Boutique 3-way 115 and 215 on a budget

[pedro]

Well, the technical stuff is all part of the game too, as is music theory, gigging, study of acoustics, etc ; }

I agree and hope he'll at least learn some basics about instrument set up and repair, etc., as well as basics about sound acoustics. For all I know the school offers such.

Essentially, using the POD stuff is little different than using a V-Bass, but with the powered version of the cab it makes carrying a power amp unnecessary, and in the bargain you are getting tri-amping with no weight and space penalties.

Was wondering the weight comparison of the powered version vs. his SWR Goliath II 4x10 cabinet. That also might be a benefit.



__________________

 

[Supertanker]

I'd so like to do some dubworthy with a 1523! Biggest places around here that'd be steppin' wit'out PA support.

It's gonna be ILL when I get that second 1503LF, Just ILL I tell ya.

People with pace makers or heart problems will have to sign a release...

 

[pedro]

I doubt she'll know the name Carvin. If it was Fender that would be another story.

 

[greenboy]

One of many t'ings roots reggae is right with, the bass is huge but relaxed - an' it in de mix so i'an'i can take in every detail, mon. Skankin' guitars and keys don't do no wrong!

 

[Supertanker]

Straig an direct it a no fulla suspense.

I in I here to tell dem dats da truth.

Listen to mi bass mon!!!

 

[tombowlus]

I'm sure there's more that can be said of the LS series. Perhaps someone will get a LS1523 or a second LS1503 for gigging,

I used my two LS1503's as mid/hi boxes in my PA at a small gig last weekend. They did pretty well, but only after I raised them up a bit (the poles that I had hoped to use did not fit the receptacle in the top of my Berg subs, so at first, I had them setting on top, and this was not high enough). The 8 ohm LS1503's are not as loud as my 4 ohm HT310's (which I normally use in this same application), and I had to EQ things a bit different (which was difficult, as I was running sound from the stage), but on the whole, they performed fairly well.

The real fun, though, was last night at practice. I drove both LS1503's with my B1500. Man, oh, man, was that great!!! As good as one sounds, two really gives you a sense of headroom, and everything just sounds effortless. I recommend two if you play with a loud drummer (we are using a replacement drummer for a gig on Sunday, and so he's been practicing with us - he hits so hard, that I had to drive a single LS1503 about as hard as I could, just to keep up! Two, was no problem, though ).

Tom.

 

[greenboy]

Hey, Tom,

Multi-driver bass cabs used at PA can get quite loud - at SOME of the needed frequencies -peaky as hell and with some it's really a vocals mangler - but you sure end up with uneven frequency response and poor polar response and thus room coverage of all the frequencies. I've had to do PA in "make-do" situations before with such rigs, and it sure underlined the reason why PA cabs are never designed like bass cabs often are.

Also, the habits of gain structure and EQing that you might build using bass cabs are quite a bit different than what you build when using SR gear, so it's likely a lot more clean SPL can be wrung out of the LS1503 after spending more time using them... Though as PA cabs, I would consider a pair of LS1503 as a very good entry level or mid-sized system for the size and price, I actually consider them way better as bass guitar bins!

EDIT: Didn't notice the 4-ohms/8-ohms mention in your post the first time around. The pole-mount standard for club PA if I recall is 1-3/8" inches, and adjustable height poles are good to adjust for various ceiling and subwoofer heights.

 

[greenboy]

Was wondering the weight comparison of the powered version vs. his SWR Goliath II 4x10 cabinet. That also might be a benefit.

As I recall the triamp plate module adds either 11 or 13 pounds to the weight - which is really good. But since Carvin seems to have trouble getting all their specs ducks in a row in any single catalog, I don't recall which. I think the 13 pounds figure was for the powered subwoofers though.

This is one area I wish Carvin would devote some man-hours to.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Hey guys, I just had to share. It's not the Carvin 1503, but the same concept. I must admit that this purchase was made, at least in part, to this thread.

