What size Cabinet do you use to play Live

[funkinbottom]

For small gigs I have a 2x8"


Small to medium sized rooms a 1x12" , and larger rooms 2 1x12".



I also have an older Genz Benz 4x10" that is parked in the rehearsal studio.

 

[Jim Carr]

All fEARful, all the time. The visiting bassists at the local blues jam who use my rig, leave the stage shaken and weeping, and are often heard to whisper in a north Texas drawl, "Ah gotta get me one a these here fEARful thangs."

 

[JdFastMother]

I'm kinda an amp junkie. This is my favorite. In the lower left is my other Ampeg cab. It's a Heritage series 410HLF. I also have a MESA rig with a SubwayD800 head and 1x15 Mesa Powerhouse Tradional and a 2x10 Powerhouse. I also have two Peavey 1x12s for small rooms. also have an odd 1x12 and a 2x10 Hartke cab...oh and a Kustom 2x10 lol

 

[Eilif]

2x10 with tweeter Carvin Redline at church. It's all the bass the congregation gets as I'm not in the mains, but it competes just fine against a live drummer and 2 keyboards doing mostly gospel music.

1x15 Ampeg B100R Rocketbass combo for country gigs at various small bars and restaurant.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

There's a seeming consensus of what size rig you need to play live bass here, which is totally at odds with my experience. So I thought, what size rigs do we really use. Poll is limited to bands playing live with an acoustic drummer who uses sticks, otherwise it becomes too meaningless.
I'll do one for amplifier power rating as well. If you have something not listed, then pick the next one up, eg for 3*12 select 4*12. Only select tweeter if you actually use it, not if its turned off! Unlimited selections so you folks with complex rigs can mix and match, or add all your different rigs...

410 and 115, Voted for both.

 

[JRA]

i'll use just about anything (gig dependent, or my judgement dependent ), but i used a 2-10 cabinet for last weekend's gigs so that's how i voted. i use it a lot...mostly...

 

[aprod]

I fluctuate; not always with any real rime or reason, but it just so happens that I've been defaulting to my MarkBass 2x10 cabs; vertical configuration. I LOVE the different sounds/qualities of different speaker voicings, and I've used anywhere from 10" speakers to 18" speakers at different venues. While all have their cons (naturally, some of the larger speakers can get really boomy if the EQ isn't really worked with), they all DEFINITELY have their pros.

Still (for ME), the 2x10 (or a pair of 2x10) cabs have been the most practical, between size/weight, footprint and controllable stage volume that doesn't debate much with kick drums, guitars, or most open mic (with thoughtful/careful placement). Cheers!

Rime? really?

 

[bass151]

I know there are a million variables, but man I envy you guys who can do do gigs with small rigs. Short of using high dollar boutique cabs, I don't know how you do it. High quality 410 rigs seem to be the the minimum for me. Without FOH support.

 

[Low Down Brown]

I use my LDS 2x8 for most gigs..sometimes the single 15". Bigger rooms and outdoors get both.

 

[Tricaptain]

Rime? really?

*chuckling*

Ya; total Iron Maiden pun. I know it's actually 'rhyme or reason'...

 

[Tricaptain]

Varies by venue. I always start with the Mesa SW112 and SW115.

View attachment 3573995

NICE. I loved my pair of Subway Ultralite 1x12s when I had them (recent, aggressive downsizing)!

 

[Ric5]

What size Cabinet do you use to play Live

IT DEPENDS ...

I have 6 cabs 3 2x10, 1 1x18, 2 1x15, all 8 ohm and 3 ampeg bass heads … one of the 2x10s is my basement rig, for rehearsal 1x15 usually works, and for gigging 2 2x10s work well for a louder band I use a 1x18 and a 2x10 and mike a 10.

 

[sharkbait130]

Both of my practice places have 8 10's in them. Sound incredible but too heavy for me to be moving around these days.
I also have a Peavey 2 15 cab with a really old set of Scorpions in it. It sounds incredible too but it's pretty heavy and will only handle 300 watts so in the basement it sits.
All my gigging recently has been with my 2 12 av cab. Sounds incredible , will handle almost as much power as the 8 10 and weighs 100 lbs. less. I have never used the tweeter in it.

 

[musicman556]

I play at church and at home, and don't have to carry gear around much. I'm just used to 410s. I have a roughly 15 year old B series 410 HLF at church. Looks BRAND new still... even has the Ampeg hang tag on the handle, haha! At home I have a new (as of 3 months ago) Heritage SVT 410HLF and it, too will continue its life with the hang tag on it.

I am hoping, however, to find a local group of guys and join/start a group to play out around town some. In that case, I'll probably get 2 8 ohm 112 cabs and add the second when necessary.

 

[BlackCatBassman]

In real life, 90% of my gigs are covered by a Fender Rumble 100 with a 12" speaker

I saw a video where Ben Kenney (bassist for Incubus and The Roots) says he uses three Mesa Walkabout Scout combos 300w into a 1x12 + three 1x12 extension cabs. 900w into 6x12, somehow he slaves the other two amps off the master.

You don't really hear about a lot of "big name" guys using combos, but I thought it was interesting for sure.

 

[BlackCatBassman]

my other Ampeg cab

I want to know more about that Les Paul bass. How's the ride on that thing? I'm interested to see what "New Gibson" is producing.

 

[Bobby Bass]

GK MB200 head into a Ampeg B100r Cab.(15' 4 ohm). All that's left of the B100R.

 

[JdFastMother]

I want to know more about that Les Paul bass. How's the ride on that thing? I'm interested to see what "New Gibson" is producing.

It's a Great little bass! push pull volume pot split coil p/u. It's been my main bass since I got it. and it plays great. My left shoulder is acting up and long scale basses start hurting after a while. I guess I don't have to reach as far... Fits in my Goldtop 6 string Les Paul case too! lol

 

[onda'bass]

A fearless 2x12 is all I need

 

[Basshappi]

I use either a 1x15 or 2x15 depending on the size of the venue.