Two Phil Jones Cabs or one with a bigger speaker?

Ollymix2000

Ollymix2000

Dec 20, 2020
27
11
1,551
#1
Hi,
I have a TC Electronics BAM 200watt head at 4 ohms and a PJB C2 cab 200 watt at 8 ohms!
Q: i'm not sure if i should get another PJB C2 cab 8ohms or something with larger speakers like a 2x10 cab at 4 ohms for live gigs? I'm concerned about the sound quality with the PJB small 5 inch speakers??any thoughts on this would be helpful thanx.
 
#2
Ollymix2000 said:
Hi,
I have a TC Electronics BAM 200watt head at 4 ohms and a PJB C2 cab 200 watt at 8 ohms!
Q: i'm not sure if i should get another PJB C2 cab 8ohms or something with larger speakers like a 2x10 cab at 4 ohms for live gigs? I'm concerned about the sound quality with the PJB small 5 inch speakers??any thoughts on this would be helpful thanx.
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Type of music, volume necessary, coverage necessary...
 
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#4
I've heard a 4x5 pjb sounding nice in a low volume situation, kind of like a minature Hartke. I have a 1x12 Eden cab that sounds great at low levels but doesn't do loud as well. A bagend 2x10 suited me for many years on pretty loud gigs; salsa, blues, etc. Be sure to study the sensitivity ratings of your speaker cab choices, you want the power of your amp to translate into sound. If you're going to spend big dollars, you may as well get big sounds.
 
#6
The C series of cabinets are very capable but the tone isn’t for everyone and they don’t produce a lot of sound pressure. If you simply need to be a bit louder than you are currently, adding a second C2 will net you a few extra decibels with the same tone. I’d suggest bumping up to the C4 for a second cab to give you more extended low end and in situations where you won’t need both you will have a one hand carry solution in the C4.

We don’t all have the same gig. I have a few big cabinets like @Marko 1, but they all stay home and my Phil Jones C8 and 30w Ashdown Little Bastard get the job and so does my band.
 
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#10
Ollymix2000 said:
Hi,
I have a TC Electronics BAM 200watt head at 4 ohms and a PJB C2 cab 200 watt at 8 ohms!
Q: i'm not sure if i should get another PJB C2 cab 8ohms or something with larger speakers like a 2x10 cab at 4 ohms for live gigs? I'm concerned about the sound quality with the PJB small 5 inch speakers??any thoughts on this would be helpful thanx.
Click to expand...
Look at it this way - One PJB C2 cab has a total speaker surface area of about 39-1/4 sq.in. A cab with a single 12 inch speaker has a speaker area of 113 sq.in. Even 2 C2's would have a lot less speaker area than a single 12" speaker (78.8 sq.in. vs 113 sq.in.). Loudness is all about how much air you are moving. The answer is pretty clear, though you need to factor in the efficiency of each system.

With a 200 watt @4 ohm amp, I would look at an efficient 2x12 @ 4 ohms or two 2x12's at 8 ohms each. Assuming decent efficiency, two 2x12's will be an order of magnitude louder that a single C2.
 
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#11
Phil Jones speakers @ 5" have nothing to do with ability to project low notes. If you need more volume, buy a bigger PJB cab like the BG-800.

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#12
Answer: All of the above

I use the BAM 200 for live gigs with the BC 208 and a Hartke 112. The Hartke is switchable between 4 and 8 ohms. For smaller gigs I run the 112 at 4ohms.

The C2 is a great sounding cab, if I only had a C2 I would add a 12 or 15 not another C2.
 
#13
I will state upfront that I'm not a PJB fan, I like their really small stuff (like the Double 4 and Bass Cub) but have always found their larger combos and cabs to be heavy and lacking in output. Unless you are wedded to the setup you have now and want to build on it, if it were me I'd be looking for something lighter that can do it all. I personally like RevSound cabs - I have two, a 112 (21 lbs) and a 115 (25 lbs) that I run with an 800 watt head (Quilter BB). Either by themselves can cover almost every gig that I do. My two most recent gigs were a loud 4 pc (two guitars, hard-hitting drummer) and a trio (guitar, drums), both outside without pa support for bass and I did both with just the 112. I know that PJB cabs have many fans, but I prefer lighter cabs with bigger drivers.
 
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#15
Ollymix2000 said:
Hi,
I have a TC Electronics BAM 200watt head at 4 ohms and a PJB C2 cab 200 watt at 8 ohms!
Q: i'm not sure if i should get another PJB C2 cab 8ohms or something with larger speakers like a 2x10 cab at 4 ohms for live gigs? I'm concerned about the sound quality with the PJB small 5 inch speakers??any thoughts on this would be helpful thanx.
Click to expand...
I use the BAM200 or a GKMB500 depending. I use Bag End 12 or an Epifani 2-12 for the low down cab, and the PJB C-4 on the top and wind up with a solid, forceful, articulate tone with a Precision. I can also angle the C-4 to my drummer so he can hear the bass well. Works well for our small to med size gigs
 
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#16
My only PBJ experience is with the NanoX4, but it exceeded my expectations. Though I like the C2, C4, and BG800 recommendations, there's no rule that your Cabs/brands must match, so I would think about going a different direction on your second Cab to give yourself more options. Check out your favorite 112, 115, or 210 (@8 Ohms, so you can still add your C2). I like my MB Subway 112, though the other two seem to get more "love". ;)

Have fun shopping! :D
 
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