15's versus 10's

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Not sure if there's a thread out there already, but I know many bassplayers swear by 4X10 (minimum) in a speaker cab as they're tighter/punchier. I've only ever used a 1x15 apart from in the good ol' days of a 4x12 atop a 1x15 folded horn bin and a 1x15 satellite cab.

I tried a 4x10 combo once and it didn't have the depth I want, er, 'cos they're 10's, so I eventually went for a 1x15 combo and love it (this is now my second Trace Elliot 12 band with 1x15)- full range piano string tones with a bit of valve overdrive from the preamp, and nicely portable.

So, bass brothers and sisters, what's your view on this- 10's or 15's?? (I'd love a matching pair of 8x10's but I'll be hard pressed to get sanction to change what I've got, and I don't have the capability to shlep extension cabs around!!)

Old bass players never die, they just play louder
 
I'm happy with a 2x10 Avatar cabinet, if that tells you anything. Most gigs your cab(s) are just monitors as you are plugged into a DI running through front of house, and that's what the crowd hears. Plenty of punch, and plenty of bass when I flip my Hipshot for a Low A.

I have a second 2x10 if I feel the need for 4 10s, but to date I have not.
 
A 1x15 + 4x10 stack is a marriage made in heaven. True story!
bring only the 1x15 (with hf unit) for small venues.
 
While I dont play in a band or play any gigs, I love the sounds of my bass through my Warwick 4x10 and my Eden 2x15 cabs. Covers everyting nicely, god its pure freaking heaven :lol:
 
I have a big 4x10, which actually replaced a 4x10 and a 15 i was running for a while. currently i am looking at a portable rig and am seriously considering a 2x12. even 1x12 combos can have the perfect middleground between the punch of 10s and the bottom of a 15
 
I think 4x10 and 2X12 is a perfect match, you get the tightness of the 10s, and the lowend of the 12s.
 
But that goes for a 115 with the 410 as well. I also have 212 and 118 cabs but rarely ever use them. Matter of taste I guess?
 
We cannot give general advices, each cab has it's own construction and sound. For example, many good people will say the 410 is faster and snappier than 115' still the Hellborg Club Cab (1 15) is the clearest cab I've ever played.
Also hard to find a deeper amp than ampeg 410 hlf for example, which is 4*10

To me the best sounding rig was Hellborg CC +LC. But before that, I used 2x Warwick 411 PRO and they were great!
 
When I finally acquire a SSI 6 string and string it for F#-G, I will buy a single 15 to add to my 2x10s :D - I have one right now but it doesn't fit in my car. It just lives in the garage.
 
I have an 8x10 sized cab with 4 10s and 2 12s in it. Works pretty well but I'm saving my pennies for some Hellborg cabs. I think it was Florin who posted a comparison a while back of an 8x10 and the Big cab and I couldn't believe how much punch and clarity came out of those 15s.

I also have an Avatar 2x10 for playing at home that sounds really good. Just not big enough for gigging.
 
Florin said:
We cannot give general advices, each cab has it's own construction and sound. For example, many good people will say the 410 is faster and snappier than 115' still the Hellborg Club Cab (1 15) is the clearest cab I've ever played.
Also hard to find a deeper amp than ampeg 410 hlf for example, which is 4*10
Click to expand...

What he said. I use the Ampeg 4x10HLF and I will say, it goes deep and sounds tight at the same time but of course I would kill to be able to try some Hellborg amps/cabs. Also, the human ear can only hear so low. My 4X10 goes as low as humans can!
 
Florin said:
We cannot give general advices, each cab has it's own construction and sound. For example, many good people will say the 410 is faster and snappier than 115' still the Hellborg Club Cab (1 15) is the clearest cab I've ever played.
Also hard to find a deeper amp than ampeg 410 hlf for example, which is 4*10

To me the best sounding rig was Hellborg CC +LC. But before that, I used 2x Warwick 411 PRO and they were great!
Click to expand...

StoneAje said:
What he said. I use the Ampeg 4x10HLF and I will say, it goes deep and sounds tight at the same time but of course I would kill to be able to try some Hellborg amps/cabs. Also, the human ear can only hear so low. My 4X10 goes as low as humans can!
Click to expand...

yup
 
i just got a new cabinet, a accugroove tri210l... man this thing is going to make me play better, very defined sound, every note, a unforgiving cab. goes really low with great definition, still i would like to try a club cab.
 
Timbre is the word. You can get 210's which go really low like an Eden 210xst (-2db at 30hz) but for me the sound of a 115 plus 410 always works great under ny circumstance. The sound pressure coming from just a 210 is good enough at home but on stage you really need more ballz.

One of the best sounding cabs I ever played through is the SWR Henry the 8x8, but dragging around the 115 plus 410 is easier on the back and fits in the car more easy.
 
In my opinion, Mix and match is the best I would think, as each speaker tends to have its own style. The more low end "woodiness", the bigger the speaker, due to the physical properties of a larger cone moving:

210 plus 115: Nice little funky stack, warm tone with lots of low end
210 plus 212: not as much low end, but more aggressive mids then a pure 210 stack
810: low end provided by box design, clarity of fast moving 10 inch cone

A 410 tends to have more of a low end response than a 210 ergo despite having 10s, they will sound different beyond just having 4 speakers.

Conclusion: I say mix and match for happiness and consider the entire cab, including speaker when making the choice
 
It is more about the cab construction than the speaker size... Keep in mind that the clearest and brightest cab I tried was Club Cab, which is 1.15.
 
hello
15 alone.. to much bass
10 alone.. not enough bass

i am using mesa 1x15 and 2x10 .. in studio you find most of the time 1x15 + 4x10 stacks
 
I'd like to try out one of those Marshall 4x15 Lemmy sig cabs.
They are closed design (no BR ports) thus will sound really tight in the low end.
I expect them to cause little earthquakes.
 
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