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Is a 212 the best one-size-fits-most cab?

#81
DoctorZee said:
I've been wondering if I could get away with downsizing my total equipment by finding one cabinet that I could use for (basically) everything: rehearsals, small clubs, large clubs, outdoor with PA support, etc. I've never had anything with 12s before, but based on specs and research, I'm starting to think a single 212 could do the job, while having a decent enough form factor that I don't mind lugging it everywhere.

My current arsenal is a 1x15 and a 4x10 which I use interchangeably or (rarely) stacked. It works, but I often feel like the 15 is not quite enough, but the 410 is overkill. Of course I've considered a pair of 12s but I doubt I'd use a single 12 often enough to warrant having separates.

Any thoughts? Anyone doing the one-cab-to-rule-them-all approach?

(I'll mention that the GK Neo 212 or Ampeg 212AV are the ones that catch my eye as seeming to hit the right size, weight, quality, tone, and price for me.)
Click to expand...

I use an Eden 210 rated at 500 watts at most gigs. I will say this, pushed to the Max it gets a little harsh. I would assume it depends on the cab's efficiency, how it's tuned, it's wattage rating, and how loud your band plays.

As for FOH support, a good sound company can give you some help if your 2-12 isn't cutting it.
 
#82
DoctorZee said:
I've been wondering if I could get away with downsizing my total equipment by finding one cabinet that I could use for (basically) everything: rehearsals, small clubs, large clubs, outdoor with PA support, etc. I've never had anything with 12s before, but based on specs and research, I'm starting to think a single 212 could do the job, while having a decent enough form factor that I don't mind lugging it everywhere.

My current arsenal is a 1x15 and a 4x10 which I use interchangeably or (rarely) stacked. It works, but I often feel like the 15 is not quite enough, but the 410 is overkill. Of course I've considered a pair of 12s but I doubt I'd use a single 12 often enough to warrant having separates.

Any thoughts? Anyone doing the one-cab-to-rule-them-all approach?

(I'll mention that the GK Neo 212 or Ampeg 212AV are the ones that catch my eye as seeming to hit the right size, weight, quality, tone, and price for me.)
Click to expand...

I have had 2 cabs almost my entire career: a Bag End s15 (single 15) and an s15x (x means it has a concentric tweeter and passive crossover onboard).

Bag End makes seriously tough drivers and small cabs which are easy to move, so for high volume gigs, the s15 can usually handle it alone. I've played with big, loud rock and reggae bands with just that cab, it's plenty for stage volume in almost every case. If it's a question, I'll bring both cabs. The s15x is great for lower volume hi-Fi sounds (the concentric woofer cone has less surface area than the plain 15, so it's not as loud), and the stack of both is just ridiculously fun and flexible to work with. You can often find them used for reasonable prices. If I could only keep one, it would be the s15 without tweeter, because it can handle higher SPL.
 
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#83
I have gone through a bunch of cabs over the last 10 years. I have a pair of Audiokenisis 12 inch cabs. They are all I will ever need. Light weight and extremely powerful. They can handle all situations I can find myself in. It is worth checking them out.
 
#85
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#87
been very happy with the different sets of 2 x 1x12 cabs i've had. I've chosen to split them up vs a 2x12 for weight reasons. Current 1x12's weigh 25 pounds each and moving them so simple, it's actually increased my enjoyment from gigging. No more misery doing late night load out.
 
#88
Well, *I* think so. These guys are bulkier than the average 212, but also deeper and more sensitive. One of them, with a 350W amp, has been good enough for any indoor gig I've ever done.
ebsstack-jpg.jpg
 
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#90
inthevelvet said:
That is pretty insane. They are expensive, but they have a 410 that weighs 33lbs!
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Yes! Pricey for sure, but they sound great. The cab, amp and bass all weigh in total 39.6 lbs. Add a couple dozen more pounds for the Pelican case and gig bag and its still a very light and mobile setup. Much more compact than the rattling olde Peavey rig I had to play thru at the studio.
RehearsalRig02.jpg
 
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#91
I played two 2x12's for a few years, using SWR, the "real" stuff, not the WorkingMan stuff. It was awesome. Also quite heavy, like 120 lbs or so. I have been using two Subway 1x15's for a while now, and while they sound great, I also have a Subway 2x12, which, alone, sounds (IMHO) even better.

If I could do it over again, I would have purchased two Subway 2x12's. (The single 15's and 12's were first, and the 2x12's and 2x10's and 4x10's were added to the line later, after I bought two 1x15's.)
 
