Bass distortion and speaker size

[Bellyheart]

This maybe too obvious and why I can't find answers anywhere, but does speaker size effect distortion? I play guitar and split my signal to a guitar amp and bass amp. The bass cab is 18" and is deep like Marianas Trench, but no matter what I do distortion never comes through. Even the tafm.

I thought it was the eq, which I keep the bass up treble down since the guitar amp does that, but after adding more treble it still did not deliver the ripping fuzz I've heard. I was beginning to think the size is too over powering or perhaps the speaker isn't as wide range as others, but I don't know. I'm considering changing cabs but know I'll sacrifice some thunder, but want to know if that's what i need to do.

Any help/expertise is much appreciated.

[skullservant]

You might not be pushing the speaker enough? I had an 18 I ran guitar through and it really REALLY liked to be pushed at high volume for it to shine. Otherwise it definitely need to be complimented (like you are doing) with another smaller sized speaker/enclosure, it was dark and kind of stale, and you could tell the speaker was bored haha

[Achtane]

You also have to factor in the specs of the speaker and the cabinet. A particular speaker might sound cool in one cab but shit in another. Some speakers are not meant for cabs that don't have enough/have too much internal volume and other stuff.

Maybe you need a totally different cab. Or speaker. lul.

[D.o.S.]

You also have to factor in the specs of the speaker and the cabinet. A particular speaker might sound cool in one cab but shit in another. Some speakers are not meant for cabs that don't have enough/have too much internal volume and other stuff.

Maybe you need a totally different cab. Or speaker. lul.

Also something to consider: frequency rolloff.

Have you tried running the distortion into the guitar half of your rig?

Does that get you Dem Toanz?

[Demon666]

A lot of 18's roll off the high end pretty low. 45-800hz or something like that. Try to see what you have for a speaker and look for it's specs.

[excane]

Definitely what demon said - the top sizzle is being darkened or hacked off. Also, they seem to work better when being pushed.

I'd def try some 10" or 12".

Are you not hearing anything through the 18" or it's just muddy and undefined?

[Bellyheart]

I hear it, but distortion hardly sounds fuzzz'd. Even tried using a clean boost and still not much help.

[excane]

Ok, easiest way to trouble shoot....

You have a guitar head/cab and bass head/cab?

First make sure the guitar amp/cab is giving you the sound you want (or close to it)

Then unplug the guitar cabinet and plug it into the bass cabinet. If the sound is drastically different - no distortion, then it's the cab. If the sound is the same, then it's possibly the bass amp and cab.

[Bellyheart]

Guitar combo. I'm pretty sure it's the cab, but damn, i'm nervous about gettin another and it not sounding as deep, but whatever.

[excane]

Do you have any other cab you can borrow just to test out? Can you unplug the speaker from the guitar combo and hook it up to the bass cab?

[Derelict78]

go to a music store and try out cabs. bring you amp with you.

[theavondon]

Start hoarding 15"s.

[aen]

my fifteens kind of suck for distortion, too. Great bass, no sizzle.

[rot gut]

12's and 15's is all i use for bass and i use a lot of distortion.

[Bellyheart]

I really want that fart/chainsaw effect that people get but we shall see. Peavey had those 2x10 1x18 as well as a smaller version that I might try and acquire or have remade to allow what I want. It seems the only way to be a cake eater.