Active full range PA speaker as bass amp?

[TuneSalad666]

I am pondering on replacing my bass amp with a Mackie Thump 15 full range active PA speaker, bi-amping with a 100W RMS Class AB amp driving a 1,4" titanium driver and a 400W RMS Class D amp driving a 15" woofer, together 1000W peak, crossover at 3kHz, with a combined frequency range of 39Hz-20kHz (-3dB), and a 3 band EQ, +/- 6dB, 80Hz low shelving, sweepable mid 100Hz-8kHz, 12Khz high shelving.

I am thinking of this since I am actually really liking the sound that comes out of my headphones from my home practice setup made out of mixing my bass signal going into a tube preamp set to light breakup into an 8 band graphic EQ with the raw bass signal going into a 7 band graphic EQ and then the combined signal of those two paths into a headphone preamp.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this, anything I should consider or reevaluate before going this path or anyone who already got experience with using PA speakers and amps as amplification for their bass?

Perhaps I ought to add that I am exclusively playing 4 string basses with standard tuning E-G.

 

[TuneSalad666]

Bump!

Anyone?

 

[Downunderwonder]

I played a few open mic nights with sansamp into the mixer into those. Drums un mic'd. Sounded ok.

 

[BadExample]

I played through my small PA, heavy eq at the mixer with HFP. I didn't try loud, but it sounded better than I expected. Two 12" wedges at 100W max. each. Good clean tone. I think if I cranked it with the eq and low B, it would have had the 12's for lunch. If you can cut the highs, you can probably get some good sound. Low B might be questionable if you have a 5 string or down-tune. Can you get out and try one somewhere? I would be hesitant if the goal is loud and/or distortion pedals. HPF pedal would be good, if it's not already HPF'd internally

 

[chadds]

Doesn’t weigh much cost is nominal.
Ultimately it’s got to sound great to you.
Be aware when we experiment we can bias our study by playing bass through gear in a way that shows its strengths. Then we get on the gig and play like Rocco Prestia and your rig sound like &$$.
See if it can do anything a bass amp does.
I don’t love plastic cabs. They often can handle program material but hit them with real electric bass and they manifest resonances that even low end bass cabs don’t have.
Yet these could be the cat’s meow.
Conversely at that price how much quality are you getting? Half the price. Then cut it again by say a 1/4. Then think, how much do the drivers cost? Two class D amps? The housing. Crossover. Because around here we pay $400 plus for a class D head.
YMMV.

 

[jsbarber]

Have you considered powered cabinets designed for bass guitar? Bergantino offered the IP series of powered cabinets about 10 years ago. They were and still are well regarded. Other manufacturers of bass gear provide powered cabinets, such as the Barefaced FR800. Wayne Jones also offers powered bass cabs.
As far as powered PA cabinets are concerned Anthony Jackson was using Myers Sound at one point. They are pricey, but Anthony sounded great through them.
Personally I would stick with the powered cabs by bass gear providers.
Are you planning to use this for your bass stage sound only or will you be using it as FOH for the band?

 

[Papuzzo]

I looked into this, specifically I tried a Zoom B3N into that Mackie. It sounds OK at lower volumes, but cranked the sound becomes "strained" for lack of a better word. I think there is something in decent bass cabs that makes the bass sound great at stage level volumes.

 

[JazzbassArt]

I am pondering on replacing my bass amp with a Mackie Thump 15 full range active PA speaker, bi-amping with a 100W RMS Class AB amp driving a 1,4" titanium driver and a 400W RMS Class D amp driving a 15" woofer, together 1000W peak, crossover at 3kHz, with a combined frequency range of 39Hz-20kHz (-3dB), and a 3 band EQ, +/- 6dB, 80Hz low shelving, sweepable mid 100Hz-8kHz, 12Khz high shelving.

I am thinking of this since I am actually really liking the sound that comes out of my headphones from my home practice setup made out of mixing my bass signal going into a tube preamp set to light breakup into an 8 band graphic EQ with the raw bass signal going into a 7 band graphic EQ and then the combined signal of those two paths into a headphone preamp.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this, anything I should consider or reevaluate before going this path or anyone who already got experience with using PA speakers and amps as amplification for their bass?

Perhaps I ought to add that I am exclusively playing 4 string basses with standard tuning E-G.

A 212MBP is worth considering.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

There are already very in depth threads on this subject. Do more searches.
I would suggest you look at the QSC K12 powered full range speakers. They are generally considered one of the best when using this approach for bass a amp. The newer ones have a dedicated EQ that works well with electric bass. I play through a cheaper one for low volume rehearsals. But! The caveat is just that Most commercial powered pa cabs are not really designed to be used as a bass amp.

