Casters vs. none

[rhp335]

The vertical stacking thread got me thinking about my own rig, it would seem to be simple physics that a cab on the floor would transmit more low end than one that sits on casters.

I'm not sure the hassle of hauling a cabinet with out casters would be worth the difference, but wonder if anyone has experienced radical differences between a cab on casters vs. sitting on the floor?

 

[greenboy]

The vertical stacking thread got me thinking about my own rig, it would seem to be simple physics that a cab on the floor would transmit more low end than one that sits on casters.

Nope.

Unless your casters are a few feet tall they won't make iny appreciable difference in boundary-reinforced acoustic coupling.

A soft-wheel caster set, however, can sometimes provide a smidgeon of isolation from mechanical vibratory rattely stuff on stages that are poorly built, and maybe in rare cases a little less excitation of the air space under the stage. A totally seperate issue from acoustic coupling BTW.

 

[KJung]

The vertical stacking thread got me thinking about my own rig, it would seem to be simple physics that a cab on the floor would transmit more low end than one that sits on casters.

I'm not sure the hassle of hauling a cabinet with out casters would be worth the difference, but wonder if anyone has experienced radical differences between a cab on casters vs. sitting on the floor?

First, removable castors allows for 'on or off' use, and also work as a great 'tilt back' mechanism by removing the rear ones. Nice!

Regarding tone, I'll defer to Greenboy, who knows his stuff. However, my ear sure did hear a difference in low end response when I took my smaller cabs off the castors and coupled them to the floor. Not sure why, but it sure did seem to make a difference in the projection of the deep low end. On a 410 sized cab that isn't straining on the low end to begin with, I don't notice a difference, and hence just keep the castors on.

 

[Bryan316]

When I had an Ampeg 610, that rested right on the floor with the two front rubber feet underneath. That cab was very boomy and I had problems with muddiness, especially hollow stages.

My 212 cab, on very tall customized casters, gives me plenty of rumble. But it's clearer and tighter now than my Ampeg. I have a feeling, if I put it on the floor, it'd be too muddy for me. So I'm staying with my casters.

However, if you have a cab that doesn't get deep enough for you, then you want to definitely want to experiment with resting it right on the floor. That's quite an easy test, just flop it on its side at the next gig.

 

[rhp335]

That's quite an easy test, just flop it on its side at the next gig

Excellent idea, I was kind of being lazy, I currently have casters on my rig, but am getting an Avatar as a replacement and just kind of pondering adding casters to it. My back says "yes", and probably more than my ear could possibly say "No"

I assume the Avatars have room to add casters? Going to be either a used 1-15 or a 2-12 pending some further research and negotiations.

 

[Planet Boulder]

With the exception of my 2x10 cabs (actually, one does already have wheels, thanks to a previous owner), all of my cabs have castors, even my SWR WM15 combo. I have never noticed an appreciable difference with or without. The only time I've noticed a difference was when I propped my cabs on milk crates or the like and I was forced to do that after my keyboard player (who NEVER complains - easiest human in the world to get along with) complained about the "swell" which resulted from my cab sitting in direct contact with hollow stages. But, at that, I actually like the lack of "boominess", so it's all good.

The castors really save my back and allow me to use the cabs as dollys to haul in other equipment.

Obviously, there can be drawbacks to using castors and wheeling your cabs around - less-than-stable cabs can lose some of their structural stability and speaker connections can come loose (but I'm OCD when it comes to speaker connections as I reinforce all of my connections with electrical tape so they don't come loose). Just be careful when wheeling over rough terrain. If possible, either avoid it or carry it at that point - you can't be too careful.

 

[FUBB]

I have recently added a GK SBX 1x15 to my rig. It has removable castors and I was fully intending to use it without them to really feel the low end on hollow stages!
However in reality having tried it both ways now, I prefer to keep the castors on as the rig doesn't need any help to vibrate the house down! Sound is tighter and less boomy, and it doesnt vibrate all the other gear on the stage!

Funny how things turn out in the real world.

 

[scottic2]

Regarding tone, I'll defer to Greenboy, who knows his stuff. However, my ear sure did hear a difference in low end response when I took my smaller cabs off the castors and coupled them to the floor. Not sure why, but it sure did seem to make a difference in the projection of the deep low end. On a 410 sized cab that isn't straining on the low end to begin with, I don't notice a difference, and hence just keep the castors on.

+1 on this... I noticed a big improvement on low end from my Whappo Jr after I took the casters off in the middle of a gig. There was a noticeable increase in the low end coming out of the cabinet. Funny thing was, with my Epifani UL410 (which I do not feel has a huge low end to begin with), I did not notice a difference (maybe a miniscule difference) with the casters on or off).

 

[A9X]

The vertical stacking thread got me thinking about my own rig, it would seem to be simple physics that a cab on the floor would transmit more low end than one that sits on casters.

I'm not sure the hassle of hauling a cabinet with out casters would be worth the difference, but wonder if anyone has experienced radical differences between a cab on casters vs. sitting on the floor?

There is no difference between castors and no in terms of LF response.

If you want to stack vertically, get a handtruck and some straps.