Best small bass cab?

[el murdoque]

Respectfully disagree. (Not about PJB gear being well built -- it certainly is.) My C8 cab has never left me wanting for low end or volume. Now granted, I play a 4 string bass, and perhaps my opinion might be different if I played a 5-string or more. But my C8 cranks out a low E as well as anything I've ever played through, and I grew up on 15s.

I have to agree. A C8 should smoke any traditional style cab with 10s, easily.

I have a friend that plays Dingwalls w/ 37" B strings through PJB cabinets.. the 100 pound plus monster cabs that have like 12 or 16 (or more) 5" drivers in them. Those cabs produce the deepest, loudest, and clearest low notes possible. He could crank the power to those cabinets and literally hurt people, and never lose definition. I know because I have felt the beating to my rib cage! If I wasn't into a more tube amp and vintage driver sound, I would say PJB makes the best cabs in the biz, hands down. But, they're not my thing.

I never played the C8, but I tried their 2 and 4 speaker cab offerings when I was looking for something small and light. In direct comparison, the barefaced one10 vs. the C4 was an easy thing: The barefaced was much lighter (IIRC the C4 was just over 11kg, the barefaced at 7kg), and while both sounded great at lower volumes, none of them shying away from a low B, the C4 could not keep up with the barefaced once you turned up a bit.
For my personal application neither cab was enough to gig with, but what I took from this experiment was that while the C4 is on par with a decent 110 cabinet, it looses against a stellar one - so I could imagine that a barefaced two10 beats a C8.
And a barefaced 1x12 cab beats a barefaced 2x10.

The PJB stuff gets you a stellar experience if you're into HiFi modern bass sounds.
The idea of doing that with lots and lots of too small drivers shows a very determined, intelligent mind that is also slightly mad behind the R&D process.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I never played the C8, but I tried their 2 and 4 speaker cab offerings when I was looking for something small and light. In direct comparison, the barefaced one10 vs. the C4 was an easy thing: The barefaced was much lighter (IIRC the C4 was just over 11kg, the barefaced at 7kg), and while both sounded great at lower volumes, none of them shying away from a low B, the C4 could not keep up with the barefaced once you turned up a bit.
For my personal application neither cab was enough to gig with, but what I took from this experiment was that while the C4 is on par with a decent 110 cabinet, it looses against a stellar one - so I could imagine that a barefaced two10 beats a C8.
And a barefaced 1x12 cab beats a barefaced 2x10.

The PJB stuff gets you a stellar experience if you're into HiFi modern bass sounds.
The idea of doing that with lots and lots of too small drivers shows a very determined, intelligent mind that is also slightly mad behind the R&D process.

Phil Jones is a genius. Imagine 12 or 16 Mike Tyson fists hitting you or one slow 10” fist and you’ll get an accurate idea of the difference.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I find myself fascinated by the Italian GR offerings. Very light. Very small footprint. Very good reviews.

 

[sgiacomo]

They're hard to get these days but the MAS 1,8 will blow pretty much any single 10 out of the water in terms of both how deep it goes and how loud it gets. Truly a great cabinet.

I’d put my Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0T-10 against any 8” on the planet…

 

[LVannerson]

Respectfully disagree. (Not about PJB gear being well built -- it certainly is.) My C8 cab has never left me wanting for low end or volume. Now granted, I play a 4 string bass, and perhaps my opinion might be different if I played a 5-string or more. But my C8 cranks out a low E as well as anything I've ever played through, and I grew up on 15s.

 

[LVannerson]

Respectfully disagree. (Not about PJB gear being well built -- it certainly is.) My C8 cab has never left me wanting for low end or volume. Now granted, I play a 4 string bass, and perhaps my opinion might be different if I played a 5-string or more. But my C8 cranks out a low E as well as anything I've ever played through, and I grew up on 15s.

no offense. They are amazingly well built and sound great! I just couldn’t get the lower end I was looking for. I’m asking for a lot out of a very small rig. If I was playing jazz or funk that C8 would be killer but if you’re trying to just ride 8th notes and hold down a rock cover band it (in my opinion) doesn’t cut it. That said, it’s my only PJB experience other than I have the headphones that are awesome. Thanks!

 

[LVannerson]

I have to agree. A C8 should smoke any traditional style cab with 10s, easily.

I have a friend that plays Dingwalls w/ 37" B strings through PJB cabinets.. the 100 pound plus monster cabs that have like 12 or 16 (or more) 5" drivers in them. Those cabs produce the deepest, loudest, and clearest low notes possible. He could crank the power to those cabinets and literally hurt people, and never lose definition. I know because I have felt the beating to my rib cage! If I wasn't into a more tube amp and vintage driver sound, I would say PJB makes the best cabs in the biz, hands down. But, they're not my thing.

the cab is badass but doesn’t have the lows of 10s let alone 12s+. And it’s heavy as hell. I’m sure if you got the one that has 20 5”s in it it would be good but at that point get a SVT 8x10. I’m not knocking the brand - it’s incredible stuff. I was just super disappointed at the fact that 8, 5s didn’t equal up to a nice 2x10. My two cents.

 

[mrperkolator]

@LVannerson, I dont have much I can add.... lots of good choices already. I haven't played on a Trickfish cab, but they have a stellar reputation. The one time I emailed them about one of their pedals they were quick and professional. So seemingly a great company. They collaborate with Mike Pope, so I'd expect great stuff.