 

[Jinobass1]

I am pondering on replacing my bass amp with a Mackie Thump 15 full range active PA speaker, bi-amping with a 100W RMS Class AB amp driving a 1,4" titanium driver and a 400W RMS Class D amp driving a 15" woofer, together 1000W peak, crossover at 3kHz, with a combined frequency range of 39Hz-20kHz (-3dB), and a 3 band EQ, +/- 6dB, 80Hz low shelving, sweepable mid 100Hz-8kHz, 12Khz high shelving.

I am thinking of this since I am actually really liking the sound that comes out of my headphones from my home practice setup made out of mixing my bass signal going into a tube preamp set to light breakup into an 8 band graphic EQ with the raw bass signal going into a 7 band graphic EQ and then the combined signal of those two paths into a headphone preamp.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this, anything I should consider or reevaluate before going this path or anyone who already got experience with using PA speakers and amps as amplification for their bass?

Perhaps I ought to add that I am exclusively playing 4 string basses with standard tuning E-G.

I think it’s a great idea,
I started using EV 12” PA/monitor Speakers x2 like years ago when I saw Reggie Washington (NYC Bassist for RH factor w/Pino Palladino(yes double bass players) rolled up on me when I was playing on the street 35yrs ago ,he had them. So I immediately copied him. Full Range speakers Sounded so clear compared to my bass amps.
even though it was only 2 way speakers(woofer and a tweeter)
But that’s how I got into playing 12” speakers w/Horn.
I bet what you’re using sound great and I’ve been considering going back to that since technology evolved immensely since then.
Maybe a full range 2 or 3 way speaker/wedge/monitor/PA w/subwoofer (for real low’s) might need preamp w/crossover like a real PA or even add a bass cab a hybrid!

 

[Jinobass1]

I am pondering on replacing my bass amp with a Mackie Thump 15 full range active PA speaker, bi-amping with a 100W RMS Class AB amp driving a 1,4" titanium driver and a 400W RMS Class D amp driving a 15" woofer, together 1000W peak, crossover at 3kHz, with a combined frequency range of 39Hz-20kHz (-3dB), and a 3 band EQ, +/- 6dB, 80Hz low shelving, sweepable mid 100Hz-8kHz, 12Khz high shelving.

I am thinking of this since I am actually really liking the sound that comes out of my headphones from my home practice setup made out of mixing my bass signal going into a tube preamp set to light breakup into an 8 band graphic EQ with the raw bass signal going into a 7 band graphic EQ and then the combined signal of those two paths into a headphone preamp.

I'd like to hear your thoughts about this, anything I should consider or reevaluate before going this path or anyone who already got experience with using PA speakers and amps as amplification for their bass?

Perhaps I ought to add that I am exclusively playing 4 string basses with standard tuning E-G.

I think it’s a great idea,
I started using EV 12” PA/monitor Speakers x2 like years ago when I saw Reggie Washington (NYC Bassist for RH factor w/Pino Palladino(yes double bass players) rolled up on me when I was playing on the street 35yrs ago ,he had them. So I immediately copied him. Full Range speakers Sounded so clear compared to my bass amps.
even though it was only 2 way speakers(woofer and a tweeter)
But that’s how I got into playing 12” speakers w/Horn.
I bet what you’re using sound great and I’ve been considering going back to that since technology evolved immensely since then.
Maybe a full range 2 or 3 way speaker/wedge/monitor/PA w/subwoofer (for real bass amp Lo’s) or add Bass cab and make it a hybrid!

 

[J Wilson]

The fundamental difference is bass guitar amps/cabs are 'slanted' design-wise to make that instrument sound as good as it can, in the designer's mind, to the exclusion of any other instrument.

Sound reinforcement gear is always to be designed with a far more neutral response, whether for voice, acoustic instruments, pre-recorded playback (CD, downloads, you name it), a whole band, and on and on. As best it can, it wants to make any- and everything sound good.

So FOH gear will certainly carry a bass guitar, but it will be more like studio monitor speakers or very neutral headphones, and very clean vis-a-vis dedicated bass amps/cabs. Of course, you could warm to taste with a channel strip or preamp pedal, but whether or not it's for you, only you can answer.

If you like the more neutral sound through your headphones, this may be for you, with the caution that the closed nature of headphones is an entirely different thing than a bass and whole band subject to the whims and effects of a given room, that tone through air. Now you have to see if that tone can carry through the ambience and effects of rooms or stages.

For some, it's just too clean, others it's fine. You will have to decide for yourself.

 

[TommyLuptak]

I love my JBLSRX812p. Enormously loud and holds the low Bb on my five string tuned 1/2 step down. I use my Two Notes Le Bass DI direct in to the JBL SRX812p. Single 12” with horn. Mind blowing. $1669 new. 1100-1300 open box prices. My bass is the Ibanez 1005ms loaded with Nord Zen Blades and still using stock Ibanez preamp. My friend just got the Darkglass 410,210,900w microtubes V2($4500). I’d take my setup any day first. Experiment people!!!