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Small loud cab for my Demeter VTBP 800D

GeneralElectric

GeneralElectric

Dec 26, 2007
10,314
1,375
36
NY, NY
#1
Hi all,

For many years I’ve been gigging and digging Aguilar and Ampeg amps and cabs. Recently got a Demeter VTBP M 800D in trade for my SVT-CL. It sounds great at rehearsal volumes but I recently played a small outdoor gig with my Aguilar S210 Cabinet and I felt like I was pushing my cabinet crazy hard with my Stingray HH until I switched to my MFD equipped P-Bass. There were times I had my volume maxed out and watching the woofers jump like crazy. Not a great feeling.

I’ve played this gig in the past with my Tonehammer 500 and 8ohm DB210 and always sounded great and didn’t have to push the amp so hard.

I’ve read that the Demeter likes high wattage cabinets. Looking for something relatively light weight in the 2x10 or 1x12 form factor. High sensitivity and hopefully hi fi tones (compared to my vintage sounding Aguilar and Ampeg cabinets) would be open to interesting designs with 1x10s so long as it’s easy to carry. I just moved to a 3rd floor walk up!

Current max budget is around 1100-1200$ for a new cabinet. Would definitely prefer cheaper!
 
#4
two fingers said:
Try a high pass filter first. If you chop off the frequencies the cab was never designed to handle in the first place it might calm down.

That said, if you can find a Mesa Subway 210 you'll be all set!
Click to expand...

I run a broughton HPF already! But the Demeter has a switch to run bass frequencies at 60hz or 120hz. Was running at 120hz.

I noticed those cartoonishly pumping woofers when I switched over to the neck pickup on my stingray with a little bass boost. When I switched to the P bass I was able to dial the master volume to about 2 o’clock on the dial.

Strangely, the MFD P bass is my loudest bass despite being 100% passive. I have 4x active basses and 3 of them are running at 18v. It’s pretty nuts!
 
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#6
Mine pairs really well with my GR AT212 Slim cabinet. You could try the AT210, but this cabinet is 900W at 4ohm. Perfect matching in my humble opinion.
20220505_174101.jpg
 
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#7
GeneralElectric said:
I run a broughton HPF already! But the Demeter has a switch to run bass frequencies at 60hz or 120hz. Was running at 120hz.

I noticed those cartoonishly pumping woofers when I switched over to the neck pickup on my stingray with a little bass boost. When I switched to the P bass I was able to dial the master volume to about 2 o’clock on the dial.

Strangely, the MFD P bass is my loudest bass despite being 100% passive. I have 4x active basses and 3 of them are running at 18v. It’s pretty nuts!
Click to expand...
Demeter + Broughton HPF is def the ticket. That 60 / 120 switch on the Demmie does not lop off the lower frequencies; so, the Broughton is still required.

210’s can be specifically problematic as stand alone. The most potent small cabs are likely the Mesa SW112, which I believe is 400W, and the Fearless 112. Also, either of those combined with your 210 should be a formidable rig. GL
 
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#8
I run mine through a Berg CN212.

Might be a little bigger than what you are looking for, but they match very well.

Also, not sure why you have volume maxed. That doesn’t sound right. There is a trim pot to set input to your instrument. It sounds like that might be turned way down. But you might be liking the preamp color.
 
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#9
I run my Demeter HBP1-800D through either a pair of Markbass Traveler 210's or a Rev Sound 2x10. It also does well thru a pair of Barefaced 1x10's as long as I keep the volume in check.

I much prefer 10's over 12's. The Markbass cabs are about as portable as it gets.
 
#10
bucephylus said:
Demeter + Broughton HPF is def the ticket. That 60 / 120 switch on the Demmie does not lop off the lower frequencies; so, the Broughton is still required.

210’s can be specifically problematic as stand alone. The most potent small cabs are likely the Mesa SW112, which I believe is 400W, and the Fearless 112. Also, either of those combined with your 210 should be a formidable rig. GL
Click to expand...

does that 60-120hz switch just change the frequency center for the bass knob?

If I do a stand-alone 210 I usually use my Aguilar DB210 but this time used my Aguilar S210 (precursor to the GS series) which might also have a lower sensitivity rating.

Do you have a link to the fearless cab?
 
#11
MVE said:
I run mine through a Berg CN212.

