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Punchy, deep, and lightweight - is it possible?

famousbirds

famousbirds

Aug 3, 2009
373
22
Honolulu
#1
So, I've been playing an Aguilar GS212 for a few years now, and I'm frustrated. It's plenty loud and warm, but I can't quite get the punch and clarity I am looking for these days.

I play a Fender Jazz into a BMax and/or a Tone Hammer into a Stewart 1.2. It's an 8 ohm cab, so that's a healthy 700W going into it. I've played lots of other basses and a few nice heads (an SVT, a GK, various other Ampegs) into it. I've eq'd it and tweaked it every which way and I'm just not getting there.

So, tell me what to buy, TB. I like what's coming out of my preamp - help me find a cab that shows it off.

1) It needs to be loud enough. We play a lot of small-to-medium rock clubs where I'm usually not getting any FOH support. The Stewart throws out 1200w into 4 ohms, and I'd like to take advantage of that.

2) It needs to be punchy and clear. I like the thump to hit you in the chest, and to cut through the guitar without overpowering it. Half the time I'm layering in a synth tone as well, so I need clarity and detail in the sweeps and squelch.

3) Deep, potentially thick bass. I like octavers and need to be able to pull off the dub tone from time to time.

4) Something reasonably lightweight and portable. The Aggie won't fit in the trunk of my car, and I'm going to throw my back out carrying it up the stairs one of these days. Neo magnets would sure be nice.

Budget and hassle are flexible - I want to get a cab that will last me a lifetime. What do you think?
 
#8
lowfreq33 said:
You've got sort of a tall order there when you throw lightweight into it. What would qualify as light for you?
Click to expand...

Understood, let me clarify.

I get more than enough volume and rumble out of my current 2x12, which clocks in at 70 pounds and is too big for the trunk of my Honda.

My goal is to preserve some of that volume and warmth, while adding more detail and clarity to the top end and maybe dropping a few pounds in the process.

I was looking at a pair of those new Acmes, or maybe some sort of 12/10 or 15/6 configuration. Reasonable?
 
#10
Ok then. You might be better off with a pair of cabs, may be easier to work into the trunk. A pair of 112's could work, a pair of 115's probably not. I've fit my GB Neo212 in the trunk of a Jetta before, and it has no problem handling an octave pedal. It's about 50 pounds, but I'm not sure if it would make it into a Honda.

Lots of folks here swear by the fEarful cabs, but you'd have to find someone that builds them.
 
#12
famousbirds said:
So, I've been playing an Aguilar GS212 for a few years now, and I'm frustrated. It's plenty loud and warm, but I can't quite get the punch and clarity I am looking for these days.

I play a Fender Jazz into a BMax and/or a Tone Hammer into a Stewart 1.2. It's an 8 ohm cab, so that's a healthy 700W going into it. I've played lots of other basses and a few nice heads (an SVT, a GK, various other Ampegs) into it. I've eq'd it and tweaked it every which way and I'm just not getting there.

So, tell me what to buy, TB. I like what's coming out of my preamp - help me find a cab that shows it off.

1) It needs to be loud enough. We play a lot of small-to-medium rock clubs where I'm usually not getting any FOH support. The Stewart throws out 1200w into 4 ohms, and I'd like to take advantage of that.

2) It needs to be punchy and clear. I like the thump to hit you in the chest, and to cut through the guitar without overpowering it. Half the time I'm layering in a synth tone as well, so I need clarity and detail in the sweeps and squelch.

3) Deep, potentially thick bass. I like octavers and need to be able to pull off the dub tone from time to time.

4) Something reasonably lightweight and portable. The Aggie won't fit in the trunk of my car, and I'm going to throw my back out carrying it up the stairs one of these days. Neo magnets would sure be nice.

Budget and hassle are flexible - I want to get a cab that will last me a lifetime. What do you think?
Click to expand...

The DB 212 may be what you are looking for tone wise, but not when it cones to portability.

Find a way to give a pair of DB 112s a demo if possible.
 
#14
lowfreq33 said:
Ok then. You might be better off with a pair of cabs, may be easier to work into the trunk. A pair of 112's could work, a pair of 115's probably not. I've fit my GB Neo212 in the trunk of a Jetta before, and it has no problem handling an octave pedal. It's about 50 pounds, but I'm not sure if it would make it into a Honda.
Click to expand...

Pair of twelves sounds promising. It looks like the Neo212 doesn't have a tweeter/horn, is that correct?

lowfreq33 said:
Lots of folks here swear by the fEarful cabs, but you'd have to find someone that builds them.
Click to expand...

I live in Seattle. If anyone around here builds them, shoot me a PM.

dsanders said:
The DB 212 may be what you are looking for tone wise, but not when it cones to portability.

Find a way to give a pair of DB 112s a demo if possible.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I'll keep my eyes open.
 
#16
WingKL said:
Light, punchy and deep. Sounds like you need a composite Fearful built by Artofnoiseaudio.
Click to expand...

+1

for 1200W into 4 ohms, a 1212/6 or 1212/6/1 sounds like the cab for you. Massive SPL, full range, lightweight.

Or if you are okay with "only" 700W, the 15/6 or 15/6/1 will give you plenty of volume.

They are all VERY well designed and give a lot of benefits over traditional bass cabs: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You can read more about them here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Check out the FAQ for some great info.
 
#17
Oobly said:
+1

for 1200W into 4 ohms, a 1212/6 or 1212/6/1 sounds like the cab for you. Massive SPL, full range, lightweight.

Or if you are okay with "only" 700W, the 15/6 or 15/6/1 will give you plenty of volume.

They are all VERY well designed and give a lot of benefits over traditional bass cabs: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

Wow. How sensible. Those advantages are like an exact checklist of what I need.

Edit: Sold, I think.
 
#20
Given your context (octave pedals, dub tone on occasion, effects), and the fact that you have a decent amount of wattage into 8ohms from your bridged power amp, it seems that the fEarful type 15/6 would be your best bet by far. That Aguiler 212 is actually a really nice cab, and you won't find many other moderate sized production single cabs (heavy or otherwise) that will perform meaningfully better for your situation.

The 15/6 is about the same size as the GS212, lighter, and will produce a real low end response at much higher SPL than your typical 212.

Not cheap, and you need a good dose of watts at 8ohms to get it to full performance, but if you have the time (custom build), cash (not cheap) and again, at least 500 watts into 8ohms, that should kill for you.

In a two smaller cab solution, the new Acme FlatWound/FullRange 112 x 2 stack is pretty impressive, but you would need at least 500 watts per cab (they come in 8 or 4 ohms) to really get them up to full performance. Very deep low end extension (hence the low efficiency), but two of them would hammer, and you would have a nice modular rig. They need a surprising amount of power though.
 

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