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Cheap 12 cabs

scottfeldstein

scottfeldstein

Roots and fifths and a little extra.
Jun 20, 2011
6,544
4,412
57
San Marcos, California
endlessblue.bandcamp.com
#1
Hey, folks. I haven't visited these forums in a while. But I had to come back to ask about this. About a year ago I picked up a GK 112 MBX bass cab. The teeny tiny aluminum one that's barely bigger than the 12" driver it holds. Weighs sixteen pounds. I figured maybe it would be good for practicing in my small apartment. Here's the important point: I paid $134.18 for it used from GC.

I recently lent it to a friend for a coffee house gig along with my Ampeg PF-500. We'll see how that works out. It got me wondering again about how useful such a small cab can be. I searched online and to my shock I see that this same cab is being sold, new, for $329. I couldn't find another used one, but I did see an Ashdown VS-112 for $125.99 so I bought it. Maybe it'll be selling for more a year from now.

12 cabs aren't usually found cheap! You'll notice that they're almost always more expensive on the used market than 15s or even 210s. I guess they're the hot items right now. Aging players are finding the sweet spot between performance and weight, maybe? Anyway, I'll soon find out what value that old Ashdown has.

One day I'll invest in a pair of Fear-based 12s and stop all this messing about.
 
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#8
jlepre said:
I had one of these for a hot minute a couple years ago. I was going to leave it at the rehearsal space, but it didn't give me what I needed, so I returned it.
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Sigh. And that makes me think I should just bite the bullet and have a 12/6 cab made for me for $1000 and never have to do any of this crap again.
 
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#16
There are a ton of great cabs out there now but you have to make some sort of compromise between weight, cost, efficiency, frequency response, and quality of sound. I’d argue that the difference between $300 and $900 over the course of 5 years isn’t very much so I’d choose not to make that one of my compromises and save up or take a deep breath/big swallow and go for the one I really want.

About 4 years ago I was looking for a new 12 cab and looked at Genzler BA12-3, Audiokinesis Hathor 12, Bare Faced, and one of the Fears (I forget which model)... Weight was very important to me as was dispersion. I wanted a nice vocal mid as I usually play fretless and a solid but not mushy bass. I almost added the Avatar 126 but it was heavier than I wanted so dropped it from the list. Mesa, Bergantino, and Baer also were on my radar but I wanted something a bit more... unusual... I ended up going with the Genzler BA12-3 and am still thrilled with it. The bass is solid and round, mids are vocal, and the trebles are present but never harsh. Efficiency is good and dispersion is stellar. I have not played a single gig where I needed more than the single cab. I feel no desire even to consider anything else (except maybe a second one). That said, I expect that I would have been happy with any of the final 4 choices I mentioned. FWIW, I liked it so much I also purchased one of the smaller single 10 bass array cabs and am equally happy with it.
 
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#17
[QUOTE="scottfeldstein, post: 22891744, member: 195734]

One day I'll invest in a pair of Fear-based 12s and stop all this messing about.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like you know the answer already.
 
#18
I picked up a Markbass NYC 112 used for $300 very clean condition. I agree with others I’ve heard from that this cabinet sounds so much better than the MB CMD 121 combo since the tweeter is adjustable and has a much better top handle. I’m not a MB fanboy but I think for a cheap 12 the NYC is solid. I might need another one lol
 
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#19
DWBass said:
Peavey Headliner 1x12. MSRP $279 I believe. Got mine for $200 brand new with warranty last year. Solid , well made cabs. Cheap in price only.
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How is the HF driver on that? I'm pretty sure it's a piezo, does it sound really harsh if you slap? No one around here has one to try I played the PVH212 years ago and loved it, it's just so big for the amount of space I have and is overkill for what I need right now.
Plus it's an 8 Ohm and my little Eden isnt a powerhouse into 8. I guess I would need that WT800 and run it bridged (880WRMS)
 
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#20
portpc said:
I've had an EDEN EX112 cab for a few years, Very solid cab with a whizzer cone speaker, It has earned back the 269.00 spent on it many times over..
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How are the highs on this one, does it sound muffled or choked if you slap and pop? Again, no one around here has one to try. I like the size and would look great under my WT400
 

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