Decisions About Small Cabs

[Count Bassie]

Logistics and life have brought me to the world of smaller gear. I'm using a Mesa Boogie TT-800 head, and have a Markbass 58R102 Pure 210 cab, and an older Schroeder 1210R, a single 12 with an angled 10. The Markbass has a piezo tweeter and the Schroeder has a horn type.
They are very different: the Schroeder is dark, punchy down low, and the horn is an important element to bring articulation and upper mid presence- without it it's pretty dark and a little blurry.
The Markbass doesn't do deep and dark like the Schroeder, and solo'd it sounds toy-ish. But in a mix I think it's a little better at standing up in a mix. The Schroeder cab be dialed in. But each of these cabs has a distinct character.

I got the MB because it's unbelievably light. The Schroeder is the better part of 50lbs, which realistically isn't that bad.
The Schroeder is now kind of a rare bird, but I think that 2 of them stacked would be pretty impressive. It'll be a 2 ohm load but the TT-800 does that.

Anyway I'm just throwing this up here, wonder if anyone's got some wisdom on this stuff. I would like to get rid of one and then double up on the keeper- then I figure I'm set on rig needs.
Thanks for your time.

 

[Jazzjames]

Two of one cab is the same soundwise but louder, broader and more effortless. Get a second one of whichever you prefer and enjoy.

 

[gtirard]

Logistics and life have brought me to the world of smaller gear. I'm using a Mesa Boogie TT-800 head, and have a Markbass 58R102 Pure 210 cab, and an older Schroeder 1210R, a single 12 with an angled 10. The Markbass has a piezo tweeter and the Schroeder has a horn type.
They are very different: the Schroeder is dark, punchy down low, and the horn is an important element to bring articulation and upper mid presence- without it it's pretty dark and a little blurry.
The Markbass doesn't do deep and dark like the Schroeder, and solo'd it sounds toy-ish. But in a mix I think it's a little better at standing up in a mix. The Schroeder cab be dialed in. But each of these cabs has a distinct character.

I got the MB because it's unbelievably light. The Schroeder is the better part of 50lbs, which realistically isn't that bad.
The Schroeder is now kind of a rare bird, but I think that 2 of them stacked would be pretty impressive. It'll be a 2 ohm load but the TT-800 does that.

Anyway I'm just throwing this up here, wonder if anyone's got some wisdom on this stuff. I would like to get rid of one and then double up on the keeper- then I figure I'm set on rig needs.
Thanks for your time.

I highly recommend Barefaced cabs. 12 inch cabs are honest sounding, 10 inch cabs are more "colored", and they all share common qualities: loud, detailed and articulate, very lightweight, rock solid and reliable, good dispersion.

 

[shoot-r]

Pick the cabinet whose sound/tuning your ears approve of...

Speaking strickly for my 70 year old, still in reasonable health, still gigging several times a week, self.

Cabinet weight is certainly a consideration, but it's waaay down on my list when considering a bass cabinet.

It's all about the sound for me.
I'd rather move a small but heavier cabinet that I like the sound of than a lighter cab I didn't completely like.

 

[gtirard]

Pick the cabinet whose sound/tuning your ears approve of...

Speaking strickly for my 70 year old, still in reasonable health, still gigging several times a week, self.

Cabinet weight is certainly a consideration, but it's waaay down on my list when considering a bass cabinet.

It's all about the sound for me.
I'd rather move a small but heavier cabinet that I like the sound of than a lighter cab I didn't completely like.

True, but some cabs sound awesome AND are lightweight. Not very affordable though (choose 2).

 

[ezstep]

I can only repeat what others are saying - pick the one you like best and find another. Adding the second cab really opens up the overall sound - much deeper than with just one cab, but more articulation and punch across the spectrum.
Many years ago I bought a Bergie 12 and liked it so much I bought a second. It was HUGE in sound with a small footprint. This was prior to the neo revolution when lighter weight suddenly did not meet lighter sound. My main rig now is a Mesa Subway D-800+ and Subway 2x12. That single cab weighs several pounds less than the Bergie pair (although they offer lighter weight cabs as well).

 

[H Nighttrain]

True, but some cabs sound awesome AND are lightweight. Not very affordable though (choose 2).

