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[quote name='CJPJ' timestamp='1333878389' post='1607572'] OK. Is there some where in or around London that has a 'decent' selection of cabs that I could go along to with my OBT to find my sound and make the choice based on my ears? [/quote] Like Lozz says, the Bass Merchant is a good call (I got my Markbass from them). Also give Bass Direct & the Bass Gallery a call & see if you can take your head along (they may even have an OBT in shop).

Something you've pointed out there, which is probably the most relevant thing... It's what "You" prefer. I think that's a very important thing when choosing something. Despite what all the sciences say, what should & shouldn't go together & what it sounds like, it's down to personal preference. One person will say "You need a Fender P into an Ampeg SVT with an 8x10", another will say "You need a Dingwall ABZ into a Markbass head with 2 2x10s vertically", someone will say "Sadowsky NYC into a SWR head with a 1x15 & a 4x10 on top" & another will say "You need a Warwick $$ into an Orange Bass Terror with a BF Super 12". None are actually wrong as each of these is that persons' ideal rig that gives them the sound that "they" want. Each one has it's pro's & con's however, the 8x10 and the 4x10 + 1x15 would have the poorest spread across the stage.

Not got one, but did consider it when I was looking at combos & wasn't impressed with it. Ended up with a MarkBass CMD102P.

[quote name='StraightSix' timestamp='1333802136' post='1606682'] Cab RMS wattage ratings are mostly to be taken with a pinch of salt in reality - they are normally rated at the maximum wattage before the voice coils melt. The bigger problem is the speaker excursion - very few 10" drivers can handle their true wattage rating and will bottom out (hit their excursion limits) well before they exceed their RMS maximum rating. Lots more info here: [url="http://barefacedbass.com/technical-information/understanding-power-handling.htm"]http://barefacedbass...er-handling.htm[/url] [/quote] A good example of this is [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/172846-should-i-add-another-cab-or-switch-for-something-bigger/"]here[/url], where the OP found the cab farted well before reaching it's "power" rating. Part of the reason that I went for Markbass is the excursion. The B&C drivers have 21mm of travel (most other drivers are 18mm). Given the choice over again I'd maybe have went for a LMII & a BF cab, but I'm very happy with what I have.

That's a good price! Nice find.

[quote name='Kye' timestamp='1333799438' post='1606634'] I'm sure the WT800a runs at 800w bridged at 8ohms, the older model doesn't have the option to have the full 800 watts at 4 ohms. It has two split channels both at 400 watts at 4 Ohms. Winterfire thats very kind of you, shame I'm quite far out! I'm based in Hull you see so would take a few hours to get down! [/quote] The current WT800A is 440w at 8 ohm & 880w bridged at 8 ohm (1100w at 4 ohm).

Your head will run @ 500w at 8 ohm & 800w at 4 ohm. Unless you're bridging it of course. Oh, & don't pay that much attention to the wattage difference, use your ears instead.

Why does it need to be 800 watts? I'd be going with a cab that does the job properly as opposed to some marketing figures. Barefaced gets my vote too.

Have you gigged it yet? That's when you'll find out if it's doing the job. Home volumes (even turned up a bit) are not gonna tell you if you need a 2nd or not.

What is the 15 you have? Maybe a change of cab is really what you need?

Like Lozz says, add another SP210 (that is if your current one is an 8Ω cab). Your OTB will be putting out @ 350w into 8Ω.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1333713744' post='1605578'] I'm kinda still in experimental mode with the GB and Berg 112's. Love the sound but occasionally i feel something is lacking. It could well be that it is the number of actual speakers rather than a size of speaker if that makes sense. The other thing with the HT cab is that it isn't rear ported although has a front port and that may affect the sound. The other difference will be the type of speakers - although the AE's are 12's they are Neodymium whereas the HT are i believe ceramic but could be wrong on that. That will also affect the sound a bit IMO. [/quote] 2 points there. You're right about the number of actual speakers as opposed to speaker size. It's about how much mass you are covering & how well the cab has been designed to distribute the sound. As for port position? As long as the port is correct, then it wouldn't make any difference if it's on the front or back.

