Downunderwonder

Can I suggest signing up to SoundCloud for future efforts? That is forum friendly enabling listening insitu without downloading.

Problem solving in the blind outside the square since ages ago.

All same connections made on the cabs? One duff wired cab jack that was never used before would do it. 400w is pretty big for an old school SS amp. I wonder if it might be 200 + 200 with attendant switching that needs to be correct for the load.

Load is fine, 500w v 400w isn't hardly any different, so seems like it's duff alright. Other thing to consider is your hookup cables and connections could be different. One funky miswired connector/ cable can put it out of phase so you're chasing your tail trying to get loud.

Hopefully someone took it home for safe keeping in case some twit would steal it.

What cab load was on the amp?

Maybe the cab was getting farty at the same time. No idea if it's broken or simply not enough rig for the situation. If the amp isn't broken I expect you need more cab. Most amps these days have plenty of power for rehearsals at least

Drum demos 10 pound per hour, free with purhase of a drum.

This post is worthless without pics!

All good.

I don't know if the combo driver is simply the 8 ohm version of whatever is in the 2x8 but it's a reasonable assumption. You are dead right that a 3x8 stack isn't going to be the most efficient use of resources. The 2x8 would be loafing but you would be unlikely to blow the combo. According to the guru on the other bass forum with the American accent a 4x8 tower can handle an 800w Quilter quite nicely. He got some serious extra boomf over what it would do with the Elf even if he couldn't dime it. Horses for courses. If the 3x8 fits in the boot of your MX5 and goes loud enough for the big gigs and the 1x8 can hold its own at rehearsals I guess it's a valid choice. I can't see it being any more useful than the 10 combo with extension though.

You are wanting to record dry along with best stab at effected? That'll work. @ituhas the right idea but the wrong maths. A +20 and -20 are 40deg out of phase and somewhat coherent to the ear. Distortion and chorus are particularly prone to returning a 180 degree out of phase mirrored signal. That means to the extent that the returned signal still sounds like your bass it will be cancelling with the dry signal. When the pedal is operating in line it doesn't matter. Billy Sheehan got so worked up over engineers non cooperation with his 2 channel biamping that he got a pedal instead. I'd follow Billy's lead on this if I was you.

All the PA's that get 'tuned' for maximum rumble.

Dodgy capacitors is a dodgy internet meme that will never die. Since it's on both channels you can ignore the tube. Probably nothing a capable tech can't track down for you.

I can't see any point in the 2nd Elf 110 when you already have a 210. The only advantage would be recouping the investment in the 210 by selling it. Filling out Customs forms takes all of 5 minutes at the post office btw. People are only afraid of stuff they haven't done before.

It's 'full range' but it only has half of the low pass to go with all of the high pass.

This is where it all falls down. PA doesn't get tuned for the room so the bass cab can sound like it should through the PA.

2nd 110 worth a crack I reckon.

5A is tonnes of power for a piddly 1000W of audio that might draw 200w on a big night

The folded metal shelf with speed holes mounting on tripod stand is what you want. The shelf part can sit flat on tour cab on its trolley.

The Barefaced 210 throws you a curveball by low passing one of the woofers. Close mic on either isn't going to be very representative and you won't get anywhere trying to mic it from 2ft back on a loud stage. Your mythical blending will become.essential as the only one worth the mic is the full range one. I wouldn't want to be the one insisting on a 2 channel blend.

I dunno. It's not so long ago that I was doing some jazz fusion with injections of phaser from time to time. Everything old is new again.

I don't know what you were expecting out of the pint sized mini rig! Mathematically a 2nd cab is going to add a little and then some, but it's still only going to be 2 tens at the end of the day. Afaik Elf manages about 130w into 8 ohm, so not a whole lot of extra power, but the 3dB of extra sensitivity from doubling cabs can do a bit extra with it again. If you are seriously only lacking a little then I feel you would do nicely with the 2nd cab. If you are more underwhelmed than that you might be better off with a 12 or two. Never mind what other folks get away with using with their loud drummer. Everyone's drummer is loud. Some are louder. If you ever plugged in a second cab you should have a fair idea what to expect in your situation.

Eh? 1979 is pretty darn retro these days

Rule of thumb, if it's all good going through the existing pedals then it will be fine at the end.