Cab placement

[NickInMesa]

I started using my Peavey Tour 700 with my Tour 210 cab, and so far I like it but I was not so happy at first with the sound.

First I took the wrong bass, the Yamaha RBX270, which has a P/J setup and the P pickup is stock and it sounded like pooh. I switched to the P, which is a Seymour Duncan I installed, and it sounded a lot better. Much punchier.

I was not happy with the sound at first and then the drummer told me it sounded great for him. I then realized that I had the 210 on the floor, and I was standing next to it.

As soon as I walked away, it sounded already much better. I suppose the cab needs to be elevated... Hmm maybe on top of a 115

So here we have a drummer in a corner, no amp. The guitarist in the other corner, to the left of the drummer, but not immediate left, with a Fender 65W Frontman, and at the other end, my amp and head. When I was next to the cab, it sounds not so good. When I stood opposite the cab, between the drummer and the guitarist's amp, it sounded great. I squatted to listen and wow there it was, cutting through just fine.

I am trying to get the guitarist to not play that loud but he does not get the clue. I suppose I now have enough firepower, but I probably need to position my cab a bit better.

What do you suggest?

 

[Bassamatic]

As soon as you take the cab off the floor you will lose some bottom. Can you just stand a little farther away from it? Can you put the cab against the wall (if it is not rear ported)? this will focus the sound energy towards the front. The BEST thing is if you can get you cab in a corner. Then the walls of the room act like a giant horn and your sound is enormous. I have played 150 person clubs with a single 12" this way. (markbass combo).

Get someone to make a recording to show the guitarist how loud and out of balance he is - maybe that will get him to turn down.

I guess the REAL question is how does it sound to your audience? If it is good, then little else matters.

Good Luck!

 

[NickInMesa]

So... you are telling me I would lose some bottom, meaning... I can only elevate it by putting it on top of a 115, I understand, this means I have to buy one.

Oh that's not what you meant?

 

[Thundar]

LOL.... I would shoot for the Tour 410...then throw the 210 on top of it....and then laugh at your guitar player

 

[JimmyM]

So... you are telling me I would lose some bottom, meaning... I can only elevate it by putting it on top of a 115, I understand, this means I have to buy one.

Oh that's not what you meant?

Actually, you have to elevate your cab a couple feet to lose bottom from floor coupling. The only reason is sounds more bassy is because you have all the highs and upper mids blowing past your ears and the lows are omnidirectional and a lot easier heard. So the cheap way is to stand it vertically and tilt it back a little so it points more to your ears, or you can spend a little and get a second cab and get a nice little bass boost from the cab coupling AND hear more highs and upper mids from your upper cab. Some people do it with a 115, but I hate mixed cab rigs so I'd get another identical 210, orient them vertically, and get as much throw as an 810 and more volume and better off axis response than your average 410.

 

[rbonner]

Tilt her back a touch.

BOB

 

[billoetjen]

Use a supersoaker water gun on the guitarist's rig. That should get the volume to a manageable level. While you're at it, fill it with battery acid.

 

[NickInMesa]

You guys are funny.

Thanks for the good advice, though.

Hmm identical 210, hey? That's interesting... I usually hear more about 210 + 115. But now that I think of it, a 115 would not fit in my car...

Also, the horn was on 10, as soon as I lowered it, it sounded much better.

 

[Sten]

Do a search here on what people think on mixing 2x10" with 1x15". Many people consider it a bad idea to mix these, so before buying try to at least test this combination.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Actually, you have to elevate your cab a couple feet to lose bottom from floor coupling. The only reason is sounds more bassy is because you have all the highs and upper mids blowing past your ears and the lows are omnidirectional and a lot easier heard. So the cheap way is to stand it vertically and tilt it back a little so it points more to your ears, or you can spend a little and get a second cab and get a nice little bass boost from the cab coupling AND hear more highs and upper mids from your upper cab. Some people do it with a 115, but I hate mixed cab rigs so I'd get another identical 210, orient them vertically, and get as much throw as an 810 and more volume and better off axis response than your average 410.

Correct in every aspect.

Use a supersoaker water gun on the guitarist's rig. That should get the volume to a manageable level. While you're at it, fill it with battery acid.

Good advice if he can't be convinced to either elevate his cab to ear level, or tilt it back, so he can hear himself as well as everyone else does. The midrange dispersion of bass cabs is not good, but the dispersion of guitar cabs is even worse.