Don't be fooled by this lot, we're not friendly at all! Now bolt ya jakey!!! Only messin! Welcome to BC.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1333648805' post='1604866'] With the rigs I`ve had that had different speaker sizes - Hartke 210 & 115, and Marshall 210 & 115 - they`ve sounded great. With the Marshall, the 210 (which was a combo) was fine, the addition of the 115 just gave more depth and size to the sound. Whereas with the Hartke, the 210 on its own was weak beyond imagination, and the 115 was difficult to get a good sound from, very bassy, not much top end. But together they were great. Theory is fine, I don`t understand all the techie stuff, I just let my ears judge it. My current cab is a 2x10 and 1x12 and tweeter in one cab - sounds awesome. [/quote] It is all down to how the cab is (not the driver size) & that doesn't paint a very good picture of Hartke cabs [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1333646152' post='1604803']Barefaced (and you know you can trust them) recommend various mixed rigs.... enough said. [/quote] But show me a BF rig with a single 15 & a horizontal 2x10 or trad 4x10. BF are one of the few companies that think about what cabs will work together as opposed to just doing the traditional marketing BS that most others throw at you. Have a read at this... http://barefacedbass.com/technical-information/speaker-size-frequency-response.htm

The old theory that 15s was for low end & the 10s for adding some top is of old when 15s (& 4x10s) gave out more bass. This was mainly due to the size of the cab. Mixing different drivers is a hit & miss thing, where it's most likely gonna sound different at each venue (sometimes good, sometimes dire, sometimes just ok). Keeping the drivers all the same size means that you're gonna get a more predictable result in each venue. Nowadays 15s don't give any more bass or less mid than 10s (unless they're cheap crap). I'm one for going with 2 2x10 cabs on the vertical. Putting the cabs so speakers are on the horizontal axis reduces the horizontal dispersion from them. Which makes the standatd 4x10 a poor design for stage use.

[quote name='32Hz' timestamp='1333496741' post='1602664'] [size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Yikes, I thought I had to dogs dangly bits in cabs ( Ampeg [color=#000000]PR-410HLF) ... what do I need ? Something lighter and perhaps 2 x 210's would be nice, as my stuff is a bit big for small venues.[/color][/font][/size] [/quote] A lot of folk don't rate Ampeg cabs that highly and they probably have more colour than this months photo comp. Great if you want that Ampeg sound, not so great if you don't. Have a look at Barefaced cabs if it's a transparent sound that you're after. Also worth looking at are Markbass, Bergantino, Aguilar & Genz Benz.

From the sound of things, I'd say that you like the look of Fender style instruments but maybe just don't connect with them? Go & try some things that are completely different. What about a Dingwall?

Sorted.

Depends on what make you want to go for. If you got a 1x15 cab or combo, then you could just add another 1x15 if you needed more volume. In theory, a 1x15 is louder than the equivalent 2x10 (as it covers a larger area, therefore can push more air). Best advice is to go & play through a few different bits of gear & see what you like the sound of.

[quote name='john the pond' timestamp='1333456169' post='1601902'] I would get something that can be upgraded as you progress. Combo's lack flexibility and if you want to get a combo make sure you get one that has a proper extension cab for when your needs grow. Otherwise get a head and small cab so you can either add more small cabs or replace the small cab with big cabs when the time comes. [/quote] That depends on what kind of combo you go for. Genz Benz, Markbass & Ibanez are a few that have all the flexibility of a separate head/cab & can be quicker to set up when in a hurry. Also the head is easily removed if you want a different cab to go with it. 2x10 cabs/combos are a good route & you can add another 2x10 for more volume if needed.

Passive mode, I can see a problem. I've used my active bass direct to a power amp a few times in the past & it's had the volume I needed for gigging. It is better with a pre in front though.

Like Truckstop says, get a rig that you can use in all scenarios. Plenty decent combos in the For Sale section on here.

[quote name='32Hz' timestamp='1333310462' post='1599946'] At the end of the day I guess I'm just trying to create a clean, un-coloured sound path so as to let the bass do the talking. I come from a regular guitar playing background and always love my US strat playing crystal clear through a good tube amp (with a touch of reverb), Generally I don't do FX. Keep your input coming guys. Cheers. Tony. [/quote] But that "colour" is what gives you that tone. Like your Strat through the "Tube amp", with or without reverb, it's getting coloured to create the tone that you like. Even through a power amp, it's gonna colour the tone to an extent or like longtimefred says, might sound a bit sterile.

[quote name='muttley' timestamp='1333297206' post='1599685'] I really like the SR series. Unfortunately there's no fretless option . [/quote] http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Ibanez-SR505F-5-String-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-Brown-Mahogany/DC7

Yes, you could go directly into a power amp, but the point of having an EQ section is that each venue is different & may need a tweak here & there to suit the acoustics. Most folk on here set their EQ flat. Other thing is that your GB will have it's own EQ settings at "flat" & won't really be flat at all. I see icastle has just said that! I can't type fast enough!