EV B215-M : gig-worthy or broken back?

[overit]

I currently play in 2 bands - one hard rock, one 80s cover. My rig is a Shuttle 9.0 into an 8ohm 1x12 Schroeder 12PL, always have house support at shows but even in loud practice there is no problem being heard over a Marshall 4x12. A few backline situations I got to use my Shuttle through some 4x10s and 1x15s and I also plugged into an old Crate 2x15 that sits at the drummer's house and liked the feel of the bigger cabs.

I found an EV B215M locally on the cheap that I am considering, but power handling wise I'm not sure how it will do with the Shuttle 9.0 (cab is rated at 400watts @ 4 ohms) and will I actually end up dragging it out to gigs at around 120lbs? As of now I'm a one trip to the van guy. I suppose I could do that still since the EV 2B15 has casters, the only problem would be stairs? Part of the decision is also financial - if I did purchase the 2x15 I would most likely sell the 1x12 and get some extra money I could use right now. I do like the tone I get out of my current rig but perhaps just miss moving more air?

Do you think it's a bad move to go so heavy? It's been years since I've had heavy gear (10+ year hiatus) and back then I wasn't gigging as much so my experience in this dept. is limited.

 

[overit]

Any thoughts from those gigging with heavy cabs?

 

[BasturdBlaster]

Regardless how heavy a cab is, I really think ya gotta be able to move your cab by yourself, not just at the gig but at home or practice too. I have some cabs that are too big for me alone to move and I feel they are useless as a gig rig. I love me some two 15s but I really like the idea of two 1-15s even better!

 

[overit]

That's a great point. One band already has the practice room 2x15, if I buy the EV it may end up as the other bands practice room 2x15.

 

[btmpancake]

Maybe add another good 112 cab like the 1st one? Saves weight,should sound great,but have you heard the EV215s? It's nice to have options even with limited funds.

 

[Jim C]

I had one.
Very nice tone but do remember that the drivers are rated at something like 100 watts each.
As I recall, it was fairly efecient and I remember giving with a V4B in a not so loud rock band.
They are built like tanks.
BTW, I have a EV B115M that I would sell at a steal to anyone in the MD,DC,VA area as I will not ship.

 

[overit]

Maybe add another good 112 cab like the 1st one? Saves weight,should sound great,but have you heard the EV215s? It's nice to have options even with limited funds.

After last night's practice, I may stick to the original plan and add another Schroeder 12PL when funds allow. I have only heard sound clips of the EV215 online, but the $100 or so dollars I'd put into it would probably be best served going into something more efficient and portable. Thanks for the replies.

 

[overit]

Well, I couldn't resist this CL deal. Even less than the EV, a Black Widowed 2x15 Peavey and an '87 Roadstar II RB650, on the same day.

So, I can manage to get it out of my house and into my van but would not want to do it on a regular basis. It'll most likely end up at my cover band's house for practice and the Schroeder will come home and out for gigs. Or... it stays in the van and out for gigs with help from my bandmates!

 

[btmpancake]

Awesome! Back in the day this was considered the Ideal rig.I often wonder why you don't see more of these sprk config.

 

[alembicguy]

I regularly run a Tone Hammer 500 into my Hartke 215xl and love it. Set kills.

 

[Bassmec]

I wimped down to 2 X Ampeg Alnico SVT 115's from an 8X10, well I still have the 8X10 but just haven't been out with it for a long time, but I had various 215 configuration cabs including the excellent Peavey with black widows and never found them that hard to move.
It's just get the technique sorted, ceramic 15's are only slightly heavier than Alnico ones and those neo ones should be easy as a 2x15.
The old EV 15" are very heavy but have really great sound.

 

[Jim C]

Congrats!
I still have a 70’s Peavey 2x15 although now loaded with Altec 421’s.
Agreed that the BW speakers sound very god and are underrated.

