Outdoor Gig Cabinet Advice

[shoot-r]

All things considered from your last post, I'd suggest your using your two, 8 ohm, 112 cabinets in a vertical stack.

Running two 8 ohm cabs you'll get full power from your G.K., using two 12's vertically stacked should give you plenty of projection out into your audience.

 

[LowendG]

12"s FTW.

 

[randystone]

Who made the rules that you could only bring one? (Or maybe two).

Legit question. My sh*tty old knees, LOL!

 

[randystone]

I have 4 cabinets to choose from but I can bring one, (MAYBE two). They are all GR Bass AT carbon fiber cabs. I'll be using a GK MB Fusion amp head.
1. 1x12
2. 1x12
3. 2x10
4. 1x15
Many thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Thank you all for the helpful and thoughtful responses. Some answers to your great questions:
-I'm disabled, so unlimited in what I can bring (people will help me unload when I get to the gig). All of my cabinets are under 20lbs (the 1x12's are 14 lbs.). Each cab is 8 ohms.
- Amp = GK MB Fusion or TC RH-750
- Bass = Sadowsky NYC 4
-I'll be sitting in with several bands… averaging five members including me. Mostly rock and dance material. Standard stuff. I do not expect for unto be too loud. That said, I'll still want to project som "woof".
-it's a block party and I'll be playing on someone's back deck.
-I will not be running through a PA. Standalone.

 

[gtirard]

The 210 will be more than enough, trust me. I've got a GR Bass 210, it's incredibly loud.

I only need PA support if the drums are mic'd up, be it indoor or outdoor. But when we only put the vocals and keys in the PA, the 210 is more than enough: if I set my amp above 11 o'clock, I can't hear the drummer.

 

[Wasnex]

I have 4 cabinets to choose from but I can bring one, (MAYBE two). They are all GR Bass AT carbon fiber cabs. I'll be using a GK MB Fusion amp head.
1. 1x12
2. 1x12
3. 2x10
4. 1x15
Many thanks in advance for your thoughts.

If you only bring only one, bring the loudest

If you bring two, do the 112 cabs match? If yes, they are probably your best choice. If you mix, do an experiment to figure which combination works best. It can be hard to judge without trying them in the mix. Explanation: In my experience, adding a cab almost always allows you to play louder. But it does not always allow you to hear better, as the resulting sound may have sort of a hollow, phasey quality that causes the lows to wash out or disappear.

 

[NC_Rob]

Recently did a small outdoor gig and brought two GK neo 212-II cabs with a fusion 800s head and holy bleep it could get loud. Whole stage was rumbling. During the show had the volume maybe at 8 or 9 o'clock. People un the back said they could hear/feel the bass (appropriate volume to the rest of the band, not excessive). Made me chuckle.

My bet would be the two 112s would probably work.

 

[klokker]

I play outdoor gigs all the time and my 2x12 is more than enough. Our band is guitar keys and bass and drums. In my experience the idea that you need more power or speaker area, or subs for an outdoor gig just isn't right.

I don't know where it would come into play. I guess if you want to be super loud maybe, or some big area. But we do our thing outside and people are sitting around in an area the size of a city block and we're more than loud enough.

My 2x12 sounds bigger, cleaner, and louder outside than inside as a rule. Never have to push it at all. It's these boomy, huge metal building farm shed kinds of things that are difficult.

Just to restate my point, outdoor gigs don't seem to require a bigger cab than indoors IME. Not an issue here.

 

[gtirard]

I play outdoor gigs all the time and my 2x12 is more than enough. Our band is guitar keys and bass and drums. In my experience the idea that you need more power or speaker area, or subs for an outdoor gig just isn't right.

I don't know where it would come into play. I guess if you want to be super loud maybe, or some big area. But we do our thing outside and people are sitting around in an area the size of a city block and we're more than loud enough.

My 2x12 sounds bigger, cleaner, and louder outside than inside as a rule. Never have to push it at all. It's these boomy, huge metal building farm shed kinds of things that are difficult.

Just to restate my point, outdoor gigs don't seem to require a bigger cab than indoors IME. Not an issue here.

Well, I agree up to a certain point: when I only had a 1x10 cab, it was ok for indoor gigs, but outdoor I had to cut to lows if I wanted yo hear myself and be heard. Low frequencies tend to get lost outside. Now that I have a great 1x12 and a great 2x10, either one is more than enough inside our outside.

 

[klokker]

Well, I agree up to a certain point: when I only had a 1x10 cab, it was ok for indoor gigs, but outdoor I had to cut to lows if I wanted yo hear myself and be heard. Low frequencies tend to get lost outside. Now that I have a great 1x12 and a great 2x10, either one is more than enough inside our outside.

The bass player in a rival band to ours says the same. He's a great player, always mocking my Neox212t as a "fridge". I never thought about the fact that low frequencies get lost outside. That's probably why everything sounds better and cleaner.

I'll be keeping my "fridge" though.

 

[hamertek98]

Legit question. My sh*tty old knees, LOL!

I'm also disabled. I really need a lightweight cab in my life! I can't handle my 410's anymore.
I think you'd be fine with 2 of any that you mentioned.

 

[randystone]

I'm also disabled. I really need a lightweight cab in my life! I can't handle my 410's anymore.
I think you'd be fine with 2 of any that you mentioned.

Have a look at the GR AT carbon fiber series. They are the latest and just as importantly the best sounding cabinets I've ever played. I bought two of my cabinets from this guy and he was a pleasure to deal with.

Bass Cabinets | John Fox Bass

www.johnfoxbass.com

 

[hamertek98]

Have a look at the GR AT carbon fiber series. They are the latest and just as importantly the best sounding cabinets I've ever played. I bought two of my cabinets from this guy and he was a pleasure to deal with.

Bass Cabinets | John Fox Bass

www.johnfoxbass.com

I've heard good things about GR and John.

 

[Michedelic]

Legit question. My sh*tty old knees, LOL!

Gig smart, get a RockNRoller cart.

 

[randystone]

Gig smart, get a RockNRoller cart.

I had one but this works better for me. I can fit two cabinets, amp head, gadget bag and bass (in gig bag) in one trip. WAY easier to maneuver and leverage up over curbs. Small footprint folded up. CONS: Super sturdy so it is a bit heavy and it ain't cheap $$. But SO worth it for me. I literally could not gig without it. Amazon.com

 

[John D Harris]

If you have only one of each cab, I would bring the 1x15 & the 2x10.
If you have two of the 1x12, that would be a good portable choice.

 

[Bassdirty]

Depends..

Are they all the same Brand?
A mix of brands?
Decent brands?




T$

 

[DWBass]

I don't like mixing cabs. 2 1x12's is my go to.

 

[John D Harris]

I don't like mixing cabs. 2 1x12's is my go to.

That is probably the safest choice (if two of the 1x12 are available).
Depends on the cabs and the drivers.
Some manufacturers will design their various cabs such that the work together well.
One of my previous cabs was a Bergantino HT322 - it had 1x12, 2x10, & a HF driver that blended together really well.
His future 1x12 cabs and 2xx10 cabs were designed to work together in a similar fashion.
The original post made it sound like there was only one of each cab.