Can you combine cabinets with different sized speakers?

#22
You have opened TB can of worms #3. Blood has been shed on the subject.
If it feels good, do it...but...you could get wicked comb filtering that could effect your fertility.
Clear enough?
 
#26
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I run a 212 combo so have nothing to contribute other than this meme which was approved by my daughters...;)

Good Luck!
 
#28
Raf Seibert said:
First of all, using different speaker sizes will not cancel the bass frequencies at all. Provided, as has been explained, that the drivers do not suffer from reversed polarity, and you’ve learned how to check for that.

Now, there are potential problems with combining driver sizes, but cancelling frequencies are not among them. There are myriad threads here detailing the thinking on the subject. To summarize, some ‘er fer it, some ‘er agin it. Me, I’d not.

Raf
Click to expand...
You will get phase cancellation at different frequencies as frequency increases. This is due to the vented cabinet design, distance between the drivers and a plethora of other parameters. They might be in phase at the very bottom end of the band, but can become problematic in the all important mids that a good sounding bass guitar requires.
 
#30
This topic is one of the most entertaining on TalkBass. Many folks can't/won't afford to prove it out, so the debate rages on for those relying on speculation and prediction. Meanwhile, those who've done it/do it and have actual statistical evidence, either ignore the debates, or extract entertainment value.
 
#32
Unless the two speakers and cabinets have absolute identical response, there will be constructive and destructive interference at various frequencies. Even identical speakers side by side or stacked will have some degree of interference. For anyone one to claim this doesn't happen, indicates they don't know what they are talking about.

Whether this is found to be pleasing or not, is for the listener to decide.
 
#37
Set aside the considerations for phase cancellation, frequency interference, blah blah blah. At least for me, If I were to run each signal from the bass to a separate amp>cab, I would want matching amps driving matching cabs so I could best hear what the differences were while playing and experimenting with pedals and such.

But more importantly, unless your bass is wired differently than other Rics, you can do this all with one amp and cab - you just need an A/B switch.

Either:
Run the stereo out cable from the bass to the Rick-E-Split box, and from there to an A/B box, and from there it's a single feed to the amp.

Or:
Run both cabled from the bass to an A/B box, and from there it's a single feed to the amp.

Either way, if you want Rick-o-Sound, that's a budget way to get that and avoid all that other stuff like spending money, cancellation, interference, etc.

Rich-E-Split
 
#38
You can, even though many would tell you to try to keep them the same when pairing and totally stay away from the often dreaded 4x10+1x15 setup. However do what you want and whatever gets you that tone/output you seek. Just be more cautious about the cabs handling capacity and what ohms stats.
 
#39
Paulabass said:
You have opened TB can of worms #3. Blood has been shed on the subject.
If it feels good, do it...but...you could get wicked comb filtering that could effect your fertility.
Clear enough?
Click to expand...
Nope, even a single coil pickup does already cause comb filter artifacts. I don't think we want to hate all of our instruments due to (noticeable) natural comb filter issues.
Clear enough?
 
#40
Matthew_84 said:
Chris Squire did it. The two different pickups will produce two different tones (especially if you have the vintage circuit engaged on the bridge/“treble” pickup)...

I’m not an engineer but I play one on TB.
Click to expand...
Even if amplified with one single speaker cab, both pickups in combination will produce comb filter artifacts anyway.
 
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