Go big or go home?
I take it that refers to the huge sound I get from my Aguilar AG700 and two Barefaced 112 cabs?
I take it that refers to the huge sound I get from my Aguilar AG700 and two Barefaced 112 cabs?
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I read every review and heard everyone talk about how this cab sucks and how on paper it is a horrible idea, and I also read nothing but rave reviews from owners. I couldn’t help myself but to take a chance on this much maligned Mesa monster resting at my favorite brick and mortar.
Noooooo! What were they thinking/drinking!! What a sonic mess!
I must admit I can absolutely see where all the negativity was coming from, but with a slight mid scoop and a HPF pedal @35hz this is the best sounding bass cabinet I have ever experienced. It is surprisingly warm in tone and goes extremely low. For example I can’t even tell the HPF is working on my sealed 610 until 80hz where the Powerhouse is immediately noticeable at 20Hz. Compared to my sealed Mesa 610 the Powerhouse 1000 is a different animal and must be treated a bit differently. It’s like owning a lion and a bear.
I love my big cabs, now can I get a hand with these stairs?
Noooooo! What were they thinking/drinking!! What a sonic mess!
I must admit I can absolutely see where all the negativity was coming from, but with a slight mid scoop and a HPF pedal @35hz this is the best sounding bass cabinet I have ever experienced. It is surprisingly warm in tone and goes extremely low. For example I can’t even tell the HPF is working on my sealed 610 until 80hz where the Powerhouse is immediately noticeable at 20Hz. Compared to my sealed Mesa 610 the Powerhouse 1000 is a different animal and must be treated a bit differently. It’s like owning a lion and a bear.
I love my big cabs, now can I get a hand with these stairs?
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I read every review and heard everyone talk about how this cab sucks and how on paper it is a horrible idea, and I also read nothing but rave reviews from owners. I couldn’t help myself but to take a chance on this much maligned Mesa monster resting at my favorite brick and mortar.
View attachment 4569145
Noooooo! What were they thinking/drinking!! What a sonic mess!
I must admit I can absolutely see where all the negativity was coming from, but with a slight mid scoop and a HPF pedal @35hz this is the best sounding bass cabinet I have ever experienced. It is surprisingly warm in tone and goes extremely low. For example I can’t even tell the HPF is working on my sealed 610 until 80hz where the Powerhouse is immediately noticeable @20Hz. Compared to my sealed Mesa 610 the Powerhouse 1000 is a different animal and must be treated a bit differently. It’s like owning a lion and a bear.
Love my big cabs, now can I get a hand with these stairs?
Greg Lake used these after an early 1990's dalliance with Trace-Elliott. In fact he used the powerhouse cabs until the end of his career. Usually just a pair of them, but I have no idea what he powered them with, likely a rack system with a poweramp.
Analogeezer
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Love my $100 special go big cab.
My back hates it!
My back hates it!
I read every review and heard everyone talk about how this cab sucks and how on paper it is a horrible idea, and I also read nothing but rave reviews from owners. I couldn’t help myself but to take a chance on this much maligned Mesa monster resting at my favorite brick and mortar.
View attachment 4569145
Noooooo! What were they thinking/drinking!! What a sonic mess!
I must admit I can absolutely see where all the negativity was coming from, but with a slight mid scoop and a HPF pedal @35hz this is the best sounding bass cabinet I have ever experienced. It is surprisingly warm in tone and goes extremely low. For example I can’t even tell the HPF is working on my sealed 610 until 80hz where the Powerhouse is immediately noticeable at 20Hz. Compared to my sealed Mesa 610 the Powerhouse 1000 is a different animal and must be treated a bit differently. It’s like owning a lion and a bear.
I love my big cabs, now can I get a hand with these stairs?
Yeah it's a great cab. They don't get a lot of love around here but I always thought they sounded the way a bass cab should.
That’s great that you can still do that, but in all the examples of players you show, none of them tote their own rigs. They have roadies for that. More power to you, though.
As I said in another thread, ask people what they'd play if they didn't have to carry it. There's a difference between preference and expediency.
When I play guitar I play a Deluxe Reverb - 22 watts, 2 12" speaker and 42 lbs. If I could, I'd play my Marshall Stack, but it's too big, too loud, too heavy. It doesn't mean I don't love it though. I used an SVT and 8X10 cabinet when I had roadies. When I moved on, I got a PF-800 and PF-115. Doesn't mean I don't love the SVT and fridge.
When I play guitar I play a Deluxe Reverb - 22 watts, 2 12" speaker and 42 lbs. If I could, I'd play my Marshall Stack, but it's too big, too loud, too heavy. It doesn't mean I don't love it though. I used an SVT and 8X10 cabinet when I had roadies. When I moved on, I got a PF-800 and PF-115. Doesn't mean I don't love the SVT and fridge.
I played with a 70 year old bass player that used an SVT and 4X10 cabinet. Moved it by himself, although I would have helped if he'd asked. Of course, he was still running the Marine Corps Marathon every year.
Not really a big rig, but the Aguilar 410 weighs a ton - then again, the sound it produces is more than worth it for me! 
To be more accurate $130.
Primer, spray paint and 2 caster wheels, and the cost of the cab.
lol
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My point was that it's the big rigs that ultimately sound the best and thats why that's what you see the touring players use. Not saying it's worth it to everyone to haul the big iron to get that classic rumble. But, this thread is to rally those who aren't willing to accept the tone tradeoffs of the lighter gear. If that's not you, totally cool, there's lots of other good threads to hang out in.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,018
- 5
- 220,876
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
I disagree, there are plenty of "big rigs" that sound positively dreadful and this holds true going back 50 years. There is a difference between a big rig and a good rig. Good rigs come in all sizes as do dreadful rigs, good rigs in appropriate situations generally work out the best overall. An arena or stadium bass rig may not be the best choice for a 100 seat club no matter how good it is. I think Walter Wood made this point pretty clearly about 40 years ago, as did a number of other higher end manufacturers.
The last 30 years of my career, I worked primarily in the mid size gig range (1000 - 2500 seats) and what works well in these venues may not have been the best choice for a stadium but stadium rigs wouldn't have been the best choice for these venues either. Step it down to 100-250 seats and the ideal rig for the room might change yet again.
A well chosen, well maintained 100w tube head into a 1x15 has been completely adequate for all the gigs I’ve done since the early 90’s. For me a big arena rig makes about as much sense as hunting squirrels with a 4 shot lever action .45-70.
or taking this:
to go do this
or taking this:
to go do this
My point was that it’s totally cool for you, and that’s why I closed with “more power to you”. It certainly looks cooler to have a couple SVTs on stage. But I’m past the point of physically being able to tote one, much less two of them.
I’ll be 70 in July and still love to gig. I have gone to a Fender Rumble 500 2x10 combo and have added the Rumble 2x10 extension cabinet for a 4x10/500 watt rig. It moves air my friends. At 39 lbs each easy on the back.
In my 50+years of being a semi-pro musician ( playing from 1-6 nights a week, and a day job) I believe I have at one time or another have own or played through every bass rig known to man. My latest rig is the best one yet.
But this is MVHO
DUKE
In my 50+years of being a semi-pro musician ( playing from 1-6 nights a week, and a day job) I believe I have at one time or another have own or played through every bass rig known to man. My latest rig is the best one yet.
But this is MVHO
DUKE
Yeah, totally get it. I'm fortunate that I have a garaged trailer that the live gear stays in so there's no loading and unloading to the house. And, I have helpful band mates
