• 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.

Pole mounted 210

BtaylorTheRogue

BtaylorTheRogue

Nov 14, 2016
1,070
1,939
#1
I have a hypothetical.

I've done some googling and can't really find much.

Is there a reason one couldn't pole-mount a 210, kind of like a pole-mounted PA speaker?

p37401-Large.jpg


Like this but with a proper bass cab?

I have an 810, but it'd be nice to get my sound up near my ears
 
#6
In my admittedly very limited experience, PA speakers I've seen are pretty light weight, with plastic cabinets, whereas even my lightest 210 is kind of heavy, presumably made of thick plywood. Something to consider for a pole base and the act of lifting the thing up to the top?
 
#7
Spectrum said:
In my admittedly very limited experience, PA speakers I've seen are pretty light weight, with plastic cabinets, whereas even my lightest 210 is kind of heavy, presumably made of thick plywood. Something to consider for a pole base and the act of lifting the thing up to the top?
Click to expand...
I think, IIRC, my MB 102(2x10) cab weighs 28 pounds. It would work fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Spectrum
#8
There's no reason not to do it. Good aluminum tripods can typically carry up to a 100 pounds, although that's a pretty precarious operation. There are two approaches: one is to permanently install a fully recessed socket that receives the pole. This requires cutting a fairly large hole, about 1-3/4" in diameter in the bottom, which can be a daunting proposition for some folks. The other option is to use an external pole adaptor that attaches to the bottom of the cab via a couple of 1/4" machine screws screwed into T-nuts installed inside the cab. The obvious advantage is that this does less damage to the cab itself, but it means the adaptor bracket has to be installed and removed for each use if you want the box to set on it's bottom properly during transit. With a small box, it's easy enough to rest it on it's side if you're like me and are too lazy to remove the bracket.

There's a lot to be said for getting your small-ish speaker up near ear level, but I probably wouldn't put my amp head on it, even if it is a small, light-weight one...just too far to fall, IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BasturdBlaster
#10
Acme speakers can be purchased with a pole adapter, not sure if all can. Phil Jones has the Ear Box that can be mounted on a pole close to you to help hear yourself. No idea how well it works, but I saw it at a Bass Boot Camp Expo a few years ago. Personally, I'd like to see you pole mount your 810, heh.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zbysek and smogg
#11
BtaylorTheRogue said:
I have a hypothetical.

I've done some googling and can't really find much.

Is there a reason one couldn't pole-mount a 210, kind of like a pole-mounted PA speaker?

View attachment 3918235

Like this but with a proper bass cab?

I have an 810, but it'd be nice to get my sound up near my ears
Click to expand...
Well, you could. You just need a hole saw and an insert from a PA speaker. I just dont see the point. Why don't you just use a PA speaker instead?
 
  • Like
Reactions: spvmhc
#12
MultiScaleMale said:
Acme speakers can be purchased with a pole adapter, not sure if all can. Phil Jones has the Ear Box that can be mounted on a pole close to you to help hear yourself. No idea how well it works, but I saw it at a Bass Boot Camp Expo a few years ago. Personally, I'd like to see you pole mount your 810, heh.
Click to expand...

Barefaced offers the pole mount on their cabs, too. Not sure if you'd want it on any of their bigger cabs, or if they would even do it past a certain size or weight.

I don't know why a 210 wouldn't work in this situation, but I haven't seen it done.
 
#13
monsterthompson said:
Barefaced offers the pole mount on their cabs, too. Not sure if you'd want it on any of their bigger cabs, or if they would even do it past a certain size or weight.

I don't know why a 210 wouldn't work in this situation, but I haven't seen it done.
Click to expand...

Downsides would be that it would be a headstock ding waiting to happen and guaranteed to block you in that "would have been great" photo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Guild B301 and monsterthompson
#16
BtaylorTheRogue said:
I have a hypothetical.

I've done some googling and can't really find much.

Is there a reason one couldn't pole-mount a 210, kind of like a pole-mounted PA speaker?

