Big cabs besides 8x10's

[ArthurDent42]

Hey all!

Been lurking here a bit and wanted to ask peoples opinions on smaller big cabs! I've been reading through the forum looking for tips on 6x10's and 2x15's. Etc.

The Barefaced, Fender & Bergantino 6x10's look cool. I've only played an Ampeg 6x10. I like the idea, but I'm a little wary of custom drivers if I ever need to find replacements in future. I also use an AD200 and while it would probably be OK, running into something like a 5.6Ohm load seems a little odd even if it's only nominal impedance.

The old Trace 1524 and Greenboy Dually 2x15's look pretty fun, but I'm wondering how close to something like an Ampeg or Orange 8x10 they might sound.

Generally I use an OBC410, but it's heavy, and a lump. I think a taller, less deep cab that has some neo speakers would just be an easier thing to shift.

I'd consider a 2x10 / 1x15 setup but that seems like another can of worms. Anyway! Glad to meet you all!

 

[gtirard]

I wouldn't worry about replacement of the drivers, cabs are much reliable today, and the big cab you're looking for will have a power rating much greater than the output of the AD200, so your chances to fry a driver are close to 0.

Also the consensus today is to avoid mixing cabs of differents sizes, such as 2x10 + 1x15, for several reasons.

If an OBC410 is enough for you, 2 Barefaced 210 would be more than enough, much easier to move, and modular.

 

[ArthurDent42]

The mixed sized driver thing is something I've read a lot about on this forum and others. I can follow the physics and don't really want to start another thread like that! Lol.

I got the obc410 as it's a cab I'm super familiar with. I played guitar for most of my life and switched to bass a few years ago (don't regret it) so my experience of bass gear has been limited. At gigs I've mainly used weird combos, and 8x10 cabs of some description. It's just been the way it goes borrowing backline or using house gear. I like the vibe of a bigger cab.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Mesa used to make a 4x12.

 

[Michedelic]

Hey all!

Been lurking here a bit and wanted to ask peoples opinions on smaller big cabs! I've been reading through the forum looking for tips on 6x10's and 2x15's. Etc.

The Barefaced, Fender & Bergantino 6x10's look cool. I've only played an Ampeg 6x10. I like the idea, but I'm a little wary of custom drivers if I ever need to find replacements in future. I also use an AD200 and while it would probably be OK, running into something like a 5.6Ohm load seems a little odd even if it's only nominal impedance.

The old Trace 1524 and Greenboy Dually 2x15's look pretty fun, but I'm wondering how close to something like an Ampeg or Orange 8x10 they might sound.

Generally I use an OBC410, but it's heavy, and a lump. I think a taller, less deep cab that has some neo speakers would just be an easier thing to shift.

I'd consider a 2x10 / 1x15 setup but that seems like another can of worms. Anyway! Glad to meet you all!

Peavey used to make a 2x10 + single 15(or was it an 18"?)and then they did have a 2x10+2x18 as used by Tommy Shannon with SRV. This is my beast of choice…

The sometimes one of these…

 

[sprag]

Generally I use an OBC410, but it's heavy, and a lump. I think a taller, less deep cab that has some neo speakers would just be an easier thing to shift.

plenty of neo 212s that are light with big tone and volume.

I used to run a berg CN 212 with a cn 112 on top. It was super light, loud as £$#& and similar in height to an 810.

The CNs are no longer in production the NXT or NXV are the current neo incarnations offered by bergantino.

Edit: I currently have an NV 610 because it sounds close to the ampeg fridge

 

[Lammchop93]

What about the Gallien Krueger NEO412?

 

[RGerhart]

From personal experience, the Barefaced Six10 is an absolute beast, and is fairly easy to move around. One thing to note, though, is that it is far shallower in depth than an Ampeg 610 or 810. If you have a rack mounted amp or a larger head, it will overhang from the top.

 

[DRBP]

Peavey used to make a 2x10 + single 15(or was it an 18"?)and then they did have a 2x10+2x18 as used by Tommy Shannon with SRV. This is my beast of choice…
View attachment 4957602

The sometimes one of these…
View attachment 4957606

the venerable peavey 1810 (2 10's and a single 18-not 15) and 3620 (2 10's and 2 18's) really not bad cabs although i only ever played the 1810. but that was back in the day when my back would put up with lugging whatever cab i wanted to play…

your sunn's are killer! first rig i ever played on stage was a rented sunn 1-15 combo (can't remember the model) and it was great.

 

[Medicine Man]

Mesa Subway 2x15 sounds like it would fit the bill. There are lots of modern 2x12 cabs that can brutalize an older, heavy 4x10 at a much lower weight.

 

[coreyfyfe]

The Barefaced, Fender & Bergantino 6x10's look cool. I've only played an Ampeg 6x10. I like the idea, but I'm a little wary of custom drivers if I ever need to find replacements in future. I also use an AD200 and while it would probably be OK, running into something like a 5.6Ohm load seems a little odd even if it's only nominal impedance.

All of the 610s you mention are 4 ohms. Why would you think they're 5.6 ohms? The bergs use 24 ohm speakers in parallel, ampeg uses 6 ohm in series parallel, don't know about the others, but they're all a 4 ohm nominal load.

The berg is out of production. I've had a couple of the barefaced two10 cabs, haven't played a six10, but dig the barefaced stuff in general. I owned an ampeg 610 in the past, haven't played the fender. I like the format, not as big as an 810 but still gets the sound closer to your ear than a 410.

