Dual 18’s

[Jackcrow]

Anyone out there running 2 18” speakers? I recently picked up an Ampeg SVT-18 and liked it so I found another one to pair with it. Should be arriving next week. These are the newer 4 ohm SVT-18’s and not the older, lower power handling SVT-18E’s. I’m wondering if anyone has experience running dual 18’s as a main rig.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Anyone out there running 2 18” speakers? I recently picked up an Ampeg SVT-18 and liked it so I found another one to pair with it. Should be arriving next week. These are the newer 4 ohm SVT-18’s and not the older, lower power handling SVT-18E’s. I’m wondering if anyone has experience running dual 18’s as a main rig.

How are you going to run them? Is your amp 2 ohm capable?

 

[Wasnex]

Anyone out there running 2 18” speakers? I recently picked up an Ampeg SVT-18 and liked it so I found another one to pair with it. Should be arriving next week. These are the newer 4 ohm SVT-18’s and not the older, lower power handling SVT-18E’s. I’m wondering if anyone has experience running dual 18’s as a main rig.

I have run a pair of EVM-18Bs, and they work fine as stand alone bass cabs. If you check out the frequency response chart from the attached spec sheet, I think you will understand why they work. I have also used an SWR Big Ben and IMHO the EVMs have a much sweeter top end. I never used the Big Ben by itself, but it worked well under an SWR 210.

No idea how the SVT-18s will sound. The owners manual says the frequency response is 35Hz-2khz so I wouldn't expect much color up top. But if you like the way they, that's what is important.

 

[Jackcrow]

How are you going to run them? Is your amp 2 ohm capable?

Yeah I’m using a Mesa D800

 

[Jackcrow]

I have run a pair of EVM-18Bs, and they work fine as stand alone bass cabs. If you check out the frequency response chart from the attached spec sheet, I think you will understand why they work. I have also used an SWR Big Ben and IMHO the EVMs have a much sweeter top end. I never used the Big Ben by itself, but it worked well under an SWR 210.

No idea how the SVT-18s will sound. The owners manual says the frequency response is 35Hz-2khz so I wouldn't expect much color up top. But if you like the way they, that's what is important.

Yeah I see those have a higher frequency response, which I’m sure sounds nice. The Ampeg I have definitely lacks top end, but I prefer a darker sound anyway. I guess we will see how that plays out in a live situation.

 

[biguglyman]

I've used 18's for years and always loved the sound. I've never run two at the same time though. My dream rig is a 2X18" sitting under an 8X10"...maybe bi-amped...

 

[Jackcrow]

I've used 18's for years and always loved the sound. I've never run two at the same time though. My dream rig is a 2X18" sitting under an 8X10"...maybe bi-amped...

Hmmm...I have an 8x10 also. Might try this sometime. Need 2 amps to power it though.

 

[biguglyman]

Or something like one of the old Carvin bi-amp rigs. R-1000 maybe?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Dis guy:

I run a single 18 in my bi-amp set up with a Carvin BX1500

 

[DJ Bebop]

Or something like one of the old Carvin bi-amp rigs. R-1000 maybe?

I use a Carvin BX1500 it came after the RL-1000

 

[SJan3]

Anyone out there running 2 18” speakers? I recently picked up an Ampeg SVT-18 and liked it so I found another one to pair with it. Should be arriving next week. These are the newer 4 ohm SVT-18’s and not the older, lower power handling SVT-18E’s. I’m wondering if anyone has experience running dual 18’s as a main rig.

Yup, back in the 70s I had an Acoustic 360 and used 2 bottoms.
Mercy!

 

[dan1952]

Back in the early 70s I had a Kustom 250 with a folded horn 18. Those poor folks at the back of the room...

 

[40Hz]

The old Acoustic Control Corp. 18 cabs were great. Very midrange sounding despite their appearance. Back in the day I ran an Acoustic 360 with two 361 powered 18 cabs. Awesome sounding combination. When that later got “downsized” to a 371 head with a single passive 301 18” folded horn cab it still sounded really good.

 

[StereoPlayer]

I love 18’s, my original 301 cab I bought in ‘73. I used a 212 cab with an 18” speaker stuffed in it all through the 80’s...I got many compliments from other bass players.


Really?.. I’m just here for the naysayers. You’ll see...I won’t name names.
It’s kind of ridiculous though, we’re all bassists, can’t we all get along.

 

[Tom Gallo]

I love 18’s, my original 301 cab I bought in ‘73. I used a 212 cab with an 18” speaker stuffed in it all through the 80’s...I got many compliments from other bass players.
View attachment 3709442 View attachment 3709443

Really?.. I’m just here for the naysayers. You’ll see...I won’t name names.
It’s kind of ridiculous though, we’re all bassists, can’t we all get along.

Pretty cool, man.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Anyone out there running 2 18” speakers? I recently picked up an Ampeg SVT-18 and liked it so I found another one to pair with it. Should be arriving next week. These are the newer 4 ohm SVT-18’s and not the older, lower power handling SVT-18E’s. I’m wondering if anyone has experience running dual 18’s as a main rig.

I sometimes run two 18" dedicated subs on my crossover rig if I really feel I need to blow the doors (and windows and walls) off the place. I only do that for my hip hop gigs when I have to compete with how much bass the the house music is pumping between sets. Note that I'm only running below 120hz through these things, and letting my 2x10 and the PA tops handle my effects and mid voice.

If I were running a full range rig, I couldn't imagine wanting to haul two 18s around to do a job that a 4x10 could probably handle just as well

I don't have a pic of the dual 18 set up, but you can see the second 18" sub over there sitting in that messy corner just waiting to cause trouble.

 

[JRA]

i just came to gawk!

i don't recall ever using more than one 18" at a time in actual gigging situations, but as i've had PA gear available for most of my adult life so i've always plugged in and played through whatever was available in the shop just for those sheer thrill-of-it-all moments. on gigs i used to use one 18" with various 'top' cabs for bi-amped rigs. of course, things changed when i realized aging only works as one-way.

my driver choice for those bi-amping situations was usually a BW-1801.

 

[Rockbobmel]

I just sold my Sonic TL 18 "with EVM 18B" 4 ohm cab. It sounded very good throughout the whole spectrum. I just haven't used it for so long because of transport. VERY nice sounding cab.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

Anyone out there running 2 18” speakers? I recently picked up an Ampeg SVT-18 and liked it so I found another one to pair with it. Should be arriving next week. These are the newer 4 ohm SVT-18’s and not the older, lower power handling SVT-18E’s. I’m wondering if anyone has experience running dual 18’s as a main rig.

last century I ran a peavey 3620 (2x18 + 2x10) for many years. Liked the 18s better than the 10s, so would place it upside down (see pic)

I thought it sounded fat and warm. But honestly, I now am a ported 12’s believer, as they seem just as fat and warm, yet more responsive. And smaller. And lighter. But obviously that’s a very subjective opinion based on a really narrow range of cab experiments.

Also had an SWR Big Ben 18”, but that was surprisingly mid-focused, to my ears.

Anyway, as a former 18 lover, I think 18’s became less popular (if they ever were popular) for a reason.

Imo, they are a bit unnecessary, for all their bulk. But if you love ‘em, that’s all that matters!

 

[BassmanPaul]

Been there, done that, hated it.