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Cabs Are Key!
- Thread starter BOOG
- Start date
I agree with the OP. I like the extra headroom, but there is no substitute for having enough speaker for the gig. One of my friends who doubles on guitar/bass couldn’t understand why his Markbass 210 combo pooped out during a really loud jam band gig. He thought that the wattage alone was going to take care of business, but he ended up damaging the speakers by cranking it to eleven and going gonzo with the VPF. I suggested that backing off of the filter and adding an extension cabinet would have prevented the failure, but I’m not sure if he agreed or understood.
I learned the value of having proper speakers on an outdoor gig. Prior to the sound check, I compared my rig (Markbass 500w head into two Bergantino 112’s) to the backline (a 200w SS Fender head into a 210 +115 stack) The provided backline was better suited for that particular gig.
I learned the value of having proper speakers on an outdoor gig. Prior to the sound check, I compared my rig (Markbass 500w head into two Bergantino 112’s) to the backline (a 200w SS Fender head into a 210 +115 stack) The provided backline was better suited for that particular gig.
Heard that. My 60 lbs. 2x10 sounds top tier. Unfortunately, the last move it made was from our lockout to my apartment a year and a half ago. Holding on to it for recording purposes at this point I suppose lol
I'll be going FOH-less for the first time in ~16 years next weekend. Quite the dive bar, but they book prog/metal bands, so sacrifices must be made.
I am in the same boat. Toured in the early 70's and in three years had 2 places (10 gigs) out of about 750-gigs that had any PA system of their own and back then it was just for vocals. I bought a Standel piggy-back amp with a powered 215 cab at 200-watts rms and it got unGodly loud - indoors I never turned it above #3 on the dial (9 o'clock).
My hearing works fine now as long as it's 3KHz or lower. Above that my hearing dives to the bottom of the page. I've had hearing aids for about 5-years now and need to replace them. But, I'm retired and my retirement account took a huge hit this year (loss of about 30%) plus with inflation and gas, I'm screwed. If we meet in person I may ask you to speak up. If I'm listening in my headphones, it's no problem because I can just turn it up, which is what got me here in the first place.
Hey you young whippersnappers! Get good earplugs and protect your hearing because once it's gone...it's gone!
(Head #1): What are we gonna do?
(Head #2): Why, head'em off at the pass, of course.
(Head #1): I'M TIRED OF BEING THE STRAIGHT MAN, HERE!
Errr… yeah. That’s what I said.
But the main point was the one about any rig only sounding as good - TO YOU - as its weakest link - TO YOU.
It would be great to have FOH support, but at my level it's not a given, particularly where the venue doesn't have a PA and we're using mine which isn't likely to be able to cope.
In terms of throwing more Watts at things being a bad idea, I don't think having a reasonably efficient cab with high power loading and throwing more Watts at it is a bad idea at all. It's less weight for me to lug around, and if I'm going to need to take the PA then I'm not going to have space for multiple bass cabs in the car unless I buy a trailer or borrow my wife's giant American truck. In either case parking then becomes an issue. Plus she's not going to lend me her giant truck which is strictly limited miles only.
In terms of throwing more Watts at things being a bad idea, I don't think having a reasonably efficient cab with high power loading and throwing more Watts at it is a bad idea at all. It's less weight for me to lug around, and if I'm going to need to take the PA then I'm not going to have space for multiple bass cabs in the car unless I buy a trailer or borrow my wife's giant American truck. In either case parking then becomes an issue. Plus she's not going to lend me her giant truck which is strictly limited miles only.
I rarely get FOH support (about 10 times in the last 10 years) so have a rig that can cover all eventualities.
Regardless of whether FOH is available or not, 200 vs 800watt SS (or 50 vs 300watt valve) amps seems to me to be negligible.
Edited in after thought:
Having a sweet amp into low quality cabs isn’t going to achieve the mission. Having a low quality amp into sweet cabs however, will.
Right. So in my mind, for all eventualities means top quality cabs. If you have these, a $150 200watt amp shoved in the chain will get you heard. Albeit, may not be the tone a person is chasing after but, it will provide plenty of power to produce the desired decibel levels.
Edited in after thought:
Having a sweet amp into low quality cabs isn’t going to achieve the mission. Having a low quality amp into sweet cabs however, will.
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Watts are Watts. If you feel that tube gives you more because of compression, run a compressor in the effects loop. I've run a compressor for FOH before to limit maximum volume, bring up the minimum, and it gives perceived increased loudness. Cf. The TC Electronics amps that used some envelope shaping tricks to do the same.
It needs to be a balance between top quality, weight, size and whether you dare take anything nice to that gig. I've played venues where a Squier bass seemed overkill in terms of bass value relative to risk of damage or theft! I've only ever had pedals or clothing stolen myself, but friends have lost valuable instruments before. Granted, no one is likely to run off with an 8x10...
No disrespect to Michael, but his bass tone never did anything for me, the Mesa-Boogies always sounded good with other players.
Yeah, like I said, clearly you're just playing different types of gigs. It definitely makes sense for you to have a bigger rig. Not worth it for me except for the fun of playing through it.
You mean like this?
-A $150 Bam200 amp attached to Trace Elliot's 1x10 Elf cab. (~And it produces a great tone that I like, BTW...)
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Yeah, and if you have not tried them yet, tap into the elf 2x8. Warning, your wallet will get thinner. Don’t get me wrong, I think that the 110 box is good but, it will reach its limits much sooner.
