Trying to decide between several seemingly similar cabs with 12" speakers...

What's your pick for a single cab for noise/stoner/doom rock?

  • Greenboy fEARful 1212/6

    Votes: 10 40.0%

  • Accugroove El Whappo

    Votes: 3 12.0%

  • Bergantino HDN212

    Votes: 5 20.0%

  • "The other cab I mentioned in my comment below."

    Votes: 7 28.0%
  • Total voters
    25
mattpnolan

mattpnolan

Supporting Member
Mar 5, 2005
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#1
I am trying to decide between several multi-speaker cabs that I hear wonderful things about.

I am going to attempt to find ones to try. However, I figured I'd see what people here have to say.

I play a PJ bass and am going to be primarily playing stoner rock and/or noise rock and/or doomy/"avant garde" heavy rock.

I use fuzzes, distortions, and some other pedals. I like a punchy lower-midrange sound, only very slightly overdriven when not using effects.

After I get a cab, I'm going to look for a head and am currently going to be comparing Ashdown ABM with Thunderfunk, Eden WTP, and Mesa Boogie Prodigy... (I have been pretty happy with my Ashdown MAG600 for a while)

Thank you for any comments or input!
 
#4
With a Mesa Boogie Prodigy I'd try to go with more efficient drivers and probably full range running woofer cab design 212+x.

The GB neox 212-T comes in mind cause the drivers are designed to provide musical Harmonic content at overload range.
The HT can be controled in level to personal taste.

If a cab is of very good low-end means automatically reduced (average) efficience. Thus the Prodigy would run more quick into overload on a loud/noisy stage. If the (tonal) sound design then is at the HiFi side (multiple-way design) I bet you don't will have lots of pleasure with annoying "busy" dirt at mids/treble generated by a tube power amp that runs at a sweet spot.
 
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#6
popgadget said:
The Greenboy fEARful 1212/6 is a DIY cab. If you are looking to purchase a completed cab you should be looking at the Fearless F212.
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Ah, thanks for that! I would definitely have someone build it, but I didn't realize there was a different model name.

Dominick C. said:
I would give AudioKinesis a look too.
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I haven't heard of AudioKinesis. I'll give them a look!!

ThisBass said:
With a Mesa Boogie Prodigy I'd try to go with more efficient drivers and probably full range running woofer cab design 212+x.

The GB neox 212-T comes in mind cause the drivers are designed to provide musical Harmonic content at overload range.
The HT can be controled in level to personal taste.

If a cab is of very good low-end means automatically reduced (average) efficience. Thus the Prodigy would run more quick into overload on a loud/noisy stage. If the (tonal) sound design then is at the HiFi side (multiple-way design) I bet you don't will have lots of pleasure with annoying "busy" dirt at mids/treble generated by a tube power amp that runs at a sweet spot.
Click to expand...
I thought about a GB NeoX a while back, but I should try one out. That is one that I should be able to find somewhere to try... :)

jakka1 said:
How about a Barefaced Big Twin II? I haven't paired it with a Prodigy yet, but will sometime next week once I get the used Prodigy I just purchased. The Big Twin II is the best single cab that I have ever owned, plus it only weighs 46 lbs.
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I only recently heard about Barefaced. I will give them a good look! Thank you!
 
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#9
NoNoise said:
I thought about a GB NeoX a while back, but I should try one out. That is one that I should be able to find somewhere to try... :)
Click to expand...

GB stuff only exists on the used market now. Thankfully, we have the Magellan 212 from Genzler Amplification available now. It is definitely worth a look. It has got to have the smoothest tweeter I've ever heard in a bass cab. The upper extension is there when you need it, but it stays out of the way for most normal playing. I've used the NeoX, I have a friend who owns one, and it is a great cab but prefer the form factor of overall sound of the Magellan.
 
#10
wcriley said:
The fEARful 1212/6 and the Fearless F212 are completely different critters. The only similarities are that they were both designed by greenboy and each has the same low frequency drivers.
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These "only similarities" can already be the "knock out" with a tube head.
At living room conditions (or rehearsal) these considerations are likely of less concerne but a stage playing loud with a rock band is a very different animal regarding cab efficience (powered by a tube head).
 
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#11
Tommyc said:
If lower midrange punch is what you want, look at the Aguilar DB line. There are 112 's 212's etc. Seems something of a waste to list so many hi-fi style cabs given your needs.
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Well, yes and no. That's the main sound I want, but I want overtones, especially when I use crazy effects. I like very, very, very "hairy" fuzz especially and distortions. :D

ThisBass said:
These "only similarities" can already be the "knock out" with a tube head.
At living room conditions (or rehearsal) these considerations are likely of less concerne but a stage playing loud with a rock band is a very different animal regarding cab efficience (powered by a tube head).
Click to expand...
Do you have opinions on the best for my application? I still like the idea of the 1212/6 more, as it just seems like it would cover more hz, if you will...
 
