15 for Blue Cheer

Randy_PopulationII.jpg
 
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#163
Bob_Ross said:
For a variety of reasons -- needing more output & wanting to get speakers up closer to my ear, but still desiring a modular rig & recognizing the value of a stacked columnar array -- I've been entertaining the idea of getting four 1x15" cabinets and stacking them vertically.

But I haven't quite wrapped my head around the scale/proportions of such a towering inferno. Anyone use this configuration regularly? Got any pics of your rig?

Thanks.
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I would stack them two and two lots of people using 2 double 15" cabs years ago, you'll get more bottom that way, you'll still hear them clearly and you'll still be able to hear the band.
 
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#166
winegamd said:
You could use 2ohm speakers, you would just need a couple cables wired with one Jack having opposite polarity of the other. Not everything has to be in parallel for it to work....

There have been 8x12's and 8x15's, so I don't see why a vertical 4 1x15 stack is outlandish. Have fun putting an SVT on top....
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What are you saying run them in series to bring two cabs up to 4 ohms? If not speakers should always be
ThisBass said:
I always wonder about way how the kick drum competes with large rigs if there is no PA support for instruments except smallish "PA" for vocals.
IME if there is no monitor "support" on stage for kick drum, already on stage the kick drum is drowned by other instruments easily, btw what the hell is a kick drum? Just forgotten!
Click to expand...

If I can't hear it I stand right in front of it, got to hear the kick drum.
 
#167
walterw said:
i came here to suggest this idea with the single 15 cabs!

4 in a stack might not be all that stable, but lay two side by side and stack the other two vertically on top and you've got a pretty massive "tower of boom" going on.
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2 high x 2 wide isn't as acoustically efficient as 1 wide and 4 high (google line array. Long story short, when the stack is 1 wide and however many high, the physics of propagation change. It has to be higher than the longest wavelength you want to throw, so 6' is actually not really going to cut it for the low bass. It's only around 190hz. For 30hz you need a 37.5 foot stack. See below. Still, it would focus the sound from 190 on up).

I haven't done 4 15's but I've done multiples of others and it sounds a lot tighter having the vertical stack. 2x2 can create a lot of comb filtering. The weight of the cabs should make 4 high plenty stable. I'd love to try it sometime. Actually, come to think of it I do have the speakers. Maybe the next outdoor gig I play.

And to complete the evolution of that semi-pro bassist, he eventually went with 2 times 18 high eventually (yes, those two tall stacks handled only bass).

maxresdefault.jpg
 
#170
edwinhurwitz said:
I don't think I understood what you meant. Do you have a picture or another way to describe it? Thanks!
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the idea is two of the 15s side by side on the ground, then the other two placed vertically in a stack on top.

the result is 3 "15s" high while still being pretty stable.

yes, the physics suggest a straight vertical stack of 4 15s would be a little better, but there's the higher risk of it falling over and hurting somebody.
 
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#171
Ah, I thought you meant placing the other two side by side on top. Sorry, a bit sleep deprived.

I don't think my cabinets would be likely to fall. Way too heavy, you'd have to run into the at a good clip and at the places I play, the audience doesn't have that kind of access. Still, it's academic because I doubt I'll get to it soon. But, I am intrigued!
 
#174
edwinhurwitz said:
2 high x 2 wide isn't as acoustically efficient as 1 wide and 4 high (google line array. Long story short, when the stack is 1 wide and however many high, the physics of propagation change. It has to be higher than the longest wavelength you want to throw, so 6' is actually not really going to cut it for the low bass. It's only around 190hz. For 30hz you need a 37.5 foot stack. See below. Still, it would focus the sound from 190 on up).
Click to expand...

With line array PA systems the sub cabs are all horizontally lined, wide apart.
So horizontal stacking can be equally efficiemt than vertical, and theoretically an 2x2 arrangement should be more efficient than a skinny stacking cause coupling of sources is more efficient (larger).

Wth a line array PA an evenly alignment of elements would not make sense.
Requirement is a cosistent SPL in the house which demands a large line which is often aligned as "J".

While the sub line cabs are aligned horizontlly wide apart (so there must be a lot of comb filter problems?), but there is no problems with horizontal stacking at the lows in the pro audio world.

Personally, on stage, I'd probably prefere a 2x215 side by side crossfiring over tall skinny stacking. Just reduce large vertical comb filter affects, with a drawback of more of horizontal comb at the high mids. But I don't prefere to stay way to off axis on stage.
 
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#177
ThisBass said:
I always wonder about way how the kick drum competes with large rigs if there is no PA support for instruments except smallish "PA" for vocals.
IME if there is no monitor "support" on stage for kick drum, already on stage the kick drum is drowned by other instruments easily, btw what the hell is a kick drum? Just forgotten!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I remember starting out and hearing "if you're playing with a drummer you'll need at least 100 watts and a 115"

They really weren't lying, but what I learned a while after I started playing in bands, was that my primary competition is with guitarists that don't like turning down no matter what.
 
#179
pie_man_25 said:
Yeah, I remember starting out and hearing "if you're playing with a drummer you'll need at least 100 watts and a 115"

They really weren't lying, but what I learned a while after I started playing in bands, was that my primary competition is with guitarists that don't like turning down no matter what.
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Sad but true,
any drum kit can be very noisy except kick drum that goes down in the mix beyond distinct level a band likes to get.
It's sad (for bass players) cause it makes so much fun to hear a clear kick drum beat and to interact as player with kick drum and snare and hihatt.
In my personal philosophy the kick drum is the most essential "beat" element followed by snare and hihatt, and bass guitar, in decreasing order.
I don't feel comprehensions for muscicians (guitar players at at most) who think have to weaken an ast one sits.
And also I think it's paradoxical to align bass gear considering idiots.
My last band broke cause there were to many ignoramuses soundwise.

edit,
may be I'm a way to old school people but in my "ancy" opnion a tight kick drum and bass guitar interplay can provide lots of musical "power", on stage as well in the house.
IMHO any justification for very large rigs cause there is no PA support is ripoff of the audience cause the kick drum is lost in the mix. Hope the event was for free.
 
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#180
ThisBass said:
Sad but true,
any drum kit can be very noisy except kick drum that goes down in the mix beyond distinct level a band likes to get.
It's sad (for bass players) cause it makes so much fun to hear a clear kick drum beat and to interact as player with kick drum and snare and hihatt.
In my personal philosophy the kick drum is the most essential "beat" element followed by snare and hihatt, and bass guitar, in decreasing order.
I don't feel comprehensions for muscicians (guitar players at at most) who think have to weaken an ast one sits.
And also I think it's paradoxical to align bass gear considering idiots.
My last band broke cause there were to many ignoramuses soundwise.

edit,
may be I'm a way to old school people but in my "ancy" opnion a tight kick drum and bass guitar interplay can provide lots of musical "power", on stage as well in the house.
IMHO any justification for very large rigs cause there is no PA support is ripoff of the audience cause the kick drum is lost in the mix. Hope the event was for free.
Click to expand...

I can agree with your points, though you lost me at the end of your first paragraph.
 

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