Bill Fitzmaurice

Standard woodworking glue, applied with a roller for even distribution. It allows for shifting the tolex about before it sets, whereas with contact cement there is zero tolerance for any error.

From a totally objective standpoint there are over a dozen factors that determine driver performance, cone area (Sd) being only one. And the cab you put the driver into has as much bearing on the result as the driver specs do. In short, there is no characteristic sound based on driver size alone.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1399066291' post='2440775'] Doesn't stop the wife complaining about the noise either I'm afraid. [/quote]That really would require a device with magical properties.

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1399054367' post='2440572'] Would a gramma pad help with this?[/quote]Probably no. Your problem is the level of the sound, and that's from what's coming out of the speakers, not from the cabinet being in contact with the floor. [quote]The problem is all the tool drawers, and boxes and tins and jars full of screws, nails and stuff. [/quote]Explaining why you tend not to see those items in recording studios.

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1398719339' post='2437015'] I thought Emi Beta 10a's...were one of the BFM choices for... a Jack 210 which i owned. [/quote]They still are the entry level recommended driver, but the plans are specific in that regard, and note better options. Plus the horn loaded Jack gets quite a bit more out of them than a direct radiating cab will.

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1398713652' post='2436923'] JP Stevie Bill - thanks for your input, much appreciated Presumably then, if were to leave the cab specs as they are, I simply cannot mount better X Max drivers, due to cab limitations, or can i mount better drivers if i changed the port dimensions ? [/quote]Knowing the prices on drivers in the UK you're usually better off to go with a good used cab than to replace drivers into an old cab. That way you can sell the old cab, rather than end up with a couple of used drivers to try to sell.

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1398679327' post='2436382'] Judging 'a horn' is like judging 'a speaker'. Some are fantastic and some are woeful. [/quote]+1. Most bass cabs use horn loaded tweeters that they really shouldn't, as they don't go low enough to give the midrange response that the woofers cannot, while they extend much higher in frequency than bass has any need for. They'd work much better with either horn loaded or even cone midrange drivers, but they opt for tweeters instead as tweeters are much less expensive.

[quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1398694049' post='2436615'] Making it a little longer will initially put the wood under tension, which will act to further stiffen the panel, but after a while the tension element will be lost so it has no benefit over a brace that's exactly the right length - unless the brace is long enough to put a significant curve into the panel in which case there is a geometric stiffening effect (like an arch) but this is separate to the tension/stress element.[/quote]+1, but that arch would have to be significant. If significant enough you may employ 6mm and even 3mm plywood panels,as I do in my Jack Lite series. [quote]BFM and I think Phil favour the dowel approach but I'm not convinced it's sufficient on a thin-walled full-range cabinet because there will be multiple vibrational modes where the brace sits at a null, or where opposing panel attachment points are vibrating in phase, cases where sufficiently stiff axial braces ought to be more effective. [/quote]I've never found axial bracing to come even close to the effectiveness of panel to panel braces, so I only use them in the rare instance where a panel to panel connection isn't practical.

You're not going to be able to do much better, if at all, with Beta 10s. They have limited low frequency output capability due to a short excursion capacity, xmax. 3mm is what I'd consider just adequate. 5mm or so is what you'll find in better quality drivers. One driver with 5mm xmax has nearly the same output capability as two with 3mm xmax. If your cab isn't making the grade you should be looking for a cab loaded with better drivers.

There are no output capacitors in your amp. You may increase the value of the power supply filter caps for somewhat lower ripple and better headroom, but the difference won't be major. It might not be even noticeable. Changing the wire will have no effect, it's far too short. Of all the shortcomings of an inexpensive combo amp the filter caps and speaker wiring are among the least significant.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1397229356' post='2422047'] The second cab build was painted with black TuffCab using a textured roller and I'd recommend this over vinyl any day. If it gets scuffed you can just touch it up again [/quote]+1.

[quote name='EddyGlee' timestamp='139626938] I could have probably found and posted Reggae bassists who use 410/115 stacks who have lows that make your eyes go blurred [/quote] I could go one better and post an RTA of 'The Wailers' in concert. The bass rig was an SVT, not that it matters, because you didn't hear the amp, you heard the PA. In this case it was a no-holds-barred million dollar plus system. The RTA shows uniform content from 50-125Hz, dropping below and above that. The level in that band width at the FOH where I took the RTA, 100 feet from the stage, averaged 106dB. It was that level that gave the impact, not the frequency. To the untrained ear, or even the trained one without a meter in hand, the assumption could have been made that most of the content was between 30 and 50Hz, but in reality it was an octave higher.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1396129338' post='2410316'] Surely if you direct more of the low end frequencies to the 15 and high end to 10's it should provide a cleaner sound overall. [/quote]It would if there was a significant difference in their response, There isn't. And using one 15 with four tens makes as much sense as building a pyramid...with the pointed end down.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1396086788' post='2409751'] Historically I always bi-amped into 2 cabs to give me that low end and clear mids to high and with the Ampeg you have that built into one amp. [/quote]That's a valid approach with cabs that are quite different in their responses, being specifically designed to operate well only in the lows and only in the mids and highs. Ampeg cabs are not. Ampegs may have slight differences in response, but only slight, for all intents and purposes they're all full range cabs. That pretty much applies to all electric bass cabs. To find true sub/tops you have go to the PA cab suppliers. As for a 1x15/4x10 in particular, it simply makes no sense. You don't need fewer drivers when you go to lower frequencies, you need more, A 2x15/2x10 would be a logical pairing, the 2x15 being a PA sub flat to 30Hz, the 2x10 being a top that doesn't work at all below 80Hz but functions well to 4kHz.

[quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1396096572' post='2409900'] The mics are SM58s, would changing the mic help?[/quote]Yes, A sound reinforcement forum can point you in the right direction.

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1395993413' post='2408649'] The combo is 4 ohms (two 8 ohm drivers wired in parallel) with a single extension output socket, minimum load 4 ohms [/quote]You want a 4x10 that's half the impedance of the 2x10. Obviously that's not an option, so a 4 ohm 2x10 is your best bet. But that still gives you four tens total, and the difference between that and six tens isn't all that much.

[quote name='Si600' timestamp='1395995324' post='2408677'] If you have to, then why aren't we all using little combo's and letting the PA do the heavy work? [/quote]You should be. Maybe not little combos, but if you have a good PA then all you need for backline is a rig large enough for on-stage monitoring. But few bands have a good PA [quote]Small venues are ok for just back line with maybe vocals through the PA, but for larger venues , you will definitely be looking at mic'ing up or DI'ing [/quote]I always mic the drums and guitars even in the smallest of venues, because that's the only way to get even midrange and high frequency distribution thoughout the audience. My bass is the one instrument that I'll leave out, as lows don't need to be in the PA for sidpersion, and my 1x12 is adequate to push even 200 seats without assistance. If I do put the bass in the PA in smallish rooms to spread my highs I high pass that channel at 160Hz.

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1395822943' post='2406619'] Me vs two guitarists and 1 drummer has not been a fair competition so far, so for the gig this Friday I'm going armed [/quote]You're probably still under-gunned. Look at the diameter of your low E string. Compare it to that of a guitar low E string. For the very same reason that your low E string is fully twice the diameter, and therefore four times the cross sectional area, of the guitar string your speakers need to have that same size relationship compared to what the guitar player has in order to play as loud.

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1395702213' post='2405404'] I realise you will end up with different voltages, but is it not the power that matters given a bit if V=IR and P=I squared R? [/quote]What matters is that all the drivers receive the same power, and that's assuming they're identical. If they're not identical the possible permutations are considerable, and most of them aren't good. A favorite combination is a 1x15/4x10, but if each ten is receiving the same power as that one fifteen it's a bad news situation. Bottom line, the best option is to use identical speakers, that way you won't get into trouble.

[quote name='Balcro' timestamp='1395531423' post='2403516'] I'm running winISD Pro Alpha v 0.50a7 and I get an identical result. Quite why Eminence recommend, an enclosure volume between 51 & 119 litres I don't know, but they do. I only found 1 version download on the Linearteam web-site, but I'll try it on my other computer with W7. [/quote]I don't have the Eminence software, so I can't run it to see what it does. I know that Eminence tends to recommend a smaller box size, IMO probably for marketing reasons. The W7 version isn't on the Linear Team site, it's at https://www.facebook.com/WinISD/posts/126113234166443?stream_ref=10

[quote name='Balcro' timestamp='1395512274' post='2403279'] Hi Bill, I understand the option, but I advised on an inside mounting as the volume taken up by the port has already been accounted for in the enclosure net volume calculation of 123.6 litres and Eminence's recommendation is for 119 litres. Still, it's only a gain of 1.2 litres, so won't make a great difference. Putting it on the outside may well be practically & cosmetically easier with no chance of damaging the port tube. At 119L with the same tuning you lose 2dB from 40 to 50Hz, and that's right where I don't want to lose anything. As for XP, support for it ends in three weeks. Now is a good time to jump to W7, as any computers still on the shelf still loaded with it are on sale. Thanks for the tip about the Windows 7 version. I'll look it up. It's a couple of months since visiting Linearteam, being an XP luddite. [/quote]My WinISD defaults to a QB3 alignment for the Deltalite II 2515, at 157L and 44Hz. 119L loses 2dB from 40-50Hz. XP support ends in three weeks, time to move on.

[quote name='Balcro' timestamp='1395509673' post='2403250'] Just cover the end of the port on the inside. [/quote]On the outside, so that the air volume within the duct contributes to that of the enclosure. BTW Balcro, move up to the W7 version of WinISD, there are a lot more options, including max power, max SPL, and port velocity.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1395425546' post='2402402'] I've just looked at pics of the Basslite & the Deltalite II on Google, and it's defo the Deltalite. [/quote]Visually they're identical, they have the same frame. The only way to be sure is to measure the DC resistance. The Basslite is about 3.7 ohms, the Deltalite II about 5.3 ohms.

[quote name='Balcro' timestamp='1395407183' post='2402104'] I ran the parameters of the C2515 (2014) through winISD and quite closely matched Eminence's own "Cabinet design" for a large vented cab - (3.9 cu.ft). See here: - [url="http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Basslite_C2515_cab.pdf"]http://www.eminence....e_C2515_cab.pdf[/url] [/quote]He didn't say if he had a Basslite or Deltalite II, which are quite different. In may event the Basslite models best around 400L tuned to 33Hz, so it's a bit of an odd duck for bass unless you run drop tuned. 100L technically gives more power handling, but the loss in sensitivity offsets that. Maximum SPL remains the same above 42Hz, but it's less below that. Again, moot with a four stringer. The Deltalite in 150L with 44Hz tuning is much better than the Basslite in any configuration for four string. IMO the Basslite has no redeeming quailties save the 4 ohm impedance, which you might need running a single cab with some valve amps.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1395350204' post='2401542'] I know the guy who sold me the empty cab told me it was tuned pretty low. [/quote]If they're 200mm it's not tuned low, it's tuned high, around 50Hz. They should be no less than 250mm.