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How much speaker for a doom two piece? Bass and drums

doom but my Subway 115 has zero problem getting great doom tones w/ a good fuzz pedal.

But does it peel paint?

I think the OP's problem will be that nothing lightweight or even single cab is going to be loud enough for doom, and doom is all about the theatrics and obscene volume.
 
Interesting, I'm unfamiliar with Hartke's vibe
I have a pair of their Hydrive 1x12s that I quite like. Plus their 35ish pounds each, so not too far off. I've never played doom or metal through them, though...mostly just punk.

Any examples of two piece doom bands like that? I'm planning to put together similar project just to do a few basement shows here and there.

I like doom but I'm not super familiar with the genre. It's really more of an excuse to use all my gear and playing something very different than I typically play.

I'll be running a fearful 12/12/6, should be more than enough.
I would throw out Black Cobra (although that's a guitar player and drummer) and Big Business, but both of them are like speed doom, if you will, rather than total sludginess.

Also maybe give the Gallien Krueger neo cabs a look? I don't know from personal experience but I understand you get a lot of volume without much of a weight penalty. @Marko 1 picked up one of the 4x12s recently so he may be able to speak to that. Could also ask in the GK thread - https://www.talkbass.com/threads/gallien-krueger-club-gk-rules.1056655/page-894#post-28501784
 
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Looking for a single cab setup at 4 ohm (non modular)
You're thinking in terms of wanting to "get all the watts" out of your amp. That can be counterproductive - a lower impedance speaker is usually less efficient than a similar higher impedance speaker. You could get all the watts out of your amp but the system might end up quieter. Chaining two or more higher-impedance speakers in parallel is how you "get all the watts" out of your amp AND the increase in volume you want.

Instead, for a single cabinet system think in terms of overall efficiency and volume. Reread @Wasnex 's post, and look at speakers that deliver on those terms. If they don't provide the sort of grind and sludge you want, there are always effect pedals to make up for it.
 
Markbass CL152 gets the job done for me.
800 watts, 4 ohm. 63lbs (?)

20231128_143821.jpg
 
Heavy, doomy bass often has far less low-end content than you might assume. In any settings short of stadium gigs, and maybe ever there, the sound engineer is probably going to roll off the bass guitar at around 80 Hz or so to make room for the bass drum anyway. So you might as well plan on doing the same, which makes the choice of cabinets much less important.

Paradoxically, your tone might be perceived as heavier if you use a lot of distortion and roll off the low end. Here's a video short titled "The heaviest bass tone I've ever heard." It has hilariously little low end. Sounds to me as if it's rolled off at around 100 or even 120 Hz.
 
Just chiming in to say I think all of the cabs OP posted are likely fine. I've been playing metal more or less in the sludge/doom/etc. vein for many years and I disagree with the suggestion from some posters that modern hi-fi stuff is bad for the genre. Personally I think they work great, particularly for someone who tends to play around with a bunch of pedals.

I'd also recommend the lighter weight Markbass 4x10 cabs. I've played those for years and get a big, heavy sound out of them, although admittedly I use two of them whenever possible, which probably doesn't suit the OP's goals.
 
But does it peel paint?

I think the OP's problem will be that nothing lightweight or even single cab is going to be loud enough for doom, and doom is all about the theatrics and obscene volume.

Uh yeah if you put 900w into two good 15's they are going to peel the paint off the walls. Good modern lightweight cabs are much better for doom than a lot of the old inefficient crap cabs people trot out to shows because they look "cool."
 
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I think Hartke would be a solid choice. Lightweight, loud, and durable.

From your choices, the Mesa 215 could bring the doom.

I agree on the Hartke.

I must disagree, from experience, on the following.

  • Old Mesa/BOOGIE 215; abso-freakin-lutely.
  • Modern Mesa 215; I cant stress enough just how polar opposite these cabs are when directly compared to the Mesa of old. Completely different tone philosophy. Andy will probably agree and has stated words to that effect, that the Subway cabs are not aggressively voiced in any way.
...just trying to help someone from going down what would be a quite expensive path, coming from someone who has tried it.
 
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Good modern lightweight cabs are much better for doom than a lot of the old inefficient crap cabs people trot out to shows because they look "cool."

I would never call an EV-loaded Mesa Diesel 215 or a Peavey Black Widow equipped 215 "inefficient" in any way, shape or form.

They may be old, but they for damn sure aren't inefficient or crap.
 
I would never call an EV-loaded Mesa Diesel 215 or a Peavey Black Widow equipped 215 "inefficient" in any way, shape or form.

They may be old, but they for damn sure aren't inefficient or crap.

Where did I mention those cabs? I'm talking the crap Fender, Kustom, etc. you see at doom shows all the time. Obviously not all old cabs are inefficient trash but, also, the idea that good modern cabs can't hang on a doom gig is laughable.
 
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Those cabs are the OPPOSITE of what I would ever envision for doom.

Those are some of the most polite inoffensive invisible cabs made today.

You need an aggressive old-school bone-rattling cab.

An old Mesa Diesel. An old Peavey 215. Something along those lines. Punishing.

Everything will be heavy, though.

But, if you're into doom, carry the weight.

It ain't Lawrence Welk.

"Ain't Lawrence Welk"

Got a good chuckle out of that one!!
 
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