• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Making the 1x15" sound more articulate?

#42
SanDiegoHarry said:
It's not just that it's 1x15" - this is a Kustom 1x15". Not a Berg, or an Aggie - a Kustom.
So yes - you want to sound more "articulate"? Better cab. Save your $$ and get something nice.
Click to expand...

I had a Kustom 315 at one point...it featured a sound that the term 'articulate' was never a descriptor for. If sounds were smells it would have been described as scatological.
 
#43
BurningSkies said:
I had a Kustom 315 at one point...it featured a sound that the term 'articulate' was never a descriptor for. If sounds were smells it would have been described as scatological.
Click to expand...

ouch!

Yeah, the one Kustom amp I had (my first amp, actually) was a 4x10 combo was just *awful*. No only could it not get any volume, but it sounded bad turned down. That cab put me off of 10's for year until I realized that it wasn't the size of the driver, but the brand that was really the problem.
 
#44
isky said:
Gee, thanks y'all. Plenty of food for thought.

PS: The speaker is an Eminence Legend in an old Peavey cab
Click to expand...
That speaker should be a pretty good fit for that cab. Might benefit from lowering the port tuning a bit (make the ports a little longer), to help reduce a little boom, but it's not a bad combination at all.

It is a warmer sounding driver...not bright. A little wedge to put under the front edge of the cab to give it some tiltback will help get more of the clarity in your ear.

When comparing to your kickback 12, it'll be two different worlds. I used to have a Hartke kickback15. Handy little combo to take to rehearsals, etc. I always ran the mid scoop switch and set it upright pointed at my calves....still no lack of punch. The enclosure on those kickbacks is so small they don't make any real bass. They're pretty much all punch with no real lowend for the punch to compete with. Using a proper sized real cab will naturally sound very different. Can try turning down some low bass and maybe adding a bit of mids somewhere to change its voice.
 
#47
stainless steel rounds, pick, roll off some of the bass, add high mid and high (1khz to 5khz). pick towards the bridge pick up. Ive managed to get my tone out of a variety of amps and cabinets in a pinch and I like a really bright tone with lots of definition.
 
#48
RoadRanger said:
Assuming it's an 8 ohm cab add an 8 ohm 2x10 on top. A 15 is never going to get you the definition of 10's...
Click to expand...

With respect, why on earth would anyone tote a 2x10 cabinet to do the job of a 5-6" mid driver??

The OP should build himself a top box ala the Fearful construction plans. Much cheaper route to follow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bill Whitehurst and BurningSkies
#49
StyleOverShow said:
Agree all, including it's a dead topic, but bridge pup are usually thinner of the two, so favoring diminishes overall tonal quality? Agree where the rotating fingers strike make a dif, over bridge pup or closer to the metal in the bridge.
Click to expand...

Specifically; if a player desires more clarity in their tone...I would favor the bridge pup a bit, or....what I do....is adjust the height of the bridge and neck pups on all of my J bass to get just the right balance of meat and clarity from them. On some of my basses, the bridge pup is higher (closer)at the E string and lower at the G while my neck pup is higher at the G string and lower under the E.
 
#50
I've played through 1X15's & 2X15's with original Gauss, JBL's, Altec White Frames, and EV's

The cab design matters quite a bit, but overall there's a good reason why so many upgraded their 15" drivers.
I'm a big EV fan and still have one of my old white frame Altecs, although the metal dust cap came loose & fell off
running my SVT through it at rehearsals.
 
Last edited:
#51
A big part of the reputation for lack of articulation with 15's comes from the fact that the frequency range that's responsible for that perception is dead in the heart of where speakers start beaming, especially large speakers. With a single 15, or even a double where it's waist high, the mids are blowing by you at your knees and waist, and your ears aren't anywhere near those zones. The key in that case is to get the cabinet UP near your ears...or aim the center of the driver closer to your ears. Of course, if you're not using a PA for the FOH, that beaming again causes some dire problems in the room.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Downunderwonder and northbynorth
#52
Perhaps I am old school, but I like the amount of air a 15" can move.
One 15 for small to medium gigs, two for larger... PS it helps to run a Ric through it!!
RIG.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: cfsporn and Sartori

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back