• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Anyone using four 15's?

#21
Hey Larry-O

You are right, 135 watts into 4 speakers is pushing it.
Way back when, the JBL D140F was one hell of an efficient
speaker, so 25 RMS watts was loud. Of course it clipped
very easily, but you could use a 135 watt amp to drive
2 cabinets as long as the total load was 4 ohms

Way back in the ancient ages, (1930-50) theaters typically
had one Altec Voice of the Theater type system with a 15" and horn
at the top of the hall, and the amps were a massive 10-15 watts.
It got loud because of the efficiency of the speaker.

A better solution was to have one amp per JBL cabinet,
hence the stacked Showman's that were so popular back then,
one amp per speaker cabinet. I ran up to three in my prime.

And have a degenerated disk, and two herniated's to show for it.

PA
 
#22
LarryO said:
am I missing something? by running a 4x15 off of 135 watts each speaker will be getting slightly less than 34 watts each......is it more benificial to run more speakers off of less power or to more efficiently drive 1 or 2 speakers such as a single 15, 18 or even a 2x12????
Click to expand...

I think that there is something to pumping bass, even at low volumes, through a wall of speakers. Nothing replicates it.
 
#23
LarryO said:
is it more benificial to run more speakers off of less power or to more efficiently drive 1 or 2 speakers such as a single 15, 18 or even a 2x12????
Click to expand...
There's no set answer there, as there are too many other variables. But overstuffing the box with bigger drivers probably won't improve anything, and likely will hurt. On the other hand, the three original drivers in that picture are woefully obsolete, while lord knows what the fourth is. There is room for improvement for sure.
 
#25
Alex said:
Somebody once told me that Jaco used a 4x15. Not sure if that is correct, though.
Click to expand...
He's most famous for using a couple of Acoustic 360s (maybe 370s later on) with Acoustic (18" Cerwin-Vega) folded horn cabs.

Never heard of him using 15s, at least on a regular basis.

edit: And WRT the original question, I think it would sound mediocre at best, and be a waste of money. Put it towards a better modern cab.
 
#26
deebee said:
Never heard of him using 15s, at least on a regular basis.
Click to expand...

There was a BP article a while back that had him pictured with a huge Acoustic rig behind him - a few of the 18" folded horns, and a 4x15", if I remember correctly. The 18" is by far what he's known for, but he also used the 4x15".
 
#29
I remember a lot of variation of 15" cab's when I was playing back in the 60's. I had an Ampeg I forget the model with 2 x JBL 15" and kind of strange port rectangluar port between the speakers. Lots of bottom, but not much else. Saw Hendrix and Redding had a wall of 2 x 15" Sunn's. You didn't really hear Redding you mainly felt him. Sure not a sound I would want today. Today you got PA's designed to fill an auditorium with full range audio, let them run a DI and mic.
 
#30
Alex said:
Somebody once told me that Jaco used a 4x15. Not sure if that is correct, though.
Click to expand...

Yep, he used the Acoustic 408...when I posted that picture earlier I was going to make a comment about that, but chose not too.

IIRC, he had his 408 cabinet (or cabinets) loaded with Gauss speakers.

With regard to his cutting tone...there are some photos of his 320/408 rigs on the Jaco/Hartke microsite of all places. The photos are funny though because the graphic EQ is set (IMO) to approximate that response of his 1x18 folded horns...the highs are rolled off severely...

See photo numbers 2 and 13 in the gallery on Link Removed
 
#32
BassGreaser said:
the cab isn't mine it's over at lowdown sound. I was thinking about buying it. I just might buy it, and have Don update the 12's in it to better 12's. Would I be better off with the "updated" 4x12 or one of LDS sealed 2x15's?
Click to expand...

A ported 2x12 / 2x6 also sounds great - if you weren't way in the middle of nowhere near me, I'd invite you over to witness the tight bottom and great mids of my cab. To LDS cabs!
 
#35
Mr. voodoobass said:
Matamp makes a 4x15" cab.
The bassplayer in OM uses (i think) two of them!
I used to play in a band where i sometimes used 1x bassman2x15" + 1x orange(clone)2x15" and 1x laney4x12".
Yes, it was massive and only in rehearsalspace. But i did(and still do) love that sound.
Click to expand...

Electric Amps is making these cabs these days. Matamp only makes guitarcabs as far as I know.

OM rules! Double 4x15 glory!
Link Removed
 
#37
Greetings from the North,

Do not put 4X15"s into that cabinet because you will not be happy with the results. I've seen it done and wasn't pleasant. A new set of 12"s should work out fine.
I still have an old Fender 412 in excellent condition and I learned back in the day that they sound much better with more tube power than a Bassman 100 0r 135 can deliver. I used to run an SVT thru two Fender 412"s back then.
May I suggest that that if you are partial to 15"s, the LDS 215 + 6 might be a good option for you.
Rezdog
 
#38
BassGreaser said:
the cab isn't mine it's over at lowdown sound. I was thinking about buying it. I just might buy it, and have Don update the 12's in it to better 12's. Would I be better off with the "updated" 4x12 or one of LDS sealed 2x15's?
Click to expand...

For the total cost and unknown results, you'd probably be better off buying something else... The cab at LDS is $269.99, add the cost of new speakers (at least a couple hundred minimum) and shipping from Detroit to CA (figure $75 to $100...my guess, haven't checked, dimensions might be a problem if it's over 130 inches length plus girth packed properly) and you have a very expensive cabinet ($600ish) with nominal resale value.
 
#39
Phyrexian said:
Electric Amps is making these cabs these days. Matamp only makes guitarcabs as far as I know.

OM rules! Double 4x15 glory!
Link Removed
Click to expand...

OM_2.jpg
 
#40
there was a HUGE 4x15" cabinet here in Wi at Music go round for like 300 I think it was a vox but it was about a foot less than how tall I am (6'2) and it was definately wider then my acura integra lol

while in this area whats a "folded horn" ala 18"
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back