Info on original cabs for Marshall Super Bass

[S.F.Sorrow]

I'm trying to find some info on the cabs that were originally used with the Marshall Super Bass back in the day. Dimensions? Were they ported or sealed? What kind of speaker elements were used? Were dedicated bass cabs even common or were a guitar 4x12s often used instead?

Basically, how to recreate the classic British bass sounds of the 60s/70s most accurately. Just to be clear: This is for a studio experiment only. I'm fully aware of the limitations of vintage bass cabs/speakers compared to modern.

I've tried searching but I can't find a definitive answer to this. I get the impression that the most common solution in those days were simply to use whatever was available, whether it was a bass cab or a guitar cab. But surely the larger bands must have had a permanent rig with dedicated bass cabs?

Any info on the original cabs that were actually used for bass will be much appreciated. And any specific info on recordings of classic albums featuring the Super Bass would also be very interesting!

 

[beans-on-toast]

Check out Metropoulos Amplification. Their forum can help as well. There are details on their cabinets, they are very picky on getting it right.

Also worth checking out: Ceriatone Amplification

The Ampeg SVT810 that was introduced in '69 used what many consider to be guitar speakers. Technology was evolving and they used what was available.

 

[S.F.Sorrow]

Thanks!

 

[Bassmec]

Well I am a former celestion engineer and the best Marshall cab of the seventies for bass was the taller TV 4X12 because of the larger internal volume for the sealed cab.

With the 55hz FS version of the old pulsonc coned version of the greenback.
But they make a heritage version new today called the:
Heritage Series G12H(55)
But if you could find 4 later mid 1980's S12ce sidewinders in good condition, at least you would have higher power handling and edge wound voice coil sensitivity.
From the Archive: The Sidewinder/

 

[beans-on-toast]

Well I am a former celestion engineer and the best Marshall cab of the seventies for bass was the taller TV 4X12 because of the larger internal volume for the sealed cab.
View attachment 926511
With the 55hz FS version of the old pulsonc coned version of the greenback.
But they make a heritage version new today called the:
Heritage Series G12H(55)
But if you could find 4 later mid 1980's S12ce sidewinders in good condition, at least you would have higher power handling and edge wound voice coil sensitivity.

I like that grille cloth. Always fancied the look of the taller cabs.

 

[S.F.Sorrow]

Thanks Bassmec! I don't think I can find much better info than that!

I always thought the TV cabs were only a later day "fake reissue", like a reissue of a cab that never existed before. So these cabs actually existed as bass cabs back in the golden days of rock? Very interesting.

The TV cabs I am familiar with are the Greenback equipped guitar 4x12 cabs from a few years back. Are these the same dimensions and build as the ones you mentioned? Only with Greenbacks to aim the at guitar players? The guitar player in my band has got one of the new TVs. I wonder if I can slip some G12Hs or Sidewinders in there without him noticing.