Dr. Bass 1580. The Eminence Neo LF driver that some of you have used int the Carvin 1503, plus an 8" mid driver and a horn. Mid and high attenuators (or is it "attenuaters"?) on the side. It's only been here an hour but this may be the one!

Check it out:

 

[greenboy]

I inquired with Dr Bass months ago about the upcoming designs before looking at the LS1503. I found a couple things were turn-offs FOR ME. The dimensions they emailed me wasted more of either Kappalite driver's bass extension potential than I'd be willing to live with - especially for low B/A use or with V-Bass, which can really produce some girthy sounds. Also, the cab was shorter than I like for good hearing in close on small stages. Edit: for me this was an important consideration as I planned to use my next design or purchase as a single cab, and still take advantage of acoustic boundary coupling. I also prefer the polar response and articulation of a 6.5" driver better than an 8" one, and a larger format horn for the same reason - one that uses standard 1" exit compression drivers at that.

I've had enough problems with L-pads in the signal chain to not desire them if the cab is designed with a proper frequency balance. Finally, there was price and easy availability.

Not trying to lump on Dr Bass; those were just MY reasons for passing. Hope it works out great for you - it's certainly a possibility to consider! Nicer finish by my standards, as well.

 

[greenboy]

Ah, is that the XTi2000? Good choice if you can bi-amp!

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Well, I have to admit that a big reason for me purchasing the Dr. Bass was the availability. I called, and he had it in stock. And I needed a cab right away. (Well, before the first weekend in October.)

Also:
--The finish is kick ass. No doubt about it!
--I like the idea of the mid and high attenuators (ers?). It's going to make life alot easier for me. Kind of a "bi-amp for dummies"?!
--I plan on using this cab as part of a whole: I'd like to get a 1260 and either use the two cabs together or seperately for my other gigs. I tend to do a lot of different gigs in different situations. Bar gigs, outdoor gigs, weddings, cocktail hours, that type of thing. This 1580 and a 1260 should do the trick.
--I've had some Dr. Bass products in the past that were just killer. So there is a little history there, too.
--The price wasn't that much over the 1503 with the woofer mod.
--And, I have to admit, that the name Carvin throws me off a little. Look, I know that it's unfounded, as I have never had a Carvin product! Plus there have been too many positive reviews of the 1503 for it to be a dog. But my bias is there nontheless, and, like my fear of flying, cannot be ignored.

And yeah, the XTi2000 sounds real friggin' good! A little overkill for me, but killer!! I'm running it full-range. I find that the more options or knobs at my disposal, the worse my tone gets.

 

[greenboy]

I find that the more options or knobs at my disposal, the worse my tone gets.

Hey - that's the way I feel about mixing full-range driver sizes, stacking or placing a bunch of bass guitar cabs of various drivers and tunings side by side. I can hear all this weird coloration and comb filtering that doesn't sound as good to me as using one or two of a cab I really like, stacked vertically ; }

 

[tombowlus]

Hey, Tom,

Multi-driver bass cabs used at PA can get quite loud - at SOME of the needed frequencies -peaky as hell and with some it's really a vocals mangler - but you sure end up with uneven frequency response and poor polar response and thus room coverage of all the frequencies. I've had to do PA in "make-do" situations before with such rigs, and it sure underlined the reason why PA cabs are never designed like bass cabs often are.

Also, the habits of gain structure and EQing that you might build using bass cabs are quite a bit different than what you build when using SR gear, so it's likely a lot more clean SPL can be wrung out of the LS1503 after spending more time using them... Though as PA cabs, I would consider a pair of LS1503 as a very good entry level or mid-sized system for the size and price, I actually consider them way better as bass guitar bins!

EDIT: Didn't notice the 4-ohms/8-ohms mention in your post the first time around. The pole-mount standard for club PA if I recall is 1-3/8" inches, and adjustable height poles are good to adjust for various ceiling and subwoofer heights.

