Acme Flatwound vs. Thunder Child

bassinstincts · #1 08-27-2011, 10:11 AM

Has anyone done a direct comparison of these? Thanks

KJung · #2 08-27-2011, 10:14 AM

I will have an Acme Full Range to compare to my Thunderchild112 in a couple of weeks.

Of course, the top end on the Flatwound' would be quite different from the full range response of the Thunderchild.

bassinstincts · #3 08-27-2011, 10:20 AM

I will be interested to hear your verdict.

I do love my Flatwound.

KJung · #4 08-27-2011, 10:24 AM

I love my Thunderchild! The Thunderchild has a cool 'gentle treble rolloff' switch that rolls of the top end at about 3.5K if I remember correctly. That might result in a similar top end as the Flat Wound cab, with I guess a bit better dispersion above 1K, since the upper mids and lower treble are coming from the horn.

I assume Andy's cab will be tuned a bit deeper, although when I look at the low end plot, it doesn't look that different from Duke's, which also rolls off under 50hz. I would assume Duke's cab rolls off a bit more steeply.

With the Eminence Neo's disappearing (at least for a while), I thought I'd nab one of these now, since I do like the general tone of these 'super 12's' (fEarful, Thunderchild, and Acme Neo 12 III's).

bassinstincts · #5 08-27-2011, 10:48 AM

Thanks. What is the website for AudioKinesis TChild?

KJung · #6 08-27-2011, 10:52 AM

There really isn't a website. Duke's Audiokinesis website is really for his hi end stereo business. Best way to get him is to either call the number on that site, of send him a PM from Talkbass.

What head, bass, types of gigs, etc. do you do with your Flatwound? I'm really impressed with these super 12's.... they will put out more than most 210's, and even some low end 410's.

I ordered a 4ohm Full Range, since I primarily drive my small cabs with the Markbass F500, which is a nice, small, relatively powerful and relatively neutral amp.

Edit: I do have a bunch of clips of my Thunderchild with various basses and heads on my Youtube channel. There is one with a 60's style J in a 'Jazz' context' with the top end of the cab rolled off. I would guess that would be the closest to the Flat Wound version of Andy's cab. Link to my Youtube Channel in my sig. If you have a good playback system or decent headphones, the sound quality is pretty good IMO.

bassinstincts · #7 08-27-2011, 12:34 PM

The U Tube sound is wonderful. Cab sounds great. Your comparison with the full range will be instructive. I have only gigged once with Flatwound and that in a mid size room (most of the smaller rooms I have played recently have been ideal for my AI Ten2). Even tho' the Flatwound sounded great (the drummer asked me never to bring anything else), I think it could sound better with more amp power. I had been assuming that the RH450 driving it was 450 watts. Now I find otherwise. The Streamliner could be the ticket.

KJung · #8 08-27-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinstincts

The U Tube sound is wonderful. Cab sounds great. Your comparison with the full range will be instructive. I have only gigged once with Flatwound and that in a mid size room (most of the smaller rooms I have played recently have been ideal for my AI Ten2). Even tho' the Flatwound sounded great (the drummer asked me never to bring anything else), I think it could sound better with more amp power. I had been assuming that the RH450 driving it was 450 watts. Now I find otherwise. The Streamliner could be the ticket.

I had an RH450 for a while. Nice head, and it seemed to perform pretty much as promised, even though the volume came from some pretty clever circuitry on the back end.

However, the kind of vintage voicing of that amp (i.e., quite a bit of midrange distortion, all that attenuation up top baked into the voicing, and the big upper bass bump baked in there that is hard to dial out) really are layed bare by cabs like the 15/6 cabs, the Thunderchild and I assume the Acme.

I love my F500 with these cabs. The streamliner sounds good also, but given its very smooth upper mid response and BIG low end, it can be a little too much of a good thing with these class of cabs IMO and IME.

