I Miss The 2x15!

[Lowbrow]

Any bassist hovering around his or her 40s (like me) will remember that the 2x15 cabinet was pretty much the standard until it was supplanted by the 4x10. Yes, the SVT existed, but that was substantially higher-priced than most of what was commercially available and largely thought of as a 'pros-only' rig.

To my (possibly biased) ears, the 2x15 defined the sound of 'good' bass, and good cab examples handled a full range of frequencies well; I remember well a side-ported Yamaha cab I used 1979-1994 that would always have soundmen smiling.

The ergonomic benefits of using smaller cabs are clear, but is there a real sonic basis for the wholesale move to 10s?

 

[RickenBoogie]

The speaker size in and of itself is moot, but I'm totally with you on the merits of a good 2x15. By far, my favorite "big" cab EVER is the Mesa Diesel 215, which was rated @ 800 watts RMS, and had the voice of god.

 

[pacojas]

still love 'em,... the feel of air ruffling my pant-legs,... oh my!!!

 

[bassplayer8953]

I am one of the many who moved away from a 2 x 15 (just too much hassle to cart around), but I still use a 1 x 15, now paired with a 2 x 10. Many here swear that this "imbalance" causes all kinds of issues, but my combination sounds great, at least to me. And many who've listened to my amp's tone have commented about the combination of punch (10's) and thump (15) that my rig provides.

10's are great, & I've played some rigs with all 10's, but if I had to choose between the 2 sizes, I'd go with 15's.

 

[unclekebm]

I'll take a 215 over a 410 any day..
that said, I've gone to a 212 neo (lighter, oh my aching back) " )

 

[Tom Howland]

Bergantino NV215, best 2x15 cab I ever played.
Why this cab was discontinued is beyond me?

 

[BuffaloBass]

Gee, even back in the day I supplemented the 2X15 Ampeg with a 6X10 Traynor.

Now I use a 1X12", and maybe a 2X10" alongside sometimes.

 

[GaryLC]

Yeah, I agree....I had a Mesa D180 with a 2-15" Mesa cab in the mid 80's. A good 2-15" cab rules! Even the old Kustom 2-15" cabs were great. But the weight.....

 

[bassmandallas]

410's stink, old guys and their 215's rule

 

[christw]

I am one of the many who moved away from a 2 x 15 (just too much hassle to cart around), but I still use a 1 x 15, now paired with a 2 x 10. Many here swear that this "imbalance" causes all kinds of issues, but my combination sounds great, at least to me. And many who've listened to my amp's tone have commented about the combination of punch (10's) and thump (15) that my rig provides.

10's are great, & I've played some rigs with all 10's, but if I had to choose between the 2 sizes, I'd go with 15's.

People tend to scold when it's a 115 + 410 rig. 115 and 210's are a bit better matched in performance. Really all that matters is that you like it though.

I'm considering finding a good ol 215 that I can slap on my car's back seat! 610's and 810's are a bit much (in terms of both what I need and in size) but I love 'em so. Or maybe I'll go for one of those new fangled component rigs that all of us yungin's are buzzin' about.

 

[erigod23]

I use a 215, but I'm tired of moving it. I now want to go to 2 single 15's. Anyone tried this?

 

[heatheroo]

used a Bassman 215 cab loaded with EVM 15's for many years. Finally decided it was too much to lug and bought a GK 115 cab. Guess what? Now I run the 215 AND the 115 biamped. Like a previous poster said......gotta feel your pant legs rustling from the air movement.

 

[mdogs]

Used to have 2 Bassman 2x15 cabs that I toted with me everywhere I went (I had to take the seat out of the back of my old Buick to fit one in there)! Those along with my Fender 400PS were an unreal combo. Just too damn big to move, sold this rig about 5 years ago for about 3 times more than I paid for it 35 years ago. SVT's had nothing on that 400PS!!!

 

[Mike Shevlin]

Amen brother~ a good 2x15 is pure bliss. I tried the Schroeder 215+L at NAMM last year and it was the best cab I heard all day. They also have a 1515 that's taller and thinner & I was told that it sound the same & weighs only 50 lbs or so.

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

Sometimes I use a pair of Traynor TC-115's and have gotten great results.

Rezdog

 

[blastjv]

Still miss my old Mesa Boogie 215 Road Ready cab.....DON'T miss moving it.....didn't have casters.....and I was a skinny little bastard.....


-JV

 

[bassplayer8953]

I use a 215, but I'm tired of moving it. I now want to go to 2 single 15's. Anyone tried this?

Yup...with 2 - 1 x 15 Peavey BW cabinets. Killer sound...killer on your back too!! I swear those old Peavey's were made of cast iron!! I still have them, but no longer haul them around. Currently using Carvins...a little easier on the back. Neo's would be better still, but haven't tried neo's yet.

 

[s_mcsleazy]

i love 2x15's

if i had the money id get one made to run at 8ohms and a 4x10 to run at 8 ohms aswell

then clear the way because it will be so loud that the uk will flip on its axis and glasgow will end up in france

 

[thobbinghotrod]

I use an Earth head and cab from 1973, 100 watts, four 6L6's. I put 3015's in it and it's great.

 

[JimmyM]

I use a 215, but I'm tired of moving it. I now want to go to 2 single 15's. Anyone tried this?

i do with my b-15n stack. works just as good as a 215 to me.

the reason that 10"s became popular is because the svt 810 became a big standard for bass tone, plus you could put four10"s in a small box and get loudness levels that would take two 215's to accomplish.

as for favoring 10"s over 15"s or vice versa, that's silliness. i've played cabs that use both that sound alternately great and alternately crappy. i would much rather have a good 410 over a crappy 215 and a good 215 over a crappy 410. judging the sound of cabs on speaker size alone is pointless.