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#93
12's to me are the perfect sound. Not too muddy like 15s, not too bright like 10s.
I use 2 Markbass traveler 12 powered by a Little Mark Ninja 1000. For rehearsals/small venues I only use 1 cab and the Ninja throws up to 500 w. When I play larger venues the 2 cabs are more than enough and I play with a guy that cranks a Vox AC30.
 
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#94
Like OP I vacillate between 1X15 and 4X10 for small to medium club stages, 8 ohm 350 SS watts. Can mix and match and stack for large outdoor and theater stages at 4 ohms bumping the amp closer to 500 SS watts.

But I play a lot of guitar, and the bass players showing up on small to medium room stages with 2X12 and enough watts to push them sound really good to me and cover the stage well.
 
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#95
DoctorZee said:
I've been wondering if I could get away with downsizing my total equipment by finding one cabinet that I could use for (basically) everything: rehearsals, small clubs, large clubs, outdoor with PA support, etc. I've never had anything with 12s before, but based on specs and research, I'm starting to think a single 212 could do the job, while having a decent enough form factor that I don't mind lugging it everywhere.

My current arsenal is a 1x15 and a 4x10 which I use interchangeably or (rarely) stacked. It works, but I often feel like the 15 is not quite enough, but the 410 is overkill. Of course I've considered a pair of 12s but I doubt I'd use a single 12 often enough to warrant having separates.

Any thoughts? Anyone doing the one-cab-to-rule-them-all approach?

(I'll mention that the GK Neo 212 or Ampeg 212AV are the ones that catch my eye as seeming to hit the right size, weight, quality, tone, and price for me.)
Click to expand...
Get a GK 212 combo and do everything you want in one relatively small, lightweight box. Never understood the whole modular rig thing, personally. The combo weighs 40 lbs total, and the only setup required is to plug in the power cable and the input, and you're done. I know, because I have done all of the things in your post with one, and it works amazingly well.

For larger gigs with FOH support, you'll just stick it close enough on stage to be your bass monitor. I played a big outdoor festival a couple of years ago, and it worked just fine. For smaller gigs (most of my usage), it can be used with no FOH assuming you're not competing with multiple electric guitars with full stacks and a drummer. If you are, get something with more speaker volume so you can move more air than a 2x12 can!
 
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#97
DoctorZee said:
I've been wondering if I could get away with downsizing my total equipment by finding one cabinet that I could use for (basically) everything: rehearsals, small clubs, large clubs, outdoor with PA support, etc. I've never had anything with 12s before, but based on specs and research, I'm starting to think a single 212 could do the job, while having a decent enough form factor that I don't mind lugging it everywhere.

My current arsenal is a 1x15 and a 4x10 which I use interchangeably or (rarely) stacked. It works, but I often feel like the 15 is not quite enough, but the 410 is overkill. Of course I've considered a pair of 12s but I doubt I'd use a single 12 often enough to warrant having separates.

Any thoughts? Anyone doing the one-cab-to-rule-them-all approach?

(I'll mention that the GK Neo 212 or Ampeg 212AV are the ones that catch my eye as seeming to hit the right size, weight, quality, tone, and price for me.)
Click to expand...

My suggestion, have a Fearless F212 built for you...
If you don't want to wait a few weeks on one of the best cans you could own...
Check out the Mesa Subway 212..

They're around the same price
 
#99
DoctorZee said:
I've been wondering if I could get away with downsizing my total equipment by finding one cabinet that I could use for (basically) everything: rehearsals, small clubs, large clubs, outdoor with PA support, etc. I've never had anything with 12s before, but based on specs and research, I'm starting to think a single 212 could do the job, while having a decent enough form factor that I don't mind lugging it everywhere.

My current arsenal is a 1x15 and a 4x10 which I use interchangeably or (rarely) stacked. It works, but I often feel like the 15 is not quite enough, but the 410 is overkill. Of course I've considered a pair of 12s but I doubt I'd use a single 12 often enough to warrant having separates.

Any thoughts? Anyone doing the one-cab-to-rule-them-all approach?

(I'll mention that the GK Neo 212 or Ampeg 212AV are the ones that catch my eye as seeming to hit the right size, weight, quality, tone, and price for me.)
Click to expand...
My answer is yes, if it's the Mesa Subway 212.
 
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#100
For me, a 1x212" cab would be overkill in most situations, so I prefer a more modular approach using two, single 112" cabs.

I have two set ups: A Bergantino forte HP + 2 x 112" REF cabs, and a MarkBass CMD 112H combo + 112" ext cab

The 112" will cut most of the gigs I do. If I play a larger show and need slightly more volume/oomph, I'll run both together, one stacked on top of the other for 4ohm total load. Perfect.
 
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