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I have my own opinions and have tried these all of these cabs, but I am curious about other bass players' opinions, what sets these apart in your mind:
Ampeg 8x10"(USA)
Mesa PH 8x10"
Basson 8x10"
Matamp 8x10"
Also has anyone used an Emperor Cab? Russian Circles and Today is the Day are using them, loud-yes?

nothing. they're all 8x10's. i think the m/b has a tweeter. those suck.

a few months back i mixed 5 or 6 shows with the band Singer, whose bassist uses an Emperor 1x15 cab with a david eden head and a SWEET Ampeg bass.

it sounded very nice and was a beautiful little box. i remember thinking "how could that be a 15" cone in there?" the cabinet's height is barely more than the speaker diameter.

I play through an Emperor, and have for about a year. It's a 2x15. Sounds great. Easily my favorite cab I've ever played through in terms of overall sound and portability. It's a rock solid cab that packs a pretty massive punch.

Matt Pike from High on Fire is playing through Emperor cabs now too. Not a bassist, but FYI.

I saw an Emperor guitar cab in my old practice space. I have absolutely no idea how it sounds, but damn did it look cool.

I would say
Ampeg sounds like Ampeg.
Mesa sounds like the Ampeg, but a hair 'cleaner' or 'clearer'
The Basson I am biased against for the sole reason of their continuing promotion of the ridiculous "underpowering" myth.
The Metamp probably sounds awesome.

Personally, given that the Basson and the Matamp are probably unreasonably expensive, my choice of them all would be the Berginato NV610. It's a sealed, tweeterless cab that is sounds like the Ampeg but better in every way.
Also it is not just for bass nerds if that is what you are thinking, I know that Dave Konopk from Battles uses one.

megadan wrote:...my choice of them all would be the Berginato NV610. It's a sealed, tweeterless cab that is sounds like the Ampeg but better in every way...

resident know-it-all bass nerd, that damned fly agrees with this decision.

especially if you'll be using this cabinet with a tube amp.

btw, fuck ampeg 8x10's. local curmudgeon, wiggins, posted a thread on here that all he ever gets out of those things as far as recordings go is a woofy, midrange sound. eight tens. not practical. also, heavy. also, overpriced. also, made by the company that makes crate. also, can't think of one recording that has an ampeg 8x10 that made me think, "wow, what a great tone!" to be fair, the berg cab never has either, but also, it's fairly recent.

go with the berg 6x10. fuck basson too, heavy as balls, plus eats power with no real sign of output for all the input. fuck mesa/boogie as well. why? 1. tweeter. 2. super duper fucking expensive. it does have a grill on it, but so does the berg.

berg. you can get tolex or rat fur. plus they pop on talkbass.com fairly regulary for about $800. their 2x15 is also quite badass, and instead of a tweeter has a 6.5" midrange speaker. fuck highs. it's all about mids.

I think that we will get along.
If I could have any stack of cabs, however unreasonable, it would be an Berg 6x10 on top of a Berg 2x15. Rock the fuck.

megadan wrote:I think that we will get along.
If I could have any stack of cabs, however unreasonable, it would be an Berg 6x10 on top of a Berg 2x15. Rock the fuck.

my old bass rig was a sunn 4x12 on top of a sunn 2x15. ts50b and a power amp pushing it. hell yeah.