What do you value in a cab?

[chadds]

Sound first!
Weight 70lbs max works for me. Use dog ramps into your vehicle if you’re done lifting.
Black w/black grill. I play society, big concert venues, clubs, wine bistros, art gallery openings, house concerts and roadhouse gigs. Always appropriate.
Always loud enough. Can play quietly with no loss of punch or tone.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi kelsound

1). Weight.

Do you have a limit?

No! That said, I prefer light and good to heavy and bad!

Will you pay more for neo drivers in the same cab than if it had ceramic drivers?

No neodymium for me! *

Do you already use a dolly for every load-in/out?

Using Dolly? No! My wife would kill me!

2). Looks.

No rat fur, no carpet, no yellow speakers.

Duratex is easy to clean, does not smell and is cat scratch safe.

I am still looking for the best grill for metal.

3). Travel.

Rented van or my own car. No casters.

4). Complaints.

band mates that say they can't hear the bass

No complaints!

5). What is the biggest thing you would change with all the cabinets available today?
Or are you happy with what is available?

Less polution would be cool! * (neodymium!!!)

6). With mom & pop shops drying-up, and GeetarCenters having very limited brands, how do you find a good cab? Travel to far away store?

Yep! Travel. And TB!!!

7). What sound do you prefer:

The sound is in my fingers!

I like cabs that cover the whole spectrum and are not heavily voiced.

8). Lowwwww B

No problem with a HPF!


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[Wisebass]

a DRIVER who doesn't smell, speaks clear English, and will just shut up and driv.....

Oh. Not THAT kind of cab....

greetings

Wise

 

[GwenOnBass]

Replies to the questions that ping me:


1). Weight.

And dimensions. Weight has little bearing on how easy the cab is to move around corners, up and down stairs, and around corners on stairs. No eagerness here to haul big and heavy.

2). Looks.

The first thing for me is I don't like to see the drivers. I'm not impressed. Tied for first is my personal distaste for overstated branding. Very little I hate more than a company name on the face of the cab that occupies 20 percent of the real estate. Perhaps cab manufacturers are pleased to see their name like Times Square on the stage, but I'm not (until I'm paid to advertise for them). No problem here if the logo is small and tasteful.

We hateses teh rat fur, we do.

Yes please, something more than basic black without an upcharge.

 

[Passinwind]

Replies to the questions that ping me:

Yes please, something more than basic black without an upcharge.

She Who Must Be Obeyed put down the law quite a few years ago: no more black cabs in the house. A preference for natural finished wood was stated, and happily that suits me very well.

As far as the visible driver conundrum, I blame the Dead. Oh wait... that was the whole run away and join the circus thing.

 

[pbassnut]

Feel free to copy paste the questions, with your answers as a reply.
I am taking a sampling to see what gigging players value most in a cab.

1). Weight.
Do you have a limit?
Will you pay more for neo drivers in the same cab than if it had ceramic drivers?
Do you already use a dolly for every load-in/out?

2). Looks.
Do you prefer typical black and metal grills, or a more old school tweed with cloth grill look (assuming performance is the same)? Other?

3). Travel.
Do you use your own vehicle, or public transportation? Or a horse?? :0
Casters, Yes or No?

4). Complaints.
Do you ever get complaints from band mates that say they can't hear the bass, or the bass sounds like mud?

5). What is the biggest thing you would change with all the cabinets available today?
Or are you happy with what is available?

6). With mom & pop shops drying-up, and GeetarCenters having very limited brands, how do you find a good cab? Travel to far away store? Advice from friends? Online reviews? YouTube reviews? Other?

7). What sound do you prefer:
Full mid-range and good lows....not worried about that zingy high-end to 10kHz?
Or full dynamic range maybe with mid pulled back a little? highs extend to 10kHz.

8). Lowwwww B
How many need a cab that handles the low B (like actually is strong below 40Hz)?

Thank you all !!!!!!!
Yes, I am trying to find solutions.
After being recently laid-off I have gravitated to what I love, trying to make things sound good (it's what I did for a living). I have already made four cabs, and as I take them to gigs to test I have been approached by other bass players who have been asking about the sound of the cabs. And I am finding some common thread issues that perhaps we all have. Maybe I can solve some of them.
Thank you for your time and input!

Ray

<<
1). Weight.
Do you have a limit?
Will you pay more for neo drivers in the same cab than if it had ceramic drivers?
Do you already use a dolly for every load-in/out?
>>

I'm old, so at most: 40 pounds ... preferably less. However, the key is two handles placed strategically for maximum schlepability. I find it amazing how many lightweight NEO loaded cabs and combos have only one handle which largely negates the lightness of the cab. I have a Carvin MB15 combo that isn't much bigger than the 15" speaker it houses and is only 30 pounds but only has one handle which makes it more difficult to schlep than my larger 35 pound Schroeder 210 PL cab.

