The only reason I would set up two cabs would be if I needed the extra volume because I couldn't run a DI to FOH, or if they were two different cabs that I wanted to blend for tone reasons. If you can send a DI, or put a mic on your cab there is no reason to waste the energy and space of setting up two cabs.
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When is two cabs too much?
- Thread starter EddieG
- Start date
When you bring one to gigs and the soundguy still tells you to turn down. Happens to me w my Schroeder.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
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- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
If you know:
-what it takes to balance with your band(s) and
-each venue size and
-crowd size and possibly
-the PA
Then based on your experience, mentally classify each gig as small, medium, or large. Don't be afraid of making a mistake. You will learn.
Then take the right mix of gear based on the S, M, L sizes. Always carry a good DI and a couple of long mic cables so you can go into the PA, if needed.
For me, a 210 and a 410 are very flexible.
Also, FWIW, having two cabs with you provides a backup.
-what it takes to balance with your band(s) and
-each venue size and
-crowd size and possibly
-the PA
Then based on your experience, mentally classify each gig as small, medium, or large. Don't be afraid of making a mistake. You will learn.
Then take the right mix of gear based on the S, M, L sizes. Always carry a good DI and a couple of long mic cables so you can go into the PA, if needed.
For me, a 210 and a 410 are very flexible.
Also, FWIW, having two cabs with you provides a backup.
Another consideration is when the single cab just doesn't cover the full tone range. Maybe one is ok, hits around 70-80% of the range, but add another cab and it just sounds better?
I have a 2x10, sounds great and it handles 400w @ 4 ohms and is pretty loud. But I throw in a 1x18 under it and it really rounds out the bottom end. Just sounds better to my ears.
I just don't need to lug both around that often, so the 2x10 is enough. I haven't heard 2 2x12's, 2 2x10's or 2 1x12's or 1x15's together, maybe they all sound the same as the single but louder?
I have a 2x10, sounds great and it handles 400w @ 4 ohms and is pretty loud. But I throw in a 1x18 under it and it really rounds out the bottom end. Just sounds better to my ears.
I just don't need to lug both around that often, so the 2x10 is enough. I haven't heard 2 2x12's, 2 2x10's or 2 1x12's or 1x15's together, maybe they all sound the same as the single but louder?
But how do you know when one is enough?
Are you getting the sound you want with one cab? Can you hear yourself with one cab? If you don't have PA support, can the crowd hear you?
If the answer to these questions is yes, two cabs are too much. If you answer no, will another cab correct the problem? If no, then two cabs are too much, or not what you should be worrying about.
But how do you know when one is enough?
When the patrons at the coffee shop tell you to turn down?
I run a GB Shuttle 3.0-10T on top of an Ampeg SVT15e cab. So far, I have done gigs that were "Shuttle by itself", "whole rig", and "Shuttle w/amp DI into FOH." - oh, and "whole rig, standing behind it, with the Shuttle turned around to face me as a monitor, no FOH."
I'd go Shuttle + FOH every time if I could. I love walking in with just the tiny 1x10 combo and having any other bassists there do a double-take.
I'd go Shuttle + FOH every time if I could. I love walking in with just the tiny 1x10 combo and having any other bassists there do a double-take.
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
+1 I sometimes run (3) fridge cabs but they run pretty low and aren't blowing people away at the back of the bar, although having that potential makes me smile
3 fridges! When would you ever need that much volume!?
Being the passive-aggressive personality type- I like two cabinets whenever the stage is roomy enough and the room is not dinky. It's comforting to know that I have the ability to put whatever kind of bottom is required into the often changing space/body ratio. Besides two cabinets looks way cooler than one. http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebrisk/sets/72157623173146512/show/
6jase5
Mammogram is down but I'm working manually
Perfectly stated, much like bringing an extra bottle of alcohol to a party but leaving it in your car "just in case".
I played a show with my 72 svt and a berg nv215 setting up prior to a kid with a new svt classic and 2 fridge-a-taters. He said to me..."Why only 1....you guys soft rock?" I smiled.
After the show he said "you win."
I'm a 2 cab minimum guy. Interestingly, and this may surprise some people, the two cabs together can actually be as quiet as a single cab. Seriously! i have a thing called a volume knob on my amp, and I use that.
So 2 cabs can replicate 1, but can 1 cab replicate 2? Sometimes yes but in the case of the OP with 2 identical cabs, the answer is no. Like my friend in construction says "When in doubt, the big crane can do what the small one can, but not he other way around...".
Extra volume is only one part of it. For me it's about not pushing the drivers any harder than I need to. Not only does it keep the recones away, but it improves your tone by keeping you out of the region where power compression kicks in. I don't think there'd be too many people that would argue with the accepted wisdom to back it off if your speakers are distorting. IMO if you even get to the distortion stage you've gone too far because power compression should have already alerted you that the speakers are being pushed a bit harder than they'd like.
So 2 cabs can replicate 1, but can 1 cab replicate 2? Sometimes yes but in the case of the OP with 2 identical cabs, the answer is no. Like my friend in construction says "When in doubt, the big crane can do what the small one can, but not he other way around...".
Extra volume is only one part of it. For me it's about not pushing the drivers any harder than I need to. Not only does it keep the recones away, but it improves your tone by keeping you out of the region where power compression kicks in. I don't think there'd be too many people that would argue with the accepted wisdom to back it off if your speakers are distorting. IMO if you even get to the distortion stage you've gone too far because power compression should have already alerted you that the speakers are being pushed a bit harder than they'd like.
