Bass Cabinet Speaker size and why?

[guitarflinger]

Too big:
View attachment 4961199

Blasphemy!

 

[JMX]

There's a small trend of using 14" speaker cabs among German bassists...

Invalid Link Removed German only, sorry, use DeepL or similar for translation.

 

[micahwc]

I've used 10s, 12s, and 15s. I've not really had a preference either way, except that my 10s (410 SWR goliath) weighed a lot more than my 2 15s (Fender Rumble 15s).

Now I play through a small monitor or IEMs at home, and IEMs and a sound system everywhere else. So I use whatever the venue has.

 

[scott sinner]

A 1x15 and a 2x10 stack ideally, but I can usually gig with just the 15. I don't have much reasoning for it if I'm honest. I really have been able to make a few eq tweaks with most cabs and been happy. I prefer Hartke zing, but I'm less adamant about that versus the sound of a GK head. In other words, I've always been able to get a sound I liked with the GK heads.

Oddly, perhaps, I'm a multi-instrumentalist, I just prefer bass, but I'm way picky about guitar speakers and cabs. I've swapped all sorts of stuff there. Probably I'm not pushing bass speakers as hard, not what gets me the sound I want.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I prefer 10s for their punchiness. I've had 15s, an 18 and tried a couple 12s, but the 10s are my favorite. Even though I didn't like the 12s, because they sounded a little flabby, I did add one with my 210 and it does beef up the bottom end.

 

[sheltjo6]

What’s your Favorite speaker size and Why?
I found 12” speakers in late 90’s and never went back except when I couldn’t bring my own,and had to use what was there.
Of course to get there I owned and gigged w/1x18, 1x15, 2x15 8x8, 2x10, 4x10 (x2)
8x10,1x12,2x12,4x12.
Or use them as stack with different combinations.
And Having to do bunch of gigs with other bassist and bassists in duo,trio situation or more,sometimes with drummers or w/o drummers but that’s a whole another thread…….

I've used SWR 4x10 and 2x10 cabs for most of my brief musical career.
Why?
They sounded good and were within my budget.

The only other cab I've used for practice is a Mesa Walkabout 1x15 cab.

 

[JRA]

Whatever sounds best!

Big enough but not too big…

those two considerations at once.

 

[Pings Bass]

My progression:

1x15 ->
2x15 + 2x12 ->
1x15 + 2x12 ->
1x15 ->
2x10 ->
1x12 ->
ampless whenever possible

IME bass rigs are a pain in the butt to haul and for the sound tech to deal with, proportional to their size. I've dumped all my big heavy stuff and will never go back.

Less is more, ampless is the platonic ideal.

 

[mambo4]

Maybe there was a time when speaker size indicated something useful
but These days I wonder how much speaker size matters
With all the other things going on influencing the tone
It seems like too small a puzzle piece to hang an opinion on

 

[dbsfgyd1]

What’s your Favorite speaker size and Why?
I found 12” speakers in late 90’s and never went back except when I couldn’t bring my own,and had to use what was there.
Of course to get there I owned and gigged w/1x18, 1x15, 2x15 8x8, 2x10, 4x10 (x2)
8x10,1x12,2x12,4x12.
Or use them as stack with different combinations.
And Having to do bunch of gigs with other bassist and bassists in duo,trio situation or more,sometimes with drummers or w/o drummers but that’s a whole another thread…….

Two 210 cabs. Same output of a 410 but much easier to transport, and most of the time I only need one cab. They are tight, responsive, and provide plenty of low end.

Disclamer: 90% of my gigs are with FOH support. If I were in a death metal band, I'd be on this site looking for advice just like you are...

 

[Zak TMD]

played through a variety of 10s and they mostly don't do it for me... 6x10s and 8x10s will work, but I don't love them. They always seem (to me) to be missing the sweetness of warm lows and low mids, and I also gotta admit I love the feeling of air being pushed.

I rotate between a 215 and a 412 (810sized box), both 1000 watts. Soundwise, my preference is for the 412 by a smidge and (12s in general). Weight and mobility wise, the 215 all day long. However, and I haven't attempted this yet, but both would probably be best haha.

Edit: Why? 12s do the thing I want them to do best for me, to my ears. NOTE: Cab design and speaker selection make a huge amount of difference. So like - ANY 12s aren't great, specific 12s are my favorite.

 

[slagbass]

Two 1x15 cabs.
One is loud enough for small gigs and rehearsals. Two will cover any stage I will need to play. No mismatching of speaker sizes when paired. Portable enough to not require assistance lifting.

 

[coy garcia]

It's gone from 18
410
115
210 amd 115
215
115
112

 

[dwellers]

Most gigs these days have good FoH so the truth is that your stage rig is simply a monitor for you and your bandmates. The days of playing a room with nothing but stage volume are in my rearview mirror. Occasionally I'll play a place that is too small for a big PA. If that's the case, it's too small for a loud rig or too small for a big rig anyway. Would love to more IEM stuff and bring nothing but a DI/preamp.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

1/15
4/12s
2/15s
8/10s
16/10s
8/10s
1/18
2/18s
4/12s
1/15
1/15&2/10s
2/15s
Headphones
1/15&1/10
2/12s
All I can remember

 

[Deleted member 389437]

I much prefer 10s, the smallest cab id use is probably a 210. With the occasional 112 for things here and there. I have a 15 cab and like the tones I get out of it but I just use that one for fun or when I want a really deep tone for any studio / other work.

I mainly use 410s

 

[bigjames]

I am sure there are people on here who could expound upon the reasons different speaker sizes are better than others for different purposes. I have only owned 4 bass amps over the years...my take:

400W Yamaha with 18": I found this one warm, but boomy and kind of muddy. It also weighed a ton. I do not miss it.

150W Fender with 15": This was decent, but not memorable at all. I do not miss it.

80W GK MB150E w 12" speaker: I loved this little amp. It served me really well for stage monitoring and practice at home. I actually regret selling it a couple of years back. Nice clarity and enough oomph to move the legs of your pants.

300W Markbass 2x10: This amp cut through really well and had tons of power, lots of mid / low mid clarity...but I actually missed the rounder sound of the 12". It didn't have the same bass-y presence as the 12".

I am in the market for a new amp now as I just sold the Markbass...I am considering (in no particular order):

PJB BG400 Suitcase Amp w 4 x 5" (I plan to try one of these out next month)

Mesa Subway 800 with 1 x 12" cab (this is the most expensive of the group, but has the most versatility from my perspective)

TC Electronics BG250 w 1 x 12" (I cannot figure out if these are even available any more)

 

[KohanMike]

NEO speakers? What are those!???

It's lighter weight; "neodymium magnet that is smaller in size but stronger than a traditional ferrite magnet." My amp and cab are about 4 pounds lighter each, 28 and 24, than with regular speakers.

 

[etoncrow]

Over the decades I've tried a multitude of speaker sizes & arrangements. There was a time when it seemed that 12's were disrespected. Over the last 10+ years I've used a Euphonic-Audio iAmp500 through two Wizzy 12's and haven't needed anything else.

 

[Shanannigan]

The best-sounding cabs I've heard in person were a set of multiple 4x4 cabs. The response from them was super tight, yet it didn't seem to be lacking in low end.

Haven't had any luck finding cabs like that though, I believe they were custom. Phil Jones has some similar options though.