Cab options

[SteveXFR]

Im in need of a bit more volume. My amp is an Ashdown ABM600 which has a ton of power but my cab is only a 200 watt 2x10 and it just gets a bit swamped in a metal band. We could play quieter but don't really want to. My options are get a second 2x10 or buy a 4x10. Is there any advantage to a 4x10 over two 2x10 cabs?

[Leonard Smalls]

Keep the 2x10, but buy a 4x10 of the same make and impedance (assuming it's 8ohm). That way you've got teh option of a 2x10 for small gigs, a 4x10 for medium and effectively a 6x10 for big ones. That's what I do!

[Downunderwonder]

1 hour ago, SteveXFR said:

Im in need of a bit more volume. My amp is an Ashdown ABM600 which has a ton of power but my cab is only a 200 watt 2x10 and it just gets a bit swamped in a metal band. We could play quieter but don't really want to. My options are get a second 2x10 or buy a 4x10. Is there any advantage to a 4x10 over two 2x10 cabs?

None whatsoever.

 

Get another of the same 210 and stack tall. The tower of power doesn't comb filter your mids into a muddy mess like a 410 does.

 

No strain loading in and out.

 

Much win.

 

[Lozz196]

My preference is as @Leonard Smalls says, you get great options that way, but my back agrees much more with @Downunderwonder - and this is what I have gone for. 

[Dan Dare]

Just now, Lozz196 said:

My preference is as @Leonard Smalls says, you get great options that way, but my back agrees much more with @Downunderwonder - and this is what I have gone for. 

 

Good call and provided you can stack them vertically without the risk of them falling on someone, you'll have a driver at or close to ear level, which will enable you to hear what you're doing more easily.

[Leonard Smalls]

58 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

my back

I often take the 2x10 and amp, only used the full 4x10 and 2x10 a few times... But I have invested in a decent trolley!

But my cabs are Markbass - the 4x10 is a relatively reasonable 25kg.

[BassAdder60]

Get a 2 x 12 4ohm cab and it will be all you need 

 

I ran my ABM600 into an Ampeg SVT212AV cab and it was glorious 

 

Ideally your single 8 ohm cab needs to be 400w or minimum 300w but a 4ohm cab rated to 600w would be all you need 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 11:50 by BassAdder60

[binky_bass]

Get six 8x15 cabs. You know... for 'future proofing'... 🤔

[Lozz196]

1 hour ago, Leonard Smalls said:

I often take the 2x10 and amp, only used the full 4x10 and 2x10 a few times... But I have invested in a decent trolley!

But my cabs are Markbass - the 4x10 is a relatively reasonable 25kg.

I was similar when in Knock Off, only used the 410 & 210 on a couple of occasions, the 410 being more than enough and as it was on wheels easier to shift than the 210.

[Elfrasho]

4 hours ago, Downunderwonder said:

 

 

Get another of the same 210 and stack tall.

 

 

 

 

 

Do this.

 

Or even potentially, get you existing cab closer to being in line with your ears. If you need more volume for FOH then maybe not, but if your amp is prety much just for on stage, then you probably have enough volume already, its just not directed at you adequately. It's advice I got decades ago and it still stands up today!

 

I've no scientific evidence to back this up, but I think thats why 8x10s tend to sound brilliant... there's speakers in pretty much ear height so you're hearing the amp better. 2 2x10s stacked vertically, or a single vertical 2x10 raised to ear heigh does the same job, kind of.

[Paddy515]

Two 115, 8ohm cabs - job done!!!

[cetera]

Get this.... Awesome cab and all you'll ever need.

 

 

[BassAdder60]

10 minutes ago, cetera said:

Get this.... Awesome cab and all you'll ever need.

 

 

I agree that would be awesome 

[Boodang]

These days I just use active pa cabs, but back in the day it was Trace Elliot and a 4 x 10. Once we were playing a gig in the car park of a pub on the edge of a park. We had arrange the gig because we were not invited to play at the small open air gig in the park (nothing petty about it of course!). About half way into the first set someone from the park came over and asked us to turn the bass down as it was cutting across their sound. Ah, those back breaking Trace Elliot days. 

I always found that the 4x10 was louder than two 2x10. Could've just been the setup though as that was SWR. 

[Burns-bass]

If I was playing metal again I’d look for a super sized cab like a Barefaced 2x12 cab (whatever it’s called). Lightweight, monster sound and lightweight (already said that, but it’s lightweight).

[SteveXFR]

31 minutes ago, Boodang said:

These days I just use active pa cabs, but back in the day it was Trace Elliot and a 4 x 10. Once we were playing a gig in the car park of a pub on the edge of a park. We had arrange the gig because we were not invited to play at the small open air gig in the park (nothing petty about it of course!). About half way into the first set someone from the park came over and asked us to turn the bass down as it was cutting across their sound. Ah, those back breaking Trace Elliot days. 

I always found that the 4x10 was louder than two 2x10. Could've just been the setup though as that was SWR. 

 

I used to have a TE head with TE 4x10 and 1x15. It sounded great but after the third time I blew up the head, I got rid of it. Maybe I should look for another oil tanker anchor / TE 4x10

[tauzero]

4 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

If I was playing metal again I’d look for a super sized cab like a Barefaced 2x12 cab (whatever it’s called). Lightweight, monster sound and lightweight (already said that, but it’s lightweight).

 

Those heavy old things? GR Bass AT212, 11.5kg.

[asingardenof]

I can happily recommend the ABM 600 and Barefaced Two10S combination

[chris_b]

212 cabs are great, I've had several, but IMO splitting that up into a modular 2 x 112 rig makes more sense. You can use 1 or both and transport, stairs and living on the upper floors becomes much easier, especially when a cab can weigh as little as 10kg.

 

Some 2 x 112 rigs can be much louder than large cabs, like 410's, 610's etc.

Edited 2 hours ago by chris_b

[Bolo]

The 200w is pretty anaemic for a full metal outfit. I'd look towards 500-600watt total so neither amp or cabs are doing heavy lifting.

If it were me I'd search for a nice 212, can always add the tens for very big stages.