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Favorite lightweight bass cab with good low-end?

#161
I've used the following cabs in the past:

Fender BXR Spectrum (2x10+1x18)
Orange 1x15+4x10
Fender's 6x10 that paired w/ the Super Bassman
Ampeg 6x10

Through various sets of amps:
Fender BXR 400
Orange Terror Bass 1000
Orange AD200B
Fender Super Bassman
Verellen Meatsmoke
AxeFX XL+
Darkglass B7K ultra into a clean power amp

Had issues with the orange 115 handling way too little power. Heavy.

Didn't like the sound of the fender 610, light for a 610 but still heavy.

BXR was super heavy and sounded terrible.

Ampeg was heavy, sounded ok.

The only cab that didn't disappoint me in one way or another is the fearful 15/6. I built a pair of them and they have taken everything I put through it. Dimed Meatsmoke 300w? No problem. 1000w power amp from various preamp? No sweat.

I ended up switching to axe-fx into a matrix 1000w power amp, and run everything through one or both fearfuls. They're very reasonably priced if you buy them prebuilt from speakerhardware.com and mega cheap if you build them yourself from flatpacks. Damn near free if you just make all the cuts yourself. And they're ridiculously lightweight. My two cabs+axe rackbox weigh less than the meatsmoke head.
 
#162
Lammchop93 said:
Hi all, I've been currently running a Darkglass M900 into a Mesa powerhouse 212 for the last year or so, and i like the tone, but I've been having to haul around my rig more often, and this cab is getting old moving around all the time. I like the tone of it, but it is a little harsh on the treble side. I've cut the tweeter, and have my treble rolled back a good amount on the amp.

My question to you is, what are some good lightweight bass cabs that have a more low end focus? Maybe even a cab that doesn't have a tweeter? I was looking at the Mesa Subway 115's, but don't know much about them. I've owned lots of GK NEO's in the past, but still found them more treble-y than I prefer.


I was thinking 2 1x15 cabs might be good? Opinions? I would not like to spend more than $1000 on a pair of cabs, or one really good cab that is 500w at least.


Another idea was getting 2 Orange OBC115's, and swapping the speakers for a neodymium speaker. I've always been an Orange fan.
Click to expand...



Boogie M6 Carbine Combo
 
#164
Lammchop93 said:
Hi all, I've been currently running a Darkglass M900 into a Mesa powerhouse 212 for the last year or so, and i like the tone, but I've been having to haul around my rig more often, and this cab is getting old moving around all the time. I like the tone of it, but it is a little harsh on the treble side. I've cut the tweeter, and have my treble rolled back a good amount on the amp.

My question to you is, what are some good lightweight bass cabs that have a more low end focus? Maybe even a cab that doesn't have a tweeter? I was looking at the Mesa Subway 115's, but don't know much about them. I've owned lots of GK NEO's in the past, but still found them more treble-y than I prefer.


I was thinking 2 1x15 cabs might be good? Opinions? I would not like to spend more than $1000 on a pair of cabs, or one really good cab that is 500w at least.


Another idea was getting 2 Orange OBC115's, and swapping the speakers for a neodymium speaker. I've always been an Orange fan.
Click to expand...
I would suggest an aguilar sl112 or two of them. They're only 25lbs apiece.
 
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#165
I've always sought a similar tone profile and I've owned virtually every top-name cabinet out there (Bergantino, Low Down Sound custom based on a Greenboy-design, etc.). After assembling a pretty large cabinet collection, I sold all of them a few years ago because Acme cabs give me the very best tone--I like low, solid and warm, but also clean--in the lightest weight package. For nostalgic reasons, I kept my vintage Ampeg B-15 and the custom cab Don Oatman at Low Down Sound built for me; but my three Acmes handle everything from the recording studio to the largest venues.

I have a couple of small, lightweight integrated heads that fill the bill and I try new ones regularly. Acmes aren't the power hogs a few have described; but their innovative design does require adequate juice. Just follow the recommendations. They're built to handle it.

Simply put, Andy Lewis has figured out how to provide better low-end tone and response using a lightweight cab with a neodymium driver better than anyone. The factors you describe are the very attributes for which Andy designs his cabinets. Not only do they satisfy your (our) tone and weight desires, Andy has the very best try-and-return policy out there and NO ONE builds a better product. You really shouldn't make a choice without trying Acmes.
 
