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Single 15" cab enough?
- Thread starter Cohacq
- Start date
It all depends how loud your band is. I use a single 15 for one band I'm in and it works fine but for another band I'm with it gets lost without two of them.
Only YOU can answer the question when you put it to the test. If it's not enough though, you have the right idea with another identical 15 for the win.
If you're already doubting one fifteen will do the job, then I'd say your fears are well-founded.
I was going to say that if it HAS to be one fifteen for some reason pertaining to logistics, e.g. van space, then you might consider a cab containing a long-travel driver. Example: stick a Definimax 4015LF ($260 USD) into a small-medium sized sealed cab. But the problem is that to get full travel out of that 8 ohm driver, I think you'd have to hit it with far more power than that MB450H can come up with at that impedance. Another alternative would be a 4 ohm fEarful design of some sort, or a 4 ohm TB153 from Avatar. The MB450 will run down to 2 ohms so you could always add a second 4 ohm TB153 down the road.
I was going to say that if it HAS to be one fifteen for some reason pertaining to logistics, e.g. van space, then you might consider a cab containing a long-travel driver. Example: stick a Definimax 4015LF ($260 USD) into a small-medium sized sealed cab. But the problem is that to get full travel out of that 8 ohm driver, I think you'd have to hit it with far more power than that MB450H can come up with at that impedance. Another alternative would be a 4 ohm fEarful design of some sort, or a 4 ohm TB153 from Avatar. The MB450 will run down to 2 ohms so you could always add a second 4 ohm TB153 down the road.
What 115 cab are you thinking of? That head puts out 300 watt @ 4 ohm (doesn't give a rating @ 8).
The cab that I'd recommend is a Jack 15 loaded with a Eminence 3015, I just built one, and it's amazing on how clear & loud it will get with 200 watts RMS
I think it depends on the band. I'be been using an ampeg classic 15 and one of those GK MB200 amps. I've gone through the pa a couple of times, but that gets pretty loud on its' own.
I do have a 210 I could add, if I needed, but I haven't. I play smaller bars (30-40 people) and parties. 2guitars, bass, drums playing jammy 60's style and country tunes.
I do have a 210 I could add, if I needed, but I haven't. I play smaller bars (30-40 people) and parties. 2guitars, bass, drums playing jammy 60's style and country tunes.
It really depends on the band and where you'll be playing (and of course the cab itself).
I have a vintage (mid 80s) Carvin 15 that I've been using for a little over a year and I love it. I've mainly used it for practice, but for a while we were practicing pretty damn loud until we switched practice spaces. It was a storage unit next to a bus garage, so we could play as loud as we wanted and sometimes the guitarist would literally just turn his Marshall combo all the way up. At the time I was running the cab from a SS 100W guitar amp (an old Tube Works) which sounded awesome. It was plenty loud, but the amp didn't have much headroom. Later I used the same cab with my SWR Bass 350 head to do a couple gigs with a pretty loud band on keys (all "analog" style sounds from an old early 80s Roland run through a Q Tron and an ancient DeltaLab Effectron rack delay). I could hear myself pretty well for the most part, considering my sounds were all over the place. But I never really felt like the cab couldn't keep up, more like the mix would change when I would change sounds, so I'd have to adjust levels. With bass that would be less of an issue in most cases. I've changed the driver in it a couple times (just to try different things, first an EVM 15B II and now a JBL M151), but all this was with the Peavey Black Widow (presumably a similar vintage as the cab, with the aluminum dust cap), which I think is rated at 200W. I loved it with the EV too (havent actually heard it with the JBL yet, but I have a feeling it will be pretty awesome).
So yeah it depends on how loud the band is, what kind of sound you go for, what kind of sound the rest of the band has, what sort of venues you play (ie size and PA support), the head you have, and the particular cab you are thinking of and what driver is in it.
My guess is that for a typical 4 piece rock show at a small club with a not overly loud band and "typical" PA (at least 2 or 4 mains and a pair or 2 of subs) that setup would probably be fine, especially if you don't "scoop" the sound a whole lot. You could also raise the cab up to be able to hear it better.
