Bass Alert, I am looking at 12 speakers for bass

[Ed_Chambley]

I am making another cabinet and this time it is going to be a 2, 12 bass cabinet.  I want to try some 12's to see if I can get into some older vintage tones.  I was looking at the Eminence Delta 12...., but wattage is up in the 400 range.  I was wondering if anyone had used 12's in a lower wattage like the NEO Eminence.  I am only going to be using a 4 string with about 300 watts max.  Any other suggestions would be appreciated.  Not really going to be a gigging rig.  It will be more for home practice/rehearsal of Gospel music.  Sort of like the old bassman cabs with the divider and insulation, I just want it to be a little tighter and punchy.

It will be a ported design BTW.

[skeezbo]

I have two eminence NEO 12s in an avatar cabinet I bought online. Best bass cab I have! I use it in a soul band (Labella flatwounds on my jazz bass).
Skeez

[Ed_Chambley]

Thanks Skeezbo.  That is what I wanted to know since I have never used NEO speakers.  I like the weight reduction and specs on the speaker.

[seedlings]

Of three I've heard in person, you might check out Eminence V128 too, they sound very nice and vintage, have great lows and handle 120W.  The Celestion G12T-100 are very cheep on fleaBay.  Tons of lows even in open-back.  100W per.  Also the Eminence Red, White and Blues may fit the bill at 120W.

CHAD

[Ed_Chambley]

Eminence has design info on the web for some of their speakers.  I
Check out RDH 4 and review the info on speaker design.   There are some resonant frequencies, that I would avoid, if I'm playing a five string bass with a B0 then I would avoid the 30 Hz resonant frequency. 

If you are going to use the cabinet for a guitar, are you going to build a two way? 

Remember Leo put 15 inch speakers on the original Bassman, only to have speaker failure problems. 

No. it will be for bass only.  I have not considered 2 way, but I am open to suggestions.

[Ritchie200]

Hey Ed!

Sorry, I'm late for the party here.....

Is this for your KT120 UL build?  You gotta post some pics!

Years and years ago, I built a 1x12 and 2x8 in a ported cabinet.  It was great for guitar and the little 6v6 homebrew that I had at the time, but I preferred the closed back 4x12 that I bought when I finally had some $$ to spend and was pushing more watts.  However, this thing sounded just awesome with a bass.  I did some calculations for cabinet volume, but I have no idea what the heck it was.  I'm sure I just got lucky.  It had some great low end with that (what I call) SVT cab punch - the best of both worlds.  No crossover.  I'll see if I can dig up some pics of it.  It was basically the 12 at the bottom with the two 8 above that in a row and a rectangular port at the top.  I put some 45deg pieces in the back corners to "reflect" the sound up and out the port.  It was VERY efficient.  It was trial and error and I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing!  Just a thought.  It was light weight too.

Jim

[Ed_Chambley]

Hey Ed!

Sorry, I'm late for the party here.....

Is this for your KT120 UL build?  You gotta post some pics!

Years and years ago, I built a 1x12 and 2x8 in a ported cabinet.  It was great for guitar and the little 6v6 homebrew that I had at the time, but I preferred the closed back 4x12 that I bought when I finally had some $$ to spend and was pushing more watts.  However, this thing sounded just awesome with a bass.  I did some calculations for cabinet volume, but I have no idea what the heck it was.  I'm sure I just got lucky.  It had some great low end with that (what I call) SVT cab punch - the best of both worlds.  No crossover.  I'll see if I can dig up some pics of it.  It was basically the 12 at the bottom with the two 8 above that in a row and a rectangular port at the top.  I put some 45deg pieces in the back corners to "reflect" the sound up and out the port.  It was VERY efficient.  It was trial and error and I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing!  Just a thought.  It was light weight too.

Jim

Yea Jim, it is for the KT120.  I tried a bass cab with 2 celestion David Eden cab with each speaker connected to 100 watt amps.  One is a Twin and the other is a super lead.  Sounded great with guitar or bass.  Think freight train.  I will share the build once I begin assembling it.  I am just about to begin punching the chassis.  I have a aluminum 12ga chassis welded and ready. Believe it or not, it had a very full sound with that crappy deluxe tele I have.

Not that it matters, but the design has grown some and I have had to learn some new things.  How to add a balanced line out with a Transformer capable of the lower Hz range.  I am also still considering a separate preamp input as the power section is basically a higher powered Dynaco mark3.  I only need to get the faceplate/backplate drawn, printed on aluminum and coated, the I can begin punching the chassis.  Most of the holdup has been OPCA (other peoples crappy amps) needing repairs.  I have decided on cosmetics which is going to be Red Tolex with salt and pepper grill.  I want to use grill cloth on the head as well for added cooling.  I also need another order to complete what I need for the build.

The cab is complete and was my first where I needed calculation help and a friend explaining what all the specs of the speaker and how it translates to cabinet design.  I have a small fortune in materials and parts so this build is different than what I usually do.  Usually I just build variation of known preamps and hook them to a power section and tweak and roll tubes.

[Ritchie200]

Ed,

Too cool!  I can't wait to see pics and hear some clips.  Those tubes will be loping along not even breaking a sweat, yet producing some big power.  What are you running them at?  What OP TX are you using?

Jim

[Ed_Chambley]

Ed,

Too cool!  I can't wait to see pics and hear some clips.  Those tubes will be loping along not even breaking a sweat, yet producing some big power.  What are you running them at?  What OP TX are you using?

Jim

Jim, I am actually building 2 of these.  The first one was completed for a close friend and the best guitar player you will find anywhere.  The OT on his was the UL hammond, but mine is going to use the UL OT from Triode as well as the upgraded PT.  Tubes, man did I find a great score I did not even know I had.  I have a few Leslie 147 cabs and forgot about the tubes I have for them.   It may be a while before I get it done, but I will begin posting progress as soon as I get my camera out.  I am not good at sharing photos, but intend to on this build since I am making everything.

The other amp I completed like it for my friend you would love.  Nice strat and very much able to get Blackmore tone.  Clean, powerful and nothing shrill at all.

[birt]

i've had really good results with Jensen C12K for bass.

[quayhog]

In my 2-12 bass cabinet I use Carvin PS-12-8.  They are rated for 300 watts each.  I put about 100 wats when turned up.  No farts or flabby sounds.   The speakers are less than $ 60. ea direct from Carvin.  Only disadvantage is they are heavy.   I've used this setup for most of the last decade.   

[Jack1962]

I use Peavey Scorpions in my test cab , each speaker is rated for 200 watts , a 2X12 should give you around 400 watts , I like the tone of mine but then again I may just be used to them lol