I used to use 2 410's but was ALWAYS too loud. Got an EA iAmp800 w/ 2 EA CXL 112's and never looked back. Loud enough on stage and then some. And sits nice along with the house mix.
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Bar Gig Rig...
- Thread starter ScottW
- Start date
stingraysvt said:
Hey there. I had and loved that same EA stack. Sounds like you do too. When you had the two 4x10s and were always too loud, why didn't you use just one?
my bar gig rig is an EBS ValveDrive preamp into a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 that puts 600 into 4 ohms, and a 4 ohm 212, the Schroeder 212 that has one speaker diagonal. That's never been insufficient for a bar, for me. But I'm not contending with three guitarists, only one.
A 410 will certainly do the job - with ease, but the weight is a real drag. I've done the pair of 2x10s thing for years. It's a great way to go because you can leave one home for smaller/quieter gigs, but bring both and you can keep up with most situations. Your amp is definitely enough for any bar gig.
That said, I hear your concerns about weight loud and clear. I'm getting older myself, and most of my gigs are in NYC where it can be hard to get around and hard to load gear in and out. I'm currently looking into switching to a pair of 1x12s or a 1x12 and a 12/6. At smaller bar gigs (or even slightly bigger bar gigs) with no PA support, that's still more than enough and much easier to handle than a pair of 2x10s. At 70 lbs. each, my Eden 2x10s might as well be Buicks.
Another advantage to stacking two cabs instaed of using one bigger one is that I've found that at venues with poor monitors (or no monitors), hearing myself is only half the battle. The other issue is having the drummer hear me. I've found that angling the bottom cab in toward the drummer and keeping the top cab pointing out toward me solves the problem and still provides the general stage volume needed for the gig.
That said, I hear your concerns about weight loud and clear. I'm getting older myself, and most of my gigs are in NYC where it can be hard to get around and hard to load gear in and out. I'm currently looking into switching to a pair of 1x12s or a 1x12 and a 12/6. At smaller bar gigs (or even slightly bigger bar gigs) with no PA support, that's still more than enough and much easier to handle than a pair of 2x10s. At 70 lbs. each, my Eden 2x10s might as well be Buicks.
Another advantage to stacking two cabs instaed of using one bigger one is that I've found that at venues with poor monitors (or no monitors), hearing myself is only half the battle. The other issue is having the drummer hear me. I've found that angling the bottom cab in toward the drummer and keeping the top cab pointing out toward me solves the problem and still provides the general stage volume needed for the gig.
i use either my 2x10 or 4x6 in these circumstances, and as long as they are on a stand, or tilted back on the floor (pointed at my ears) they work just fine
Yikes. 3 geetar players? Yeah a 210 won't cut it. 2 210's should do the job or a 212. I guess we have to define "old". I'm fat and 50 and still manage to lift my NV215 into the back of the Jetta sedan with out any problems. Though sometimes I with I had a Bergantino AE212.
Thanks for all the replies...
A modular approach seems to make a lot of sense...such as, two 1X12 cabs,or two 2X10s even...need to do more research...that's half the fun of buying...drooling over the toys first...
Anybody running an Ampeg Pro7 through Gallien cabs? I like the weight of some of the GK cabs, but from what I've heard, they seem to be geared more towards slappers and poppers...bright and edgy sound quality...I'm looking for more of a Jamerson/60s kind of mellow...
A modular approach seems to make a lot of sense...such as, two 1X12 cabs,or two 2X10s even...need to do more research...that's half the fun of buying...drooling over the toys first...
Anybody running an Ampeg Pro7 through Gallien cabs? I like the weight of some of the GK cabs, but from what I've heard, they seem to be geared more towards slappers and poppers...bright and edgy sound quality...I'm looking for more of a Jamerson/60s kind of mellow...
I'm playing a GK MB500 through a pair of Neo 112-II....bright and edgy is not my style...I play a P and a J, both with flats, and am getting a lot of compliments on the sound of this rig
I'm wondering, for a similar set up I was thinking of getting this rig, if anyone has suggestions, experiences, ideas, please share: Eden WTB400 amp to a 400w Peavy headliner 210.
