Help! Lightweight, loud, efficient cab (Eich/Mark Bass/PJB!?)

[Wilvies8184]

Hi 👋 Looking to buy a light weight cab with as much output as possible & my tiny mind is boggled! 

 

I play in a blues trio - the drummer has good dynamics and the guitarist plays through a 15 watt valve amp (1x10 combo) & uses fairly light overdrive. I’m using a Warwick Gnome Pro head (280 watts into 4ohms, 200 watts into 8ohms). I intend to go for an 8 ohm cab in case I want to add another cab.

 

I use the studio’s cab at rehearsals so this will be used for small pub size gigs or as an onstage monitor for bigger gigs & also maybe home practice. I don’t need a tweeter particularly.

 

Narrowed it down to these (all 400w):

 

Eich 112XS - 99db sensitivity

 

Markbass 102 Traveler - 101db 

 

Phil Jones C4 - Sensitivity not stated

Also looked into Barefaced but the sensitivity of the cab within my budget - 1x10 -  is quite a bit lower (95db) so I suspect volume would also be noticeably lower?

 

Looking to keep the weight under 13kg & price under £500 if possible

 

Any opinions or suggestions much appreciated! 😃

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Greg Edwards69]

Have you looked at GR Bass? There’s at AT110, 1x10, only 5kg and 99db sensitivity. Bass direct sell them for £550. It’s £50 over your intended budget, but at that weight it could be £50 spent. 
 

If GR bass made a 1x10 combo I’d be all over that, personally. 
 

Otherwise, at the budget end, Warwick make some Gnome cabs to complement your head.  No idea what the sensitivity is though.  

Edited February 23, 2022 by Greg Edwards69

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Without measured response charts SPL ratings are worthless. The figure could be a broadband average, it could be at the highest point of the curve. What you can assume that it's not is the SPL at 80Hz, which is where bass cabs should be rated.

[chris_b]

Barefaced make a lot of noise for your watts. I use 2 in a blues trio and I easily keep up with the guitarist and his Twin Reverb. One Super Compact would be very good for your sound, even with a 200 watt amp.

[la bam]

The traveller 102p is the best cab I've ever used. Lots of tone, weight and oomph (if we are getting tech ical). Its light and easy to carry with the solid scooped carry handle.

[fretmeister]

A used Barefaced Super Compact.

 

[Dan Dare]

I don't know if one PJB C4 will be sufficient for your purposes, even if your bandmates are subtle players. I know because I use a couple in soul/blues/R&B bands. Tonally, I love 'em, but they are quite inefficient (around 92db) and do soak up some amplifier power (I use an AG700 with mine). They are also not that light for their size. The MB would be my choice of the ones you list and the Super Compact suggested above is a good shout.

[zero9]

I’m with Dan Dare on the PJB cabs - great sound, but take some drive.

There is no substitute for speaker area when it comes to output (everything else being equal).

 

Personally, I’d go for a lightweight 2 x 10 cab (preferably 8 Ohm, so a further one could be added for those stadium gigs 😉).

[Dan Dare]

18 hours ago, zero9 said:

I’m with Dan Dare on the PJB cabs - great sound, but take some drive.

There is no substitute for speaker area when it comes to output (everything else being equal).

 

Personally, I’d go for a lightweight 2 x 10 cab (preferably 8 Ohm, so a further one could be added for those stadium gigs 😉).

 

True. A C4 has an equivalent cone area to 1x10. A very pokey 1x10, it has to be said. I reckon one is equal to many 1x12s.

[warwickhunt]

TKS do a 112 that should be on your list.  You can't get them new any more but they pop up used regularly.  They clock in at 10kg and have plenty of output; no tweeter but you really don't need it.  

[Wilvies8184]

Thanks for the suggestions 🙂 I went with a used Barefaced Two10 in the end - should be with me Weds! Got a good deal from a gentleman on here!

[Dan Dare]

11 hours ago, Wilvies8184 said:

 I went with a used Barefaced Two10 in the end

 

👍 You won't go far wrong with one of those. You can run it at 4 ohms to get the most out of your amp, too.

[lownote]

12 hours ago, Wilvies8184 said:

Thanks for the suggestions 🙂 I went with a used Barefaced Two10 in the end - should be with me Weds! Got a good deal from a gentleman on here!

I had one.  Monster sound and lightweight.  Should never have sold it.  But MB and PJB fine too.

[chris_b]

I had 2 Two10's, fantastic sound, but I sold them to focus on the BF 112's. A different sort of fabulous, but the same level of fantastic all the same.

 

@Wilvies8184 if your amp supports 2.67 ohms, you can add a One10 for a great 310 rig.

[bassbiscuits]

The Markbass Traveller 102P is a mighty fine little cab, but if your budget/spec extends to it I'd consider the bigger Markbass Std 102f - it's also a 400w rated 2x10 cab, but it's slightly larger size and front bass port makes it sound a lot bigger and punchier onstage.

 

I've got both cabs, but I'd say the Std102F is probably a better standalone cab than the Traveller 102P. However, both are very good.

[NancyJohnson]

I've got a Darkglass 1x12.  Small, capable etc.etc.