Which cabs sound better for a Fender Precision?

[Liam Wald]

I recently switched from a 4x10 to three 1x12's. Both powered with Mesa D-800.
The 12's sound much better IMHO.

 

[StatesideRambler]

The Fender Precision bass has been played through nearly every cab ever made and it's sounded great/sounded awful through every one of them. There's no definitive answer to your question. Here's something I posted elsewhere on TB:

I've quoted and referred to an Anthony Wellington clinic in Chicago several times around here. The guy at the store asked Ant what backline equipment he wanted. Ant told him, "Whatever you got is fine." It wasn't because his sound didn't matter to him but because he knew he could sound like himself no matter what. For unfathomable reasons we, as a group, refuse to learn that lesson.

If you think using a 10" instead of a 12" cab is gonna make or break your sound then you ain't woodshedding enough.

 

[Lowendtech]

Both. Together. Of course. But it’s always best to mix brands at the same time.
Oh yes, and make sure one is front ported and one is rear ported.
Yes I did it.
Yes it sounded bloody good with my P Bass.

 

[Kmonk]

I prefer 10s but how you use your EQ has a lot to do with it.

 

[Omega Monkey]

Most people use 5 or 6 inch drivers for their P. Oh, they will tell you they use 8 or 10 inches, but most of them are lying.

 

[Andy Daventry]

Well played sir.
It is currently 2017 although the same question has been asked since about 1975.

Which just goes to show what a timeless question it is.

 

[MDBass]

Hi all,
I must to buy a cab (or cabs) for my new amp.
In your humble opinion, a Fender Precision sounds better with a cab 10" (2x10 or 2 2x10) or with a cab 12" (1x12 or 2 1x12)?
Thanks in advance to all.

The size of the of the speakers in a cab doesn't actually tell you anything about how the cab sounds: an Acme 210 cab will sound literally nothing at all like a Markbass 210 cab.

Do you have any particular cabs in mind?

 

[Coolhandjjl]

From what I have gleaned, very few drivers are worthy of being identified. One is the 15" JBL K140 with the silver dustcap. I have two and am contemplating a build of a reproduction 215 matching cab for the Sunn 200S. I'm sure there are people who can tell by ear what 15" should be in the Ampeg B15 as well.

Other than that, driver size means nothing with modern speaker design practices.

 

[Sixgunn]

What year is this?

What ever year I choose

 

[SactoBass]

What year is this?

What year would you like?

 

[bassboysam]

The size of the of the speakers in a cab doesn't actually tell you anything about how the cab sounds: an Acme 210 cab will sound literally nothing at all like a Markbass 210 cab.

Do you have any particular cabs in mind?

and yet people still insist they prefer one over the other...

 

[micgtr71]

I like the sound of my p bass through 2 Phil Jones 4x5 cabs. Currently while I wait for my new pickup to arrive the bass is sporting an MIA strat pickup. Yes, it sounds like a p bass.

 

[Anders Barfod]

Personally i Think i would pair the p bass with a tighter punchy cab.. its less dependent on driver size, more about the specific driver and the cab design

 

[grimjim]

I've always been a p-bass guy. Ampeg as well until recently. My favorite cab at the time was a 4x10/1-15 cab. However I have moved on to DNA, the 4x10 cab I have now is just as full sounding as the old 8x10 ampeg refrigerator at half the weight.

If you can, check out DNA, they make a killer 2x10 cab, I could not believe the amount of sound that came out of that cab.

 

[Jack]

speaker diameter on its own tells you nothing about the sound or tone. not all 10 inch speakers are the same. not all12 inch speakers are the same etc.

Bull. Everyone knows tens are punchy and fifteens are woolly.

 

[bassboysam]

Bull. Everyone knows tens are punchy and fifteens are woolly.

and 12s are midrangey

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It's my theory that almost all bass gear is tested with a P bass. One of the reasons why a lot of effects sound better with a P bass.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Actually, anything with zero bottom end could substitute.

I have used more than a few 810e backline and they put out plenty of lows. Down below 60 hz is mostly useless anyways...

 

[Downunderwonder]

All of them.

 

[dukeorock]

As a rule of thumb, 15" provide bottom, 10" give definition to your tone. I'm only familiar with 12" speakers for practice combos. They work well there for overall tone.

*sigh