I have a vintage (mid 80s) Carvin 15 that I've been using for a little over a year and I love it. I've mainly used it for practice, but for a while we were practicing pretty damn loud until we switched practice spaces. It was a storage unit next to a bus garage, so we could play as loud as we wanted and sometimes the guitarist would literally just turn his Marshall combo all the way up. At the time I was running the cab from a SS 100W guitar amp (an old Tube Works) which sounded awesome. It was plenty loud, but the amp didn't have much headroom. Later I used the same cab with my SWR Bass 350 head to do a couple gigs with a pretty loud band on keys (all "analog" style sounds from an old early 80s Roland run through a Q Tron and an ancient DeltaLab Effectron rack delay). I could hear myself pretty well for the most part, considering my sounds were all over the place. But I never really felt like the cab couldn't keep up, more like the mix would change when I would change sounds, so I'd have to adjust levels. With bass that would be less of an issue in most cases. I've changed the driver in it a couple times (just to try different things, first an EVM 15B II and now a JBL M151), but all this was with the Peavey Black Widow (presumably a similar vintage as the cab, with the aluminum dust cap), which I think is rated at 200W. I loved it with the EV too (havent actually heard it with the JBL yet, but I have a feeling it will be pretty awesome).
So yeah it depends on how loud the band is, what kind of sound you go for, what kind of sound the rest of the band has, what sort of venues you play (ie size and PA support), the head you have, and the particular cab you are thinking of and what driver is in it.
My guess is that for a typical 4 piece rock show at a small club with a not overly loud band and "typical" PA (at least 2 or 4 mains and a pair or 2 of subs) that setup would probably be fine, especially if you don't "scoop" the sound a whole lot. You could also raise the cab up to be able to hear it better.
Gonna try my TB153, 4 ohm w/STM-900 head, P5 bass tonite first time in this huge hangar like biker bar. I've been using my Pre/Crown amp into a single UL410, bridged 1050 watts @ 8 ohms there, active 5er.
But I've only used the TB cab at small-med clubs so far and many say it'll do what most 410's can. I know that UL410 with watts can get loud n low. I've been thinking, no way this 1x15 cab can get there. So I'm gona find out tonite. No PA support for me but this band has good volume control, 4 pc blues-classic rock. Good drummer, does not bang hell outta his kit.
Plus I'll get to stand about 15'-20' from my cab first time to see what it sounds like there. I'm usually inches-2' from my rig at those other venues. I'm sure I'll have to rethink my STM-900 settings now. We'll see how it goes.
But I've only used the TB cab at small-med clubs so far and many say it'll do what most 410's can. I know that UL410 with watts can get loud n low. I've been thinking, no way this 1x15 cab can get there. So I'm gona find out tonite. No PA support for me but this band has good volume control, 4 pc blues-classic rock. Good drummer, does not bang hell outta his kit.
Plus I'll get to stand about 15'-20' from my cab first time to see what it sounds like there. I'm usually inches-2' from my rig at those other venues. I'm sure I'll have to rethink my STM-900 settings now. We'll see how it goes.
I've gigged a single 15 (Ampeg SVT-15E) in a loud metal band without PA support a few times. It worked great for me. YMMV of course...
not to hi-jack this thread so I'll post details in a TB153 thread soon. Briefly, after my gig last nite, its' about as loud, very nice, deep lows and even punchier than some of my 410 cabs. I'm a (happy) believer now.
Enough for what?
A single 15 is plenty for one of my bands, but would be pushed pretty hard in another, which is why I use a 2x15 for another band.
Just get a second 15, and then you'll have flexibility.
A single 15 is plenty for one of my bands, but would be pushed pretty hard in another, which is why I use a 2x15 for another band.
Just get a second 15, and then you'll have flexibility.
I have the MB450H head with the marshall 1x15 and 4x10 matching (4 ohm each) cabinets,
the 15 on it's own might fall a bit short,
the 4x10 on it's own sounds better (to me),
with only one cab, the speaker might be a bit too low to the ground to hear it well enough.
the 15 on it's own might fall a bit short,
the 4x10 on it's own sounds better (to me),
with only one cab, the speaker might be a bit too low to the ground to hear it well enough.
It really depends on how loud your band plays. I have two ampeg classic 15's for flexibility. I love it when I only have to bring one but two gets you a BIG sound.
+1 to the BFM Jack 15 mentioned earlier. Not all single 15 cabs are equal, and the horn-loaded designs make the most of low-power heads. My gigs are by no means loud, but I do OK with a single Jack 12 for stage (and often even house) volume.
