GIGGING Bassists.... please vote for your Cabinet!! (What People are Buying NOW)

I chose 212. I primarily have been using a GK MB212 combo in my band which plays 100+ gigs a year. We did ourselves a favor and bought an X18 Air to put in our in-ear rack so no matter where we play, we have our own in-ear mix that we control. My combo is really just for stage volume and to feel a little bass, as we always have full PA support.

 

I'm not currently gigging but I have gigged fairly extensively in Seattle. I can't see a need for more than one of the new breed of 112s (AudioKinesis, Greenboy, Barefaced, Baer) and a 500 or 800 watt head unless your stage volume is painfully loud.

 

My needs are not actually fulling met by any option in the poll. My preference is a modular approach.

In reality, I would like - and I'm in the market for - a small, light, high powered full-range cabinet that would function for low to moderate volume gigs (I guess that would be the 112/210 option). But I also want a larger, higher-powered cabinet that could stand alone much of the time, or could be combined (and has been engineered to work) with the smaller cab for a large, loud rig that would compete with with or outrun the 8x10 crowd.

One caveat - I'm more interested in high-sensitivity cabs that are efficient than having huge power handling. I don't want to have to haul a 2,000 watt power amp around (been there, done that for 20 years, no thanks).

 

Sort of A and B for me. I need a very loud cabinet that has a good size to weight ratio.

I'm not at all hung up on the speaker size or configuration.
I'm not buying 810's or 410's. My little pair of 1X12's (Barefaced Big Baby II's) will easily hang with an 810 and eat 410's for breakfast/lunch/dinner/dessert. They'll have more low end, better dispersion, and better off axis projection. They're stupid loud and sound like I have FOH support.
My band has zero FOH support so my rig carries every venue we play.
One cab can do most venues for a normal volume band. Two cabs can do anything I've thrown at them so far.

If 810/610/215's were the only game in town that can do what I need then that's what I'd use, but like you said we're in the glory days of amplification now. No longer do you need a huge cab to get that type of performance.

 

I agree with Dave, 2 Barefaced Big Bay 2's -- or a single Big Twin -- will do everything needed for any situation. I'd do 2 BB2's though so that I could use only one when needed (which is most of the time).

The Barefaced Four10 has nearly triple the cone surface of a Big Twin though, so it gets plenty loud and deep. To me it depends on if I want great colored tone or pure clarity (I use both by BB2 and my Four10 regularly, but never together).

Like some of the other premium cabs, the Barefaced do FAR more than traditional cabs of the same configuration. Hell, if you had two BB2's you could even use them for PA cabs in a pinch.

 

I think this all depends on the region and type of music people are playing in. I see a lot of guys post on the forums who can get by with IEMs or a small stage rig because the venues they play in are always equipped with a decent PA. In some parts of the country PA support is unheard of. You either bring in your own PA, and subs to support bass and drums, or you just bring in some mains to support vocals. The bass rig needs for these two ends of the spectrum differ quite a bit.

I also see a number of guys who dont have any understanding that some genres of music are loud. Really loud. It is part of the experience. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is a very real goal for some players.

 

Is why I mentioned painfully loud stage volume. Of course, location location location, as I used to say to bluewine, is a key factor. In a place like Seattle, PA support is solid. BFE Oklahoma? Maybe not. Genre/stage volume is also a key factor, just providing my experience in my location (indie rock and alt-country in a large metropolitan area).

 

Depends on your age and budget.

If I were young and money was tight, I would pick up a used, heavy 4x10. Lots of them out there.
I'm middle aged and on a reasonable budget. I picked up a 38 pound 2x12 - vertical, so it is about the size of a 2x10.
If I was gigging for $$$ every weekend, I would consider one of the Fearless or similar high end cabs.

 

I gig more than 6 times per year but primarily play small venues. In the summer I do play outdoor gigs but have never needed much more than my CMD121p and New York extension.Even though I gig alot, I'm pretty small potatoes in the scheme of things.

Oh, I do run through the board with twin 15 in subs if we need more oompf.

Art

 

I think Barefaced is challenging woofer design. They are using woofers purpose suited for bass cab use. As opposed to drivers that were really guitar or sub designs, that were tweaked to get in to bass use. I hope that this is a sign that manufacturers will start to give us offerings better suited for bass.

Even guys that have "made it" and are touring get surprised with venues that are under powered when it comes to PA support.

 

I could use a 210, but didn't vote because I don't think a single 112 would cut it for me. I have both. I use them together or I use the 210 alone. I have never used the 112 alone.

 

For me, fidelity is first and volume is second. A close second. The sweetest cab I ever owned was the Acme low B 2x10, which I purchased back before they were over $400. But it was stolen and I was broke.

But now, the 1x12 or, even better, the 1x15 three way is the choice for me. Coupled with a relatively cheap class D amplifier (in my case, a crown xls 1000 bridged), it's all I need for ANY gig, and nice and light. Frankly, I've thought about a 2x10 for smaller gigs, but I still need that low B "feel it" sound. Maybe I'll eventually spring for another Acme or one of the other brands that now compete favorably with it.

 

I chose 112...actually I have two but only bring both if I know I will have to blast.

 

Six "live gigs a year?" Yeah, I guess I get over that hurdle.

My choice isn't on your option list. I have a Bergantino HDN 112 and an HDN 210. I use one, the other, or both, depending on the tone and volume required. There is no gig that requires more volume than both can put out. Well before that limit, I am in the FOH.

 

Instead of a bulky 2x12, I use a pair of 1x12's which are much easier to manage. The smaller box costs a smidge on the deep lows, but not enough to matter to me.

 

the two orange 115s i have sound great, but they are heavy!!!!!

 

Using a Eden 2x10 XLT.
Works for my needs in small Sports/Pub,
Larger rooms DI to PA.
A local venue has a 6x10 backline for their shows.

 

I chose "very loud." I went to a double 410 setup and haven't looked back. Full, articulate, and as loud or quiet as I'll ever need to be.