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shopping for bass cabinet

A

Artie Facts

Jul 31, 2012
6
0
#1
I'm shopping for a new bass cabinet. After a lot of internet research, I have narrowed my search to the 2 x 12 NEO cabinets from GK, Genz Benz and Epifani. I have been playing a variety of styles - rock, blues, r&b, pop and jazz - for 45 years now, using a vintage Precision and a Ernie Ball Sterling. I have almost destroyed my old Eden 4x10 rear ported cab using a variety of amp heads and I want something lighter weight, front ported and capable of getting loud when needed. I would welcome any opinions on the relative merits of any of the 2x12 neo cabs, (or 4x10, if you feel strongly about them) particularly why the GenzBenz 212T Uber is twice the price of the GK 212 NEO at $549.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Artie
 
#4
Artie Facts said:
I have a few - an Eden Traveler, a vintage SVT and a 500w power amp/preamp combo.
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Cool, to answer some of your questions: The Genz uses some premium drivers, and the GK uses their own drivers. Not to say one is better than the other, just level of sourcing. I would say the construction on the genz cab is going to be a bit better, but for the money those GK cabs are a crazy good deal.

I would do some reading around here. I dig the form factor of the Genz Neo-x 212. Vertical alignment is the way to go, if you can swing a vertical stack of two 212's even better.

My recommendation across the board is to check out some of the new "super cabs": Barefaced Bass, Baer ML-112, Audiokinesis Thunderchild, fEARful and other greenboy designs. All these cabs have incredible sound per pound, and will blow the cabs you have mentioned out of the water. Even if none of these cabs provides you with the sound you want, at least check out cutting edge designs for some perspective.
 
#7
I guess I should admit that I have invariably turned off the tweeter/horn on every bass cab I've ever used, even when slapping. So, the 'hi-fi' cabinets with expensive crossovers and horns seem unnecessary (to me). I'm just looking for solid bass and mids, good dispersion, and moving the most air with the least weight. I've found that the active eq on the MM Sterling gives me more than enough highs and mids to cut through anything, even with the tweeter on the cab fully attenuated and the amp treble rolled off.

Also complicating my 2x12 search is the fact that none of the local music shops here in Dallas seem to carry these things so I can audition them.

I almost ready to buy the GK 212 NEO, unheard, just because its the least expensive, but I worry that the drivers might not be as robust as the more expensive cabs by Genz, epifani, and others. Is there any data out there about the rate of blown NEO speakers, by brand?
 
#8
Artie Facts said:
I guess I should admit that I have invariably turned off the tweeter/horn on every bass cab I've ever used, even when slapping. So, the 'hi-fi' cabinets with expensive crossovers and horns seem unnecessary (to me). I'm just looking for solid bass and mids, good dispersion, and moving the most air with the least weight. I've found that the active eq on the MM Sterling gives me more than enough highs and mids to cut through anything, even with the tweeter on the cab fully attenuated and the amp treble rolled off.

Also complicating my 2x12 search is the fact that none of the local music shops here in Dallas seem to carry these things so I can audition them.

I almost ready to buy the GK 212 NEO, unheard, just because its the least expensive, but I worry that the drivers might not be as robust as the more expensive cabs by Genz, epifani, and others. Is there any data out there about the rate of blown NEO speakers, by brand?
Click to expand...


I like my fEARful 15/6. No tweeter, just a 6" mid range driver to handle the top end.
 
#12
Artie Facts said:
I guess I should admit that I have invariably turned off the tweeter/horn on every bass cab I've ever used, even when slapping. So, the 'hi-fi' cabinets with expensive crossovers and horns seem unnecessary (to me). I'm just looking for solid bass and mids, good dispersion, and moving the most air with the least weight. I've found that the active eq on the MM Sterling gives me more than enough highs and mids to cut through anything, even with the tweeter on the cab fully attenuated and the amp treble rolled off.

Also complicating my 2x12 search is the fact that none of the local music shops here in Dallas seem to carry these things so I can audition them.

