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Old dog needs to learn new trick!

#21
Deacon Blues said:
I have, however, begun to give serious consideration to some of the lighter-weight gear you suggest. I have kept abreast of the technology, and just have to find a few places up here in New England (though preferably not right in the middle of Boston!) that carry some of it, to try out some new stuff.
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If you are not in a hurry, there's usually a New England GTG (get together) which I've personally never made it to, but would like to sometime (keeps happening in busy season at work for me.) Folks drag in lots of gear and you can hear and often try it for yourself. Not infrequently a manufacturer will send along a selection of cabs to try.

US: Northeast
 
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#23
hintz said:
In a modern well designed cab 12's dont have to sound "loose", or 15's for that matter...
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+100. 10s are every bit as likely to sound "loose" or "tight" as 12s or 15s. Considering driver diameter alone (as opposed to the enclosure as a whole) is like feeling the elephant's trunk while blindfolded and deciding the animal is "serpentine". Diameter is one bit of information, without context or specifics.
 
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#24
Just a thought - it might be cheaper to get a good used 4x10 than to replace those drivers. Because so many people are replacing heavier equipment with lighter equipment (I recently went from a 150 pound Trace rig to something weighing less than a third of that - Traces are great sounding, but are built like tanks), there are tons of great 4x10s out there for a very good price. Take a gander through the classified here and perhaps your local Cragislist.
 
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#25
Wow! I expected that I might get a few replies, but you folks are cool beyond any reasonable expectation!! :thumbsup:

I am a little less befuddled, but continuing to read and work on 'homework' at as furious a pace as my job will allow! So far, it looks as though I can either recone, or buy replacements without as much concern for frequency response of the transducer, although I will use that modeling program to do some 'virtual' compatibility tests. Also, I have apparently missed the HPF boat!! The more I read, the more it appears as though the consensus tags that as a pretty essential piece of gear....more research to do (brands, reviews, etc.). Why I never caught on to that, and don't think I know anyone using one (that has actually mentioned it to me), is beyond me. Also, I have confirmed that I'm not nearly as smart as I sometimes think I am!! :bored: ....but my better half will tell you that that is a slap in the head that I need, every so often! LOL

Any additional info, suggestions, etc., gratefully accepted...particularly with regard to HPFs. What do you use? How best to use them (starting settings, etc.)? Please remember that, like some of you, I'm in one band that likes to play duct-tape-the-windows loud! As 'back in the day,' the objective, there, is to resonate the audience's thoracic cavities with bass...without getting out of control about it. (OK, part of me will never grow up!) You all have made my Monday much more tolerable! Thank you!! :smug:
 
#26
buldog5151bass said:
Just a thought - it might be cheaper to get a good used 4x10 than to replace those drivers. Because so many people are replacing heavier equipment with lighter equipment (I recently went from a 150 pound Trace rig to something weighing less than a third of that - Traces are great sounding, but are built like tanks), there are tons of great 4x10s out there for a very good price. Take a gander through the classified here and perhaps your local Cragislist.
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I've become kind of attached to my Trace gear...although your point is well taken, and those damned things just keep getting heavier! As I mentioned elsewhere, I have casually looked into some of the newer, lightweight stuff, but am having a tough time finding any to test drive. The only serious thought that I've had, on the subject, is flipping my rig for some Carvin gear. They have some nice, reasonably-priced stuff that uses neodymium magnets, and is way lighter than the Trace cabs. Still not 'one-arm' light, but much more manageable and would carry a warranty. Probably a 2X10" (as opposed to the 4X10") and a 1X15" would do me very nicely....and I know people using them (for opinions and the test drive). Again, like many of you, the only thing stopping me from fixing this all in ten minutes is budget...which is why I'm still leaning toward repair. Thanks!! :)
 
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#27
I use the built-in crossover on the TNT130, with a short patch cable from high out to power amp in, since it's there and does the job.

Many TB-ers are happy with @fdeck 's HPF, which you can buy from him, or build with his blessing (he makes it open-source) - though specifically designed for the specific issues of double-bass piezo pickups (at least in version 1 & 2), it's found wider application. Some bass preamps have a built-in HPF, which may or may not be adjustable and may or may not be labeled as such (could just be the lowest band on the EQ section - have to read the specs.)
 
#28
I am not a fan of Carvin cabs - especially compared to your TEs (been there), which have a great tone. Still think finding an old Eden 4x10 or similar. Again, just for ha has, see what there is in the classified.

Your other option (if you are handy) is building a fEARful 15/6 cab. Surprised that hasn't been batted around here more.
 
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#29
lomo said:
+100. 10s are every bit as likely to sound "loose" or "tight" as 12s or 15s. Considering driver diameter alone (as opposed to the enclosure as a whole) is like feeling the elephant's trunk while blindfolded and deciding the animal is "serpentine". Diameter is one bit of information, without context or specifics.
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Again, this is where my personal knowledge base falls more than just a bit short! In short: I need to get out more! LOL Unfortunately, I have to admit that, in the area of speakers, I'm relying on horribly outdated information and assumptions. In designing commercial sound systems, I started using dramatically smaller enclosures many, many years ago. Why I have found it hard to apply the changes in that technology to my bass rig, I have no bloody idea!! :cautious: Time to get more open-minded! Thanks for the gentle push in that direction! ;)
 
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#30
T_Bone_TL said:
I use the built-in crossover on the TNT130, with a short patch cable from high out to power amp in, since it's there and does the job.

