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1X15 or 4X12?


Thingus

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Can you provide some more information?

 

  • Are there specific brands you're looking into?
  • Is there a specific sound you're going for?
  • Relatedly, refresh our memories: what kind of music do you play now?
  • Are you gigging? And, if so, what size gigs at what kinds of venues?
  • Are you worried about size? (A 4x12 will be a hoss to haul around compared to a 1x15.)
     

Without knowing anything else, I'd tend toward the 1x15. BUT, a 4x12 will give you more volume, and potentially a nice, thick, ol' skool kind of midrange.

Peace.

spreadluv

 

Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars.

Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk.

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Bass players nowadays seem to have gravitated to a combo rig: a 1x15" cab plus a 4x10" cab. The 15" gives you that big bottom, while the 4x10" supplies punch and definition. If your budget allows, try it!

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

This ain't no track meet; this is football.

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Originally posted by coyote:

Bass players nowadays seem to have gravitated to a combo rig: a 1x15" cab plus a 4x10" cab. The 15" gives you that big bottom, while the 4x10" supplies punch and definition. If your budget allows, try it!

This is a good point.

 

With a 1x15 you could potentially add another cab in the future: a 2x10, 3x10, or 4x10; a 1x12 or 2x12; another 1x15; a 2x8... I don't know why, but for some reason, I don't view a 4x12 as being as conducive to that kind of "rig building" as a 1x15 (but there's no informed reasoning behind that belief! :) ).

 

Peace.

spreadluv

 

Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars.

Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk.

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What do you mean, "OR"?!? :D

 

I too am gravitating towards tighter drivers, after having had 15" & even 18" drivers... I'm currently using a 1x12 combo/monitor. You're looking for a full stack rather than a combo, but I have been happy with the 12" so far.

 

Then again, I played an Ampeg 15" combo the other day that really nailed the Motown vibe. So it's about what you want to produce.

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I'm sold on 12's now. The 10's are punchy as hell and tighter than a crab's ass, but the 12's aren't any worse and they give you more bottom end. Given the choices you have listed, I would go with the 4x12. You'd be moving more air and still have the low end. I have found that single speaker systems tend to lose some integrity when playing chords and get muddy a lot quicker. That is just my opinion, however. Your results may vary.
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I run a 4x12 and a 1x15. If i'm traveling light (yeah right) I'll take the 4x12. It's really the best of both worlds, you get close to the punch of a 4x10 but also get some reasonable mids and lows. They are heavy though.

- Jon

-----

You have the right to remain in the groove, any solos cannot be used against you, you have the right to snap and pop, if you cannot snap and pop, two fingers can provide the funk just fine.

 

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Given those 2 choices, I'd go with a 1X15. Works for now and easy to add on to later.

 

I have a friend who has a 2X12 and it sounds pretty nice. I think 4X12 would be big and not my first choice.

 

I, too, use a 4X10 and like it. I am thinking about adding a 1X15 under it.......

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Hi,

 

I just converted from a SWR Workingman 15 to a Hartke 3500 with an ART Tube Channel pre-amp and a Hartke VX 4x10 cab. (It is a Hartke cab, but has paper drivers and not aluminum.) I am very happy with how my Fender Jazz sounds thru the rig. I am still searching for a good EQ setting for my Modulus Quantum 5, however.

 

IMO, a 4x10 provides more definition and punch.

 

I should also mention that I primarily play jazz and rock.

 

If I have one gripe it is simply this: I went from a 60lb rig to one that tops the scales at over 110 lbs!

 

Good Luck,

 

Dm7

http://www.paintedharmony.com

Dm7#11. It's a sad chord in "...the saddest of all keys, really."

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You bad people - teasing like that. Stop talking about watching those "tight drivers". I'm only human - the temptation is terrible!!

 

I agree with some (I noticed SteveC on this) who said that your choices are not very evenly matched. 2x12 boxes can be really cool. I'm working toward 2 1x12 cabs myself....

 

Price/manufacturer/engineering make such a difference. I've played 1x15 cabs that I wouldn't give .02 for, and some that have been great.

 

Tom

www.stoneflyrocks.com

Acoustic Color

 

Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt

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I recently had the opportunity to play my bass (standard Fender P) through five different types of rigs at a friend's studio...

 

A tubey Ampeg 1x15 combo. Very nice. Very Motown and thumpy.

 

A Trace-Elliot head powering SWR 4x10 and a 1x18... Modern and headroom to spare. It'd take the top of your head off while pounding your guts out of your butthole.

 

A Mesa head through an SWR 4x12... old school. Very dirty and MC5-ish. Lotsa grind and dirt.

 

Ampeg 8x10 powered by some kind of power amp and an Ampeg pre... Classic. Totally classic. Sounded like every rock record you can imagine. Rattled my nostril hairs loose.

 

Ampeg 4x10 powered by a SWR 500 watt head (yeah, my head, borrowed cab). Pretty nice. I was suprised by the amount of power and booty it had...

 

Ya know what's nice?

 

They make all these different types of cabinets for people to use.... and we all get to use whatever we want (provided we can pay for them, of course.)

 

Isn't that nice?

\m/

Erik

"To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."

--Sun Tzu

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Originally posted by CMDN:

Ya know what's nice?

 

They make all these different types of cabinets for people to use.... and we all get to use whatever we want (provided we can pay for them, of course.)

 

Isn't that nice?

Yes, Erik, that is very nice. Thank you for sharing. ;):D

spreadluv

 

Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars.

Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk.

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Dm7#11

Member

Member # 35630

 

posted 09-22-2003 08:23 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,

 

I just converted from a SWR Workingman 15 to a Hartke 3500

I cant belive this. I own a Hartke 3500. All I hear from people around is Hartke sucks. SWR to Hartke! :thu:
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I like Hartke speakers. Their amps are OK, though I think others make better amps for the same or less $$$.

 

Originally posted by Bartolini:

I cant belive this. I own a Hartke 3500. All I hear from people around is Hartke sucks. SWR to Hartke! :thu:

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

This ain't no track meet; this is football.

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