<<
7). What sound do you prefer:
Full mid-range and good lows....not worried about that zingy high-end to 10kHz?
Or full dynamic range maybe with mid pulled back a little? highs extend to 10kHz.
>>

Midrange is the key to cutting through, IMHO. It might not make for the smoothest bedroom tone, but when it comes to fitting into the band mix in a room, you gotta have it.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I’m saving/shopping for some cab upgrades in the near future. So far most all the criteria seem to be met by the Mesa Subway cabs. Tried a few in the store but not on the gig yet. Deciding between two 12’s or two 15’s. Just wish either cab had a recessed top handle like the Markbass NYC 112.

My SWR 2x10 is tricked out with two Eminence BP102s so it’s a bit heavier, but it absolutely slams on louder electric gigs. Points off for rat fur, it is what it is.

My Markbass 1x12 is a fine upright amp and sounds even better with the nyc extension cab. I don’t like it so much on electric bass - but it makes for an easier schlepp on gigs with stairs and on dual setup events. Points off for rat fur ... but I have a cover for the combo which keeps it looking sharp. More points off for Orange / yellow speakers but nobody cares except for me & other bass players.

 

[BurningSkies]

The ability to crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

 

[bassdude51]

If you don't trust the science, you can always test it out for yourself.

These days, it's pretty easy to do- use a rack power amp and a flat response preamp to power an original fEarful or two, and put a high-quality HPF in front of the preamp.

Then start gradually raising the cutoff point on the HPF. If you're like the rest of us, initially, you'll just hear the low end getting tighter and more satisfying. But at some point, you'll start to hear and feel something missing from the fundamental.

I can pretty much guarantee that you won't feel any negative effects at 30Hz, but you ought to perceive a noticeable loss once you get much above 60Hz. It's all about preserving that good strong octave harmonic of the fundamental.

I went through all of this way back in the early '80's. I bought my first 5-string before you could get matched string sets, never mind low B-friendly amps and cabs. The B sounded pretty satisfying right from day 1, but I knew I was missing something, and I got pretty obsessive about getting to hear and feel an actual 30Hz fundamental.

I started with instruments, then started fiddling with electronics, looking for gear that was flat down to 10 or 20Hz. Cabs were next, and I eventually got there with a custom Thiel alignment that used a tailored active EQ to make up for the natural rolloff of the cab.

There wasn't a ton of headroom (I only had a single 250w 15" in a bin the size of a compact 2x15), but it was pretty cool within it's limits. Just as others here have suggested, it only really worked on slow songs- a big, sustained pedal note at low B or C was pretty satisfying. But it really muddied up the low end on fast songs, especially in rooms with no acoustic treatment.

Fast-forward to today, and pretty much everyone has it all scienced out. AudioKinesis builds a bunch of great cabs that are pretty much dead flat down to 60Hz, giving you a great, punchy and usable low B that doesn't screw up the kick or get FOH breathing down your neck. Greenboy, Barefaced and others offer interesting variations on the same theme.

Such a fantastic explanation! Thank-you for your effort to explain. I should print up and keep for records, what you just said. Excellent writing!

I like what you said here........................." it only really worked on slow songs- a big, sustained pedal note at low B or C was pretty satisfying. But it really muddied up the low end on fast songs, especially in rooms with no acoustic treatment."

Totally agree!

Just my personal feeling, I never really cared much for the sound of the low B. It's just too low! But, I do like the sound of the low D. Also, those low notes below the open E..........to me only sound good as whole notes or 1/2 notes. Played as 1/4 notes or higher for fast songs, those low notes don't sound all that great to me.

I've owned several 5 string basses over the years and no sooner than I buy one, I sell it and stay with 4. Then a year or two later, I buy another 5 string and end up selling it too. The last 5er I bought and sold, I told myself, "no more"!

So in concluding, the open E @ 41 hz is good enough for me but I do want to hear it's full glory.

Thank-you for your wonderful comment.

 

[bassdude51]

Thing is, such low extension kills the perfection (for me). Your bass creates a lot of mud down there. Most of the time it will just sound like a pillowy sustained "boom" which has no real definition or clarity, it just adds to the depth of the sound but is something that will mostly get eaten while gigging with PA support or you will simply end up being eaten by the kick drum down there. There is a reason why a vast majority of studio technicians cut bass at least at anything below 50-60hz. It depends on the music style though, so these are questions that require a subjective answer and cannot be answered in an objective fashion. While someone likes this type of a cab/sound/voicing, another one dislikes it. Both are correct, up to the listener to decide for himself.

