I recently got a Mesa TT-800 amp head and have 3 cabs. A Mesa Subway 2x10, a fEarful 15/6, and a Ampeg SVT410HLF. All sound great, and staking the 2x10 on top of the 4x10 is really amazing. My conundrum is, that I feel I should trade the Ampeg 4x10 for another Subway cab. So if I stack another Subway cab with my 2x10, should I pair with a 1x15 or a second 2x10? I play heavy rock and metal, and blues rock. I play mostly 5 string and drop tune 1/2 step so it's low B flat frequencies. My main band is really loud running 2 100w guitar 1/2 stacks and pounding drums.
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Mesa Bass Cabinet Choices
- Thread starter Troy Allen
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- mesa subway speakers
Prolly a 2x10. Matching cabs is often the best way to go. I have the Subway 2x15. It is crazy loud, and in retrospect I think I should have bought two 2x10".
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
The 115/210 combination is probably the most popular, but there's nothing wrong with 2x 210's either.
All combinations are designed to work well together, the engineering behind the combinations is solid.
All combinations are designed to work well together, the engineering behind the combinations is solid.
I love both the 115 and the 210, separately and together. However, in your case, I might go 2x210 cause of the heavy metal thing you're doing. I do play down tuned, down tempo doom metal and the 210/115 works great.
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Go with a SW410. The 210 and 410 are designed so the drivers will all see equal power. When you use both cabs, make sure and put the amp in 2 ohm mode with impedance switch on the back panel.
The idea is an incrementally scalable rig: 210, 410, 610--bring what you need for the occasion.
If you wanted ideas on how to spend money - you came to the right place!
Why? You said the sound is "really amazing" and if your band is really loud, I'm sure getting that SW210 near ear level (i.e. sitting on the Ampeg 4x10) is helping you to hear yourself effectively. Not to mention if you go with the suggestion of trading a 4x10 and replacing it with a 2x10, regardless of brand, I'd be shocked if the overall volume level didn't decrease noticeably.
All good food for thought. I've only had one show with the TT-800 and I used the Ampeg 4x10 only. It kept up easily. We haven't had a practice or show yet where I've used the combination in the photo (4x12 and 2x10). But it sounds great in my practice room. I'm thinking just adding a 1x15 or 2x10 SW cab will be plenty loud for my stage volume. Also easy to transport and the cabs size matches well for stacking. The SW410 idea is a good one also, but well, I really dont want to spend another $1600 on my bass rig at this time.
I'd add another SW210 based on what the SW410 does for me by itself. The 210/115 combo is very popular. The 115/410 for me is the stuff dreams are made of. Stunning to say the least.
As a Subway 115 owner I vote that. I have no basis for comparison with pairing it however..
Man, I just got a pair of the Subway 212s to go with my TT800. I haven't even run them both yet, just a single 212 one time, and I was blown away by what the cab by itself will do. However, I have no idea how it would pair with the 210.
Many years ago I ran a Markbass 210 and 115 combo. Those two cabinets synergized very well. Plus, for smaller engagements, the 210 was great for electric stuff, and the 115 was great for upright stuff. I can only imagine that the Subway line would work well in a similar arrangement.
How about something that sits better in the mix?
I never got a 210 / 115 combo to really impress, personally. Double 210 or a 210 on top of a 410, that's my vote! You do have to mind your power handling per box and impedance ratings to share the load evenly and so forth, but it should sound great if you do!
The 115 Subway is an exceptional cab.
I'd suggest adding a 210. That amp should drive the heck out of a 2x210. If @agedhorse makes an appearance, he'll give you the best suggestion. He designed your amp and the cabs you are considering. He designs his cabs so they can be mix and matched for different colorations of your sound, but he'd know best.
How about a subway 4x10? Then you can do 2x10 for small gigs, 4x10 for large gigs, and 6x10 for larger outdoor gigs.