I play prog/hard rock and metal. Some jazz too. Mostly smaller gigs and practices. gO!
I play prog/hard rock and metal. Some jazz too. Mostly smaller gigs and practices. gO!
Check out the Genz benz Uber 212 in that case. Awesome cab, easy to move, loud, warm, and sweet.
IMO a single 2x10 is not enough to play a gig with. I always use a pair. It's safer that way and your speakers will last longer.
BurningSkies
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I tried this once...one really long once. We went out for a couple weeks and with 8 guys in the band, room was limited. I borrowed a 2x10 for the roadtrip and each and every night was an exercise in disaster. I tried everything, put it up at ear height, on a stool, on a hollow stage...it sucked each and every gig.
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Depends on the bar and the band. I played a few in a loud-three-piece situation with nothing but a 210 with two Em DLIIs in it, and just had to roll a lot of bass out, put the cab on a Keno machine, and use a about 3dB more of average levels via compression to keep up with the Hendrix cat and the Bonham cat I was gigging with. Louder than sin, but it was only maybe 80 people stacked into the bar... Oddly enough we made hundreds of dollars more those nights than we did at venues much larger during the same period - thanks to resort drunks who wanted to request songs and make out like bigshots ; }
Even so, seldom do small PAs afford bass in the monitors, even fewer sound men want to push bass in their monitors, and when up against 3 guitar amps and a loud drummer on stage, a 2x10 is a recipe to not hearing yourself all night long.
I agree. A good 212 is as small as I'd like, or maybe a good 15 on a stand.
You have any PA help at all or are these real bar gigs where your rig carries the whole place? With a good crowd in there, the bodies soak up some of the upper frequencies. An on stage sound that has a little more uppermids in it than you'd normally like, little bit bass shy usually ends up sounding pretty damn good out front. Warm and classic out there, just not where you're standing.
Go for at least 2 - 2x10's Personally I wouldnt be happy with less than 4 - 2x10's in that situation.
How are you holding up in practice with this band, and how different will things be when you're in a bar?
I don't think there's a simple answer to your question. Some of the things that have bearing:
A 210 might work. A pair might be the answer. A pair of 15's might be the answer. A high performance 15 or 12 with a mid might be the answer.
I don't think there's a simple answer to your question. Some of the things that have bearing:
- Four string or fiver
- Cabinet on stage or raised up
- Big bottom or growly
- Compression used
- Mid scooped
- Mic'd kick
A 210 might work. A pair might be the answer. A pair of 15's might be the answer. A high performance 15 or 12 with a mid might be the answer.
I use the DNA 210 for the small stages with a LOUD drummer, two guitarists with 212's and around 60w tube heads. That 210 is 54lbs, but well balanced and is easy to carry. I roll off low end below 150hz fairly steep - I play a 5 string too. If I want low end, those cabs can really crank it out though.
On bigger stages, I bring out two DNA 210's and stack them vertically. The exact same height of an 810 with excellent dispersion on stage. I can hear myself really well. The cabs have a lot of midrange and thickness overall. Great growl too.
I suggest you get two of the same light weight cab - one for smaller stages and two for bigger stages. Stack them vertically too. I recently played a gig where I stacked my cabs and ended up unplugging the bottom one and played only the one closest to my ears.
*******
The DNA 210's have some insane porting going on and sound very different when compared to other 210's. If you are worried about one 210 not being enough, get another. I think you will need it.
On bigger stages, I bring out two DNA 210's and stack them vertically. The exact same height of an 810 with excellent dispersion on stage. I can hear myself really well. The cabs have a lot of midrange and thickness overall. Great growl too.
I suggest you get two of the same light weight cab - one for smaller stages and two for bigger stages. Stack them vertically too. I recently played a gig where I stacked my cabs and ended up unplugging the bottom one and played only the one closest to my ears.
*******
The DNA 210's have some insane porting going on and sound very different when compared to other 210's. If you are worried about one 210 not being enough, get another. I think you will need it.
