The EBS ProLine 410, introduced in 1999, is the most iconic EBS speaker cabinet ever made. It is famous for its transparent and punchy sound and its distinctive look. It developed from an earlier model called the “Evolution” series. 2024 marks the 25th year in production of the cabinet, and it is still going strong!
In the spotlight for 25 years and counting.
At its introduction in 1999, the EBS Evolution ProLine 2000 410 cabinet, later shortened to EBS ProLine 410, caught the attention of several high-profile artists. In its early years, stars like Marcus Miller*, Hugh McDonald with Bon Jovi, and Victor Bailey took the ProLine to the main stage. When they moved on to other brands, the EBS ProLine 410 stayed in the spotlight with new artists.
One of the first viral videos on YouTube featuring a bass solo – Tal Wilkenfeld‘s now legendary solo on Jeff Beck’s “Cause We’ve Ended as Lover” from the Crossroads Festival in 2007, also featured the famous cabinets. When the boyband One Direction hit, the EBS cabinet was on stage with bass player Sandy Beales on huge stadiums and TV shows around the World. When Bruno Mars introduced his breakthrough “Doo-Wops and Hooligans” album in Europe, playing 35 major TV shows and selected club dates, these cabs got in the spotlight again with bass player Jam Artis. Around this time, the Swedish sensation Dirty Loops with Henrik Linder on bass put their first song on YouTube, and the ProLine 410’s success story continued.
Most recently, the ProLine 410 has served on tour with Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Dirty Loops, and it’s the first choice on the rider for the amazing MonoNeon (who even got a few neon-colored samples of this cabinet matching his outfit). It is also on stage with SLASH bass player Johnny Griparic on the SERPENT blues tour in the summer of 2024.
These are only a few examples of artists who have enjoyed the ProLine 410s over the last two decades but show the diversity of genres covered by the sound of these cabinets.
The ProLine 410 has graced the stages of all renowned venues and stadiums worldwide, including prestigious locations like the White House in Washington, D.C., and the UN headquarters in New York City.
Design and construction.
The iconic design. With chromed steel grills, the blue line, and the letters “EBS” on the front badge, these cabs stand out in the crowd – to the degree they sometimes cause controversy. Bass player Warren McRae experienced such a moment when he took them on tour with Tina Turner. A couple of shows into the tour, when he turned up for soundcheck, his bass tech had painted the grills black – on direct order from Tina herself. The chromed grille stole attention from her as the glittering outfit she wore lined up with the cabinet behind her when the spotlight hit.
The speakers EBS uses in the cabinet are an Eminence 10″ non-standard model originally for PA systems. Along with a high-end JBL tweeter, they produce a well-balanced, natural, and transparent sound that reinforces the sound of a great instrument with minimum coloring. It gives a solid body and bottom, with a great mid-punch, which has attracted world-class bass players since its introduction.
The cabinet itself is cleverly crafted in supreme quality plywood and can be assembled entirely without using glue or screws. The minimal amount of glue attached today is merely a safety precaution, just in case.
The steel grille is the same steel grating used in stone-crushing plants to sort gravel, and the protective felt is rugged and protects the cabinet from scratches and stains. Sturdy is an understatement. These cabinets are roadworthy, and many artists tour with them without using protecting cases.
A witness to its roadworthy construction comes from its bigger brother, the ProLine 810. One of these cabinets traveled (uncased) for over 1000 gigs with Swedish melodic death metal pioneer Jonas Björler with The Haunted and At The Gates before it came back to EBS. After we changed the speakers, which were a little worn out, it continued to serve on a backline rental and featured at the most recent Sweden Rock Festival this June.
The EBS Sound personified.
Trends come and go, and EBS has introduced both the NeoLine lightweight cabinets and the vintage-looking ClassicLine since the ProLine came out, but the ProLine still stands as the reference cabinets for “The EBS Sound” for many bass players worldwide.
Dig deeper and learn how to select the right cabinet for your amp in this article.
What we have learned:
- EBS ProLine 410 is an iconic speaker cabinet famous for its transparent sound and distinct look.
- The cabinet has been on tour with high-profile artists in many different genres.
- The cabinet features special Eminence 10″ speakers and a high-end JBL tweeter, producing a well-balanced and natural sound.
- The cabinet is constructed with supreme-quality plywood, using minimal glue and no screws for assembly.
- EBS ProLine cabinets are roadworthy, sturdy, and often tour without protective cases.
- The ProLine 410 is the reference cabinet for ‘The EBS Sound.’
- The cabinet has featured on stage in the most prestigious venues, including unconventional places like the White House and the UN headquarters.
*EBS has no affiliation with Marcus Miller today since he moved to another brand some years ago, but we are forever grateful for his part in our past, particularly in the success story of the EBS ProLine 410 cabinet.