I would think one of the GK micros, the Markbass micros (the LMIII and F1/F500 are great with these class of cabs) or the Shuttle series of amps especially the Shuttle Max models) would be my personal choice, depending on tone goal. The GK amps bring a lot of aggressive top end to the party, which sounds good coming through the paper cone top end of a 12/6 or I assume a Flat Wound. The Markbass stuff is a kind of 'flat/neutral' but still warmly voiced option. The Shuttle sits a bit between the two to my ear.

I'll post up in a while and put up a clip or two when the cab arrives!

K

bassinstincts · #9 08-27-2011, 01:37 PM

Thanks. Lots to think about.

Have you tried/heard the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 in this setting?

KJung · #10 08-27-2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinstincts

Thanks. Lots to think about.

Have you tried/heard the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 in this setting?

I have not, but like that little Tonehammer preamp. I know there is someone using one of those amps successfully with a Thunderchild, but forgot who. I'd like to hear that amp!

bassinstincts · #11 08-27-2011, 01:59 PM

Just got out my Acoustic Image Focus. More wattage and the most "honest" sound of all. No voicing. No mid-range hump.
Sounds most like the bass. To "thicken" the sound somewhat,
I am going to play with a couple of pedals.

KJung · #12 08-27-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinstincts

Just got out my Acoustic Image Focus. More wattage and the most "honest" sound of all. No voicing. No mid-range hump.
Sounds most like the bass. To "thicken" the sound somewhat,
I am going to play with a couple of pedals.

I gigged a Focus for a year or two when I was looking for something that was still small to replace my Walter Woods. Nice box. Even, but quite warm sounding, with a very relaxed top end. I would think that would sound very nice with these 112's, but never heard that match-up.

Great company. They pretty much warranty each amp forever, no matter how many have owned it. Very impressive company IMO!

bassinstincts · #13 08-27-2011, 02:04 PM

I agree!

zombywoof5050 · #14 08-27-2011, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinstincts

The U Tube sound is wonderful. Cab sounds great. Your comparison with the full range will be instructive. I have only gigged once with Flatwound and that in a mid size room (most of the smaller rooms I have played recently have been ideal for my AI Ten2). Even tho' the Flatwound sounded great (the drummer asked me never to bring anything else), I think it could sound better with more amp power. I had been assuming that the RH450 driving it was 450 watts. Now I find otherwise. The Streamliner could be the ticket.

Doesn't your AI Ten2 have a Clarus+ head? Have you ever taken the amp head out of the Ten2 and used it with your Flatwound? I have a Clarus+ head that I use with a pair of 4-ohm Acme Low B2's, and I'm liking it a lot.

bassinstincts · #15 08-28-2011, 08:44 AM

Yes, I have the Clarus in the Ten2. I also have an AI Focus, which I hooked up to the Flatwound last night before seeing your post. Sounds really good (much better IMHO than the RH450) and it will drive two FWs if I buy another.
But thanks for the thought.

KJung · #16 09-14-2011, 07:14 AM

Acme Full Range 4ohm Series III 12 'out for delivery'

bassinstincts · #17 09-14-2011, 07:29 AM

My second Flatwound arrives today. Will gig with two 4-ohm flatwounds and an 800 watt Clarus on Saturday. Should be thundering.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #18 09-14-2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Acme Full Range 4ohm Series III 12 'out for delivery'

Looking forward to your review and hearing how they compare to the Acme 2x10s.

Aram · #19 09-14-2011, 07:40 AM

Sub'd...and,

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

I have not, but like that little Tonehammer preamp. I know there is someone using one of those amps successfully with a Thunderchild, but forgot who. I'd like to hear that amp!

I think you're thinking of IntrepidCellist.

tombowlus · #20 09-14-2011, 07:45 AM

We have both of these cabs in for review, currently. The TC112AF (the "acoustic friendly" version of the Thunderchild) will be in our next issue (#7), and the Flatwound will be in #8. I have played them both, and these two are pretty different sounding, though their core capabilities are similar in many regards. The Full Range Acme is undoubtedly going to be a good bit closer to the Thunderchild, no doubt.