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New 2x12 or add a 15?

CT Corvette

CT Corvette

Supporting Member
Jun 3, 2010
149
76
Connecticut
#1
He all,

Soliciting some advice as I'm changing up my rig to get a bit more power for a full summer of outdoor gigs.

The short story is that I just picked up an Ampeg SVT 7 Pro. I have a Bag End S15-D that I was planning to trade in for a different Cab that can handle more power, probably a 2x12. But I have the opportunity to pick up a second S15D for much less money than I would spend on the new cab, even with the trade. So, any thoughts on pairing the SVT pro with two S15-Ds?

FWIW: I do like the sound of the Bag End cab I have when I pair it with a PJB combo, but I'm always being asked to crank the volume during sound checks at these outdoor gigs to a level that leaves me with little head room.

Thank you... any thoughts are welcome...
-B
 
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#4
You'll be surprised how much a second cabinet opens things up. You're going to get more power from the amp running both cabs but having the additional speaker area may solve any volume issues. Plus you know what the Bag End sounds like and are happy with it so having another similar cab will just be more of what you like. Additionally, you'll have a nice modular setup for when you'd only need one cabinet.
 
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#5
If you like the sound of the Bag End, and the weight/schlep factor is acceptable, sounds like adding a second one at a discount would be a value win. I am a 2x12 fan boy; I got one about a year ago after using a 1x15 for years, and then a 2x10 for a while, but new ones aren't cheap. But I like having more headroom than I need and tone that I dig in a single 36lb box.

But as another poster pointed out, having two 1x15s gives you the modular aspect that a 2x12 doesn't give you.
 
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#8
CT Corvette said:
He all,

Soliciting some advice as I'm changing up my rig to get a bit more power for a full summer of outdoor gigs.

The short story is that I just picked up an Ampeg SVT 7 Pro. I have a Bag End S15-D that I was planning to trade in for a different Cab that can handle more power, probably a 2x12. But I have the opportunity to pick up a second S15D for much less money than I would spend on the new cab, even with the trade. So, any thoughts on pairing the SVT pro with two S15-Ds?

FWIW: I do like the sound of the Bag End cab I have when I pair it with a PJB combo, but I'm always being asked to crank the volume during sound checks at these outdoor gigs to a level that leaves me with little head room.

Thank you... any thoughts are welcome...
-B
Click to expand...
In general, I don’t like mixing different cabs, especially cabs from different manufacturers. Mainly because I don’t know enough about cab design to understand how well the cabs will work together. A matched set for the same manufacturer is a pretty safe bet as long as it doesn’t create a resistance load below the amp’s minimum rating, and the amp’s wattage output will not exceed a speakers RMS rating.

Also, keep in mind with regard to different cabs designs, they can have different efficiency ratings which can make it seem like you only hear one cab.

IMO, I’d buy the second BagEnd 15 cab.

I hope you find this useful.
 
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#12
CT Corvette said:
He all,

Soliciting some advice as I'm changing up my rig to get a bit more power for a full summer of outdoor gigs.

The short story is that I just picked up an Ampeg SVT 7 Pro. I have a Bag End S15-D that I was planning to trade in for a different Cab that can handle more power, probably a 2x12. But I have the opportunity to pick up a second S15D for much less money than I would spend on the new cab, even with the trade. So, any thoughts on pairing the SVT pro with two S15-Ds?

FWIW: I do like the sound of the Bag End cab I have when I pair it with a PJB combo, but I'm always being asked to crank the volume during sound checks at these outdoor gigs to a level that leaves me with little head room.

Thank you... any thoughts are welcome...
-B
Click to expand...
A pair of Bag End S15-Ds are a great setup and do sound very good, IMHO. However, I don't think they're optimal for outdoor gigs as far as getting their low end to "bloom into the room" somewhat depends on placing the S15-Ds near the back wall of the stage to optimize the bass output from their rear ports.
 
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#13
When I am not going DI to a house system and have to carry the venue with my own amp rig, I prefer the added 1X15. Most cabs with a 1X15 have a little bit of a presence peak in the 100 to 150 Hz area, which is what most untrained ears perceive as "real bass," so it reinforces both the bass drum and guitars and carries the mix better. So under my old Carvin MB12 combo I have a Carvin 1X15, and in the rehearsal hall of my party band I have an SWR Triad cabinet with an upgraded crossover. Generally, the larger the volume of the cabinet and/or the design of the porting can lower this peak a little bit, both in frequency and amplitude, and the smaller the cabinet and/or the lesser the porting can raise this peak a little bit. The notable exception is the old Ampeg flip-top, which had a moderate volume cabinet, but a very, very compliant low wattage driver, which is the tone on many "classic" 60's American records. I have one cabinet I bring out for this tone that is essentially a gutted late-70's Polytone Mini-Brute, a simple combo amp that had a cabinet just large enough to contain a 1X15, which I used throughout college for jazz band and otherwise until the amp died; so I modified it into a semi-open (the hole in the top where the internal amp head was mounted) cab with the original compliant driver. Thirty-five years ago I gigged with a Peavy 2X15 cabinet with upgraded drivers for higher wattage handling and added some fiberglass insulation internally in order to keep the cabinet baffles from rattling.