 

[kmobass]

HI Guys! I noticed this thread on the EV B215-M Speaker cab is 11 years old, but...I just bought one! I really bought it out of sentimental reasons. I had this same EV Cab in 1981. I had not seen one in 40+ years and when my friend who owns a small vintage guitar shop, had one come through...I saw it and a flood of memories from when I played in various bands after just getting started, came flooding back. I went ahead and pulled the trigger yesterday and brought it home. Unfortunately, a speaker (maybe the top 15" has an intermittent buzz. So, today, I am taking it apart, carefully to see if I can locate what's going on. The VMR definitely has no sound come out of it. Maybe I will get some 15" JBL's to replace the originals. We'll see. Will I take it to gigs? Probably not...I play a lot of jazz gigs on upright bass to which I like a small amp like a Walter Woods and a Bose 802 speaker cab. BUT...If I decide to do another Steely Dan Tribute band or a Toto Tribute band, maybe I will take it out. Time will tell. Happy 4th of July, 2026!

 

[agedhorse]

The EVM's can be reconed by an experienced, qualified recone tech (since factory parts aren't available, they will know which aftermarket parts are the good ones because they will be on the hook for the warranty). The cabinet is designed around the EVM's, the JBL's (whichever ones you migh be looking at) will likely perform worst than the EV drivers in those cabinets.

As far as the VMR driver goes, there are some aftermarket parts available, your tech will know what version you need (there were several and they may not be interchangable). These are harder to work on since there isn't much space.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I currently play in 2 bands - one hard rock, one 80s cover. My rig is a Shuttle 9.0 into an 8ohm 1x12 Schroeder 12PL, always have house support at shows but even in loud practice there is no problem being heard over a Marshall 4x12. A few backline situations I got to use my Shuttle through some 4x10s and 1x15s and I also plugged into an old Crate 2x15 that sits at the drummer's house and liked the feel of the bigger cabs.

I found an EV B215M locally on the cheap that I am considering, but power handling wise I'm not sure how it will do with the Shuttle 9.0 (cab is rated at 400watts @ 4 ohms) and will I actually end up dragging it out to gigs at around 120lbs? As of now I'm a one trip to the van guy. I suppose I could do that still since the EV 2B15 has casters, the only problem would be stairs? Part of the decision is also financial - if I did purchase the 2x15 I would most likely sell the 1x12 and get some extra money I could use right now. I do like the tone I get out of my current rig but perhaps just miss moving more air?

Do you think it's a bad move to go so heavy? It's been years since I've had heavy gear (10+ year hiatus) and back then I wasn't gigging as much so my experience in this dept. is limited.

For gigs requiring and amp and cab, I have a pair of Eden 210 cabs, one 8 ohm D-210-XST which when power with 400 watts can generate up to 127 decibels. I’ve covered rooms seating almost a 1000 with no FOH support. It weighs about 60 lbs, still heavy by today’s standards but I’m 73 and have no issues carrying it around. I’ve not been in a situation where I needed both 210 cabs in over 5 years.

 

[Wasnex]

IMHO: With EVMs and the VMR it's not a B215-M.

Not exactly HiFi.

Compare to response of EVM15L.

Not really all that different and you might say the on axis response is a bit smoother with just the EVM15L.


AFAIK, the main advantage of the VMR is it improves dispersion in the upper mids.

 

[winston]

I had a teacher in the '80s with one of these, powered by an 800 watt Peavey MAX head...had lots of everything.
That said - I had an EVM15B-loaded Bag End at the time, and as the chart reflects the little cone on the B215M didn't extend the highs way up into the stratosphere.

 

[overit]

Wild to see this post bumped from 11 years ago. I didn’t even recognize the picture of my old setup ,in my old house on the other side of the country. Like my relocation, my rigs have totally changed. My main rig now is completely opposite - an Acoustic Image Clarus SL head and Doubleshot 2x10, with my main bass being a boutiquey fretless 5.

 

[hbarcat]

I know this is an old thread, but I had to reply because I faced this same decision a few years ago. I had an EV B-215M that I gigged with for years because I was so in love with the tone. It was an integral part of my ideal bass sound.

But it was so impractical. At 127 lbs, it became virtually impossible for me to haul around, once I was fully into middle age.

So, I sold it to a local musician who wanted it for studio recording. Perfect use for that big antique colossus.

To replace it for gigs, I bought a 1x15" neo cab with a coaxial tweeter that is ¼ the size and weight, and will get lower and louder, and handle more power, than the 2x15"(+6) EV cab.

It doesn't have the "special vintage tone sauce" of the EV cab, but frankly, the difference is very subtle and no one in the audience knows or cares about it.