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

Distortion for synth (think grind-y and metallic results). Every pedal I’ve tried either does nothing cool or goes straight to too much with no sweet spot. Maybe a dry/wet blend is key here?

I think The Screamers just used big muffs but their parts are more monophonic than what I’m trying.

EDIT: I remembered I bought a Red Llama clone from FM Kniferide years ago and that’s the best thing I’ve tried yet. I also boosted the treble and completely cut the mids to the amp it’s going into and may have it dialed in now.

penningtron wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 12:23 pm
EDIT: I remembered I bought a Red Llama clone from FM Kniferide years ago and that’s the best thing I’ve tried yet. I also boosted the treble and completely cut the mids to the amp it’s going into and may have it dialed in now.

HA! That was going to be my recommendation. Never met a overdrive circuit I like better than a Red Llama/CA Tubesound. I also usually use a boss Loop Selector, (or the $30 Joyo version) with any drives in a loop that I can use the selector to blend in dry synth so the lows dont go away. Graphic EQ after the drive in that loop is cool too for boosting the harmonics you like, cutting mud.

Kniferide wrote: Fri May 09, 2025 4:08 pm HA! That was going to be my recommendation. Never met a overdrive circuit I like better than a Red Llama/CA Tubesound. I also usually use a boss Loop Selector, (or the $30 Joyo version) with any drives in a loop that I can use the selector to blend in dry synth so the lows dont go away. Graphic EQ after the drive in that loop is cool too for boosting the harmonics you like, cutting mud.

Yeah, everything else I tried would flatten out any pulsing/percussive pattern in the synth. The Llama has nearly half a turn of very usable sounds! I do have a EQD Tone Job I could put after for some heavy handed eq. I've never been a big mid scooper for guitar but it's proving to be useful here.