I almost ready to buy the GK 212 NEO, unheard, just because its the least expensive, but I worry that the drivers might not be as robust as the more expensive cabs by Genz, epifani, and others. Is there any data out there about the rate of blown NEO speakers, by brand?
Click to expand...
I'm guessing based on his strong dislike for tweeters that an 18sound mid would not be a good fit for him. One of the Duallys or Barefaced 212 might fit the bill.
 
#13
Artie Facts said:
I guess I should admit that I have invariably turned off the tweeter/horn on every bass cab I've ever used, even when slapping. So, the 'hi-fi' cabinets with expensive crossovers and horns seem unnecessary (to me). I'm just looking for solid bass and mids, good dispersion, and moving the most air with the least weight. I've found that the active eq on the MM Sterling gives me more than enough highs and mids to cut through anything, even with the tweeter on the cab fully attenuated and the amp treble rolled off.

Also complicating my 2x12 search is the fact that none of the local music shops here in Dallas seem to carry these things so I can audition them.

I almost ready to buy the GK 212 NEO, unheard, just because its the least expensive, but I worry that the drivers might not be as robust as the more expensive cabs by Genz, epifani, and others. Is there any data out there about the rate of blown NEO speakers, by brand?
Click to expand...

Hmm, I don’t think anyone makes exactly what you’re describing - you’re looking for a one-way 212 cab built like a Super or Dually 15 only with killer full range 12” bass drivers. I ‘think’ all the 212s I’ve seen have tweeters (212T) but you can usually turn them off (both the GB & GK 212 cabs have good reports). Also from what you described, I sincerely doubt you’d like two-way cabs with little mid drivers anymore than you like tweeters. Try as many 212s as you can (if you have to - order them online and send them back if you don't like them) and good luck with your search.
 
#14
Joe Louvar said:
Hmm, I don’t think anyone makes exactly what you’re describing - you’re looking for a one-way 212 cab built like a Super or Dually 15 only with killer full range 12” bass drivers. I ‘think’ all the 212s I’ve seen have tweeters (212T) but you can usually turn them off (both the GB & GK 212 cabs have good reports). Also from what you described, I sincerely doubt you’d like two-way cabs with little mid drivers anymore than you like tweeters. Try as many 212s as you can (if you have to - order them online and send them back if you don't them) and good luck with your search.
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Barefaced Super 12.... Invalid Link Removed

212, you can get them without tweeters (and save a few bob).

I've heard they can go very loud too...
 
#16
Thanks for all the response, I do genuinely appreciate all. The Barefaced Bass Super 12 does indeed sound - on paper - like what I'm looking for, but then it is remarkably similar to the GenzBenz NEOX 212T. Call me crazy, but I think I'd rather have an American made product, for both repair as well as ol' fashioned nationalistic reasons. So, I will be auditioning the Genz NEOX 212 and 212 UBER as soon as I can find them locally.
 
#17
Artie Facts said:
Thanks for all the response, I do genuinely appreciate all. The Barefaced Bass Super 12 does indeed sound - on paper - like what I'm looking for, but then it is remarkably similar to the GenzBenz NEOX 212T. Call me crazy, but I think I'd rather have an American made product, for both repair as well as ol' fashioned nationalistic reasons. So, I will be auditioning the Genz NEOX 212 and 212 UBER as soon as I can find them locally.
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Ok, and you’re welcome. Oh, and by the way - GB has one of the best customer services on the planet - it’s so good it’s almost super natural.
 
#19
Joe Louvar said:
Ok, and you’re welcome. Oh, and by the way - GB has one of the best customer services on the planet - it’s so good it’s almost super natural.
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+1 on GB quality and service.

Another option is to have Don at Low Down Sound build you a custom cab to spec.

Then there's the Bill Fitzmaurice Jack 12 you can build yourself, and save some cash

http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/Jack.html
 
#20
A massive +1 on BFM and GreenBoy designs... on paper they are staggeringly good for bass. Barefaced makes a whole lot of sense on this side of the Atlantic... I'd be priced out of getting one if I had to pay for transatlantic delivery...

I'll let you know how the compact sounds when I get it. There are a lot of threads around here that praise GB for service. In the USA at least they are obsessive about it... IMO worth it - even if they charge a small bit extra per rig (and balance it with extra QC - like most other companies).

Go get some awsome bass cabs! :hyper: ;)
 

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