As I posted previously, I was curious about how the BA12-3 and BA10-2 cabinets might sound when combined with the MG350 head. I already had the MG350 and BA10-2 cabinet, so I went ahead and picked up a BA12-3 cabinet, which I had previously tried on its own and liked very much. I considered getting another BA10-2 instead, so that I would have two identical cabinets, but I’m happy that I went with the BA12-3, as I can use it on its own with the MG350 when needed for venues where the BA10-2 might not be enough on its own. The short version is that the sound of this combination is full, balanced, clear, articulate, punchy, and downright yummy. I don’t think I could be happier.
My initial experience with the BA10-2 cabinet by itself was that it was clear and had good midrange punch, but I wasn’t really getting the low end that I wanted. Also, to my ears, it took a little while to break in, feeling and sounding a bit stiff out of the box. I really like that cabinet on its own for upright bass, as it provides a balanced and natural sound in a very portable package, but for electric bass and larger rooms, I wanted something more filling. On the other hand, the BA12-3 was gig ready right from the get go. As others have mentioned, the BA12-3 on its own is amazingly big sounding, with a very full low end and good definition. When paired, the BA10-2 and BA12-3 provide a very even and balanced sound from top to bottom. There are no weird sonic holes and no pokey frequencies. The notes start when you want, and they stop when you want, not turning into some poorly defined mush.
I’ve been using this combination primarily with a Ken Smith bolt-on five string bass, and the pairing between this bass and amp setup provides a sound that is truly satisfying. I have been using the combination by simply stacking the BA10-2 on top of the BA12-3, aligning the center arrays down the middle, with the MG350 mounted to the top of the BA10-2. In effect, you get what is essentially a three-way cabinet by combining these cabinets (even though there are more than three ways going on here). At lower volumes, while standing next to the diminutive stack, one unusual aural illusion I noticed was that the sound of D and G strings appeared to be coming from the BA10-2, and the sound from the A, E, and B strings appeared to be coming from the BA12-3. Obviously, this wasn’t actually happening, and from a distance and at louder volumes, the cabinets blend quite nicely.
In a band situation, the combination fills the room with a very pleasing warm undertone, but note clarity and definition are there too. For me, this is extra important, as I strive to produce a solid rhythm which is defined by being able to clearly hear the beginning of every note. I get this in spades with the array cabinets. I was getting carried away at a recent rehearsal, perhaps playing a bit louder than necessary because I was so excited by my sound, but when I asked band members about my volume, neither the guitarist nor drummer wanted me to turn down. (The singer may have wanted me to turn down a little, but she kept quiet, perhaps realizing the positive effect the bass sound was having on the overall performance.) I’ve got a gig this weekend in a club that is a converted warehouse, with not so much conversion, which has a lot of hard concrete surfaces, high ceilings, and exposed steel. I expect this combination will handle the potentially problematic room with ease.
I have not tried combinations of other Genzler cabinets, so I cannot compare in that regard. Others have noted how satisfying multiple BA12-3s can be, but for me, I like having the variety in speaker size and cabinet configuration, as I can use different combinations as needed for different rooms and playing situations.
Some may want to say that this combination sounds similar to a studio monitor, but I wouldn’t necessarily say that. To me, this combination is somewhat reminiscent of three-way cabinets of yesteryear, including the AccuGroove El Whappo, SWR Triad, and those cabinets that EV made back in the early 80’s. However, the Genzler cabinets combined are much lighter, take up a smaller foot print, are modular for easy transportation, and sound fantastic. I’m tempted to use this combination for all my gigs because it sounds so good, even though it would be overkill in some situations. One warning, if you decide to go with this combination, you’d better practice, because there will be no hiding your sound, even in a dense band situation. Now I need to go practice myself, but it’s such a joy practicing when my bass sounds this good.