In my experience I have found that frequencies in the 50-250hz area are the ones responsible for bass thickness, meat and depth. Anything below and it starts to mess up with the drum kick extension, which kills the mix for me. With a sealed cab, any band I plug in (from reggae to rock to jazz) it just works, everything flat and you sit just right in the mix, can hear all drums, guitars, brass, and still hear myself with a defined, clear, projected bass tone.

Saying all that, I understand your needs

Just my 50 cents though

Fabulous comment!!!!!!!!!!! Thank-you very much. You're starting to convince me!

 

[shoot-r]

For me....the sound, first, last, always!

I just hit the big 65 and won't gig without the 100 lbs. of Bergantino NV610 behind me.

 

[kelsound]

I like the “CASH CAB”

Cash cab

 

[kelsound]

For me....the sound, first, last, always!

I just hit the big 65 and won't gig without the 100 lbs. of Bergantino NV610 behind me.

You are my hero!

 

[kelsound]

Sound first!
Weight 70lbs max works for me. Use dog ramps into your vehicle if you’re done lifting.
Black w/black grill. I play society, big concert venues, clubs, wine bistros, art gallery openings, house concerts and roadhouse gigs. Always appropriate.
Always loud enough. Can play quietly with no loss of punch or tone.

Makes sense. Thank you for your input!
Ray

 

[kelsound]

Hi kelsound





No! That said, I prefer light and good to heavy and bad!



No neodymium for me! *



Using Dolly? No! My wife would kill me!



No rat fur, no carpet, no yellow speakers.

Duratex is easy to clean, does not smell and is cat scratch safe.

I am still looking for the best grill for metal.



Rented van or my own car. No casters.





No complaints!

View attachment 3478425



Less polution would be cool! * (neodymium!!!)



Yep! Travel. And TB!!!



The sound is in my fingers!

I like cabs that cover the whole spectrum and are not heavily voiced.



No problem with a HPF!


greetings

Wise(b)ass

Thanks Wisebass !!!!
Dolly will be heartbroken to hear this news though!
:0

 

[Pilgrim]

I don't have to copy and paste the questions.

I have two priorities:
Light weight.
Great sound.

Therefore, my cabs are all Genz-Benz with neo magnets. My combo is a Fender Bassman 100V3 that weighs 22 pounds and is great for many of our gigs, which tend to be low volume.

 

[jchrisk1]

Weight and durability are my only concerns. Well, those and tone. Must sound good.
Under 60#, and must be able to take a beating! While I don't abuse my gear, I don't baby it either. I can't have my cabs falling apart when I look at them.

 

[Sparkl]

Yes, I totally agree with your theories/style on mix. I am very similar in thinking.
Hint: Blend a U47 FET into the whatever your kick drum mic normally is. Talk about lows!!!
But I'm not driving in that direction. I'm gathering info on what gigging players need from the cab they take with them to gigs. Thus, take the house mix (if there is one) out of the equation. But what do you want from that cab behind you?

As I said, mid forward cab but not agressive, more in a smooth fashion with a roll off around 50hz (def. not much lower), tight and rounded low end (especially first few frets of the e string - e,f,F#,G are the most critical with ported cabs) with nice high freq extension, 17-18khz is more than enough. I prefer 10 inch speakers all the way.

 

[kelsound]

As I said, mid forward cab but not agressive, more in a smooth fashion with a roll off around 50hz (def. not much lower), tight and rounded low end (especially first few frets of the e string - e,f,F#,G are the most critical with ported cabs) with nice high freq extension, 17-18khz is more than enough. I prefer 10 inch speakers all the way.

17-18kHz ??? Ahhhh you must be young. I can't hear past 15kHz anymore. Dam drummers!!!!!!!

 

[kelsound]

As I said, mid forward cab but not agressive, more in a smooth fashion with a roll off around 50hz (def. not much lower), tight and rounded low end (especially first few frets of the e string - e,f,F#,G are the most critical with ported cabs) with nice high freq extension, 17-18khz is more than enough. I prefer 10 inch speakers all the way.

Replies to the questions that ping me:


1). Weight.

And dimensions. Weight has little bearing on how easy the cab is to move around corners, up and down stairs, and around corners on stairs. No eagerness here to haul big and heavy.

2). Looks.

The first thing for me is I don't like to see the drivers. I'm not impressed. Tied for first is my personal distaste for overstated branding. Very little I hate more than a company name on the face of the cab that occupies 20 percent of the real estate. Perhaps cab manufacturers are pleased to see their name like Times Square on the stage, but I'm not (until I'm paid to advertise for them). No problem here if the logo is small and tasteful.

We hateses teh rat fur, we do.

Yes please, something more than basic black without an upcharge.

I hear ya!
It's like ,.. Look at me! Look at me!!!! I'm not a fan of that either...