Cabs Are Key!

[BOOG]

Since (2014) I got into this sport which, compared to probably most of you my age on here, is relatively recent, I’ve had and played a fair number of amps/cabs. Regardless, I have concluded that while head (size/amperage) output is thought about, it really isn’t what matters to me.
For example, having my PF-20 or my TE elf tapped into an efficient, well made cab or two will get the job done in just about every scenario I can think of.

Agree or disagree?

 

[agedhorse]

Agree.

 

[BOOG]

Ah, that was too easy

 

[joel406]

Agreed.

 

[BOOG]

Agree.

Seriously though, where do you really see amperage higher than 200 become full-on necessary?
Even at the last big concert (311) that I went to, I’m thinking, “everything Peanut is playing into is tapped into FOH so, why worry about it?”.

 

[JuanB]

Seriously though, where do you really see amperage higher than 200 become full-on necessary?
Even at the last big concert (311) that I went to, I’m thinking, “everything Peanut is playing into is tapped into FOH so, why worry about it?”.

Off-topic, how was the show? I used to be a big fan but haven't followed them for a while.

 

[agedhorse]

Seriously though, where do you really see amperage higher than 200 become full-on necessary?
Even at the last big concert (311) that I went to, I’m thinking, “everything Peanut is playing into is tapped into FOH so, why worry about it?”.

Different needs and different preferences.

 

[BOOG]

Off-topic, how was the show? I used to be a big fan but haven't followed them for a while.

I loved it but, in all fairness, I had never seen them before nor had I been to that venue before so, I don’t have any benchmarks. Great show by them and their opening bands Iration and Iya Terra. Knowing Nick Hexum is a few months younger than me and still has 12-pack-abs was a little deflating but…
All in all it was one of my favorite concerts ever.

 

[Freekmagnet]

I'd say I agree. 200w into a good 115 cab will cover most gigs for me. Small club gigs, I could get away with less. In fact, I'm thinking about getting a little Trace Elf and a 110 or 112 for the small gigs. I'd say that the festival-sized outdoor gigs are the only gigs where I need more power and a bigger cab.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Since (2014) I got into this sport which, compared to probably most of you my age on here, is relatively recent, I’ve had and played a fair number of amps/cabs. Regardless, I have concluded that while head (size/amperage) output is thought about, it really isn’t what matters to me.
For example, having my PF-20 or my TE elf tapped into an efficient, well made cab or two will get the job done in just about every scenario I can think of.

Agree or disagree?

Also agree. But, an integrated head with a good EQ section can make a huge difference in your sound quality as well.

 

[ezstep]

I have seen far too many people spend a good bit of money on their bass, another good bit of money on the amp head, and then skimp on the cab - old, indestructible Peavey boxes with unknown, replaced speakers inside. Why wimp out on such an important part of the chain?

Nice Marantz or Pioneer or JVC receiver running though old Radio Shack speakers. Just doesn't sound right.

 

[scuzzy]

Agreed. The addition of these cabs has been a game changer.

 

[scuzzy]

I loved it but, in all fairness, I had never seen them before nor had I been to that venue before so, I don’t have any benchmarks. Great show by them and their opening bands Iration and Iya Terra. Knowing Nick Hexum is a few months younger than me and still has 12-pack-abs was a little deflating but…
All in all it was one of my favorite concerts ever.

They are still a really good live band, but back in their prime, it was another level. COVID caused me to miss them and incubus a year or so ago.

 

[ashtray]

I played an outdoor gig with no FOH support. I had a 300watt GB Shuttle 3.0 played through an SWR 8x8, with a flat eq, and I was hitting the power amp limiter. (Volume around 2 o’clock) My volume was fine for the band on stage, but out in that field where people sat on picnic blankets and folding chairs, you couldn’t hear my bass so well. The drums weren’t mic’d either, and though our drummer hit hard, the crowd couldn’t hear him either.

Have played a bunch of gigs with no FOH support. 300 watts usually gets it done, indoors, depending on the cabs. 500 watts gives more headroom.

The cabs make a huge difference in both volume and tone.

Also, don’t play an outdoor gig if you can’t run everything through the PA.

 

[BOOG]

Also agree. But, an integrated head with a good EQ section can make a huge difference in your sound quality as well.

Excuse my ignorance but, what is an “integrated head”?

 

[Leigh Semmens]

Back in the stone age the rule of thumb was always; Set aside a sum of money for your Hi Fi, Half of it buys your components, the other half buys your speakers. I'd go so far to say as this rule still holds true but even more so now. Spend as much as you can on your enclosures and what's left on your rig!

 

[Spidey2112]

A happy medium, if you will...

... each sound wonderful by themselves, but together... yummy. Regarding relative cost, again a happy medium, between my lowest priced bass and my highest.

Viva la pants!

 

[Spidey2112]

Excuse my ignorance but, what is an “integrated head”?

One that's still connected to one's body?

 

[monkeyfinger]

Excuse my ignorance but, what is an “integrated head”?

It just means preamp and power amp in a single housing, your typical bass amp.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

I run a PF-50T into an 810 or a 212 cab. With the gain and volume only halfway up, it's room-rattlingly loud. I assume this is a result of the cab I'm using, since the amp itself is only 50 watts.