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Why are bass cabinets so expensive?

I have 2 of the Ampeg 210AVs. My littlest cab is a Yorkville guitar combo with the amp taken out/capped off, added a port and installed an Eminence 10.
I see big old cabs for cheap all the time in Vancouver.
I see big cabs all the time too, but I don't want big anymore. I spent enough years hauling 410's around.

The last few gigs I used my Markbass mini CMD, 15" x 17", 26 pounds with a DI to the PA. 1 trip load in.
 
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If you're in the Chicagoland area, you can have a free Yamaha 2x15 I'm trying to get rid of. No stairs involved.
I actually used to really like those old 115 and 215 yamaha bass amps and cabs..... if I recall, they weigh more than I do..... so I played them when I went to places that had them and played them exactly where they were in the room LoL..... those were the days.
 
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Part of it is that there are not many entry level bass cabinets on the market because the average player looking for entry level cabinet is also looking for an entry level combo.

This. Also, enough bass players recognize that the cabinet has a very significant effect on your sound, and is not something to cheap out on!

Way better to get a cheap amp and a well-designed, not-cheap cab than the vice-versa!
 
He has a point though. D-800 cab 950 , 2X12 800watt rating = 1500 dollars
Berg even more
GK -- I think same as Mesa or just a bit cheaper
Genzler -- I think they area also up there

If you go the AI route it makes more sense - price per watt

Double Shot -- 600 watt - $650
AI Clarus SL Head -- 650 watt - $600
If you want 2 channel, and need mic inputs - 980 for the Clarus
All their amps are 2 ohm capable.
Been doing class D longer than the other big names

Plus AI has better warranty. Not as good as marketing as Mesa and do not have that Rock and Roll swagger.

They are good amps. And the heads can power 2 SVT 810's. Their power ratings are not inflated and they even lower it to 500 watts at 40% duty cycle.

All I had to do was to pay shipping for putting in a speaker output for my old series 3 combo, which I was the 3rd owner.
 
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Fender Rumble cabs are decent (won't say great, if you pay a lot more you get better tone) and if you can find one used locally, maybe cheaper. I got a 115 Rumble ext cab used for $250, sometimes the 210 or 410 cabs come up used for pretty cheap also. They're about the cheapest new also, I think
 
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TC Electronics mini bass head
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For example, I can buy a Fender Rumble 25 for $180 or an Orange Crush 25 for $300
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By TC 'Mini' I assume you mean the BAM200, rated 200W/4Ω. So you might want a cab rated say 8Ω/150W or 4Ω/200W+. You really can't compare that with a pair of combos rated not much over 10% of that - it is little wonder they seem so inexpensive by comparison.

I'm looking for something small, maybe a 110. This is for our cabin and will just be used for practice and to jam with 1 or 2 people with acoustic guitars.
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Realistically, one of the combos you listed would be more than enough for that situation. Or the Rumble 40 if you really want to open the taps.
 
I regularly look at GC's Used site, and when I see a cab I'm curious about, I search to find more info on it.

Then I find a few-years-old ad for a used one that's HALF the price, and that just shoots the deal down for me.

Fortunately I have a variety of very nice cabs that cover every scenario from small to very big, I love my heads, and I really don't need anything for a while. :)
 
It's been mentioned and I'm sure you thought about it. But, get a combo and leave your TC at home.
I jam with a couple friends competing with a Strat and an acoustic plugged into a 100w amp. My 40w Rumble is more than enough.
Granted, we aren't playing loud. Some silly notion that we should preserve our hearing. ;-)
Good luck with your hunt!
 
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There have been incredible advances in both cab and amp design over the last twenty years … and I am glad I no longer haul the heavy , huge , old stuff around. Smaller , lighter , modular makes a great deal of sense to me , and is well worth the price.
Never sounded anywhere near as good either.
(Bergantino fan)
 
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