One head, two cabs

[Geospectrum]

As the title suggests I’m in the market for a new amp/cab solution. I’d like something portable so my idea is to go for a solid state head with a small cab for travel and a larger cab for home. I like the look of raezors edge cabinets but I’m not sure if they are available in the UK.

I mainly play a Guild archtop, which has a single coil pickup, occasionally a Ibanez AS73 with humbuckers.

Budget is a constraint so I may go for the Quilter Super Block US and a small cab to be followed by a larger one when funds allow.

Amy suggestions on this approach? I’m stuck for cab options and would also welcome suggestions on the head. Perhaps a TC Electonics BAM 200 and a reverb pedal, but what can to match it with? the portable cab needs to be able to compete with drums in a small jazz combo.

So many options…

[burchyk]

For SS a Mambo head is what I would be looking for.

A combo would probably be more portable than the head + cab.

[marcwhy]

Lots of people here use Toobs to solve your problem (and no need to buy two - one will do fine!).

[Woody Sound]

Toob?

[Ukena]

That's Greg Ruggiero, who (as I understand it) was instrumental in getting Markku to make a smaller, easily portable version of his TOOB speakers – the Metro 6.5. The best deal on a portable cab, as far as I'm concerned.

And now, he also has a Metro 8GP – an 8" speaker in an enclosure hardly bigger or heavier than the 6.5GP. Here's my 6.5GP (orange) and my new 8GP:

[pingu]

cool

does the 8 have more bottom
or is it just louder

[marcwhy]

Good recent thread here, too.

[Gitterbug]

cool

does the 8 have more bottom
or is it just louder

Pingu, it's 5 dB louder and sounds just bigger. The new Jensen Falcon 8 is meant to please the rawk crowd, meaning great overdrive sound for eg. blues.

[pingu]

Pingu, it's 5 dB louder and sounds just bigger. The new Jensen Falcon 8 is meant to please the rawk crowd, meaning great overdrive sound for eg. blues.

ok thanks , understood ….

[Herbie]

Pingu, it's 5 dB louder and sounds just bigger. The new Jensen Falcon 8 is meant to please the rawk crowd, meaning great overdrive sound for eg. blues.

Markku, have You tested if the Eminence Beta 8A fits in there? That Beta series has a sound that has proved to please jazz players.

[Gitterbug]

Markku, have You tested if the Eminence Beta 8A fits in there? That Beta series has a sound that has proved to please jazz players.

No I haven't. I'm sure it sounds great but the 2.99 kg weight is excessive. The Falcon is just 1.1 kg. As well, sourcing Eminences in Europe is challenging price- and volume-wise. Eminence is now part of B&C (Italy), but I bet it takes time to reorganize distribution.

[Herbie]

No I haven't. I'm sure it sounds great but the 2.99 kg weight is excessive. The Falcon is just 1.1 kg. As well, sourcing Eminences in Europe is challenging price- and volume-wise. Eminence is now part of B&C (Italy), but I bet it takes time to reorganize distribution.

Now when You say that I remember that finding an Emi Beta 8A really took some patience. Finally found an used one from Germany – but that surely isn’t how a professional manufacturer gets parts to his product!

A part of the B&C, that’s interesting. I have always thought that Emi must be one of the biggest if not the biggest speaker manufacturers. But maybe world changes.

[Gitterbug]

Hobby brands dear to our hearts are often smaller than their reputation would suggest. I'm not strong with numbers, but recall that Eminence changed hands for a surprisingly small heap of clams.

EDIT: I found the numbers: 4.5 million USD including assumed debt. Not much for a company with segment leaderships (at least in bass speakers, I understand), a factory in Kentucky and another in China. Eminence's European distribution was handled by Adam Hall for 25 years until 2022. There was even a dedicated warehouse. Covid caused serious supply bottlenecks for many speaker manufacturers, resulting in extended lead times and sharp price hikes. It may have messed up this relationship as well.