Tweeter question!

[brianvp]

Ok so I currently am a Markbass user, but have gigged Eden, Ampeg, and Trace too, and will always love those old rigs. But currently, I'm living in a Markbass world, so my question very much revolves around the brand and it's products. But maybe you speaker guys can answer these questions.

I first discovered MB through the Tweeterless Jeff Berlin 1x15 combo, and loved it's tone. I am a Jaco/John Entwistle type sounding player, I like my farty low mids, but also like a good finger slapping grind type tone with upper mids. I lost that rig, long story. Anyway I moved to a 2x10 combo but HATE, HATE the peizo in it, and have since moved on. I could have bought another Jeff Berlin combo, but wanted to try other things too, namely move away from the combo market and really get back to a "Cab" and "Amp" rig again. I tested a NY 122 Ninja at GC and loved the punchy tone and volume, and for once was ok with a tweeter in a MB cab, and currently use a LM II with a 2x12 New York Ninja 122 Richard Bona. The sound is.. interesting to say the least, and can produce many tones, like Jaco, modern, John, even Geddy type.

I'm getting to my point, sorry about this, I just need a little help deciding if I need a tweeter or not for my sound. I am always fiddling with the tweeter on this cab, and can't seem to really settle on the level, on, or off? or half or what. I never had to do that on the Berlin.
Oh one other thing...the Jeff Berlin combo has no tweeter...but strangely they list is has a 40Hz to 5KHz range...but with a 3K crossover? how is that possible if it's just a 15'' driver?
Thanks guys, I'm just trying to figure out if i should just return this head and cab for the JB combo, or just keep trying to find my sound with this very nice versatile rig.

 

[buldog5151bass]

1. Combos always limit your options.
2. Unless you know what you want, stop spending money chasing.

 

[spiritbass]

My best advice is to try a cabinet with a mid driver. I use a cab (110 Flex) built by Michael Arnopol sound which uses two Faital 5.5" midrange drivers which provide beautiful high-end response all the way to 8 khz. My cab also has a very nice tweeter made by Ciare, but I usually don't use it. These Faital mid drivers are also used in the more conventionally designed Baer cabinets. I used to play through one of the Baer ML-112's for a year or more. I know from playing through these cabs that I don't need a tweeter to get all the high end I want to hear. I don't use a distortion or overdrive pedal, but I hear that it sounds better through cabinets with a mid driver. You might watch the classifieds for a cab like this and a separate amp...

 

[brianvp]

Thanks for the replies. Problem is Buldog, is it's really hard to explore what I want, when I can't really explore many gear options other than what certain music stores stock. I have had many rigs that I have sounded great through, but I'm very hip to this light and portable revolution lately, so I'm a bit new to all of it back from hiatus. My last rig was an Eden 4x10 XLT that weighed 98 pounds or some such not even counting my head. I'm just done with that stuff, I have a Goldline 410 that sits in my room and never moves, and never will carry down the steps again, so that's just a table now, and I'm only 31 and feel this way. I kind of have to stick with GC since I use their card, so custom stuff right now is going to be hard to come by, I was looking at Barefaced though. I am still in the return window on this gear at least until i figure this out. I do seem to gravitate towards gear with that up to 5-8khz range,
I would like to know though, does anyone know what these MB 12" drivers are voiced up to? they sound alot higher than this 3k crossover it lists with the tweeter attenuated.

 

[BadExample]

do seem to gravitate towards gear with that up to 5-8khz range

I think a good mid-range will do that best. Tweeters can do that, but also can add too much HF. I don't care for peizo anywhere, anytime, any application. Some people like them. Sealed back mids are nice, because they will work anywhere they will fit, including a box on top of your cab. They just need to be supported and aimed where you want them. They like to be crossed over a bit higher than what you can get away with using an open back mid with a properly sized box. anywhere from about 800Hz on up to where the woofer is about to loose it's grip (KHz range).