The biggest cabs I currently use are 212s, but if I were to get another big cab it would be a neo one for sure. I also mostly use an AD200 among other tube heads so I don't mind carrying the heavy stuff, but moving big heavy cabs is a whole added pain in the butt.

If you're buying new the fender looks to be almost $1800, I would absolutely spend a little bit more and buy the barefaced over that.

 

[coy garcia]

Cabs have come a long way over the decades and Big is no longer needed. I know many bands that use prop speaker cabs. I prefer the midrange sound and spread of my 112 downfiring speaker over my boogie 115/210 stack. I do love the look of big cabs though.

 

[dave hope]

Peavey used to make a 2x10 + single 15(or was it an 18"?)and then they did have a 2x10+2x18 as used by Tommy Shannon with SRV. This is my beast of choice…
View attachment 4957602

The sometimes one of these…
View attachment 4957606

The Sunn 2000s cabs were deeper/boomier. But I preferred the 200s cabs. They were tighter. I had a pair of them in 1968-69, with JBL D140s. Then the SVT came out a little later.

 

[packhowitzer]

I used to have a Peavey Festival cab with 2 12s and 2 15s. These were sort of multi-use cabs that were kind of meant to be for bass, keys, or even guitar or vox (at least is my understanding). It was heavy and sounded kind of blah, but it was loud enough for 15 year old me to play with a loud drummer and guitarists. This should not be confused with the peavey 1810 which had 2 18s and 2 10s and was bass specific (not my photo):

Link Removed

 

[Michedelic]

The Sunn 2000s cabs were deeper/boomier. But I preferred the 200s cabs. They were tighter. I had a pair of them in 1968-69, with JBL D140s. Then the SVT came out a little later.

Did you get those from Steam Music in Topeka?

 

[Zooberwerx]

My dear ol' LDS 8 x 8 (...aka my "63"). Kickin' enclosure but too much to lug-around as I was recovering from brain surgery and that took a couple years. Been with my Epifanis ever since.

 

[BlueTalon]

I'd consider a 2x10 / 1x15 setup but that seems like another can of worms.

Also the consensus today is to avoid mixing cabs of differents sizes, such as 2x10 + 1x15, for several reasons.

People have been mixing cabs for decades with varying degrees of success. There's nothing necessarily wrong with it, but if it was me, I would only mix cabs from the same company, in the same line, that have been designed from the start to work well together.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hey all!

Been lurking here a bit and wanted to ask peoples opinions on smaller big cabs! I've been reading through the forum looking for tips on 6x10's and 2x15's. Etc.

The Barefaced, Fender & Bergantino 6x10's look cool. I've only played an Ampeg 6x10. I like the idea, but I'm a little wary of custom drivers if I ever need to find replacements in future. I also use an AD200 and while it would probably be OK, running into something like a 5.6Ohm load seems a little odd even if it's only nominal impedance.

The old Trace 1524 and Greenboy Dually 2x15's look pretty fun, but I'm wondering how close to something like an Ampeg or Orange 8x10 they might sound.

Generally I use an OBC410, but it's heavy, and a lump. I think a taller, less deep cab that has some neo speakers would just be an easier thing to shift.

I'd consider a 2x10 / 1x15 setup but that seems like another can of worms. Anyway! Glad to meet you all!

I have two 210 cabs. Much easier to deal with that an 410 cab. The surprising thing is, I only need more than one cab about 20% of the time.

The 610 and 810 cabs usually have built in dolleys and not as difficult to transport as a 410. I would agree that neo speakers would be a significant weight savings regardless of which speaker arrangement your have.

As a for a 210 + 115 rig thinking you're going to get better bass response because of the 15" speaker, you may be somewhat disappointed. That is not to say there are not good sounding cab's with 15s, and a 215 cab may fit the bill sound wise, but will likely be a a larger cab that you will need to lug around.

Best wishes with the search.

 

[juancaminos]

My first real bass amp was a 1970 Kustom 100 with 212 CTS speaker cab. It was fine for about 10 years until I joined a blues band that played a lot of Hendrix, Cream and ZZ Top. That's when I went with an Acoustic 370 with a 408 cabinet....which was a 415 cabinet. I used that Acoustic for almost 20 years, man what a glorious sound. When it was time for something a little smaller and modern I went with an Eden WT400 with a 410XLT cabinet, that was the year 1999. That set up took glorious to a new level for another 20+ years.

That Eden set up remains my favorite. But, due to my age vs cabinet weight I found myself having to move on. I often wonder what an Eden 610 would sound like?

Any way...I experimented with Fender Rumble 210 + 115 stack powered by a Rumble 500 but that was far from what I wanted. So I sold the Rumble 500 and used the Eden WT400 to power the 210/115 stack which sounded surprisingly well! But they were on the edge on medium to large stages so...

I sold the Rumble cabinets to finance a Subway 210 & 115 stack. Which I am experimenting with thru the Eden WT400 for now. I would say that they will never fail me power wise and they do have a ton of low end but I'm still struggling with the piano like round would string high with out loosing the incredible lows. I can get this sound at low volume, no problem. But it's at high volume with a loud drummer and two loud guitar players that I have issues with Piano/round round string zing.

BUT...LOOK OUT... I bought a TT800...we'll see! I might have to get a SW112 to even things out!

Sorry for the long story but in the end the 410 is still my favorite all around small/big cabinet. I just can't lift it anymore. I did play a back line supplied gig with two 410's stacked, in fact I've done this several times and it was great, But that is a big/big cabinet as was the Acoustic 415.

 

[Element Zero]

Mesa Subway 215. You're welcome.