Might be a little bigger than what you are looking for, but they match very well.

Also, not sure why you have volume maxed. That doesn’t sound right. There is a trim pot to set input to your instrument. It sounds like that might be turned way down. But you might be liking the preamp color.
Click to expand...

Can’t recall the last time I cranked an amp before Fridays gig.

Big issue for me now is that I have to carry whatever it is up a narrow staircase to the 3rd floor.

Haven’t messed with the internal trim pot yet. It’s strange because my P bass sounded great through the same setup with huge fat tone with the volume at 1-2 o’clock. The G&L pickups are super loud though even compared to my other P basses, other EBMM basses, and my sadowsky jazz.
 
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#12
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#13
I'm not sure what the actual frequency response curve looks like, but back when I was gigging with a Demeter VTBP-201 a lot with an Aggie 410, I would set the bass frequency to 60Hz and cut a bit with the bass control.

On thing to remember about the Demeter EQ is that setting the controls at 12 o'clock is nothing like a "flat" setting. It's based on Fender tone stack (IIRC) similar to the Alembic preamp, and according to James Demeter, a "flat" setting looks something like brite off, treble 4, mid 10, bass 6, presence off, bass switch 120.

GeneralElectric said:
does that 60-120hz switch just change the frequency center for the bass knob?

If I do a stand-alone 210 I usually use my Aguilar DB210 but this time used my Aguilar S210 (precursor to the GS series) which might also have a lower sensitivity rating.

Do you have a link to the fearless cab?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
#14
GeneralElectric said:
Hi all,

For many years I’ve been gigging and digging Aguilar and Ampeg amps and cabs. Recently got a Demeter VTBP M 800D in trade for my SVT-CL. It sounds great at rehearsal volumes but I recently played a small outdoor gig with my Aguilar S210 Cabinet and I felt like I was pushing my cabinet crazy hard with my Stingray HH until I switched to my MFD equipped P-Bass. There were times I had my volume maxed out and watching the woofers jump like crazy. Not a great feeling.

I’ve played this gig in the past with my Tonehammer 500 and 8ohm DB210 and always sounded great and didn’t have to push the amp so hard.

I’ve read that the Demeter likes high wattage cabinets. Looking for something relatively light weight in the 2x10 or 1x12 form factor. High sensitivity and hopefully hi fi tones (compared to my vintage sounding Aguilar and Ampeg cabinets) would be open to interesting designs with 1x10s so long as it’s easy to carry. I just moved to a 3rd floor walk up!

Current max budget is around 1100-1200$ for a new cabinet. Would definitely prefer cheaper!
Click to expand...

Why not buy a second Aguilar cab like the one you have? It a good possibility that will solve your problem. I have two Eden 210 cabs, one of those would cover a room with seating for 500 for most style of music with an exception for death metal, reggae, or a bassist that like his tone so deep that it’s going to cause his guitar player dental problems. A second cab IMO would solve a lot of your problems and should be within your budget.
 
#15
bucephylus said:
But, I do trust Ed Friedland’s review:
Click to expand...
I thought the same thing. That review is a little old now and Ed has moved on, but he raved at first about how he happily left his 410 behind in preference to that cabinet.

Nobody has mentioned Audiokinesis yet, and I'm not totally sure whether or how much Duke is building now. I have two of the 1x12 Changeling cabinets and the way I'd most easily characterize them is that they can play extremely loud without sounding like they are shouting. Very even tempered cabinets.
 
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#17
dbsfgyd1 said:
Why not buy a second Aguilar cab like the one you have? It a good possibility that will solve your problem. I have two Eden 210 cabs, one of those would cover a room with seating for 500 for most style of music with an exception for death metal, reggae, or a bassist that like his tone so deep that it’s going to cause his guitar player dental problems. A second cab IMO would solve a lot of your problems and should be within your budget.
Click to expand...


I have too many cabs, including another Aguilar 210. Transport up and down 2 flights of stairs wants me to find a single cab solution. Especially when the average weight for my cabinets it’s 60lbs+

Typically when I gig a single 210 it’s an Aguilar DB210 and not this S210. I wonder if it has lower sensitivity compared to the much newer DB series. Can’t really find many specs on the older Aguilar since it’s been discontinued for 10-15 years at this point.
 

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