What size Cabinet do you use to play Live

[2112]

I use two 2x15's and two 1x18's. Along with all my bandmates.

 

[Al Kraft]

My second and newest configuration is a DNA DNS112 clone built by LowDown. It has a Mesa 12" 4ohm neo and a tweeter. This little guy sounds fantastic for the size and weight. I run it with my GK MB200 because it gets the full 200 watts at 4ohms. It's a super setup. I've used it a couple times for small gigs but never had a chance to push it. I love the growly yet deep tone of the cab.

I'll bet that thing is sweet Will! If someone had told me in the 1970's we would be more than happy with small, light weight bass gear like this I would have laughed and foolishly quoted some "tribal knowledge/folklore" that the designers of today saw as a challenge, not a hard boundary.

 

[4001]

If I ever will play live again, two Mesa PH 212's.

 

[Al Kraft]

If I ever will play live again, two Mesa PH 212's.

I own two of those cabs and they never fail to disappoint, as long as moving gear that is a little large and a little heavy is okay. Of course I only move gear for a few minutes to set up for a gig (and those cabs have removable casters) and I usually play for hours, so I guess you know how I see that equation working out.

 

[Manticore]

I almost always use a Kemper into the board and IEMs.

 

[LowActionHero]

Most shows I use a 4*10 Genz. Practice and small stages (like tomorrow night, tiny stage, 2 hour gig) I use a 115 GK combo. (I used a pair of em before I got the 410 cab)

 

[marqueemoon]

4x10, but my situation is dumb in that it's my bandmate's cab, he has no place to store it at home, and our practice space is too small to house a second bass rig. I play guitar in a second band that shares the same space, so we both just end up using the same cab in our respective roles as bass player. It's overkill for just about everything either band does.

I'm looking forward to having my own smaller/lighter cab I can keep at home and bring out to shows so I don't have to haul that giant dumb thing anymore.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

115 or 112/115

 

[Jackcrow]

I play an Ampeg 8x10 at pretty much every show. I used to use smaller cabinets but then I just started taking the 810 everywhere. It's heavy, but it gets the job done.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

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...

I currently have four set-ups - 410, 210 (arrives on Monday), 112 and 112x2. I have DNS-410, which is my one cab I can play anywhere (max SPL=137db). Scared the owner of a small brew pub when I rolled that in so I got an Eden EX112 and an Eden TN226 amp (class D 225-watts) set-up for there. Then I'll use two Eden EX112's at medium sized venues.

I have a DNS-210 cab scheduled to arrive on Monday 10-28-19. Will probably sell the two 112's if the DNS210 sounds like I expect it to (like a smaller version of my DNS-410 cab). It's not too big to use at that small brew pub and should handle the medium clubs just fine, leaving me my 410 for larger medium-sized clubs, large clubs, outdoor gigs, and festivals. So right now I have both 10" and 12" speakers but looks like I'm moving towards just 10" speakers in my cabs.

Historically I've also used 212, 215, and 115 cabs although I do not currently use any of those. I'll attach a picture of my DNS-210 once it gets here, but here are the three set ups I currently use:

Small Club:

Medium Clubs:

And this is for large clubs, outdoors, and festivals (can actually be used for everything).
Link Removed

 

[Zbysek]

My set up is modular in the range from 1x6' to 2x10' plus 1x12'...

Most often, I play 2x10'...

In the past, I have been using 4x10 and 2x10 plus 1x15 rigs... I don't need so much power any more...as new cabs are more efficient...and some of my bands use IEM...and I have rarely been allowed to use the full power of those bigger rigs anyways...

IME, 2x12 would be a perfect rig for me these days. It would be sufficient for all my rigs.

 

[Panek]

I bring my Ampeg 810 wherever I go. Very easy to move around by myself or two people regardless of the situation, either from its home at our rehearsal space to the van, from the van to the club, or up 5 floors via stairs at a Berlin squat - doesn't matter. All the stories about 810's being too heavy, too big and unwieldy are greatly exaggerated.

As for the amps - my main right now is a Traynor Mono Block B, as a backup I use the Acoustic 370.

 

[Pushrod]

I use the same rig for everything these days. BBC Tank 1012 and a Quilter BB800. small footprint, huge sound, and about 40 lbs between the two.

 

[Foz]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Subbed a BMS horn driver + custom 3-way xover.

 

[chris_b]

There's a seeming consensus of what size rig you need to play live bass here. . . . . .

I've always used modular rigs, ie multiple cabs to build the rig that works for the gig. In the early days it was 412's, then 15's then 410 and 210 cabs.

When 112's started to improve I used several of those. For the past 3 years I've only gigged two Barefaced 112's.

 

[onda'bass]

...and 1000watts?
I looked at getting a GB. My amp is too whimpering for those cabs!

@Chickenwheels actually 2000 watts

 

[dabis]

View attachment 3574587 View attachment 3574588
115 or 112/115

This G&L bass is completely off topic, so please stop sticking it on every single thread you participate or someone will have to confiscate you

 

[Hundred proof]

Most of the time this simple 1x15 is more than enough

 

[Egm93]

Can never go wrong with Aguilar!

2x SL112s + AG700 = Lots of headroom, love and happiness

 

[jnewmark]

These days, most of my gigs are a 115 cab. If I play outdoors on a big stage, I'll bring a 212. Otherwise, backline is usually provided where I could wind up with just about anything.