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using PA cabs in a bass rig

Cirk

Cirk

Jan 16, 2011
688
107
Panama City, Florida
#1
Ok, this is probably going to cause some strong opinions, but here goes: I'm kicking around the idea of using a PA cab or two as cabs for my bass rig. I spoke with a gentleman named Vinny from zzounds yesterday, and he did not recommend this. Specifically, I was looking at the Mackie Thump 15" powered speakers. Another possible avenue is to use passive speakers with a power amp. For this rig, I'd use my trusty SansAmp RPM. What are your thoughts? Good idea, or would it not sound right? Thanks
 
#2
I had to use on one time in a pinch, and it sounded like crap. Most Pa speakers cannot handle the bass as well as a bass speaker. Frequency response is not as low and the crossover is not set at a good point either. I think GK has a powered bass cab and other makers do also, but I don t know them off the top of my head. I have used a pre/power amp in the past and worked great, but with bass cabs. When you have PA support, they have subs for the low frequencies that the tops can t handle very well, so you can t expect to get a good bass tone out of a 15 and horn PA cab. I therefore vote nay.
 
#9
mojomike001 said:
...Most PA cabs are tuned to about 50 or 55 hz or so and aren't designed to reproduce lower notes without the addition of subs.
Click to expand...

Neither are most bass cabs... for example the Ampeg 8x10 drops like a rock below about 80 Hz... and to be clear the OP's idea was to build a PA stack [multi-way cab on top of powered sub].

There is nothing wrong with the concept proposed by the OP but the results will only be as good as the PA stack you build - bottom of the barrel consumer grade parts will yield a weak sauce stack because while there actually is such thing as a free lunch - you can't buy one. Use better parts and you'll get a better stack. For example find some used good condition pro grade stuff - like maybe a couple of EAW or Meyers PA components - add a nice preamp and appropriate signal processing with power amp and you could build an awesome bass rig for a few thousand bucks.

The drawback is that good PA parts tend to be pricey, and heavy, and bulky. You can end run this to an extent by getting a low end capable bass cab built using modern a "super woofer" [high strength - high excursion motors using rare earth magnets to keep the weight down] which gives a full range rig response but is a good bit cheaper than a decent PA stack and a lot easier to schlep to the gig.
 
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#10
Foz said:
Neither are most bass cabs... for example the Ampeg 8x10 drops like a rock below about 80 Hz... and to be clear the OP's idea was to build a PA stack [multi-way cab on top of powered sub].

There is nothing wrong with the concept proposed by the OP but the results will only be as good as the PA stack you build - bottom of the barrel consumer grade parts will yield a weak sauce stack because while there actually is such thing as a free lunch - you can't buy one. Use better parts and you'll get a better stack. For example find some used good condition pro grade stuff - like maybe a couple of EAW or Meyers PA components - add a nice preamp and appropriate signal processing with power amp and you could build an awesome bass rig for a few thousand bucks.

The drawback is that good PA parts tend to be pricey, and heavy, and bulky. You can end run this to an extent by getting a low end capable bass cab built using modern a "super woofer" [high strength - high excursion motors using rare earth magnets to keep the weight down] which gives a full range rig response but is a good bit cheaper than a decent PA stack and a lot easier to schlep to the gig.
Click to expand...
In that case a cabinet by Clair Bros that has seriously stood the test of time, would be my absolute first choice for bass guitar out of a PA speaker.
Beware the mighty S4:
image.png

Yup that will go plenty low.
As for punch it's a good plan to either clench you teeth hard when striking notes or keep them safely apart.:-)X
 
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#11
Bassmec said:
In that case a cabinet by Clair Bros that has seriously stood the test of time, would be my absolute first choice for bass guitar out of a PA speaker.
Beware the mighty S4:
View attachment 889864
Yup that will go plenty low.
As for punch it's a good plan to either clench you teeth hard when striking notes or keep them safely apart.:)X
Click to expand...
It even looks loud in the picture!
 
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#12
Pound for pound, dollar for dollar a nice rig intended for bass will do a better job than PA speakers. You can get great sound out of pa equipment, obviously, but as a dedicated bass rig you'll spend and haul more.

For example, a bass combo equal to the cost of the Mackie/sansamp will sound better for bass and be easier to carry and setup.
 
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#13
mojomike001 said:
Most PA cabs are tuned to about 50 or 55 hz
Click to expand...
So are most bass cabs. The difference in how they work is the system Q. Take two cabs with the same speaker and same tuning but one is larger than the other. The larger cab will have a lower Q, and that results in a better bottom end. Plastic PA cabs are smaller internally than bass cabs, so they have a higher Q and don't go as low.
 
#14
A PA setup (a quality cab with a sub) would work great for bass. Conversely the new crop of high end multiway bass cabs work well for PA.
The downside to the PA rig is that it would be expensive (>$2000) and heavy (>120lbs) for a typical 12" top and 18" powered sub of decent quality.
And besides, in a larger venue the audience is going to hear the bass through PA cabs regardless of what you bring.
 
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#17
99Z3 said:
Some time back there was a lil fad going on about some Carvin PA cabs.. maybe @tombowlus can shed some light on this, seems to me I remember he has some of them!
Click to expand...

Yes, IIRC it was the 1503...I use two for our FOH mains. Never tried them with my bass rig but they did serve as the starting block for some of the newer cab designs although I can't recall which.

Riis
 
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#20
You're coming to Pittsburgh for Mardi Gras? I mean yeah, I picked up a Wishbass there a few months back, same day as French Quarter Fest. 4 friends of a friend were stabbed there that day, one was critical. Glad we avoided the Quarter that day.
As for where I am now, there's cold homebrew in the fridge at the bar downstairs.
 

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