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Bass speakers in a guitar cab?

#4
It may work but it's not going to work by just throwing whatever bass speakers you can find in there. And Marshall guitar cabs aren't exactly optimized to work with bass, so you can count on losing some clean volume capability. I wouldn't do it. It'll cost way more than it's worth, too. Just get a bass cab.
 
#5
ok. since its been brought up, given the internal dimensions and cabinet specs, could an appropriate driver be found, and the 1960 be properly ported and insulated to make it work WELL ? yes, time consuming and pricey, but for the purpose of keeping the backline uniform, can it be done as a retrofit?

what about the jcm800 1960 bass cabs? aren't they the same as the guitar cabs with bass drivers?
 
#6
You're not the first guy to try to do that with the backline. There's a reason you don't see it used very often, though. But if you absolutely have to do it, I'd suggest just throwing Eminence Alphas or Beta 12's in there. Don't know if the Beta's extra low end would help in that tight a cab, so maybe the Alpha would work out better. But I'd spend as little as possible. When you abandon the idea (and you will), you'll at least not be out a big fortune...just a small one.

To make it truly work for bass, I guess you could figure out a way to port it and all that, but you'd also have to beef up its bracing. Resonant cabs may work for guitar but not so much for bass. Sucks up a lot of energy needed for pushing lows.
 
#7
Hi.

Nev375 said:
It will absolutely still suck for a bass.
Click to expand...

Obviously You haven't tried.

basscooker said:
ok. since its been brought up, given the internal dimensions and cabinet specs, could an appropriate driver be found, and the 1960 be properly ported and insulated to make it work WELL ? yes, time consuming and pricey, but for the purpose of keeping the backline uniform, can it be done as a retrofit?

what about the jcm800 1960 bass cabs? aren't they the same as the guitar cabs with bass drivers?
Click to expand...

G12H100 IIRC, so Yes, the cab dimensions are the same, only the drivers (and some construction details) are different. Sounds very good if vintage bass tone is Your goal.

If I was faced with the dilemma of uniform Marshall backline, I'd probably retrofit a 412 cab with 10 inch drivers, staggered as much as possible in the center line of the cab.
The dimensions should be pretty close to optimal then. Or 212 or 115, what ever is the preferred speaker size.

Regards
Sam
 
#8
what about the jcm800 1960 bass cabs? aren't they the same as the guitar cabs with bass drivers?
Click to expand...
Yes. That only indicates that they were not well engineered. For that matter, they weren't engineered at all. The dimensions of Marshall stacks were arrived at based on having the least amount of waste from a 5x5 sheet of plywood.
but for the purpose of keeping the backline uniform, can it be done as a retrofit?
Click to expand...
Sure, if you don't care if you sound good, just so long as you look good. :hmm:
 
#10
Heck if you want a matching back line just pile up some empty 4x12 Marshall cabs about four high so it looks like a "rig of doom" then run DI to the PA. I'm sure everyone will be asking about your awesome tone from your "Vintage Marshall Cabs". In all honesty though your best bet if you want a true amp setup would be to put your cab off the side of your matching back line, or cover it with a cloth so people don't know your using something that doesn't match.
 
#11
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#13
JimmyM said:
You're not the first guy to try to do that with the backline. There's a reason you don't see it used very often, though. But if you absolutely have to do it, I'd suggest just throwing Eminence Alphas or Beta 12's in there. Don't know if the Beta's extra low end would help in that tight a cab, so maybe the Alpha would work out better. But I'd spend as little as possible. When you abandon the idea (and you will), you'll at least not be out a big fortune...just a small one.
Click to expand...

I have Beta 15s in a really shallow old Traynor bass cabinet. They are nice speakers, designed to work with smaller enclosures. It might do the trick, but honestly, if it were me, I would stack empty Marshalls in front of my normal bass amp or go direct into the PA, as suggested.
 
#15
basscooker said:
ok. since its been brought up, given the internal dimensions and cabinet specs, could an appropriate driver be found, and the 1960 be properly ported and insulated to make it work WELL ? yes, time consuming and pricey, but for the purpose of keeping the backline uniform, can it be done as a retrofit?

what about the jcm800 1960 bass cabs? aren't they the same as the guitar cabs with bass drivers?
Click to expand...

that's gonna be one heavy 4 12 cab.

if it's 2 x 15 i can imagine it sounding pretty good.

but I tend to really like bass rigs that sounds just a little like they've got some guitar in em (ex: my bassman rig being used for bass)

Still, it seems absurd to me to spend time and money for looks when it could be invested in sounds.

Tell your guitar player to **** off and retrofit his marshall cabs to into existing ampegs!
 

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