Fender Rumble Cabinets - 2x10 vs. 1x15 with Ampeg V-4B

[WES JETT]

Hey folks, I just picked up a used Ampeg V-4B with a Fender Rumble 115 cab from my local music store and am considering adding a second cab to the rig...

I'm a fan of a more vintage style bass tone; I'm talking passive Fender basses through tube amp and speakers with no horns. I was a big proponent for the solid state MarkBass stuff for several years, but after picking up the V-4B, i'm never going back to solid state / neo speakers / horns in any cabs...

I wasn't really sold on the Rumble stuff until i tried this cab - I'm actually getting some nice sounds from it with the Ampeg head, and the cab is super light and portable. I want to add a second 8 ohm cab so that I can run 4ohms at bigger shows, but still have the option for a smaller, more portable rig for practices and smaller settings. Right now, i'm highly considering adding a second 1x15 rumble cab, but will that be too much low end? my gut tells me to go with the rumble 2x10 - but i'm not really a fan of 10 in speakers to begin with.

Does anyone have experience with the Rumble 2x10 / have a compelling argument for why i should choose one cab over the other? i'm curious to hear some different perspectives...

here's a pic of the current rig with the one cab - already really loud! the head is slightly too wide for the body of the cab, but eh...I kinda like a frankenstein bass rig!

WES' BASS RIG

• WES JETT
• Feb 22, 2017

Ampeg V-4B Reissue + Fender Rumble 115 Cabinet

 

[DigitalMan]

Welcome to TalkBass. Unfortunately this is a bit of a hot button topic that many folks have possibly burnt out on, and several have likely been banned because of.

Scientifically the position is that two cabinets of different design will have different phase responses leading to potentially destructive interference. True.

Subjectively, how good or bad either combination sounds relative to each other is not predicted by the previous statement.

My suggestion is to be informed by science and then decide with your ears.

 

[WES JETT]

Welcome to TalkBass. Unfortunately this is a bit of a hot button topic that many folks have possibly burnt out on, and several have likely been banned because of.

Scientifically the position is that two cabinets of different design will have different phase responses leading to potentially destructive interference. True.

Subjectively, how good or bad either combination sounds relative to each other is not predicted by the previous statement.

My suggestion is to be informed by science and then decide with your ears.

thanks for the info! I haven't heard the argument about different phase responses before, but it makes perfect sense. the way I've seen Fender advertise this product line often times features a 2x10 stacked on top of a 1x15 enclosure - sounds like a good idea in theory, but I guess i'd have to hear it in person. Since I still have 30 days to return my 15 cab, I've considered swapping it out for a comparable priced 12" speaker enclosure...but I'm really happy with the weight of the 15" cab so far. People seem to have a lot of hate for 15" speakers, but I'm kinda diggin' the sound

 

[BassmanPaul]

I voted for two 15s not because they are inherently better but because they are both the same. My choice would have been a pair of 2x10s stacked on their ends for a vertical 4x10.

 

[WES JETT]

the good news is, all these cabs are very reasonably priced...so maybe I should just get a few of each

 

[P-oddz]

I'd go with the 2x15" cabs. If you like what you're getting with the single 1x15, you'll get twice as much of that.

 

[rodl2005]

I use my V4B with 2 Fender Bassman Pro Neo 115 cabs. Sounds YOOOOOOOOJ! !
Haven't used the Rumble cabs but have read positive things- especially about the 115 Rumble cab.

Here's mine with the 2 Fender Bassman Pro Neo 115s

&