Many TB-ers are happy with @fdeck 's HPF, which you can buy from him, or build with his blessing (he makes it open-source) - though specifically designed for the specific issues of double-bass piezo pickups (at least in version 1 & 2), it's found wider application. Some bass preamps have a built-in HPF, which may or may not be adjustable and may or may not be labeled as such (could just be the lowest band on the EQ section - have to read the specs.)
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Just initiated a conversation with fdeck. Thanks!!
 
#32
buldog5151bass said:
I am not a fan of Carvin cabs - especially compared to your TEs (been there), which have a great tone. Still think finding an old Eden 4x10 or similar. Again, just for ha has, see what there is in the classified.

Your other option (if you are handy) is building a fEARful 15/6 cab. Surprised that hasn't been batted around here more.
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I have the ability and tools, but am dreadfully short on 'spare' time to do the build. Please do tell about the Carvin cabs, though. They look plenty solid, and get great reviews (some from users that I know!). I have not, however, had a chance to try them yet...so I have no basis for an A/B. They have drawbacks?? Thanks!
 
#34
BassmanPaul said:
HHRRRUUUUMMMMPPPP! Join our club???? ..................... Well alrighty then!! :D

Welcome to TalkBass. :)

@B-string I guess the man wants a number. LOL
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Thank you! Happy to be here! In fact, these days, I'm happy to be anywhere!! I doubt that I'm anywhere near the oldest in the room, but I may have gone to high school with that guy! Let's just say that (US) Social Security (a true oxymoron) started calling my name at roll call awhile ago.....I'm just not smart enough to sit still and answer.
 
#35
BassmanPaul said:
Actually OP I’m surprised that it’s the 4x10 you are having trouble with. More usually in a 4x10/1x15 pairing it’s the 15 that fails. Perhaps it’s time to look at different options. Technology has come a long way since your TE stuff was manufactured.
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I replaced the 15" a few years ago, with a Beyma 15G40...which has held up very nicely. Yup! No doubt...I have a lot to catch up on. Fortunately, you folks have blown me away with your willingness to help! :)
 
#37
Technology has certainly come a long way. Trace gear has been referred to as boat anchors around here. That said, I'm still a fan boy. All of my gear is Trace Elliot still. I recently fixed up a 1524 cab that I found cheap. Reconed both 15's and it absolutely goes subsonic. I purchased the "bungs" that Trace made to "tune" the cabinet to lower frequencies. I purchased four of them on eBay a while back. Plugging the ports, which Trace designed the cabinets to do, will lower the frequency of the cab. I don't have the handbook on me, but Trace documents it.
As for Carvin products; I'm not a fan boy, but I did break down and purchased a BX250 that literally fits in my gig bag along with my cables and extension cords. It sounds fine and it put me back a whopping $239. That's less than what I've paid to fix up one of my old Trace Elliot V-Type amps.
 
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#38
Deacon Blues said:
I replaced the 15" a few years ago, with a Beyma 15G40...which has held up very nicely. Yup! No doubt...I have a lot to catch up on. Fortunately, you folks have blown me away with your willingness to help! :)
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The pairing, you’ll discover, is somewhat frowned upon with a lot of us here for exactly that reason. A 4x10 is far from ideal no matter it’s popularity. Some of us, including myself, use a pair of 2x10s stacked as a vertical 4x10. This configuration has many advantages being easier to hear and disperses better out into the room. I chose Acme and have never regretted the choice.

Cabinets designed to use what I call the super 10s, 12s and 15s offer performance that belies their size. They offer light weight and are extremely loud.
 
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#39
Deacon Blues said:
I have the ability and tools, but am dreadfully short on 'spare' time to do the build. Please do tell about the Carvin cabs, though. They look plenty solid, and get great reviews (some from users that I know!). I have not, however, had a chance to try them yet...so I have no basis for an A/B. They have drawbacks?? Thanks!
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I have the 2x10, and while I like it, am just not thrilled by it. They also are neither light nor small as to footprint compared to other cabs. I just think you would be better served looking used. You like a 4x10 - lots of good ones out there.
 
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#40
All my gear is Trace Elliot, too. An AH500X dual mono amp (series V), 1048 4x10 and 1528 2x15 red striped cabs for the low end, and an AH200S driving a Trace Bright Box 4052h 4x5 (I split the signal out of my Markbass chorus/flanger - one side to the AH500X for the low end through the 4x10 and 2x15 - mono 250w to each cab), and the other to my AH200S amp into the Bright Box for the high end.

I also have an AH250S combo with a 4x10 cab from the Kaman era.

The second amp isn't pictured below, but even so, I can kill things if the input ever goes above 3 and the output above 3 - and we play prog metal with a Mesa Triple Rec into two Marshall 4x12 cabs and a VERY hard hitting drummer.

Between my bass, my effects, the very flexible Trace preamp 11-band eq (12 band on the AH200S) I have incredible tone with more deep low end than an Aguilar DB751 puts out in the same cabs. OK - it is HEAVY. The whole stack weighs about 300 pounds (my pedal board, pedals and road case is about 90 pounds), but then I often take the Trace 4x10 250 watt combo (135 pounds) to gigs, although I will sometimes bring the 1528 and the AH500X head and leave the combo at the studio. The real tone is worth every ache.

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