I am not an acoustic engineer but iirc part of the issue with (very) low end on open back cabs is that because of the less directional nature of low end info and the longer wavelengths, you get the air moving out of the back of the cab at certain frequencies “wrapping around” to the front and causing phase cancellation, eg loss of low end. This could be entirely wrong.

Garth wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 11:33 pm But low volume for recording or quiet shows? Probably fine…but a heavy boat anchor to saddle yourself with for that kind of application (made worse im sure by adding evm-12l.

Carol Kaye famously used a Super Reverb for bass a lot, so it can definitely give good sound, but in very specific instances as you note.

I wonder if a decent used 1x15 wouldn’t cost much more than two new speakers anyways.

I’m asking this VT22 bass speaker question for a buddy of mine and I think he wants to just use an amp he already has as either a home rig or to supplement his current setup. Not entirely sure but the expectation isn’t that the vt22 is a primary rig; just better at being a bass amp than it is now. IIRC, the vt22 has some modest Jensens in it now.

Something like the deltalite 12s would work well and also help with the weight.

I definitely think a replacement cab is the way to go especially considering cost of replacement speakers. Pretty easy to just use the VT-22 as a standalone head w a long enough speaker cable.

I havent used the 12s but the kappalite 15s sound a lot more like”articulate and clean” to me than the deltalite 15.
The DL isnt BAD just felt a little more wooly and unfocused than the KL. Trying to look up if they have kappalites in 12” that are voiced for instruments than PA applications but their site is being wonky.

The EVM-12L or similar clones are good choices too as mentioned and do double duty. Eminence clone is an EM12 and a neo version the EM12L if weight is at all a consideration…having recently had all my VT-22s repaired, ill say they still are shockingly heavy. But again at that expense and faff, a separate bass cab to swap makes the most sense to me (if space isnt an issue)

But good point has been made: if Carol Kaye did it then ignore me 100% (and maybe dont even bother changing speakers). I know she transitioned from guitar to being known as a bass player so this tracks. I have heard/read often that folks BITD used to just use whatever amp was available.

bigc wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 10:16 am Computer speakers for under $150?

These sound way better than you would expect.

https://uk.creative.com/p/speakers/inspire-t10

Curry Pervert wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 10:41 pm These sound way better than you would expect.

https://uk.creative.com/p/speakers/inspire-t10

Nice! Already ordered a set of Edifier R19BTs, so will report back my findings.

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Wed May 07, 2025 6:26 am

Garth wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 11:33 pm But low volume for recording or quiet shows? Probably fine…but a heavy boat anchor to saddle yourself with for that kind of application (made worse im sure by adding evm-12l.

Carol Kaye famously used a Super Reverb for bass a lot, so it can definitely give good sound, but in very specific instances as you note.

I wonder if a decent used 1x15 wouldn’t cost much more than two new speakers anyways.

I used to use my Quad Reverb for low volume bass all the time and it sounded pretty good. If it had beefier speakers like deltas I probably could have gone louder and still sounded fine.

As far as "amp that shouldn't sound good for bass but holy shit it does" my silverface Champ at moderate/low volume sounds awesome. I did upgrade the speaker at some point but not to anything special, just whatever 8" WGS speaker they had a decade or so ago.

Peavey Decade even?!!!?! Just needs a $1600 ribbon mic