Check RevSound. I've been gigging a 20 lb. RevSound RS28 in bars, clubs, and outdoor cafes several times a week for a couple years, in a town where I walk everywhere. I also use a 25 lb. RS115 when I'm back home in LA, absolutely phenomenal cab. (My first RevSound cab is an RS212, 35 lbs., overkill for all but larger outdoor festivals).

I've been playing bass 40 years, owned and played thru a ton of cabs. I use a few different basses and amps, and their specific character traits come through with these.

I've found RevSound cabs to be very lightweight, very well built, awesome sounding (efficient and very responsive to playing touch).. and reasonably affordable too.

 

[Wasnex]

You can certainly mix and match cabs. This may give you more volume, but there is no guarantee that they will pair well. Generally the best approach is to find a cab you like. If you need more volume, get two.

Adding a matching cab typically gives you more headroom and fills out the lows a bit. The reason the tone changes is because of the way acoustic summing works. Lower frequencies have longer wavelength. When the distance between drivers is small in relation to the wavelength you get near perfect acoustic summing. At higher frequencies you tend to get patterns of destructive interference between the drivers that produce lobing or comb filtering. Lobing and comb filtering are sort of different ways to describe the same thing.

So if one MarkBass cab is just a little too lean, adding a matching cab may bump up the lows enough to meet your needs. If it's not even close, then you probably should go with something else.

Lot's of great options...I suggest the first thing you should do is set a budget. IMHO set a target and also set a absolute cap that you will/can not exceed. If possible, go play a bunch of gear. Enjoy the hunt and hopefully you find something your really like.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Markbass 102 Pure doesn't use Piezo tweeters
P series does also ceramic drivers
The Schroeder is well respected Cab and you seem to lean that way

Many don't like MB cabs solo in bedroom most are more modern sounding and work and sound very good in any mix

Since you didn't ask for alternatives but which you should keep and double up I won't offer any let the rest tell you to buy their favorite speakers and dump both (as always)

If 50lbs x 2 is not a problem based on your post the answer is obvious

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Been doing most of my gigs now with a BF Super Mini 1 12 20 pounds. Crazy!! plennntty of bottom end and clarity.
There are less expensive and shorter wait options. I lucked out and they just happen to have one ready to go. more crazy.

 

[Gervais Cote]

In your situation, I would keep the Mesa head (for sure !) and get two 112 Neo cabs with paper cone drivers.

Light, small footprint, loud and versatile.

 

[Pocket Dave]

I've got the same Mark Bass cab for the same ultra-lightweight reason - for me, it's a monthly venue up a long, steep flight of stairs.

I've got a couple other cabs that do the deep, dark & punchy thing exceptionally well, though I have no problem getting the solo MB cab there with EQ tweaks on my amp.

Maybe it's just the vintage/punchy nature of the Aggie TH-500 I use.

This clip was recorded live in a small club using only the MB 58R102 Pure - backline volume only. Bass has 50-105 nickel rounds:

 

[SC Bassboy]

Some of the best sounding bass rigs I've ever heard used mix-matched cabinets. Sometimes they get together and create magic. It sounds like between the two cabs you own, they would match well. All that being said, I personally/mentally need things to match cosmetically. You could argue it's a fault of mine, and I would probably agree. The closest I've come to achieving the balance you are working towards is my Ampeg 2x12 and 4x10 stack. The 2x12 doesn't have a tweeter and is more of a midrange cab. The 4x10 handles a much wider frequency range and features a tweeter. I can take one cabinet or the other to a gig depending on the sound I need, but can also bring both of them for the best of both worlds. However... even though they are different cabs from different model lines, they match cosmetically.

 

[sporad]

I had a similar dilemma with my Markbass neo 210 sounding lean in the low end. I added a second identical cab in a vertical stack and the sound became huge. More than enough low end.

 

[Count Bassie]

Many don't like MB cabs solo in bedroom most are more modern sounding and work and sound very good in any mix

The bedroom sound vs live mix is definitely reality. I am thinking that a 2x stack of the Markbass just might do the deal as a live rig. But I did just discover the horn volume knob at the back of the Schroeder, lol... Remembered it rather.