One last item: volume is a function of both bandwidth and the efficiency of the driver. Depending on the setup, simply adding a cab may or may not actually add stage or house volume. It is all up to both the design of the cabinet and the power handling and efficiency of the driver.
 
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#15
I'm a 12" guy, but 2x15s is a lot of fun!
I'd say it depends on which 2x12 you're looking at. My GK Neo IV 212 is very portable, to the extent that I usually grab it over my 1x12 even for smaller stuff, unless the load-in is gonna really suck. It's nice having the two drivers and the extra height in one easy-enough to move enclosure that takes up less real estate than 2 separate 1x12"s would.
 
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#17
Slade N said:
Im a 2x12 guy and liked the 15s Ive played in comparison less…often times much less, so I vote 2x12, but I have not played the 15s in question.

Can you test drive a 2x12 where you're at?
Click to expand...
Yes, and I have, a Mesa Subway 2x12, and I'm a bit on the fence, tonally, which is one of the reasons I was asking. to see if anyone had thoughts on the different qualities the two options. I always find these decisions tough. Maybe I'll end up with two rigs...

Thank you!
 
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#18
I have an SVT-7 Pro going through a GR Bass 212 Slim. I absolutely love it. HOWEVER, if I were in your position I would definitely pick up the matching 15 (assuming you have no issue with the extra weight and space). That is going to sound massive!
 
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#19
CT Corvette said:
He all,

Soliciting some advice as I'm changing up my rig to get a bit more power for a full summer of outdoor gigs.

The short story is that I just picked up an Ampeg SVT 7 Pro. I have a Bag End S15-D that I was planning to trade in for a different Cab that can handle more power, probably a 2x12. But I have the opportunity to pick up a second S15D for much less money than I would spend on the new cab, even with the trade. So, any thoughts on pairing the SVT pro with two S15-Ds?

FWIW: I do like the sound of the Bag End cab I have when I pair it with a PJB combo, but I'm always being asked to crank the volume during sound checks at these outdoor gigs to a level that leaves me with little head room.

Thank you... any thoughts are welcome...
-B
Click to expand...
I used to run a single S15D on the woofer amp of a GK 800RB and it was always plenty loud for my needs. However, I always had full PA support. My perception is the S15D gets very loud with with a small amount of power, but it does not necessarily handle big power well. IME the S15D is very midrangy. It's not capable of delivering a lot of extended low end or any true treble. Trying to force S15Ds to produce heavy sub bass will greatly increase the chance of blowing them.

The SVT 7-Pro is rated 1000W at 4 ohms. This is over the 600W IEC power rating of two S15Ds. Judgement and restraint will be required to avoid blowing the S15Ds with this amp. We assume that adding a second matching cab in parallel cuts the impedance in half, doubles the power handling, and increases 1W/1m sensitivity by 3dB. So adding a second S15D should give you about 6dB more headroom and fill out the lows a bit. I would expect a pair to be capable of going louder than I am willing to play. YMMV!
 
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#20
CT Corvette said:
He all,

Soliciting some advice as I'm changing up my rig to get a bit more power for a full summer of outdoor gigs.

The short story is that I just picked up an Ampeg SVT 7 Pro. I have a Bag End S15-D that I was planning to trade in for a different Cab that can handle more power, probably a 2x12. But I have the opportunity to pick up a second S15D for much less money than I would spend on the new cab, even with the trade. So, any thoughts on pairing the SVT pro with two S15-Ds?

FWIW: I do like the sound of the Bag End cab I have when I pair it with a PJB combo, but I'm always being asked to crank the volume during sound checks at these outdoor gigs to a level that leaves me with little head room.

Thank you... any thoughts are welcome...
-B
Click to expand...
I cannot speak to the Bag End cabs. They have always had a stellar reputation, but I've never had much luck with 15s on stage. They sound great, just not as much volume as I wanted. In terms of a 2x12, I own a SVT 2x12 enclosure and can report that it is a great cabinet. Maybe pair one with your head?
 

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