#12
I assume this is a "one cab to rule them all" kinda solution you seek? I haven't tried any on your list, though the greenboy intrigues because of the claims by its adherents here and elsewhere. Contrary to stated above, even though the fearful line of cabs have their plans out there for the DIYers, one of the authorized builders (or really any builder down for it) would make you one. Both 2x12s by Aguilar might be worth a shot too. The GS series has a more scooped tone, jazz voicing. The DB is voiced a little more vintage/rock with a low-mid bump but it's a hifi vintage if that makes sense. I would rock an Aggie DB 4x12 (if I had the money (if I had a car big enough to haul it (if I had a personal roadie (if...)))).
 
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#13
deathness said:
Contrary to stated above, even though the fearful line of cabs have their plans out there for the DIYers, one of the authorized builders (or really any builder down for it) would make you one.
Click to expand...

My post was more to the point that the F212 is an improvement over the 1212/6, and would generally be a better choice if the OP was not going the DIY route. I would build a 1212/6 for someone that was insistent that they wanted one though.
 
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#14
I would add Mike Arnopol's MAS112 to your list. There are three versions. For what you describe, running a tube head, you'd want the version with the custom Eminence driver -- that's the most efficient version and has some hair and a nice, wide-ranging punch. For the music you mention, fuzz, etc., I'd probably skip the optional tweeter and stick with the standard woofer + mids configuration.
 
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#15
deathness said:
I assume this is a "one cab to rule them all" kinda solution you seek? I haven't tried any on your list, though the greenboy intrigues because of the claims by its adherents here and elsewhere. Contrary to stated above, even though the fearful line of cabs have their plans out there for the DIYers, one of the authorized builders (or really any builder down for it) would make you one. Both 2x12s by Aguilar might be worth a shot too. The GS series has a more scooped tone, jazz voicing. The DB is voiced a little more vintage/rock with a low-mid bump but it's a hifi vintage if that makes sense. I would rock an Aggie DB 4x12 (if I had the money (if I had a car big enough to haul it (if I had a personal roadie (if...)))).
Click to expand...
Well, yes and no... I am just looking for the best cab for my application. I feel I played a different style of music or different basses or different effects setup, I would look for something different. So, I am not looking for the best all around cab of this type - just the best for what I need. :)

And, yeah, I'd get a 4x12 or likely 6x10 if I had the space and strength/patience to lug it around... :P
 
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#16
NoNoise said:
Do you have opinions on the best for my application? I still like the idea of the 1212/6 more, as it just seems like it would cover more hz, if you will...
Click to expand...

At least personally I would not go with cabs that promise "plenty" of low end cause it sucks efficience you may need on stage with the Prodigy.
Tube heads are sensitive tone wise to impedance curve of a cab, so may be it's a good idea to ask a question to the pro TB cab builders. Why not let build a cab tailored to your personal taste and needs?

I could suggest a driver that "may be" would fit your tonal goals but, there is no mass-produced cab available loaded with this driver.
The mainly proplem always accures if you can't test a cab and have to trust in others opnions (I would never "blindly" trust in others opninions except in a couple of trusted people opinions, there ain't a lot). Unfortunatelly lots of "reviews" and suggestions seem to be coverd by brand loyalty. Sometimes there is need to read "the truth" between the lines which I experience often as difficult proposition cause English isn't my first language.

Reading again on your application needs, personally I'd try to find a cab with rather tamed voicing (rather linear response) at mids and also a more "typical" low-end response F3 point. Full range running woofer response up to around 4..5kHz.
The benefits are good efficience you may need on stage cause the cab is powered by the Prodigy. Distorted sounds are then "naturally" low passed and "voiced" by the woofer response (similar like with 6-string guitar applications).
The HT can be crossed around 4..5kHz depending on woofer response and should be adjustable in level just to adjust over-all response to your needs and taste.
Personally with tube head that is pushed hard I prefere broadband paper-cones for the upper treble content.
Just to give you a rough outline how I would do an approach for a cab choice powered by a tube head.
But that's only me. Otheres may prefere more "voiced" character of drivers even with tube heads, and once more others may not like ported cabs at all with tube heads! The "need" for an upper response extension beyond woofer response is allways an issue of dispute anyway.

The main draw-back of a design like this will be a poorer dispersion versus the pedigree HiFi designs. Another draw-back is some reduced low-response respectively higher F3 point. Driver Xmax is very likely way more smaller versus those drivers loaded into HiFi cabs but that's of no concerne with a tube head anyway.
As usual, there is no free lunch.
 
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#17
Well, I've played through an El Whappo, owned a Whappo Jr for a couple years, and have a lot of experience with the Bergantino HDN 12 speakers (although I have the 112).

I voted for the HDN 212 because IMO it's going to do everything you say you want out of a cabinet. It's got tons of oomph in the low mids if that's what you want, but reproduces the spectrum well up into high mids and treble with the help of its tweeter, so it will be giving you the distortion overtones you're looking for.

It would be way better if you could hear before you buy--the HDN 212 will be definitely worth your time.
 
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