I have been running PA rigs for quite some time, and I've used a number of dedicated SR cabs (EV, JBL, Yamaha, Peavey, Yorkville, etc.). And while I understand the points you are making (and generally agree with them), that "Berg PA" I have been using over the last several years really does sound frackin' great (and this is with very little EQ), and it covers a nice wide area with good consistency.

I am sure that I can get the LS1503's to sound very good in a small to medium gig setting, so don't get me wrong, there. But I just wanted to point out that the Berg PA works amazingly well for my needs, both big and small.

Tom.

 

[greenboy]

Good enough, Tom. Hope I didn't sound condescending. Just haven't ever had the results I desire when I ran someone's "it's not a PA but these cabs have tweeters" setup.

 

[tombowlus]

Good enough, Tom. Hope I didn't sound condescending. Just haven't ever had the results I desire when I ran someone's "it's not a PA but these cabs have tweeters" setup.

No problem, I have certainly heard 'makeshift PA's' that sound like crap, so I know where you are coming from. To be honest, I was really surprised at how good these cabs sounded in PA use.

 

[knuckle_head]

So I am curious....

For those that have gotten and are using these new little beauties, are you hearing things differently? Are you still playing your basses the same way? Are you goosing your on-board stuff in a different manner?

Inquiring minds....

 

[greenboy]

For those that have gotten and are using these new little beauties, are you hearing things differently? Are you still playing your basses the same way? Are you goosing your on-board stuff in a different manner?

Good questions. I've been on a similar "extended transparency" path for some time now so my approach to EQ and hearing and playing hasn't been much affected. Then too, I am using modeling, so my playing, EQing and hearing is ALWAYS being affected - each time I design or play through a new preset ; }

When I play other rigs I am somewhat prepared for them by my use of modeling diversity, but there's defintiely some "ear-shifting" at the onset, before I fully acclimatize. It's got to be more dramatic for some, I'm sure... Or it may even take awhile to begin to hear what's changed, and how it can affect playing and various "knobs" habits.

 

[Bass Below]

For those that have gotten and are using these new little beauties, are you hearing things differently?

Not only am I hearing things differently, I'm hearing things I never heard before. My singer and my drummer are both thrilled because now they acn hear just about every note I am hitting. My guitarist is thrilled because not only is there more bass presence, but everything in the room sounds better and more crisp. That's due to the fact that there isn't tons of sloppy, inarticulate bass mud drowning the room.

Are you still playing your basses the same way?

I'm playing exactly the same way. As someone else said, I'm finding it easier to play because I can hear every little thing I'm doing. Before, I must have been wasting effort trying to get sound that wasn't there. Now it seems as if the notes are flying right off the board, making moving onto the next note that much easier.

Are you goosing your on-board stuff in a different manner?

I did have to roll the treble on the bass back a bit. As far as the amp, I also rolled the treble back a bit and (this is my favorite part) I was able to crank the sub bass and bass knobs up quite a bit without getting any mud. More bass AND more definition.... best of both worlds? Yep. Hard to believe, but true.

To be totally honest, I have only played the Quake through this cabinet, so that of course has a lot to do with it, but still....

I just can't bring myself to pick up any other bass while a Quake is within reach

 

[lbwdog]

So I am curious....

For those that have gotten and are using these new little beauties, are you hearing things differently? Are you still playing your basses the same way? Are you goosing your on-board stuff in a different manner?

Inquiring minds....

Other than differences in my approach to EQ, everything that Bass Below posted goes for me as well.

I actually feel like I'm playing better because I'm not distracted by having to compensate for any sonic inadequacies of my gear. I can concentrate on the music and not have any nagging, subconscious thoughts preventing me from playing what I want.

Like I posted previously, sixteenth notes come out like distinct, individual notes instead of a pile of disorganized sounds. So now it's all about the performance.