Bruce Weldy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:03 pm
Das Jugghead wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:53 am
I am using several criteria in this search one being the presence of Speakon plugs for the speaker outputs - does this matter? Should I maintain consistency of Speakon to Speakon or am I okay going from a 1/4" output jack on the bass amp to the Speakon input jack on the Simplexx cabinets?
Doesn't matter at all. Just a different connector on each end of the cable. I've built some of these for my old bass player.
On that note if the Simplexx cabinets are not ideal for a five string bass what cabinet and speaker would be ideal for a five string bass playing hard/prog rock?
The answer is that they are ideal for 5 string bass. The answer is also that they are horrible for 5 string bass.
The real question is how you use them. Do you play through a PA with subs that handles getting your bass sound out front? Is your rig just there for you to monitor yourself? If yes, then the boxes you built should serve that purpose just fine.
Are you playing in small places with no PA support at reasonable levels? If so, then you should be fine.
If you are playing large places with no PA support and you need to carry a big room from your rig, then you probably need something else. That would either be a stack of Jack 12s (probably 4 of 'em), or a T39 (or 48)/OT12 combination. Then you'll need a proper crossover and a good bass preamp. This would let you use that Carvin amp you have......because you are essentially using your own small PA system.
It's always best to go as small as possible without a lot of low end on stage if you are playing through a PA - this keeps the bottom end on the stage from fighting the house sound.
Hey Bruce thank you again for the detailed feedback. I will try and reciprocate with my response.
Bruce Weldy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:03 pm
Das Jugghead wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:53 am
I am using several criteria in this search one being the presence of Speakon plugs for the speaker outputs - does this matter? Should I maintain consistency of Speakon to Speakon or am I okay going from a 1/4" output jack on the bass amp to the Speakon input jack on the Simplexx cabinets?
Doesn't matter at all. Just a different connector on each end of the cable. I've built some of these for my old bass player.
I kind of figured but wanted to be sure that using a 1/4" to a Speakon would not create any issues. I do like that the Speakons lock in and cannot shake out.
Bruce Weldy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:03 pm
Das Jugghead wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:53 am
On that note if the Simplexx cabinets are not ideal for a five string bass what cabinet and speaker would be ideal for a five string bass playing hard/prog rock?
The answer is that they are ideal for 5 string bass. The answer is also that they are horrible for 5 string bass.
The real question is how you use them. Do you play through a PA with subs that handles getting your bass sound out front? Is your rig just there for you to monitor yourself? If yes, then the boxes you built should serve that purpose just fine.
Are you playing in small places with no PA support at reasonable levels? If so, then you should be fine.
I am using them first for rehearsal with my hard rock/prog band. I need to keep up with and cut through two guitarists, a drummer, and a singer. I plan to use them for personal monitoring/stage sound initially. Ultimately I hope to have the entire band go to IEM's and forego amps and cabinets on stage but that is a ways down the road. All of our shows will be with PA support (SR for the purists?) so these cabinets would not be carrying my sound for the venue. I am thinking that based on the fact that I am not sure the current BP102's will keep up/cut through that I
may replace them with EMINENCE KAPPA PRO-10LF speakers and not run them as hard as the current BP102's.
I remembered that I have an MXR M81 Bass Preamp Pedal so I brought that out and played direct through that into the Carvin DCM 3800L. After some knob fiddling I was able to get things to sound better. Here is a link for it:
MXR M81 Bass Preamp Pedal
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... ass-preamp
Which has gotten me to wondering if I the MXR M81 Bass Preamp Pedal in between my Zoom B3n and the Carvin DCM 3800L would be an acceptable preamp - thoughts? Feedback? Suggestions?
Bruce Weldy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 2:03 pmIt's always best to go as small as possible without a lot of low end on stage if you are playing through a PA - this keeps the bottom end on the stage from fighting the house sound.
In recent years I have become a champion of smaller is better and easier - ergo the Simplexx build. I am done lugging refrigerators and unwieldy heads up/down stairs, across muddy fields in the dark, and fighting for footprint space on stage for my rig. It took me awhile to figure out that dialing back the low-end helps me stand out in the mix during rehearsals and shows. It isn't the sound or tone I enjoy when jamming by myself but it does make a huge difference in clarity.
Thank you again for all of your patient responses.