help me navigate fearful cabs

[LowDownHawkeye]

I've been kicking myself for buying a combo when I started on bass, and have made myself feel better by taking advantage of some cash from my first paid gig and from a bass sale to buy a bass head on a Black Friday sale. Now I'm trying to solidify decisions about cabs.

Right now, I play bass out infrequently, so no huge rush on the cab since the new head is solid state and can be used w/out a cab. And at least for now I've got a Carvin MB210, but may sell that once I get a cab.

I'm looking at options and have questions about the fearful cabs. I see two options for me regarding fearful cabs:

* Build a 12/6 now and get another 12/6 cab later if needed. Pros - modular, and lowest fearful entry bar. But - one cab is 8ohm, so it would exercise the new amp only a little more than my MB210 (even though it might be just as loud or louder). My question: is expandability limited to one 12/6 extension cab or can it be two (or even three)?

* As an alternative, would it be wiser to start with a 1212/6(/1)? It would be 4ohm to start so possibly/probably loud enough to never need another cab, but a more expensive starting position. If one would want to expand, would you have to add another 1212/6 or could one add a 12/6 with the potential for a second 12/6?

I guess the primary question I'm asking is whether fearful cabs can be daisy chained beyond two cabinets.

 

[DukeLeJeune]

I guess the primary question I'm asking is whether fearful cabs can be daisy chained beyond two cabinets.

If your amp is stable down to 4 ohms, then that would be two 8-ohm woofers in parallel, whether they be in one cab (212) or in two (2 x 112).

If your amp is stable down to 2.67 ohms, that translates to three 8-ohm woofers in parallel, so a 212 and a 112.

If your amp is stable into a 2 ohm load, that would be four such woofers in parallel, whether they be in two 2x12 cabs or four 1x12 cabs or whatever.

The 15" fEARful and Fearless cabs use a woofer that has the same motor as the 12" cabs, so you can mix and match 12's and 15's.

 

[boamedt]

Duke is right. A 12/6 is gona be louder than your 2x10. Its most often cmpared to a 4x10 in volume if driven well. If you start with a 12/6 and want more volume, you could build another 12/6. Or a 15/6 + 12/6 would be louder than two 12/6s. Or you could build a 1212/6

 

[Noylin]

What is your new amp?

In my estimation the 12/6 with alpha mid is the best mix of volume, weight/size/portability, and cost. I only need one in a rock band with a loud guitar player and a louder drummer, but I'm feeding it 1000 watts. Whether one is enough for you depends on the context and the amp...

 

[Stu_Bass]

How about a 12/6/1 then add a 12 sub?

 

[LowDownHawkeye]

How about a 12/6/1 then add a 12 sub?

Thanks all. Yes, that is my current thought - a 12/6/1 to start, to replace the 210 I have. Then some time in the future when funds present themselves, another 12/6/1 or a 12 sub. In my current view of the future, the 12/6/1 plus that second cabinet should be enough but it is good to know that I could add another 12-based cab if needs be.

 

[LowDownHawkeye]

What is your new amp?

In my estimation the 12/6 with alpha mid is the best mix of volume, weight/size/portability, and cost. I only need one in a rock band with a loud guitar player and a louder drummer, but I'm feeding it 1000 watts. Whether one is enough for you depends on the context and the amp...

It is a Carvin BX700. With one 12/6 at 8ohms, it is supposed to put out 300W. I'm hoping to be able to completely replace the Carvin MB210 combo that I have now (which puts out 200W at 8ohms) and the Ampeg BA210v2 that we have at church when I play there. I like the idea of being able to add another 12-based cab (either another 12/6/1 or 12 sub) to get to 4ohms and draw 550W from the amp if I need more volume.

 

[Noylin]

It is a Carvin BX700. With one 12/6 at 8ohms, it is supposed to put out 300W. I'm hoping to be able to completely replace the Carvin MB210 combo that I have now (which puts out 200W at 8ohms) and the Ampeg BA210v2 that we have at church when I play there. I like the idea of being able to add another 12-based cab (either another 12/6/1 or 12 sub) to get to 4ohms and draw 550W from the amp if I need more volume.

Well, a single 12/6 with 300w should put out more volume than what you have now, so I'd try it and see. That amp goes down to 2 ohms, which means you can run up to 4 woofers with it and get 700 watts.... That should cover just about anything

 

[Noylin]

But more than likely, a single 12/6 will cover a lot of situations, and a pair will cover most if not all. If you build two, make sure to do one with a reverse baffle. You can mix 12s and 15s with fearful designs... A 12/6 plus 15/6 would be killer....a 12/6 and 1212/6 would be devastating! I'd start with one and then assess how much more you need, if any

 

[buldog5151bass]

I believe that head goes down to 2 ohms (I know the BX-500 does), so it can drive 2 four ohmcabs.