 

[JEDI BASS]

the cab is badass but doesn’t have the lows of 10s let alone 12s+. And it’s heavy as hell. I’m sure if you got the one that has 20 5”s in it it would be good but at that point get a SVT 8x10. I’m not knocking the brand - it’s incredible stuff. I was just super disappointed at the fact that 8, 5s didn’t equal up to a nice 2x10. My two cents.

Noted. Maybe the smaller PJB cabs don’t have what the big boys have tons of. I wouldn’t know first hand. So, my vote stays with Aguilar DB112nt cabs.

 

[lucathegreener]

Give to GR Bass a try. And then let us know.

 

[logdrum]

I have a now discontinued 110 EA Whizzy cab. Has the tilt system, 250 watts. I gig with it but it is also what I use for practice Another thing I like is the AI Doubleshot cab - smallest 210. I do not own one but borrowed one for about 2 weeks.

 

[LVannerson]

Thanks!

 

[RGerhart]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]if you can find one. David recently shuttered his company but his website is still up. Some of his dealers still have some things left, though they are typically "last one". I see there's one for $799 at Bass Central in Florida, and one for $824.93 at Bass Club Chicago. That 112 handles 450-watts rms, SPL=99db, frequency range is 32Hz to 14KHz, and Max SPL=129db

Eden EX-112 cab - very compact 112 cab because it uses a whizzer cone (cone within a cone) for the high-mids and highs instead of a separate tweeter horn. I actually have two of these and was so impressed with the sound of it the first time I gigged it that I immediately ordered another. Street Price is $269 and although there is about $600 difference in price between the D112XST and this cab, there's nowhere near that much difference in sound.

If budget was a consideration, I'd suggest the Eden EX-112.
Best sound though is the DNS-112 by DNA

+1 on the DNS cab, and for Bass Central

I bought two DNS-210s from Bass Central last year and they were great to work with. And the cabs absolutely rule. Kind of bulky, but they sound as loud as a 410, but with better definition.

 

[LVannerson]

Good call. And ditto on Bass Central. Great guys to work with!

 

[Rip Van Dan]

+1 on the DNS cab, and for Bass Central

I bought two DNS-210s from Bass Central last year and they were great to work with. And the cabs absolutely rule. Kind of bulky, but they sound as loud as a 410, but with better definition.

My experience exactly although I bought a DNS-410 back in 2015 and didn't get my DNS-210 until 2019 (bought it because small venues wouldn't let me use my 410). Would have preferred to do it like you did - makes for a nice modular system.

Although those 210's aren't the lightest cabs at 52-lbs, they are a lot lighter than my 79-lb 410 and have replaced my DNS-410 for all indoor venues. I do roll out my DNS-410 for outdoor venues and music festivals.

 

[cultrvultr]

I’d put my Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0T-10 against any 8” on the planet…

I've owned both of these cabs (now both discontinued) and the MAS 8" smoked the Shuttle 10" - no question about it.

The Genzler 10" is a massive upgrade to the sound quality of the Shuttle, which was great for its era, but cab design has made huge upgrades in recent years. I love my Genzler 10"

Still, if you want onstage volume only, cannot beat the upshot! I use it standalone - no PA - for small gigs and rehearsals. The upfiring speaker has an incredible "bloom" that carries so well. For gigs with a PA, it's often all I need so that the drummer and I have a nice clear source of bass right near our ears. at 11lbs its lighter than every other cab that's been recommended in this thread, but still has a traditional sound and feel of a 1x10 at 300w 8OHM. I like the Phils Jones stuff, but the sound is pretty unique and does not work for everything.

On bigger gigs I can easily pair the Genzler 10" with the upshot 10" for a killer 2x10 that is plenty loud on stage, but without the phasing concerns of a larger cab. I'm always surprised when people insist on a 2x12 or something else huge on a stage with PA support. Fighting the PA system and causing phase issues by bringing your own huge cabinet is just going to make everything sound worse. If you really need to "feel" the music put a backbeat on your strap. It will rattle your entire body.

 

[BlueTalon]

no offense. They are amazingly well built and sound great! I just couldn’t get the lower end I was looking for. I’m asking for a lot out of a very small rig. If I was playing jazz or funk that C8 would be killer but if you’re trying to just ride 8th notes and hold down a rock cover band it (in my opinion) doesn’t cut it. That said, it’s my only PJB experience other than I have the headphones that are awesome. Thanks!

No offense taken. And your experience is your experience, I take nothing away from that. I play in a blues/rock trio. The C8 does everything I need it to do, including 8th notes. But that's my experience. As always, YMMV.

If I have a knock on the C8, it's that it's heavy. Thank goodness it has wheels and an extendo-handle.

 

[scdreger]

Bergantino Ref II series 112 or Genzler Bass Array 12-3

 

[LVannerson]

No offense taken. And your experience is your experience, I take nothing away from that. I play in a blues/rock trio. The C8 does everything I need it to do, including 8th notes. But that's my experience. As always, YMMV.

If I have a knock on the C8, it's that it's heavy. Thank goodness it has wheels and an extendo-handle.

Ha! Yep the handle and casters are super helpful. That thing is a tank! Sounds badass for what it does but just wasn’t what I was looking for. I love PJB stuff. Best to you!

 

[Coot]

Many awesome choices here. I have used a number of great cabs and I found I preferred my Mesa subway 1x15 for anything from bedroom practice to a medium sized room. I have never tried the Mesa 1x12 but it might be a great contender judging by the standard of quality the subway line has produced so far.