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Double Bass Cabinets for an outdoor show?

robert_stuart

robert_stuart

Gold Supporting Member
Mar 28, 2017
626
673
Denver
#1
I have a gig coming up in an outdoor stage in front of a pavillion, surrounded by campsites and forest. It's 50's rockabilly & country with two guitars, or guitars+keys and drums. I haven't been to the venue, but I was told to bring a second cab like the (10-inch+tweeter SWR) I was playing through at practice. I've own just a 500W Markbass head, and the SWR 10" cab. I've been putting off buying a larger cab until I need it, like here.

We'll be doing our own sound, and have a 400W PA with some powered monitors.

  • First problem is that I can't so easily find a second Workingpro 10" cab for sale :)
  • Second problem is, they're only 100W power handling, and I don't want to blow them up.
  • Third problem is, IMO that 400W PA is going to have enough work doing the vocals and keyboard. I don't think I can really count on it for bass.
  • Fourth problem is, I probably need my rig to properly monitor myself — so close to ear level, or angled up — but I need it for sound to the audience too.
  • Fifth problem: I drive a Subaru Forester, and I can't fit a large cab like a 4x10 at the same time as my DB. (4x10's and bigger are a steal now! Lots of great used cabs for cheap bec. there are lighter alternatives.)
The solution I come to is going to cost me $900 minimum: two 1x12+tweeter cabs. A couple of used Aguilar DB 112's or 210's would do the trick plus have a good vintage look. There's also Markbass NY 121 and Traveler 121H. Unfortunately, those two cabs don't seem to stack together. Fender's Rumble V3 1x12 cabs have a lot of good reviews. Much cheaper, but still light and small-ish.

Any ideas?
 
#4
A small PA that may be adequate for vocals and acoustic guitars won't be able to provide much support for a bass instrument outdoors. I'd look for a used Bag End S-15 cab or similar. I've actually used an SWR Wokingman's 10 with a Bag End 1x15 cab outdoors, and it sounded very good, and didn't require much if any PA support. I think I only had a 200 watt amp at the time, so 500 watts should be plenty of power.
 
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#5
If a one-cab solution might work, you might give @dukeorock a holler. He makes a big sealed 18" cab with two side-by-side 2" dome mids for the top end. That configuration does a really good job of dispersing the upper mids and highs in the vertical plane, making it easier for you to hear your overtones. If he's using the 18" woofer that I think, it has a much better top end than you would expect, and I'm sure it blends well with his twin mids.
 
#7
MrLenny1 said:
Bag End 1x15 used about $150.00
Borrow a cab or rent one.
Or go shopping new.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
A used Bag End S-15 cab in decent condition is a bargain. For the price they typically go for now, you can't buy much else that would compare. Lots of sound out for a modest amount of power in. Compact and reasonably light for what they do, and they sound great.
 
Last edited:
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#10
You need a bigger cab. I use a GK700RB and an Ampeg 6X10 for gigs like those. I would advise the sound guy to keep me out of the monitor in front of me and use my rig to hear myself on stage. Also, feedback can be a bitch in that kind of setting unless you are prepared for it. Keeping the bass out of the monitors usually keeps it manageable along with my preamp or volume pedal to back off if the sound guy has me too hot. Also, I run a small amount of compression generally as well.
 
#12
How loud do you need to be, how large a space do you have to cover? I spent years in a 50s-style honky tonk band using an AI Coda (1-10", 1-5") with a line out to the PA with two 1-15" cabs. No problem hearing the bass out front at town park outdoor stages anywhere in the park. I later picked up an AI Ten2 extension cab (2-10", 1-5") and put it on the other side of the stage. The main difference was the guitarist could hear me better with that cab right behind him. No real change out front.
 
#16
!!!
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#19
Ric Vice said:
The Subaru Forrester is my gig car.
I think johnny_bolt probably figured
out what to do long ago, since he posted the thread on May 5th of 2017
Click to expand...

Crap!! Well that's what happens when you don't look at the posting date. Thanks. If I could ask... Did you look at the Outback as well? I was a bit torn. I REALLY like the rear storage compartment of the Forester. Plus, my dogs can stand up in it. Still miss my Volvo wagon.....
 
#20
B String said:
Crap!! Well that's what happens when you don't look at the posting date. Thanks. If I could ask... Did you look at the Outback as well? I was a bit torn. I REALLY like the rear storage compartment of the Forester. Plus, my dogs can stand up in it. Still miss my Volvo wagon.....
Click to expand...

I’ve owned at several Outbacks and wish I still had one. I always dreamed I could afford the Volvo but they are out of my price range. Hoping my next car is an Outback. They don’t typically put their newest upgrades on the Forester.
 

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