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#166
I'm using a 50lb MarkBass 2x12 New York 700w cab and an Ampeg PF800 head and it's absolutely slamming on the low end. Major improvement over the 120lb Ampeg BXT410 I was using. I use it in lieu of subs when we play with our own PA. It's that loud. I play older country music so there's not a whole lot of highs and really boomy lows.
 
#167
I highly recommend Bergantino 212s for amazing low end with light weight. I don't have one (thought it's on my list) and an associate who plays for the Arena Kings in Seattle has one. Amazing sound for the weight.
Video demonstration -
 
#168
Lammchop93 said:
Hi all, I've been currently running a Darkglass M900 into a Mesa powerhouse 212 for the last year or so, and i like the tone, but I've been having to haul around my rig more often, and this cab is getting old moving around all the time. I like the tone of it, but it is a little harsh on the treble side. I've cut the tweeter, and have my treble rolled back a good amount on the amp.

My question to you is, what are some good lightweight bass cabs that have a more low end focus? Maybe even a cab that doesn't have a tweeter? I was looking at the Mesa Subway 115's, but don't know much about them. I've owned lots of GK NEO's in the past, but still found them more treble-y than I prefer.


I was thinking 2 1x15 cabs might be good? Opinions? I would not like to spend more than $1000 on a pair of cabs, or one really good cab that is 500w at least.


Another idea was getting 2 Orange OBC115's, and swapping the speakers for a neodymium speaker. I've always been an Orange fan.
Click to expand...

I've been extremely happy with the Acme Low B2. It's a 2-10 cab that will accurately reproduce a B string and only weighs 50 lbs. I'm going to order a second one fir larger gigs.
 
#170
If you can get past the yellow (which I did because of it's sound) the MarkBass Standard 10HR, only 56 lbs, in 4 or 8 ohms, 800W RMS, AND I saw it this week at Musicians Friend for $699 - that's a steal...using it for bigger/louder stage situations and outdoor gigs, classic rock.
 
#171
I have been using a Behringer Ultrabass combo (BXL300) with the Aluminium speaker. It gives any sound you want and plenty power. Last year, getting old as I am I tried some lighter alternatives. I ended up with a Fender Rumble 100. At 10Kilo it is featherlight and has a gorgeous tone. I was surprised also to find I didn't need to DI it up to the PA even on a couple of outdoor events. I would recommend borrowing until you find something you like. To be honest though, if I were younger again, I would go back to the rig I once lugged around which was a Peavey 4x12 cab and almost any powerful head.
 
#173
I'll go with Acme - I have a B110 for home use and a B112FR (35 lbs) for gigs. Replaced Epifani 210 cabs. (I still have one Epifani - it's a little more efficient than the Acme, I use it for louder outdoor gigs. Weighs about 38 lbs.) Acmes tend to be a bit inefficient, so I use an Eden WTX-500 - 500W into 4 ohms. Love it and works well with a 5-string.
 
#175
Lammchop93 said:
Hi all, I've been currently running a Darkglass M900 into a Mesa powerhouse 212 for the last year or so, and i like the tone, but I've been having to haul around my rig more often, and this cab is getting old moving around all the time. I like the tone of it, but it is a little harsh on the treble side. I've cut the tweeter, and have my treble rolled back a good amount on the amp.

My question to you is, what are some good lightweight bass cabs that have a more low end focus? Maybe even a cab that doesn't have a tweeter? I was looking at the Mesa Subway 115's, but don't know much about them. I've owned lots of GK NEO's in the past, but still found them more treble-y than I prefer.


I was thinking 2 1x15 cabs might be good? Opinions? I would not like to spend more than $1000 on a pair of cabs, or one really good cab that is 500w at least.


Another idea was getting 2 Orange OBC115's, and swapping the speakers for a neodymium speaker. I've always been an Orange fan.
Click to expand...
All I know is what I play and I really like my 6lb Mesa Subway 800 paired with two Italian made Markbass 604 cabs at 35lb each.
IMG_0728.JPG
 
#176
My lightweight rig is a TC Electronic RS210 powered by an Eden WTX500. It maybe isn't the most powerful setup available but it does offer up great sound for my 55-94 Lakland, and it is very easy on the back to move from gig to gig.
 

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