Cheap AND lightweight cab to pair with a Rumble 500

[Ralph124C41]

I'd like some suggestions for an inexpensive (OK, cheap) cab to spare with a Rumble 500. It can be used. I'm thinking a 15-inch for the classic rock and country I play (mainly late '60s through early '90s) but maybe some other setup could be OK, too, such as a 1x12 or 2x12 or maybe even another 2x10.

Just two considerations. Inexpensive and lightweight. I'm in my 70s so I do appreciate the newer designs. The only "true" rig I've had had a G-K Backline 4x10 and a 1x14. The 4x10 was fine but the 1x15 was ... not fine as it distorted a good deal on the low notes so I had to turn down the bass settings a bit. Well, more than a bit.

I've found some good deals on used cabs .... but they are the older types and so they are heavy beasts.

 

[gtirard]

I'd like some suggestions for an inexpensive (OK, cheap) cab to spare with a Rumble 500. It can be used. I'm thinking a 15-inch for the classic rock and country I play (mainly late '60s through early '90s) but maybe some other setup could be OK, too, such as a 1x12 or 2x12 or maybe even another 2x10.

Just two considerations. Inexpensive and lightweight. I'm in my 70s so I do appreciate the newer designs. The only "true" rig I've had had a G-K Backline 4x10 and a 1x14. The 4x10 was fine but the 1x15 was ... not fine as it distorted a good deal on the low notes so I had to turn down the bass settings a bit. Well, more than a bit.

I've found some good deals on used cabs .... but they are the older types and so they are heavy beasts.

In general cheap is opposed to lightweight, so what do you consider to be lightweight?

The Harley Benton SolidBass 115T weights 15.3 kg / 33.7 lbs and costs $185
It's both lighter and cheaper than a Markbass or Fender Rumble 1x15, who usually offer great price/weight ratio.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Cheap, light and powerful. Pick two of three. Unicorns don't exist.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

Any reason you couldn't just go with a matching Rumble cab? They are only about 17kgs which is still pretty light in the grand scheme.

 

[Polish Thunder]

I have a Rumble 500 head and a Rumble 210 cab as my regular setup. I add a Rumble 115 cab if I need some added oomph. FWIW, I play blues and blues rock.

 

[Lammchop93]

Can you define cheap please?

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Cheap, light and powerful. Pick two of three. Unicorns don't exist.

I agree. When you get into the really lightweight cabs that are any good, they are not going to be cheap.

 

[SharpCat]

Take a look at the Hartke HL series.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Cheap, light and powerful. Pick two of three. Unicorns don't exist.

How do you define "powerful"? In the context of a speaker cabinet, that's a rather vague term.
Do you mean it has high power handling? Or high sensetivity? (Or, since we're talking unicorns, both?)
Extended bandwidth into the lowest frequencies? Just plain loud?

I agree that the Pick Two Of Three maxim is an appropriate guide for one's expectations when shopping for speaker cabinets...I just think the third term needs to be more specific.

 

[JonathanPDX]

How do you define "powerful"? In the context of a speaker cabinet, that's a rather vague term.
Do you mean it has high power handling? Or high sensetivity? (Or, since we're talking unicorns, both?)
Extended bandwidth into the lowest frequencies? Just plain loud?

I agree that the Pick Two Of Three maxim is an appropriate guide for one's expectations when shopping for speaker cabinets...I just think the third term needs to be more specific.

The third item is always going to be subjective. Could be power rating, efficiency, tone, quality, etc. In the end you aren't getting anything good in that category if the thing is both lightweight and cheap!

 

[Bob_Ross]

The third item is always going to be subjective. Could be power rating, efficiency, tone, quality, etc. In the end you aren't getting anything good in that category if the thing is both lightweight and cheap!

I don't disagree. I think "Fidelity" (or perhaps "High Fidelity" or maybe just "Sounds Good") makes the most sense when constructing that maxim:
Cheap, Light, and Sounds Good; pick two.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

The Fender Rumble cabs have little magnetic cups that your head’s feet sit in and it holds it in place. It’s not strong enough to travel around with it up there but it makes it pretty much impossible to accidentally knock the head off the cab by accident. That would be my choice, I had a pair of the 115s and they were great. I actually think I preferred them over the Neo pros that I had later on.
They also have the slots in the bottom for the snap on casters so they are easy to move around and are not very heavy to begin with anyway.

 

[ValleyBass77]

I can recommend the matching Rumble 2x10 cabinet. It’s the perfect match for your Rumble 500, it’s relatively affordable, and lightweight.

 

[Lammchop93]

I really liked the fender rumble 1x15. Just not super powerful. But not sure what type of “power” you actually need?

 

[Bassdirty]

Any reason you couldn't just go with a matching Rumble cab? They are only about 17kgs which is still pretty light in the grand scheme.

Also pretty 'cheap' (in the same grande Scheme).

 

[pyrat56host]

I actually really like the Fender Rumble 210! I use it as a stand alone w/ a number of heads and it sounds pretty great AND nice a light. With a very loud rock group, my Fender Rumble 800c and the 210 are plenty of oomph for the bass end...works so good for any situation~

 

[Kansas]

I saw my friend play a Rumble 500 2x10 combo with a P Bass at a big outdoor barbecue and it was filling the whole space with big bass tone. I was impressed to say the least. I understand wanting to make a stack for more speakers and in this case I would recommend the matching 2x10.

 

[Kaa]

You can have loud, light, and cheap. Pick 2.

 

[G-Dog]

I'd like some suggestions for an inexpensive (OK, cheap) cab to spare with a Rumble 500. It can be used. I'm thinking a 15-inch for the classic rock and country I play (mainly late '60s through early '90s) but maybe some other setup could be OK, too, such as a 1x12 or 2x12 or maybe even another 2x10.

Just two considerations. Inexpensive and lightweight.

In general cheap is opposed to lightweight,

Cheap, light and powerful. Pick two of three. Unicorns don't exist.

Any reason you couldn't just go with a matching Rumble cab?

Cheap, Light, and Sounds Good; pick two.

I can recommend the matching Rumble 2x10 cabinet.

You can have loud, light, and cheap. Pick 2.

Rumble cabs are the unicorn! Inexpensive, lightweight, powerful and sounds good. That's why they've swept the world as the current best selling bass amps & cabs.

Ralph, it sounds like a good used Rumble 115 is exactly what you're talking about. But a Rumble 210 would also be great. The discontinued Rumble 112 could work, but is very hard to find.

 

[gtirard]

Rumble cabs are the unicorn! Inexpensive, lightweight, powerful and sounds good. That's why they've swept the world as the current best selling bass amps & cabs.

Ralph, it sounds like a good used Rumble 115 is exactly what you're talking about. But a Rumble 210 would also be great. The discontinued Rumble 112 could work, but is very hard to find.

New the Harley Benton is half the price of the Fender, and it's lighter.

1x15 cab	Weight	Price
Harley Benton SolidBass 115T	15.3 kg / 33.7 lbs	$185
Fender Rumble 115 Cabinet V3	17.69 kg / 39 lbs	$421