Best cab?

[Devo-lution]

We're talking about someone using an Ampeg CL here. Great amp, but it ain't got 32-band EQ on board... I'm not bashing any fEARFUL here, but every cab has it's own dynamics and feel and EQ (depending on how complex the EQ) can do a lot, but not change the world.

The OP told us that he'd like to stick to a sealed cab and that he wants something that suits his amp (the CL).

Based on that, I'd advise him to go for a Bergantino 610, ampeg 410 HE (x2), Barefaced 69'er, ampeg PF 115 (x2), vertical SVT 210 AV x2!, ...

There's also more to it than just the sound. Valve/tube amps do match somewhat better with sealed cabs as those cabs have less impedance peaks (tubers don't like too high impendance). Ports and fancy drivers tend to create higher impedance peaks. Crossovers might cause higher impedance peaks. I'm not saying you shouldn't at all. I use a ported cab with a tube amp myself and I dig it.


(This is how I understood it. If I'm wrong, I totally accept the fact that someone like Bill is going to prove me wrong)

 

[makohund]

No matter what you do with your eq it is not possible to make a Fearful + SVT head sound like an 8x10 + SVT head.
For instance if you cut the lows to "impersonate" the abbreviated bass response of the 8x10 it will cut bass higher than where the bass roll off occurs in the 8x10.
There are also non-linearities with similar "classic" cabs like the EV loaded TL606 that you simply can not impersonate with an EQ.
Some of us like to use the baked in vicing of our cabs along with the baked in voicing of our amps and baked in voicing of our basses to get our tone.

Maybe not exactly, but surely closer than you suggest. No, cutting off lows at the knees with a chainsaw won't do it. Sure, it'll take more knobs than can be found on the front of the head itself.

And most importantly, the goal might not be to sound exactly the same. One can like the overall sound of the fridge, while aiming for something similar yet even tastier to their personal ear.

If one wants the sound of that cab, and that alone, they should get it. If they want something like it with a modern take, the 69er looks great. If they like it, but like lots of other things out of its forte too, then nothing wrong with looking elsewhere and tweaking some knobs a little when they do want to cop it.

 

[DeathFromBelow]

Exactly. If a Ampeg 810 fit everyone's needs all the time it would be the only cab on the market, and threads like this wouldn't exist.

Yep. But the same goes for fearful cabs.

 

[dukeorock]

There's a reason they make different colored shirts

 

[Lazarus.Bird]

So people don't think you're wearing the same shirt every day?

 

[CL400Peavey]

Yep. But the same goes for fearful cabs.

I agree. But IMHO I feel that you can cop a lot of different tones through a fEARful with the right knob turning. That cant be said with cabs that have "baked in" tone. There are lots of great cabs out there, and no single tone works for everyone. I will stand by my recommendations for vertical alignment, not mixing driver sizes, and better options for weight reduction with great sound per pound.

 

[CTC564]

Please pardon my ignorance but could someone explain "baked in sound"?

 

[David Jayne]

Please pardon my ignorance but could someone explain "baked in sound"?

Built-in peaks and valleys in frequency response, which you may or may not like.

 

[CL400Peavey]

Please pardon my ignorance but could someone explain "baked in sound"?

It boils down to available frequency response from a cab, regardless of the signal you send to it. As an example look at the Ampeg 810. There are cabs from different eras that have a specific sound. The "dark era" cabs have a more scooped sound, less present mids. The older and newer cabs have more of a mid boost natural voicing. Thats not to say there are not people out there that love the sound of these cabs, because there are a lot. It is to say that if you put either one of those cabs next to my fEARful 1515/66 you will not be able to get the same low end out of the sealed 810 cabs.

 

[KJung]

Please pardon my ignorance but could someone explain "baked in sound"?

'Baked in sound' has very little meaning in bass guitar backline. I guess what people mean is a frequency distribution that is significantly different from a flat frequency response. However, with bass guitar amplification, there really isn't an optimum curve, and it is just as easy to roll out or roll in peaks and valleys as it it to move a relatively 'flat' cab to sound like you want it to (of course, even cabs that scope 'relatively flat' are in no way 'flat' in an absolute sense, so 'baked in' is all a matter of degree anyway).

With home stereo or front of house PA's there is a good reason to shoot for 'relatively flat', since you are trying to accurately reproduce programmed music, or else to accurately reproduce what is coming from the mic'd gear on stage (i.e., the classic use of a PA as 'sound reinforcement', not as a tonal source). For guitar or bass amplication, a relatively 'flat' frequency response is just one of an infinite number of frequency options, and in no way is particularly superior to most other frequency curves/voicings IMO and IME. N most cases, it sounds pretty awful actually.

A bass guitar, like a regular electric guitar, really doesn't have a 'pure acoustic' sound that you are trying to accurately replicate. Bass backline really is part of the tonality and signal chain.

Further complicating this issue is that there are SO many more variables that define the tone of a cabinet than the frequency plots. Distortion, break-up or lack of break-up, etc. results in every cab sounding different... literally.

It is virtually impossible to EQ two cabs of any type to sound the same.

Best to find a cab that gets you at least part of the way to that 'tone in your head' That might be an Acme, and Eden, a Berg, a fEARful, etc., etc., etc.

 

[CTC564]

Thanks for all the informative responses...

 

[Calaverasgrande]

Exactly. If a Ampeg 810 fit everyone's needs all the time it would be the only cab on the market, and threads like this wouldn't exist.

if the fEaRfUl fit everyones needs it would be the only cab on the market. And there would only be one fearful design.
I think flat, phase coherent cabinets are great for some kinds of bass tones. But there are a lot of bass tones that are going to be harder to get with such a rig unless you start adding in additional EQ.
I personally prefer to get part of my sound from my amp and cabinets. I actually tend to leave my EQ mostly flat.

 

[knowles]

(knew this thread would take off!)
I completely agree with what's been said so far about different players, different preferences and the fact that there is no "best".
But to go back to the OP, in order to cut through, you need mids.
I also have two mean guitarists & a heavy-handed drummer but I'm now running two BFM Jack 12s with the 3012HO driver & although I can't compare them against anything from fearful or barefaced, or the Ampeg fridge, I'm VERY happy with them. They can get horrible loud for their size & weight.
I was previously playing an Eden XLT 4x10, and before that, an SWR Goliath. They sounded great by themselves but within a band, I was always tweaking & a bit frustrated that I could never really dial in exactly what I needed. The Jacks have a bit of a hump in the mids that you may not be used to but they simply get the job done. And I can finally leave my settings alone! I'm a gearhead but as soon as I plugged in to these, the urge to even try other cabs completely went away.
Again, there is no single answer here. Just wanted to share what I've found on the subject...