Schroeder 15PL versus Bag End S15-D info request

[pbassnut]

Looking for some advice on the Schroeder 15PL from my TalkBass brethren (and sistren!). This is the model I'm talking about:

http://www.schroedercabinets.com/PL-15.htm

I currently have a Bag End S15-D which I like, but don't love (as many on this forum do). I love its size, efficiency and old school tone. However, the thing that keeps it from being my dream 1x15 is it seems to have a difficult time amplifying low G and below and my E string notes in general feel a bit thin and choked. Being a blues bassist, I'm a bottom feeder and largely "live" down there so it's the worst possible place on the fingerboard to have response anomalies. Strangely enough, when I couple my JBL MR-15 cabinet with the S15-D, the low end response problem disappears even though the JBL cab has about the same or less depth on its own than the Bag End and the pair of them together probably yields my best tone overall. However, I find myself doing more and more smaller bars, coffee houses, house parties and acoustic shows so I want to stick with a small, one cab solution for these types of shows. I have an older style (w/one angled speaker) Schroeder 1515L which I love, but it is just WAY too much for the above type of work. The Schroeder "Punch Line" 15PL is about the same size as my Bag End S15-D and is available in a 4 ohm configuration (a big plus to me) so I'm considering replacing the Bag End with a 15PL.

Anyway, I was wondering how well the Schroeder does in the low end department and how well the two cabs stack up against one another.

Thanks all!

 

[pbassnut]

Anyone?

 

[lomo]

If you want lows for blues, Schro will not satisfy IME/IMO. If you want very light and loud, I'd opt for a fEarful or LDS 12/6-it will be around 40 lbs and louder/clearer than the BE 15 in the under 200Hz range. Unlike the other 2 cabs, the 12/6 is engineered to go low and loud........a much better cab for bass unless you really don't want much happening down low IMHO. Many other choices out there as well.......

 

[RS]

I've had both cabs and will say the PL15 with the better B&C driver definitely brings the lows more so than the BE, but from your description sounds like you might want an even deeper, woofier low end presence than even that cab would provide.

 

[pbassnut]

I've had both cabs and will say the PL15 with the better B&C driver definitely brings the lows more so than the BE, but from your description sounds like you might want an even deeper, woofier low end presence than even that cab would provide.

No, not necessarily. My Schroeder 1515L has that old school deep sound in spades and can totally scream when called upon to do so. I just want a small and efficient 1x15 cabinet that doesn't feel like it's $hitting bricks to pull off the bottom octave of a four string bass. It sounds like the version of the 15PL with the better B&C driver might just be the ticket. I wonder if the version of the 15PL loaded with a ceramic 15 would have even more low end thump? (many of the bass cab manufacturers who offer both NEO and ceramic versions of the same cab claim that the ceramic versions have a bit more bottom).

BTW ... I met Steven Wright once at a work buddy's wedding. His wife-to-be was childhood friends with him. Nice guy ... love his humor.

 

[RS]

No, not necessarily. My Schroeder 1515L has that old school deep sound in spades and can totally scream when called upon to do so. I just want a small and efficient 1x15 cabinet that doesn't feel like it's $hitting bricks to pull off the bottom octave of a four string bass. It sounds like the version of the 15PL with the better B&C driver might just be the ticket. I wonder if the version of the 15PL loaded with a ceramic 15 would have even more low end thump? (many of the bass cab manufacturers who offer both NEO and ceramic versions of the same cab claim that the ceramic versions have a bit more bottom).

BTW ... I met Steven Wright once at a work buddy's wedding. His wife-to-be was childhood friends with him. Nice guy ... love his humor.

A 1515L is not a fair apples to oranges comparison vs any 1x15 cab. I asked Jorg about the different driver options when I had him build my PL15 and his suggestion for more low end vs the old Schroeder I had was the B&C. Can't recall if we discussed a ceramic option but my guess is he'd tell you a good neo is equal tonally to ceramic, but I shouldn't speak for him.

I am not sure what funny thing I'd say if I meet Steven Wright but I would keep trying to say anything that might make him crack a smile.

 

[lomo]

I guess bottom is subjective. I owned and gigged an early 1212L, then 15+L, 1515 and then BMF 215 and none had anything going on below 150 Hz......at all. Maybe he tuned the PL cabs lower. I recall KJung's description of the 15+L roughly as sounding like the loudest 110 ever and I aree with it. God luck in your quest and happy thumpin'.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

If you want lows for blues, Schro will not satisfy IME/IMO. If you want very light and loud, I'd opt for a fEarful or LDS 12/6-it will be around 40 lbs and louder/clearer than the BE 15 in the under 200Hz range. Unlike the other 2 cabs, the 12/6 is engineered to go low and loud........a much better cab for bass unless you really don't want much happening down low IMHO. Many other choices out there as well.......

Lotta truth here.

I have owned numerous schroeders and none of them, including the 1515L, I owned can compete with my 12/6 for lows. They are radically different.