• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Some Avatar help please!

JacksonAerodyne

JacksonAerodyne

Guest
Aug 13, 2011
129
64
Arnold, CA
#1
Hey all,

Before you get after me I've searched for a couple days and haven't found the answers I'm after yet. I'm trying to decide if I want to go with a B410 Neo or a TB153. I play Fender MIJ P/J basses exclusively (as of now, I have 3) with a GK 700RB-II. I'm after that nice growl that you can get out of the 700RB-II. I've owned 4x10s before and have been pretty happy, I have a new Acoustic 8x10 but after all the reading I've been doing here I want to give the Avatars a shot. I like the punchiness and tight response of the 4x10s but I've heard alot of good things about this TB153. My question is how does the TB153 compare with a 4x10 in the tightness/punchiness regard? Any help would be appreciated as I'm looking to buy in the next week or so so I can play it while I'm home on R&R from Afghanistan (first 2 weeks of Oct.). Thanks fellas!!!
 
#3
The TB153 has greater frequency range and is louder in the lows and low mids. The B410 might be louder in the mids but with more uneven off-axis volume.

I'm not sure how well either of the Avatars would enhance or degrade the tone of the GK growl. A GK cab would be a safer bet in that regard. Maybe someone on here as tried GK amps with the Avatars.
 
#4
Yeah, the 153 is the superior cab. Haven't played that particular one but other diy and repurposed pa cabs with mid drivers and they all bring that GK growl effect in spades. Don't know if avatars 410 would do that well with it. They give up a good bit of upper mids for their extended xmax designs.
 
#5
I've had both , a B410 neo and my current TB153 . I used about the same amp with both too , an Tech 21 RBI preamp and a Crown power amp . I had the 410 neo about 6 years ago so I'm going from memory on that one . With the 410 my band was gigging a lot more than we are now at bar gigs and bigger stages so I needed a one cab solution that would do all . Before I got the 410 I was using an Eden 210XLT with an Avatar 112 cab and it sounded very good , I never had trouble hearing it on any stage but two cabs were becoming a pain . With the Avatar B410 neo I missed the upper mids that the Eden had , the Avatar was harder for me to hear on stage with the two guitar players in my band . It was plenty loud and tight sounding but just didn't cut through at gigs for me .

The TB153 on the other hand works great for me with the same band . I only have a couple gigs on it but also have quite a few practices and I can say for sure the TB153 is a better gig cab for me . The 6" mid cuts through great and that 15" stays tight down low , the B410 got a little wooly down there and it seemed a lot of low end was coming out but it wasn't near as defined as the TB153 . I think having a clean low end must help clear up the stage mix , I would definitly say the TB153 is a punchy cab . I don't know if the TB153 gets quite as loud overall as the 410 but for a stage monitor it works way better and the two small bar gigs I've done with it I haven't had to be put into the mains at all and it carried the rooms fine .
 
#8
I have the TB153 with the GK MB Fusion and it got a very full sound. The lows are the kind you can feel and the mids and high cut thru with no problem. I had a GK Neo 410 and a pair of GK Neo 112's and in my opinion neither sounded as good as the Avatar. I also am using the 8 ohm version. Try it out, I think you will like it.
 
#9
Ok, I'm talking to the local fEARful dealer closest to where I live right now, looking to get a quote on a 12/6. I have a feeling some people are going to say to jump on that one but now I have a new question. 12" or 15"?

P.S. Thanks for all the answers, I'm still just doing different research, trying to decide what I should get.
 
#10
Depends how loud you need it to be and how important size and weight are. The 15 will move more air than the 12 for the same power, but the 12 is a lot more portable. They are all really lightweight cabs for their output.

The 15 can move a LOT of air, check out the theoretical SPL graph in the FAQ: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#11
If you are going for a fEarful get the 15/6 . I built a 12/6/1 a few years ago and while it was a great 112 cabinet , probably the loudest 112 I'd had or heard , it wasn't quite up to the task of doing keeping up with my band . I was using a Markbass LMII and the only way to keep up was to max out the LMII's 300 watts at 8 ohms . The TB153 I have now does a much better job of keeping up as would the real fEarful 15/6 without maxing out your GK or your speaker .
 
#12
I was all set to build a 12/6, but a few factors swayed me in the direction of the 15.

1. The 15" driver cost less at the time I was looking.
2. For a given amp / power the 15 will move more air and therefore be louder, so you can have more volume and / or more headroom.
3. The weight difference isn't much and I can fit either in my car easily, so moving either wasn't an issue for me.

The mid also doesn't have to be attenuated as much, so the 15/6 is a tiny bit more efficient, too, but that is really not a deciding factor.

On the other hand, a 1212/6 is a nice combination of drivers and is a 4 ohm cab, but the cost goes up quite a bit.
 
#14
JacksonAerodyne said:
Ok, I'm talking to the local fEARful dealer closest to where I live right now, looking to get a quote on a 12/6. I have a feeling some people are going to say to jump on that one but now I have a new question. 12" or 15"?

P.S. Thanks for all the answers, I'm still just doing different research, trying to decide what I should get.
Click to expand...

I have a GK 700RB-II and play through a fEARful 12/6. It gets pretty loud. It can cover 95% of my gigs. I also built a fEARful 12/sub to add when I want to turn up to 11.:bassist:

It gets really frickn loud. It will cost more than a 15/6 but will be more flexible and louder with your head. If you had a more powerful head a 15/6 or TB153 would most likely be fine, it will want more power to shine. It will sound good with your head, it will just have lots of capacity left.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back