Upgrade head or get another cab for more volume?

[GreyBeard]

OK, if you get a 800w head, you will get 3db more headroom. If you get another 2x12 cab you'll get 6db more headroom and, your impedance will drop to 4 allowing the head to produce 350 watts.

 

[DavC]

i'd add another 8 ohm cab ... stacked higher for easier hearing position ... would run amp at 4 ohm output , more cones will move more air = more volume ... especially at ear level versus at knees ..!!

single 15 under your 2x12 , or 2x10 on top of 2x12 ... vertical stack ...

small efficient cab ... neo mags

 

[fhm555]

...cabs add loud more effectively than upping amp power
...I suggest a second, same model 212.

Unless you amp is not putting out to it's full potential, ^this^ is your simplest solution.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Yeah, this is an even better idea.

Ya think? I think 800w translates to about 500w into 8 ohm 212 which is enough to break it.

I know 250w into enough cab can blow up the bar, bury the vocal PA, and annoy the soundman on the bigger gigs.

OP has 300w if enough cab and the thread on BL600 is only a page or so off the front by now where you can find a host of such going hard.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Hey guys, currently playing out of a GK backline 600 into a GK neo 212(8 ohms) and I'm finding it doesn't produce quite enough volume for my needs. I play with a large variety of groups including oldies, classic rock, and more modern, heavier (louder) rock. Setup sounds great and is plenty loud for the quieter stuff but when I have to compete with a loud drummer and cranked distorted guitars the volume is lacking a bit. Definitely audible but when I really crank the head it definitely starts to distort.

Was wondering if I would be better off upgrading to a more powerful head, maybe something like GK rb 700, or add on another cab to the setup? Cost is of course a consideration here, as well as the hassle of lugging extra equipment, so if I get another cab a 4x10 or even another 2x12 is probably out of the question.

Is it it worth it to add something like 2x10 or a 1x15?? Thanks!

I wonder if some of that distortion is your tweeter going nuts. With the amp off, flick the cab to biamp mode. That will cut the tweeter out altogether as it is looking for a signal from the biamp system of a fancy GK amp on the other side of the speakon. You might find more clean output that way.

Have you tried elevating your cab yet?

 

[Stevescale]

Thanks for all the replies guys! Seems like a lot of good suggestions here and I will keep all in mind. Think I will start by elevating my cab and trying to find an rb700 or 1001 used so I can sell my backline and not shell out too much extra cash.

Seems like theres no point in adding another cab unless it's a matching 212, and if it comes to this I'll probably have a better overall sound with the head upgrade.

Already tried messing with the bi amp switch and I'm playing mostly with a fender p bass.

Thanks again!

 

[Nevada Pete]

Ya think? I think 800w translates to about 500w into 8 ohm 212 which is enough to break it.

I know 250w into enough cab can blow up the bar, bury the vocal PA, and annoy the soundman on the bigger gigs.

OP has 300w if enough cab and the thread on BL600 is only a page or so off the front by now where you can find a host of such going hard.

Well, nobody can say your wrong, of course. As usual, your comments have good merit. I'm just looking at this cat with a different way to skin it in mind. If OP really has 300 watts RMS / 4 ohms, then two Neo 212 cab's might very well cut the birthday cake for him at his gigs. I certainly wouldn't dispute that. It's just that with a pare of GK Neo 212's, OP would essentially be using a 426 Super Stock Hemi to drive to the supermarket. He would have two cabs to schlep, but me thinks he'd be using them far below their actual capabilities.

On the other hand, the big brand Neo 212 cabs (including the GK) are all pretty robust and can move a surprising amount of air when powered up properly. Using the cab the OP already has gives him the option of keeping his current bass head as a spare to take with him for playing out, or selling it to offset the cost of a more powerful head. A lot of players out there seem to be using bass heads in the 700 to 800 watt / 4 ohm range with awesome results. Either way works, depending upon preferences.

I think unless one has the raw speaker data published by the manufacturer (of the loudspeaker), the way (some) manufacturers rate their bass cab's power handling capability can leave something to be desired. Companies like Fender, Mesa, and GK (no doubt many, many others) are pretty reliable with their bass cab power handling ratings. So with a GK Neo 212 cab rated at 800 watts / 8 ohms, I am guessing (and I sure could be wrong) that based on their performance, the 212 the OP has might be loaded with something along the lines of an Eminence Deltalite II 2512 which is a very high quality Neo loudspeaker. That would give the GK Neo 212 500 watts RMS power handling before the voice coils fry (i.e., 250 watts per speaker). No telling what the excursion limited power handling might be with those cabs, but with my original suggestion to try the 1001RBII, it's 700 watts RMS / 4 ohms and lets say 350 watts RMS (maybe a little more) into 8 ohms. Unless I'm missing something, I think that ought to work pretty good with a 212 neo cab. If the OP uses some common sense he shouldn't have to worry too much about damaging his 212 cab keeping in mind that the solid state GK "RB" heads are known to deliver more than their rated RMS power. As you know, actually playing an electric bass through a loudspeaker is far different than testing the loudspeaker with a sine wave RMS signal.

Many of the class D bass heads (especially the newer ones) that are rated at 800 watts / 4 ohms probably do deliver at least 400 watts, and maybe more into 8 ohms. So with a bass head like that OP would need to be a little more careful, no doubt. I think he should be okay, though, if he listens to his cab for farting, etc., while performing. Now, if OP was using something that delivered a genuine 800 watts rated audio power into his 8 ohm cab, then I think he would have to be a little more careful not to over power his 212. Maybe a lot more careful!