What's a good amp cab size?

[Rip Van Dan]

There's only two general rules:
- in terms of loudness, 1x12 is roughly equivalent to 2x10 (and 2x12 roughly equivalent to 4x10)
- Two small cabs (1x12 or 2x10) is more modular than one big can (4x10 or 2x12) because you can bring one for small gigs, and two for big gigs.

Tone wise, it's different for each brand. Some people think that 10 inch cabs are more tight and fast and 12 inch cabs are fuller, but it's not always true, it depends on the designer's tonal goals.

Beware of generalizations about cabs. There is a huge amount of difference between the various cabs. I have two 112 cabs, a 210 cab, and a 410 cab that I currently use. I use one of the Eden EX-112 cabs for small venues and I used two of them for medium venues before I got my DNS-210 cab in December of 2019.

My DNS-210 cab is not only much louder than one Eden 112 cab, it's louder than two of them. But it's also louder than most 410's. I use it for all my indoor venues whereas I would use the 2x112 cabs for medium-sized venues and my DNS-410 cab for large and/or outdoor venues as well as music festivals. So there's a wide discrepancy between cabs. Although I have a 2x112 set up I prefer to use the 210 and if I had done it right, I would have bought my DNS-210 cab first and then bought a second one for outdoors and music festivals because I would have in effect have a 410 set up when using both when I needed to.

My two EX112s:

My DNS-210 cab:

 

[landrybass]

Deathcore sounds like you need anything with 15s and a few of em.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I use a 210 with a 112. The 10s give the punch and the 12 adds some fullness to the bottom end.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I don't know what death core is,
But it sounds like music that would require an 8-10, 4-12, or a couple of 2-15 enclosures.

 

[Gearhead17]

I mainly play deathcore and I'm planning on getting a Darkglass amp. From what I've seen on their website, it comes in 1x12, 2x10, 2x12, and 4x10. What's a good size?

Creations – Darkglass Electronics

As a fan of Deathcore myself, I would recommend trying out the bass cabs prior to buying them. I don't think you can go wrong with a Darkglass cabinet. If it were me, I would probably get two 410's. My only reservation are the specs: specifically the sensitivity of 95db. I am not sure what frequency that was measured at, but most bass cabs at the 1khz mark are in the 100db range. If this cab is 95db at 1khz, that would not be a loud cabinet at all. Some questions for you:

1. Are you playing places with PA support?
2. Is this rig for practice mainly, shows in the future?
3. What is your budget?
4. How many band members and what gear are they using?
5. What amp head are you currently using?

To all of the people that have flippantly posted something in this thread and declaring to not know what Deathcore actually is, why are you posting at all? We have a TB member that is looking for guidance and a simple Google search would tell you what you don't know. Deathcore is a fusion of Hardcore & Death Metal. Carnifex, Whitechapel, Chelsea Grin, Left to Suffer, and others fit the Deathcore genre. Most of these bands live are using IEM rigs and keeping stage noise to nothing, but the drums.

 

[Ostie]

I'll see your 2x15 and raise you a 2x18.

 

[DwaynieAD]

I musta missed that memo...

A 12 has 113 Sq inches of surface area
A 10 has 78

So while inaccurate and far from the only determining factor it's not as far out as one might think

 

[DwaynieAD]

I played heavy metal for years. Not deathcore but drop A with extreme vocals. Get the 410.

 

[Killing Floor]

Best practice is a couple 2-15 for basic level.

 

[Marko 1]

A 12 has 113 Sq inches of surface area
A 10 has 78

So while inaccurate and far from the only determining factor it's not as far out as one might think

Was this meaningless word salad supposed to refute my point?

 

[DwaynieAD]

Was this meaningless word salad supposed to refute my point?

If you think facts are meaningless and can't read that's on you. Enjoy ignorance.

 

[Slevage]

You've got some homework to do…
Heavy metal genres - Wikipedia

Having played Zepplin and Sabbath when their songs were brand new, I hope to study other subjects.
My last gig had about 300+ in the audience. My rig was a 1-10 Elf combo with excellent FOH support.

 

[Michedelic]

Having played Zepplin and Sabbath when their songs were brand new, I hope to study other subjects.

As did I(although I don't consider Zep to be 'metal'), but it's been diversifying since the early 80's, perhaps even earlier with the advent of NWOBHM. If you're deeply into Sabbath, there's the Stoner/Sludge/Doom scene, which I tend to gravitate to. The band Boris is my fave; guitarist Wata is such a little cutie. As well, the stylistically adjacent Desert scene, which gestated out near where I live.
Now, I know a guy who, with his technical death metal band, played a festival in India recently; he was telling me about they just rolled in with their guitars/bass, drums, and a giant rack, no amps. Their entire set was pre-mixed in the rack. On the other hand…you mentioned that you did a gig with just a 10" driver; but you probably weren't playing stuff like Sunn0)))…

Fire the drummer? They didn't even bother in the first place. Just slow oozing riffs of molten lava drone. Very meditational.

 

[Slevage]

As did I(although I don't consider Zep to be 'metal'), but it's been diversifying since the early 80's, perhaps even earlier with the advent of NWOBHM. If you're deeply into Sabbath, there's the Stoner/Sludge/Doom scene, which I tend to gravitate to. The band Boris is my fave; guitarist Wata is such a little cutie. As well, the stylistically adjacent Desert scene, which gestated out near where I live.
Now, I know a guy who, with his technical death metal band, played a festival in India recently; he was telling me about they just rolled in with their guitars/bass, drums, and a giant rack, no amps. Their entire set was pre-mixed in the rack. On the other hand…you mentioned that you did a gig with just a 10" driver; but you probably weren't playing stuff like Sunn0)))…
View attachment 5061244
Fire the drummer? They didn't even bother in the first place. Just slow oozing riffs of molten lava drone. Very meditational.

No SunnO for me- I've done enough damage to my hearing. I did own a couple of amp's with the same name over the years-happy to use small light weight stuff. The musicians I gig with are happy with correct notes-my tone only has to satisfy me
I did some homework as you suggested and Zep is Traditional Heavy Metal along with some of my other favorite bands.

 

[Slevage]

Some darkglass amps have 2 speaker outs, most have one
This can impact your choice
I have a 2 output amp and the ability to add a second cabinet gives me more options

Which darkglass amp are you getting?

You don't need more than one output on an amp to run multiple speaker cabinets.
Be careful that the load doesn't go below the amp's specification when making parallel connections.