Plenty of non-musicians saw those awful million watt car cabs from the eighties through the 00's in their gross friend's car/pickup. With exception to choad-hammer type exhibits and studio sessions, there is no place I would want to be seen with anything resembling that.
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Do small round speaker grills look cheap to you?
- Thread starter gjbassist
- Start date
Greetings from the North…….
He plays a Ric so it doesn't count
Rezdog
He also mixes driver sizes, so it really doesn't count!
I suffer from the same snobbery, I think they tend to make a cabinet look DIY. Having said that, there are cases where they "really tie the room together." There's no way I'd replace the round grill on my TNT, I think it's pretty classy:
That amp looks rad like that.
As for the OP: I generally like a full metal grille on a cab.
I actually prefer them.
Because to me they indicate that the manufacturer will prioritize functionality, and, with big cabs, is being realistic about how the equipment will actually be used. The purpose of the grill is to protect the drivers.
Don't get me wrong, there are some kinds of grillcloth that are actually stiff enough to provide quite a bit of protection. But for a cab I'm going to use on the road, I prefer metal.
Another advantage, in my opinion, is that it's easier to actually see the driver. This is good for both seeing if there's any damage to the cone, and also for microphone placement either live or recording. The times my cab has been mic'd live, the soundperson hasn't had to use a flashlight, as they can see quite plainly where the driver is and so where to place the mic.
I love how Lemmy's cabs look. Especially that 4x15.
Really? So, not caring that something looks like crap is evidence that a manufacturer prioritizes functionailty? It could indicate that they don't care about anything...just sayin'
How better to protect speakers than making sure that most of them stay on the Walmart shelves. That's prioritizing functionality.
- Mar 8, 2011
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And those speakers look pretty well protected to me. Coincidentally, the grill on my ratty Peavey was kicked in to the point of being concave when I got it. It still protected the cone from damage, though some hungry bugs did a number on it (but that's another story...)
No trouble seeing mine on either cab. This one is the 212.
Well there's Lemmy, and he and his rig are looking pretty good. Now, I like look of a bugeye cab though I don't own one. I'd be happy to go with this but Lemmy and his look raises a more important question - do I have to wear my jeans inside my boots to sport bugeye cabs? Because, I have always been an outside-the-boot type and it would crush me to be misconstrued.
In or out, it is your choice. But boots are required. No sandals for this cab.do I have to wear my jeans inside my boots to sport bugeye cabs? Because, I have always been an outside-the-boot type and it would crush me to be misconstrued.
I don't care much for the look per se. But if they happen to be on a cab that provides outstanding performance, I can overlook them, believe me.
MM
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They look like, and it is personal opinion, that you may have a great design and build and rushed the finish.
There used to be lots of no name gear for sale with those. It says cheap. While some will scream snob, may I turn your attention to this?
We are in a performance art. While some argue the audience can't hear you use this or that, the total package of great tone, interesting music regardless of genre, and the appearance of your gear and your bod combine to make a subtle win.
Look like you're worth the money you charge. Look like you belong in their home, hall, outdoor venue. Other guests will hire you from those gigs. I've played gigs with anarchists who believe it is their right to wear whatever they want. I agree that it is. However I'm having fun serving the expectations of those who hire me. Trust me I'm not playing top 40 covers but some obscure fun stuff of every genre. You want your originals to be heard? Then don't alarm the mother of the bride by wearing that flannel shirt you love.
On a practical level a powder coated metal grille costs very little money and time for a metal shop to make.
There used to be lots of no name gear for sale with those. It says cheap. While some will scream snob, may I turn your attention to this?
We are in a performance art. While some argue the audience can't hear you use this or that, the total package of great tone, interesting music regardless of genre, and the appearance of your gear and your bod combine to make a subtle win.
Look like you're worth the money you charge. Look like you belong in their home, hall, outdoor venue. Other guests will hire you from those gigs. I've played gigs with anarchists who believe it is their right to wear whatever they want. I agree that it is. However I'm having fun serving the expectations of those who hire me. Trust me I'm not playing top 40 covers but some obscure fun stuff of every genre. You want your originals to be heard? Then don't alarm the mother of the bride by wearing that flannel shirt you love.
On a practical level a powder coated metal grille costs very little money and time for a metal shop to make.
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I always thought they looked cheap. But I don't know if that's just because of the aesthetic or rather because I attribute them to cheap cabinets. Every commercial cabinet I've experienced, either for bass or a PA system, that had round grills has been something like a RadioShack Optimus cabinet or another low-end equivalent. They often also have that really crudey looking grey carpeting that you find on car system speaker boxes too.
Flame much? Snipped the irrelevant image, since it's not really what anyone here is talking about, and so is a strawman.
Of my two cabs, one has a cloth grill, the other has metal grills. The cloth grill my Ampeg has isn't bad, for protection (well, except that after a while the frame warped and so falls out sometimes and needs more velcro...), but it is hard to see the speaker through, for mic placement. Nor would it offer quite the protection of the metal to the rigors my larger cab has been subjected to. There is a dent in one of the round grills on my big cab now. Probably would have torn the cloth grill or gone straight through it.
Does the large cab's grill look nice? I don't know. I'm honestly surprised that people have opinions this strong about what wooden boxes of speakers look like. The more important part is that the piece of the cab that's the most important, and most easily damaged, is well protected in my big cab. I know this because it's taken hard knocks and still works.
I have them on my fEARful cabs. I have to agree with this because mine do look like a
- Mar 8, 2011
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- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
Here's a couple I did for customers that I think look good and fit the aesthetic they were going for
- Nov 24, 2008
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- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
I hate it when somebody posts a well thought-out and articulate argument to which I have no rebuttal.
This is the internet; don't show weakness!
The amp sure doesn't, but I know what it is. The cab I'd prefer like mine:
Although the Walter Woods probably puts out a bit more power.