All things considered, and taking my time. Thanks, and good sounds.

In your situation, I would keep the Mesa head (for sure !) and get two 112 Neo cabs with paper cone drivers.

Light, small footprint, loud and versatile.

Thought of that. It's out of my ballpark for the moment, but it's certainly possible.

 

[dbflats]

I've got two MB58R 102 p I power with my ancient Hartke mosfet head. Just the other day I noticed that standing further away,, and even off-axis, it sounded very nice, while up close it was kind of a blurry mess. This is just in my tiny "studio" space, i.e. next to my computer in a corner of the living room lol, but still, stepping eight or ten feet kitty corner, ah, there's the sound!

Recording, I go direct.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I've got the same Mark Bass cab for the same ultra-lightweight reason - for me, it's a monthly venue up a long, steep flight of stairs.

I've got a couple other cabs that do the deep, dark & punchy thing exceptionally well, though I have no problem getting the solo MB cab there with EQ tweaks on my amp.

Maybe it's just the vintage/punchy nature of the Aggie TH-500 I use.

This clip was recorded live in a small club using only the MB 58R102 Pure - backline volume only. Bass has 50-105 nickel rounds:

Wow ! That song puts us into the right mood instantly. I would listen to such music all night long. Amazing !

 

[Gervais Cote]

Oh, and I don't care about the cab and amp being used when music is that good.

 

[groove pump]

The bedroom sound vs live mix is definitely reality. I am thinking that a 2x stack of the Markbass just might do the deal as a live rig. But I did just discover the horn volume knob at the back of the Schroeder, lol... Remembered it rather.

All things considered, and taking my time. Thanks, and
Thought of that. It's out of my ballpark for the moment, but it's certainly possible.

I've always respected the wisdom of having matching cabs when we want to make "more" sound, but I went against the grain a few years ago when it was time to upgrade to a more capable pair of cabs from my pair of so-so SWR Workingman's 2x10's. I found two great deals on two different cabs (from different sellers) at the same time and since they had the same resistance and wattage (RMS) ratings, I went ahead and got them. These are an Acme Low B2 and an SWR Goliath Jr. III (8 ohms and 350 watts RMS).

After only a couple gigs, my sound was giving everybody else in the band a dose of perma-grin... along with myself. No phasing issues or other troubles emerged and this rig has been terrific for several years and dozens of shows. Plenty of sound, even if I'm playing outdoors doing rock and dance covers without PA support.

I mentioned my success story to a luthier pal of mine who also did pro soundman work for a lot of years and he was actually big on the idea of having cabs that are compatible, but not identical. He explained that in his experience, that sort of setup can work really well for making a nice full sound because theoretically the one cab will likely put out at least some of the frequencies that might be somewhat lacking in the other. Not always the case, but he had experienced it enough to believe it to be a "definite maybe" when combining different cabs. It's sure working nicely for me.

 

[Cleezmo]

Check RevSound. I've been gigging a 20 lb. RevSound RS28 in bars, clubs, and outdoor cafes several times a week for a couple years, in a town where I walk everywhere. I also use a 25 lb. RS115 when I'm back home in LA, absolutely phenomenal cab. (My first RevSound cab is an RS212, 35 lbs., overkill for all but larger outdoor festivals).

I've been playing bass 40 years, owned and played thru a ton of cabs. I use a few different basses and amps, and their specific character traits come through with these.

I've found RevSound cabs to be very lightweight, very well built, awesome sounding (efficient and very responsive to playing touch).. and reasonably affordable too.

100% agree here. I have an RS212, 36lbs, and overkill for most gigs that I do, but I wanted a single cab solution that could cover 95% of any gigs I do. My rationale is that I can always turn down, and I'd rather have a single 35lb cab than two separate ~20-22lb cabs. And I agree with H Nighttrain, the characteristics of different amps and basses come through more clearly in my RevSound than I've heard through other cabs. No doubt there are lots of great options for cabs these days, but I'm super happy with my RevSound. Plus, David, the owner, is a great guy and will chat with you extensively and make sure you get the cab that's best for your needs. I've had mine for just over a year, and continue to love it.