Cabinet for a bassplayer

[Ear4life]

Hello guys!

I´m looking for some good ides/advice from an other bass player. (by the way, let me know if i´m posting the wrong place)
I have bin playing bass for many years, and now is the time to try a new cabinet.
I have never tried JBL parts before as back gear. I have lately bin looking in to D,E and K series speakers and are finding them very interesting, with a lot of good reviews. Up till now is has mostly bin 4*10 cabinets. In general they sound OK. Good upper frequencies and mid area, but the lows often seems to dry/distant in a funny way. That made me try different settings, and I found out that 15" speakers has a more physical attack in the lows. And I like it!

I have some ideas: A standard cab with 2* K140 or with a single K140 + K130 (for upper frequencies) Will that work? maybe with crossover? Then I thought of a single E 140 in a backloaded cab. http://www.stageaccompany.com/produc...tage/4530s.pdf

Any other good ideas? I´m not looking for at boomy/rumbling sound... Getting enough of that from the subs underneath the stage. I would like a clean response with details and good lows.

Best regards
Martin Mortensen

[Lee in Montreal]

Hi Martin. You probably remember Emerson Lake and Palmer. Bass came from a JBL 4520 (bigger version of the 4530). In North America, those cabinets are sold for close to nothing. The sound will be very physical. Not as snappy as with a 4530, but deeper.

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...6&d=1327011595

[hardtime]

5 cubic foot enclosure with a 6 inch diameter x 6 inch long port for each 15 inch speaker and will tune at about 40 cycles (low E ). D 140s or D 130s are fine, don't mx unless your are good at matching different efficiencies. I worked with a pair for many years and was quite satisfied. Make sure that the sides are stiff enough to resist vibation. Be sure to use JBL drivers, I blew most all other brands until I started using JBLs; D130s and D140s.Get a three section per octave equalizer for tweaks. Oh, don't forget your day job.

[Mike F]

Hi Martin. You probably remember Emerson Lake and Palmer. Bass came from a JBL 4520 (bigger version of the 4530). In North America, those cabinets are sold for close to nothing. The sound will be very physical. Not as snappy as with a 4530, but deeper.

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbullet...6&d=1327011595

Now that`s a bass rig! Wonder what was driving it? To the OP, 4530`s with K/E-140s were quite popular among bass players. Are you willing to deal with it`s size and weight??

[Ear4life]

HI guys!

Thanks for replying!
Yes, 4530/20 looks nice and and it would be funny to try how it feels They use different drivers. 4530 uses a E140 and 4520 uses 2205´s. and the 2205 is a real bass driver, that's the reason for the horn on top. I would say, I don´t matter if it takes space up in the air, but i know it will give problems if it becomes wider than a normal standard cab. In other words i have to turn two times 15" on the wide side down. I can see the problems going through a door already I´m glad wheels came along..
One thing is to jump out and try a total now type of enclosure, another thing is how low will a backloaded go? "hardtime" you mentioned the E string (40Hz) But I´m looking for a cab that can take the low B (32Hz). For the moment I only use 4 strings, but in the future I can see some nice rocking with a synthesizer, and those are claiming down low . The E140 is on my mind because of the power handling, some says the K140 sound a little sweeter.. I don´t know.. But "hardtime" you are open for mixing K130 and K140 with a crossover? If the K130 is crossed out in the lower end, Technically the K140 has a bigger internal cab for the lowest notes. that´s one way..

Martin

[Lee in Montreal]

Hi Martin

The 4530 is a 40Hz horn with a 80Hz fundamental. The 4520 is a 35Hz horn with a 70Hz fundamental. Perhaps you could also look at the 18" JBL E155/K155 which are bass/organ drivers and make a simple bass reflex enclosure. It will not play as loud, but it is a proven recipe. This is a 30Hz driver.

[Ear4life]

Hi!
The E155 would be fun to try. But I don´t know if that is to step out of the save zone. 18" seems very big for a simple backgear. Or is it? In any way it´s hard to find any for sale. most of them are reconed to 2240. Maybe I should simply try 2* E140, like this:

Simply just a beauty!

[mikebake]

That should do it!

Hi!
The E155 would be fun to try. But I don´t know if that is to step out of the save zone. 18" seems very big for a simple backgear. Or is it? In any way it´s hard to find any for sale. most of them are reconed to 2240. Maybe I should simply try 2* E140, like this:

Simply just a beauty!

[jerry_rig]

I would recommend a cabinet with a closed back. Just my two cents.

[Ear4life]

Hey again!

Okay, just found 2 E140 in good condition for about 275 usd, here in Denmark. Very nice! so I bought them Looking forward to go pro with JBL! Then I just have to find the time to build the cabinet (with the back panel) There would´t be much lows without the back.
Thanks for the input so far!!

Best regards
Martin