Tweeters?..... We Don't Need No Stinking Tweeters!

[bebass]

It has an Fs of 1.3khz, IME you should not go lower then 2xFs which is in this case 2.6khz. But, the hornflare is to small to get down to 2.6khz so you still end up around 3.5 - 4khz...
The coaxial driver I use has x-over point of 1.8khz between mid and tweeter and there's no way you can here a transition between the two, it sounds like one bada.. fullrange driver.

What coaxial driver do you use?

 

[Arjank]

What coaxial driver do you use?

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[strictlybass_ic]

All of my cabs (save for my homebuilt fEARful 12/6) have had tweeters. All of my cabs have had their tweeters turned off the entire time. I don't need "zing", give me the bass.

 

[agedhorse]

Ok, let me flip the script. Is it possible to make a quality, good sounding cab with no tweeer that provides the spectrums needed for most applications? Based on my recent experiences, I'd say that this is somewhat of a rhetorical question.

I think it's a really good question actually.

The answer is "it depends". Why? Because everybody has different personal tastes towards voicing and tone. If you are looking for a relatively dark or laid back tone, then with a suitable LF driver choice a tweeter may not be necessary or even desirable. If you are looking for a tone that's somewhat open without a lot of LF extension, then there are suitable drivers that trade off LF extension (and performance) for more open midrange and higher. If you are looking for a more aggressive tone, with some higher end bite, and especially if you also want LF extension at any real power level, then a tweeter (or midrange) driver will be necessary as the design tradeoffs to achieve LF extension and power handling are at odds with open higher frequency reproduction by a larger driver.

Also, dispersion patterns might come into this as well. If a 15" driver is your personal poison, and you are using it in an extended range application, it's a good idea to evaluate how any MF/HF beaming (due to the cone and dust cap geometry) might impact your tastes. It's not as bad as some here might have you believe, though it does change with cone/dustcap properties so it's good to verify performance meets your needs.

 

[ebozzz]

Thank you Sir!

 

[JimmyM]

What gets me is when the bassist says...I don't like tweeters on my bass amp...and then lines out to a full range PA...which uses erm tweeters...

Not our fault, is it? A PA has to have tweeters. Our bass cabs don't. But if it makes you feel better, I always use some sort of gizmo to cut those highs in the PA.

 

[agedhorse]

Or a (good) sound guy will do what's necessary to get a complimentary tone from the direct based on what he hears you trying to achieve on stage.

 

[JimmyM]

Or a (good) sound guy will do what's necessary to get a complimentary tone from the direct based on what he hears you trying to achieve on stage.

In a perfect world. I can name you some sound techs who won't

 

[Mike Arnopol]

All of my cabs (save for my homebuilt fEARful 12/6) have had tweeters. All of my cabs have had their tweeters turned off the entire time. I don't need "zing", give me the bass.

My point exactly. If you hear "zing" it's a poorly implemented tweeter. If you listen to great recordings of bass (especially upright) even a dark sound benefits from the air and definition you get from a well implemented tweet. You can have a very scooped bass sound---the addition of a good tweet will not give you "zing" or change the harmonic balance you're shooting for. On upright I go for about as dark a sound as you can get. Adding good highs way up there (that don't draw attention to themselves) adds an acoustic quality and subtle presence that really enhances the sound.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I think it's a really good question actually.

The answer is "it depends".

This is why I love your posts - too many absolutes around here for my taste. I may end up sigging this.

 

[JMacBass65]

I have no use for them. I turn 'em off or yank 'em out if a cab has 'em.

 

[nicopiano]

On my Carvin MB-15 there is a switch to put the tweeter on or off.

When I practice alone : off.

When I play with a band : on.

 

[chadds]

When I used SWRs I had them barely on. That little bit added a nice little air.
Now, some sound brash and harsh and came about when slapping and popping arrived.
If you've ever played through good cabs with vintage D-140s you've heard a balanced tone with clear crisp highs.
If you've played contemporary Berg cabs than you've heard horns and tweets that are balanced with the woofers and are almost indistinguishable. But see Jim designs them to work seamlessly. They aren't an afterthought.

The cone tweeter in the BBII is seamless as well.