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Do all cabs feel like a compromise?

#86
MultiScaleMale said:
With basses and even amps you can buy no holds barred, high end basses and amps that don’t cut any corners on quality or construction. But cabs always seem to be a compromise - heavy weight, rat fur or tolex, Duartex that’s gooped on, no t-bolts, cut corners on the crossover, etc. I guess the closest to a high end cab that I would consider “ideal” is the Greenboy F112, but I dislike the wedge format. It seems like everyone is trying to keep costs down on cabs where that’s not usually the case with basses. And you don’t hear a bass, you hear the notes from the speaker. I’ve found my ideal bass, but the quest continues for the ideal cab.

My definition of ideal is an 8 ohm cab that I can double up on larger gigs and use singly on smaller gigs. Sub 45lbs per cab (using the single weight plate standard), truck bed liner, handles 400-500W, quality construction, real handles - not the silly straps. Tone and low end extension, of course.

I considered Acme 112FR, but they have low sensitivity so you need to pump up the wattage and then I start to need a bigger amp. Dr Bass’ BL115 checks most of the boxes and I have an older RX series that I use for rehearsal and like. The obvious issue is - will I get the cabs.

Everything seems like you have to make more of a compromise than with basses and amps.
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My pair of Epifany UL2 1x15's checks all the boxes. Got both for under $400 as well.
 
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#87
MultiScaleMale said:
Didn't realize that the Mesa cabs have rubber feet, so I'm not worried about one cab sliding off. Almost happened once, long story, I was stupid. I'd prefer the rock solid truck bed liner, but if black tolex is the only thing standing between getting the cabs, it's probably a moot point. 95% of the way is close enough. Decision will be between 2x115, 2x210 and one of each. The one of each route gives some more versatility when I'd use a single cab.
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I can't stress strongly enough that if you're getting Subway cabs, you MUST GET at least one 115. It's required ownership!
 
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#88
Basslinger05 said:
Why don,t you concern yourself w/ how it sounds rather than what it looks like? Peace
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Rat fur is a functional "no" for me. It wears over time, holds smells, hard to clean and I have cats. It's about as attractive as shag carpeting. As far as looks, I think it's important. The Stryper looking cabs are fugly. Black cabs will match any stage unless Prince calls me for a gig. Not much chance of that. ;-)
 
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#92
MultiScaleMale said:
Rat fur is a functional "no" for me. It wears over time, holds smells, hard to clean and I have cats. It's about as attractive as shag carpeting. As far as looks, I think it's important. The Stryper looking cabs are fugly. Black cabs will match any stage unless Prince calls me for a gig. Not much chance of that. ;-)
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Rat fur is a no-go for me as well. Holds odors and everything seems to stick to it. Had a rat fur cab once, never again.
 
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#96
Jeff Scott said:
I am always amazed at how much my Fit can swallow! :bassist:
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A week ago, I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but "I Love my FIT!" Sure, it's not a race car, but around here, it's mostly stop and go traffic and you almost never get to turn your high beams on. It's fun to drive and super versatile. I swear it's like a Tardis - bigger on the inside. (I think I have my Dr Who references correct.) Mine is stick and it's just fun to drive. Kudos Honda!
 
#97
I totally get the rat-fur aversion...cat hair, dog hair, and--bonus!!--in rural areas like where I live, sometimes you have to set your gear down on unpaved surfaces, with crunched-up leaves, gravel, grass clippings, etc...relatively smooth, non-porous coverings are a big plus.

Ignoring perceived Ferrari/Pinto standards for a moment, have you tried the Hartke Hydrive cabs? I have not, but the 112 version looked cool to me because it was light, had a top-mount cast recessed handle (tough, flush for gear-stacking), was 19" or so inches wide (handy for those with rack power amps and stuff), switchable impedance between 4 and 8 ohms...and I have read a few comments that they sound deep and articulate.

The 115 version is an 8 ohm cab but still seemed pretty light to me. As it happened, I acquired an AudioKinesis cab before getting around to trying the Hydrives, but they might be worth a look. Those Pintos might have been flawed efforts as early economy cars...but they weren't Vegas, and the Ford 2.3 OHC was a fine engine that went on to power some pretty cool Ford stuff, post-Pinto. See, that kind of reasoning is so confusing you'll be trying Hartke stuff before you know it, and you won't mind it a bit. You'll even be using one of those Kawasaki-green-fretboard Dean P-basses when you do it. You've been compromised, man.

Did you say that you can load a 810e cab into a Honda Fit? Like, all doors shut and latched, driver's seat in a useable position to operate the car?

That is amazing. I have found Fits to be kind of weird-looking (as opposed to the Versa and Prius V, which I like the looks of) but if what you say is true, I am going to look on those cars with real respect now. That sounds like a good example of form following function, and I feel like a shallow twerp of a car nerd for not realizing it.
 
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#98
mexicanyella said:
I totally get the rat-fur aversion...cat hair, dog hair, and--bonus!!--in rural areas like where I live, sometimes you have to set your gear down on unpaved surfaces, with crunched-up leaves, gravel, grass clippings, etc...relatively smooth, non-porous coverings are a big plus.

Did you say that you can load a 810e cab into a Honda Fit? Like, all doors shut and latched, driver's seat in a useable position to operate the car?

That is amazing. I have found Fits to be kind of weird-looking (as opposed to the Versa and Prius V, which I like the looks of) but if what you say is true, I am going to look on those cars with real respect now. That sounds like a good example of form following function, and I feel like a shallow twerp of a car nerd for not realizing it.
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There's a pic in here somewhere of a Fit with an 810 cab, bass, SVT-4, big pedalboard, and some guitar gear in it. I didn't like the looks of the older Fits, but I kinda like the new one - especially the Sport trim that I got. 34MPG average tonight. Not bad.
 
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#99
mexicanyella said:
I totally get the rat-fur aversion...cat hair, dog hair, and--bonus!!--in rural areas like where I live, sometimes you have to set your gear down on unpaved surfaces, with crunched-up leaves, gravel, grass clippings, etc...relatively smooth, non-porous coverings are a big plus.

Did you say that you can load a 810e cab into a Honda Fit? Like, all doors shut and latched, driver's seat in a useable position to operate the car?

That is amazing. I have found Fits to be kind of weird-looking (as opposed to the Versa and Prius V, which I like the looks of) but if what you say is true, I am going to look on those cars with real respect now. That sounds like a good example of form following function, and I feel like a shallow twerp of a car nerd for not realizing it.
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I use to get a full size double bass, a Fender P, and a Fender bassman/w/2x12 cab into a 65 VW.........:bassist:
 
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#100
MultiScaleMale said:
A week ago, I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but "I Love my FIT!" Sure, it's not a race car, but around here, it's mostly stop and go traffic and you almost never get to turn your high beams on. It's fun to drive and super versatile. I swear it's like a Tardis - bigger on the inside. (I think I have my Dr Who references correct.) Mine is stick and it's just fun to drive. Kudos Honda!
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Mine's a stick, too, wouldn't have it any other way unless there was no choice. Just a couple weeks after getting ours at the end of October '08 ('09 model year) we piled it full with 9 basses and guitars (all in HSCs), guitar stands, luggage, camera gear and other sundries and all that stuff barely blocked the bottoms of the windows. Last Spring we went antiquing and brought home two chairs and a large 1910s era drop front desk.
 
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