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How much do cabs affect tone?
- Thread starter Tupac
- Start date
A lot. At the very least, different cabs have different frequency response curves, which would make them sound as different as what you'd get by dialing the EQ knobs on your amp. And that's just the start of it. Different cabs also project sound into the room in different ways -- something that you might notice if you compare the tone while standing in front of the cab, and standing to the side.
And so forth.
And so forth.
IMO, a great deal, I have played awesome high end basses with high grade amps running through mediocre cabs and the result was poor inarticulate tone and conversely I have played inexpensive Mexican fenders and squier p basses on high grade cabs with the resulting sound being quite good. If you are deciding where to put more of you money put it in the amp and cab, a great amp and cab with a mid level bass IME will yield better results than the opposite situation
Quite a bit - Polar response (how well the various frequencies are projected off & on axis) and frequency response will alter the tone noticeably with most cabs.
I'd guess most amp EQ sections will produce a bigger variety of tonal changes - and more extreme tonal changes. The bass electronics, strings, and playing style will also have a bigger effect than two bass cabs at similar SPL's in similar environments. There's always exceptions though - like a PA style cab or a cab with a low pass filter at 250Hz.
Importantly, the listening environment and the orientation of the listener will matter. It's acoustics.
I'd guess most amp EQ sections will produce a bigger variety of tonal changes - and more extreme tonal changes. The bass electronics, strings, and playing style will also have a bigger effect than two bass cabs at similar SPL's in similar environments. There's always exceptions though - like a PA style cab or a cab with a low pass filter at 250Hz.
Importantly, the listening environment and the orientation of the listener will matter. It's acoustics.
+1
IMO, the speakers are one of the more important, if not the most important parts of the rig. You need all the parts obviously, but the speaker is last in line and is the part that turns all that electrical signal stuff back into sound that travels through the air to our ears.
Great bass + cheap speakers sounds cheap.
Cheap bass + good speakers sounds good.
- Oct 18, 2012
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I hate to be contrary, but nothing sounds like my amp. (fender bassman 100). I have plugged into various backlines, SWR, Ampeg, Hartke, peavey, music man rigs, even GK cabs etc.....All sounded pretty simmilar with my amp. High end may be the biggest difference + or - a tweeter. I am only really frustrated with my tone if I plug into someone elses head. I may be a special case since I am only used to pushing the amp and not the cab. I may play junk basses, but they all have very distinct character seemingly more appreciative of a certain head than cab.
after all I agree with every one else...spend your money on the cab. select your bass on attitude
after all I agree with every one else...spend your money on the cab. select your bass on attitude
- Nov 24, 2008
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I say it depends on the tone you like. For example, I like mid heavy gritty, grindy overdrive. My tone could be acquired with a guitar cab. However, my GK neo115s sound amazing
I'm not sure I agree 100% with this. Good cab=good tone...if your amp, bass, strings, and fingers are also producing good tone. Bad cab= bad tone every time.
Cabs can change the entire character of the amp and bass. Id say they definitely affect the tone a lot.
The main things are ported vs sealed, the crossover network, and the tweeter control although the material the cab is constructed out of as well as the thickness of the wood matters as well. The internal dimensions or tuning the cab to the drivers is very important. The frequency response can be even or it can be loud and boomy on some frequencies and die out at others. The tweeters can add the right amount of high or be harsh.
The main things are ported vs sealed, the crossover network, and the tweeter control although the material the cab is constructed out of as well as the thickness of the wood matters as well. The internal dimensions or tuning the cab to the drivers is very important. The frequency response can be even or it can be loud and boomy on some frequencies and die out at others. The tweeters can add the right amount of high or be harsh.
Obviously job one is getting your fingers to work right 
but I've heard lots of crap basses and crap amps go into good cabs and make pleasing sounds. I've also heard great basses and great amps go into crap cabs and sound bad. You don't need the very best stuff out there but the cab is the last place I'd skimp.
but I've heard lots of crap basses and crap amps go into good cabs and make pleasing sounds. I've also heard great basses and great amps go into crap cabs and sound bad. You don't need the very best stuff out there but the cab is the last place I'd skimp.
JimmyM said:Obviously job one is getting your fingers to work right
+1
5sg.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
And yet I think it's the first place people are inclined to skimp.
I'd rather play a $250 bass through a $1,500 rig than a $1,500 bass through a $250 rig.
Yup... just like home stereo equipment and PA rigs. Crappy speakers = crappy results no matter what else you bring to the party.
So here is a follow up question...
I understand headphones range quite a bit in quality, but would you say that headphones plugged into your amp are more "true" representations of what your amp sounds like before the cab colors it? Or do headphones simply do the same thing due to frequency response limitations?
And would full range systems like fEARFul/fEARless be closer to the same sounds that are coming though headphones that are plugged into the amp?
I understand headphones range quite a bit in quality, but would you say that headphones plugged into your amp are more "true" representations of what your amp sounds like before the cab colors it? Or do headphones simply do the same thing due to frequency response limitations?
And would full range systems like fEARFul/fEARless be closer to the same sounds that are coming though headphones that are plugged into the amp?
I believe the quality of the cab does make a difference and agree that a bad cab can act like a damn for a beautiful tone coming from a great guitar and head.
Given a certain level of quality, I like to think of what cab configuration is appropriate for the venue and playlist (not just volume). When I was in full swing (ok, back in the day), I had two different single 12s cabs; one with horn, one w/o, a compact sealed 4x10 with no horn (built in compression), extended range Genz Benz 4x10, and 1x15. I'd bring what was right for the type of music and venue. Pizza palace gigs got the single 12 with no horn. Pop gigs at art festivals, etc., 1x15 (if outside), rock gigs would get a single 4x10 for small places. Larger/louder, 4x10 over the 1x15. They all sounded different - even using the same head.
The head can make a big difference, though. I swapped between Eden WT500 and the Ampeg Classic SVT depending on the band, and set lists. They sounded VERY different going through the same cabs.
Given a certain level of quality, I like to think of what cab configuration is appropriate for the venue and playlist (not just volume). When I was in full swing (ok, back in the day), I had two different single 12s cabs; one with horn, one w/o, a compact sealed 4x10 with no horn (built in compression), extended range Genz Benz 4x10, and 1x15. I'd bring what was right for the type of music and venue. Pizza palace gigs got the single 12 with no horn. Pop gigs at art festivals, etc., 1x15 (if outside), rock gigs would get a single 4x10 for small places. Larger/louder, 4x10 over the 1x15. They all sounded different - even using the same head.
The head can make a big difference, though. I swapped between Eden WT500 and the Ampeg Classic SVT depending on the band, and set lists. They sounded VERY different going through the same cabs.