 

[boamedt]

I believe that head goes down to 2 ohms (I know the BX-500 does), so it can drive 2 four ohmcabs.

Or 4 8ohm cabs, or a 4 and and an 8

 

[kekani]

Then some time in the future when funds present themselves, another 12/6/1 or a 12 sub. In my current view of the future, the 12/6/1 plus that second cabinet should be enough but it is good to know that I could add another 12-based cab if needs be.

It'll be cheaper to build another 12/6/1 with Alpha mids, rather than a 12-sub, which would require the higher cost mid driver with a pad in the first 12/6/1 to keep up with an added 12/sub.

As Duke stated, you're not stuck with adding another 12 based cab. If the 12/6/1 isn't enough, and you think you need "more than double" after that, build a 15/6/1 and try that alone. Then stack the 12/6/1 on the 15/6/1 and you'll be pretty modular.

And if that isn't enough, Foz will be by soon enough with his suggestion. . .

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

They are adictive.
Just skip the intermediate steps and build
the 1515/66/1.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I'm building a 12/6 now with plans to build another soon, just in case.

I'm a huge fan of modularity. 2 small(ish) cabs are better than 1 large cab because who wants to be the idiot loading in an 8x10 to a small coffee shop gig? Or jazz brunch? That's the only reason i'm not building a 1212/66 (cuz i REALLY want one. Overkill be damned)

 

[chris_b]

I used to run all combinations of my 3 Berg AE112's from an acoustic duo to a heavy blues rock tribute band.

Modularity just makes sense to me, so I'd recommend a 12/6 with the option to get another one later as the best way to go.

I found that when I sold the 3x12 Bergs and bought Barefaced cabs I only needed 2 Super Compacts to get the same volume, so the OP probably will be louder than a loud thing with 2 12/6 cabs and he'll only need a 4 ohm amp.

 

[ThatLowEnd]

I've got some fun stuff for sale that might be right up you alley

 

[edencab]

of course one could also peruse this site .... Thunderchild 112

no affiliation other than drooldrool

 

[wcriley]

I built my first 12/6 about 7 years ago.
I agree that a pair of 12/6 Alphas is the least expensive and most versatile option.
I disagree that a single 12/6 can get as loud as a 410. Not even greenboy makes that claim.
I have never understood the idea of a 12/6 + 12sub. Why have a cabinet that can only be used in conjunction with another? And if you're always going to use two 12" woofers, it makes more sense to build a 1212/6 (unless it's a pack space thing).
I've often gigged with a single 12/6...but always with an amp that could potentially feed it ~500 watts.

 

[Interceptor]

There's two ways to approach modularity; build a pair of 12/6 cabs using the Alpha mids and a reversed baffle on one of them, or to build a 15/6 as the first cabinet and later add a 12/6 if you still want more.

The 15/6 is a couple of dB more efficient than a 12/6, and you can mix and match any of the fearful line together by design. I wasn't able to get loud enough with one 12/6 and around 280 Watts at 8 Ohms to keep up with a loud drummer. A preamp + power and rig together with a 12/6 was plenty.

There have been numerous accounts of bassists who built all kinds of combinations who ended up using one 12/6 the most. The exception is the reggae crowd, they end up favoring a 15/6. The other thing that gets numerous accounts is how much folks like the dual woofers sound. Clear? Not really. There is a lot to think about.

If I was to start over today and was in a typical rock setting, I'd build a 15/6 and move up to one of the high powered class D heads. I'm in neither situation, and have been happy with a 12/6 in church or other medium to low volume work.

Or, listen to Foz and cry once if you are in loud bands.

 

[LowDownHawkeye]

I built my first 12/6 about 7 years ago.
I agree that a pair of 12/6 Alphas is the least expensive and most versatile option.
I disagree that a single 12/6 can get as loud as a 410. Not even greenboy makes that claim.
I have never understood the idea of a 12/6 + 12sub. Why have a cabinet that can only be used in conjunction with another? And if you're always going to use two 12" woofers, it makes more sense to build a 1212/6 (unless it's a pack space thing).
I've often gigged with a single 12/6...but always with an amp that could potentially feed it ~500 watts.

I'm not after getting as loud as a 410, but it would be nice to replace my 210.