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When is two cabs too much?

EddieG

EddieG

Jan 19, 2005
1,201
497
Scotland
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#1
I'm ordering my second Hartke 4.5XL this week, but it got me to thinking why I'm doing it. With one cab I'm guaranteed up to 400 watts output at 8 ohms, and I'm basically playing clubs and small to medium sized venues, but I guess I'm investing in another just in case the need ever arises, better to have and not need than need and not have! And, I'm playing in a few bands; one doing "Yacht Rock" stuff, one covering pop tunes and things like that, and one doing "classic rock" like Whitesnake, ZZ Top, Led Zep etc. So the whole spectrum of volume and dynamics is covered with those bands! And I like having my cab higher up so I can hear, and I presume too much headroom volume-wise is better than not enough.

Under what circumstances would you naturally expect to have to step up to two cabs, and for how long could you expect to get away with one?
 
#3
Mea culpa.

Two Acme B-4 cabs....the second rarely leaves the house. If you're in a situation where higher volumes are required without FOH support, they do come in handy. For the most part, I use a single cab for backline support and send a line to the mixer.

Riis
 
#4
i use big cab rigs because i think they sound better no matter what volume, and i play pretty low usually. but really, i've played arenas with a 410, so you could theoretically stick with just one cab for everything.
 
#8
EddieG said:
:rollno:

But how do you know when one is enough?
Click to expand...

When you know you don't need two.

Seriously, one should have the equipment to handle any situation. Ideally, going modular and having more than one cab allows you to answer your own question. You'll know that if need more than one, you simply bring two. And if two is too much, you leave one at home.

I really don't understand the problem. There is no one right answer for everyone. The answer you seek can only be found within.
 
#10
maybe it would be as efficient to ask why would I need 2 4x10 cabs and why would I ever want to subject myself to the kind of volume those cab's would be capable of creating ? If I have to use hearing protection on stage - someone needs to get fired. (Could easily be me !) Simple as that ...

It is 2000 and freakin' 10! It isn't the 60's - the gear is better AND you would think we would have advanced the state of stage craft as well ...

I am aiming at a 2 cab rig... based on 1x12's. 1 with a 6.5 mid driver. Overall size ... smaller than 1 of your 4x10's ... Primary use of the second cab - will be to get the first up off the floor so I can here it on small stages and play more quietly. The secondary use will be for filling out larger stages. A flight case for the first cab would be as effective for me most nights. When I need more than that setup will deliver, there will be FOH to do the heavy lifting - I'm not Gene Simmons and my amp ain't part of the show ... and seeing as it's winter here in Cascadia, my stuff get's moved in the rain, blowing snow & sleet... 1 cab is one less trip! Given you're in sunny old Scotland - I'm pretty sure you can relate!
 
#12
I like to use either my Carvin BR810 or my pair of Avatar SB112s. The Avatars are much easier to move around and I like them a bit more but if I knew in advance that there'd be no PA support, I'd pull out the 810. I've only had to fill a room with it once. Since then, there has always been a decent PA system available.

I'd only bring two cabs (or one large cab) if there was no PA support for the bass. The Avatar stack can come out whenever it wants, though. That's easy to move and doesn't take up much space. ;)
 
#17
When they're 8x10s and you're playing in a coffee shop. :)

Seriously though, it's a complicated question. Can you get the mix of speakers to get the tone you want from one cab? Are you miking? Is there PA support? How are you getting to the gig? How big is your stage?

All of those things are considerations. You may not want to take a fridge to a tiny gig on a tiny stage. You might not want a 1x12 and an amp if you're playing an arena show where the amps are props in addition to being sound reinforcement. You may not be able to get the tone you want out of 10's, no matter how many of them you stack up.
 
#18
Just this morning I pulled the trigger on a Aguilar GS112 NT to go along with my GS112. 90% of the little clubs I play around here, I can get by with just the single 12" but on occassion I want a bit more volume, but don't feel like dragging out my 4x10.

I guess this makes me a 2 cab guy again, for the first time since like '93 when I was convinced you need 4x10s sitting on top of a 1x15 for EVERY gig.
 

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