View attachment 3918235

Like this but with a proper bass cab?

I have an 810, but it'd be nice to get my sound up near my ears
Click to expand...

No reason you can't do this, but it won't sound much like an 810 if that is your goal.

Putting the cab at ear level will get your ears in the dispersion pattern for all frequencies, the drivers produce. With an 810, the higher frequencies still shoot by below ear level, and you get a lot of cancellation and lobing off axis, so you hear a modified response.

Another factor is boundary effect. You get cancellation at the frequency where 1/4 wavelength equals the distance from the cab to the floor. This is essentially notch is the frequency response. I normally elevate my bass cabs anywhere from about 18" to waist level.

I don't think boundary effect is really relevant if you will be standing right next to the speaker. One of my early rigs was a biamped SVT with a Fender Twin loaded with JBL E120s stacked on top for the high range. This put the JBLs at ear level and the effect was sort of like wearing headphones when I stood close to the rig.

I suggest inspecting the inside of the cab to see if there are any internal components you need to work around. Also consider vertical VS horizontal alignment of the drivers. Vertical alignment will be better for horizontal dispersion but if the goal is to stand right on top of the cab and monitor at a really low level, horizontal alignment may be better...run some experiments.

If space is available I suggest using one of the built in cups that looks like this.
tbn:ANd9GcRW8ARA-v-MjgCWVSx_2a5ebucILVHuCQpWKuKiQydfQz3d-7QIzaZa8Boh-9eRwjgQOXqzccWrT4k&usqp=CAc.png

A cup mount should allow your cab to function normally when it is not place on a pole and there is no hassle with removing and replacing the mount. This type of bracket does slightly decrease the internal volume of the cab, but I don't think it's enough to worry about.

An external pole mount bracket like this tends to get in the way, so you may need to remove and replace various reason. You may also have to deal with air venting through the holes if you operate without the bracket in place
upload_2020-7-25_15-30-46.jpeg


Make sure the diameter of the pole mount is the right size for your speaker stands, and make sure your speaker stands can support the weight.

Also as others have suggest be mindful of where the mount is placed on the cab. I believe the mount should be placed so the cab has a slight tendency to tip forward on the mount.

Remember the drivers are in the front of the cab, so typically the front is naturally much heavier than the back. Do a balance test to find the correct placement of the adapter instead of trying to eyeball it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BasturdBlaster and agedhorse
#17
Wasnex said:
No reason you can't do this, but it won't sound much like an 810 if that is your goal.
Click to expand...

I bought the 810 because it was tall, honestly. Closest to my ears with a wide flat top.

I will dig through the rest of this after tonight's gig. (read: during tonight's gig's breaks while hiding from drunk strangers trying to shake my hand and hug me during a global pandemic)

From my quick scan though, I'm curious if those internal mounts affect tuning and stuff. That's all advanced science. I stop at waves. There is no physics past waves. Only magic. :laugh:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex
#19
BtaylorTheRogue said:
I bought the 810 because it was tall, honestly. Closest to my ears with a wide flat top.

I will dig through the rest of this after tonight's gig. (read: during tonight's gig's breaks while hiding from drunk strangers trying to shake my hand and hug me during a global pandemic)

From my quick scan though, I'm curious if those internal mounts affect tuning and stuff. That's all advanced science. I stop at waves. There is no physics past waves. Only magic. :laugh:
Click to expand...


The first bass rig I ever bought was a brand new Ampeg SVT and 810. I hated it because I had already gotten used to the way my Fender Twin sound with JBL E120s, and the 810 was really dark in comparison. What I found was the 810 took EQ down low really well, but no amount of EQ could make the highs sound sweet. That's how I wound up biamping. Lots of people love the 810, but it's not for me. Playing an 810 makes me feel like Sisyphus.

I do think the internal mounts will have some measurable impact on the tuning, but I really don't think it's enough to worry about. Maybe @agedhorse will comment.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back