Should I use an extension cabinet?

[Bass]

I am playing a small gig in a small hall with my Ampeg RB-210. The room is about 40 ft x 40 ft and there will be 100 people or more. A bass cabinet is provided, and I plan to set my amp on top of the cabinet.

Should I plug in the extension cab, or will it be too loud for the room? Or will the RB-210 be sufficient on it's own?

There are 5 other bands, and most others will probably bring a bass head to use with the provided cabinet.

 

[B-string]

What is the cab provided? It could range from a inefficient 1X10 to a 8X10, 112 to 412, 115 to 415. What it is and who made it will go a LONG way to helping.

 

[crazyBassClown]

or will it be too loud for the room?

The amp has a volume knob, you should be able to make it as quiet as you want both with and without the extension cab.
whether it will sound better with or without the cab depends on what the cab is.
Will the rb210 be loud enough on it's own? depends on how loud your band is but probably.
A 40 watt rumble is loud enough for one band I play in but the drummer really controls his volume and uses hotrods rather than solid sticks.

 

[Wasnex]

Is the provided cab 8 ohms? If yes, I suggest plugging it in and judging for yourself.

Adding and extra cab usually gives you additional headroom, But unless it's a matching cab, it's crap shoot whether it will sound good.

Adding a matching cab would double the available power, provide fuller lows, and give you approximately 6dB more headroom.

 

[gtirard]

During setup, put your combo on top of the provided cab if it fits.
Even if you don't plug it, you will hear yourself better if you combo is elevated closer to your ears.
Then take 5 minutes to try with and without the extension cab.

1. Verify the impedence compatibilty between the combo and the extension cab (is it 8 ohm?)
2. If Ok, try with and without. Ask a friend to tell you which is better from the audience point of view

 

[B-string]

My bad for not pointing out you can only plug in an 8ohm cab, a 4ohm cab and your combo might get real quiet, possibly for that night going forward.

 

[Redbrangus]

There's no reason not to try it out -- presuming it's an 8Ω cab -- but I doubt you'd need it unless your band is excruciatingly loud. 1600 ft^2 and 100 folks isn't exactly 'playing the Garden' -- IMHO, your RB will be fine on its own. There is a lot to be said for using the extension cab as an amp stand. Have a good gig!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

250W into 2x10 is definitely doable in that room size, but you may not have THAT much headroom.

An 8-ohm cab...and EMPHASIS on 8-Ohm, will double the wattage from the amp and increase output. HOWEVER, do NOT plug anything lower ohm rating into that combo or you'll be having KFC for dinner that night (Kentucky Fried Combo).

What's the make of the backline cabinet? I'd say just using your combo, curbing your lows, and making sure you've got enough mids to cut will get you through just fine. You may not be shaking the roof, but you'll probably sound fine. Good excuse to buy yourself an Ampeg PF-210HE?

 

[elpancho]

If there is FOH, plug in DI.

 

[gtirard]

you'll be having KFC for dinner that night (Kentucky Fried Combo).

yum yum

 

[Bass]

OK, if the cabinet is 8 ohms and 2x10 then I'll plug in. Otherwise, unless it's a 1x15, I'll forget it.

Thanks all, you are very helpful!

I don't really know if the bass will go through the FOH. I'm thinking the bass amp serves the room and then bass comes through the monitors. But I'll find out tomorrow.

 

[Stewie]

I'd be happy to do the hig with my RB210 alone, but I work with a sane drummer. The Ampeg cuts rhe mustard, but sounds awesome when I set it on top of my TL606 EVM 15L. Never needed the extra cab, if it was there I'd certainly give it a try. Bring an ohmmeter. An 8 ohm cab should show about 6 ohms. If it shows 3, dont use it

 

[Killing Floor]

will it be too loud for the room?

For an acoustic jazz combo you won’t need it. For rock’n’roll you do.

 

[InhumanResource]

I am playing a small gig in a small hall with my Ampeg RB-210. The room is about 40 ft x 40 ft and there will be 100 people or more. A bass cabinet is provided, and I plan to set my amp on top of the cabinet.

Should I plug in the extension cab, or will it be too loud for the room? Or will the RB-210 be sufficient on it's own?

There are 5 other bands, and most others will probably bring a bass head to use with the provided cabinet.

Plug in and turn down if desired. The extra can always grants a nice fatness boost!

 

[CallMeAl]

A room that size shouldn’t be an issue, but I suppose it depends on the rest of the band.

but I’m on board with the “if it’s there why not?” Line of thinking. Plus elevating your combo up will let you hear yourself better. You can always disconnect it if you don’t like the sound. (But chances are it’ll sound pretty great!)

Oh yea, and verify it’s 8 ohms!

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I always use my NY151 under my Berlin combo. Volume knob comes in handy. The extension cab gets the amp & controls up to better height. Sounds better @ lower volumes as well as cranked.

 

[Pep]

OK, if the cabinet is 8 ohms and 2x10 then I'll plug in. Otherwise, unless it's a 1x15, I'll forget it.

Thanks all, you are very helpful!

I don't really know if the bass will go through the FOH. I'm thinking the bass amp serves the room and then bass comes through the monitors. But I'll find out tomorrow.[/QUOT

If it's a 2-10 it's probably a 4 ohm, not an 8 ohm. As others have said, just make sure it's an 8 ohm cab before you plug it in.

 

[Dark Yellow]

During setup, put your combo on top of the provided cab if it fits.
Even if you don't plug it, you will hear yourself better if you combo is elevated closer to your ears.
Then take 5 minutes to try with and without the extension cab.

1. Verify the impedence compatibilty between the combo and the extension cab (is it 8 ohm?)
2. If Ok, try with and without. Ask a friend to tell you which is better from the audience point of view

yeah check that the ohms match or theyre compatible! i did that at rehearsal awhile ago! didnt match, blew out my ashdown head!! tech said it was cuz 4 or 16ohm cab mixed with my 8ohm, drove that head too hard! POP!! bigger cab was higher or lower ohms, idr. it was the singer's backline cab. a hard le$$on!

 

[J Wilson]

According to Ampeg's RB210 manual, the extension cabinet MUST be 8 ohms. If it's labeled 4 ohms, DON'T use it. You will get a bump in output, but as pointed out above, just use your volume controls in the bass to be at the appropriate level.

 

[Artman]

If that amp is truly comparable to a Fender Rumble 500, and I think it's supposed to be, it's more than enough on it's own.

Either place the amp on top of the other cab without plugging in the other cab, place it on a chair or small table, or use a tilt-back amp stand and you likely won't need to turn up very loud at all.