AudioKinesis Cabs V!!!!

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by foderaman

RCF if I remember was a speaker company from years ago that provided Drivers for Yorkville Elite cabs and some others?

Older EAW and Mackies, for example. Some of the engineering staff apparently also did a partial morph into 18Sound.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by Chef

I've answered this many times this week, here, and by pm.

paraphrased quote from today:
The TC212 is great, but the form factor doesn't work for me compared to what I already have. I'm keeping the TC115.
To me, the best thing about the TC115, it's strong point, is that "it's nearly 410."
It's long suit, for me, is what it can do on it's own.

I have three different 2x112 sets I use for when I need more than that.

Ok, thanks. Actually, I switched from a 115 to a vertical 212 because the form factor was better for me !

[Chef]

Just got off the phone with the new owner, of the TC212 who has been playing it for an hour+ now.

"I couldn't be happier. I love the form factor, the size, weight, tone, everything. Way better than what I had before; I wouldn't change a thing about it."

So: there ya go!

[Michelsen]

Just dropping by to say a few happy words about my TC115af:

I've had this thing for about two months now. It's absolutely wonderful for everything I do. Playing doublebass amplified has never been such a pleasure, no matter how difficult the venue or stage is. This thing totally kills in every situation.
I'm using Fishman BP-100 ( believe it or not ) trough FDeck III into Markbass LMIII, and the thing sounds so damn good, also on arco. With this setup I get as much output as I ever need and never had any problems with boom or feedback, and I've had to raise the HPF knob from the lowest setting maybe once.

I've played electric bass through the TC115 only a few times, never really loud, but it has sounded great so far. It really feels like the sound you get is all about your bass, fingers and amp. Just the way I like it

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by Michelsen

Just dropping by to say a few happy words about my TC115af:
...I've played electric bass through the TC115 only a few times, never really loud, but it has sounded great so far. It really feels like the sound you get is all about your bass, fingers and amp. Just the way I like it

+1.
Bridge pickups have always seemed too brittle or edgy with my bass when solo'd, but last night, I accidentally cranked mine before a worship set with my TC112af, and it was pure tone heaven.

The recipe for me, seems to be EMG'S P5 soapbars at both positions, with TI jazz flats, straight into a G-K MB800 w/the treble rolled back to about 10 o'clock, and the Thunderchild. Pushing the mids a smidge and rolling back the bass very slightly, was all it took to compensate for the room.

The smoothness of the TCAF translated the tight, compressed sound of the P at the bridge and the bark of the G-K into a wonderful mid-forward growl, with no resonances or artifacts to emphasize unwanted frequencies or fret noise.

On the quiet sections, the subtle 3D quality of the AF mod was luxurious. I was getting just enough bite in the upper mids to have legato sections sound fat yet articulate, yet on the loud, uptempo stuff, I was getting a nice, burpy growl with no note overhang to blur the 1/8th note sections. When I wanted to fatten things up on slower, whole-note parts, the pickup blends were fantastic- I could dial in just as much low end roundness as I wanted with the neck P.

This instrument has always been my go-to bass for ballads, but with this setup, it's now an absolute monster for more aggressive stuff. So simple and easy to dial in for the gig and the room, and so responsive to my touch...

Thank you, Duke, for making it all possible, and so portable!

[DukeLeJeune]

Thank you very much, Michelsen and Steve! Happy to hear that "it really feels like the sound you get is all about your bass, fingers and amp."

Also, sorry I haven't been on in a while. Computer virus, other stuff... Chef, glad you found a good home for your close-but-not-quite TC212, and I think having firsthand information in the thread on the pro's and con's of my cabs is great.

[kringle77]

Welcome back Duke. I am absolutely jonesing to get my pair of Hathor cabs. The Hathor sisters! Really looking to lighten my load for the winter, get more clarity and hopefully retain some of that tight, full feeling of my sealed cabs.

[otto B]

Has anyone try the Mark bass Big Bang with any TC cab?

[rpsands]

I have spent a lot of time playing my Markbass Sd1200 into my TC 115. Sounds great, tons of volume.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by otto B

Has anyone try the Mark bass Big Bang with any TC cab?

Haven't tried the Big Bang, but the LMII/III and the F1/F500 sound wonderful through the Thunderchild cabs. The Big Bang is supposed to sit kind of right between those two according to the Markbass guys I talked to at NAMM... a little more mid presence and max volume than the LMII (like the F500), but a bit more warmth in the midrange and open low end (like the LMII/LMIII).

The only downside to the Big Bang, F1, and LMII/III with the Thunderchild IMO is that the low mid control is voiced so high that it is not very useful if you want to roll in a more 'traditional' low mid bump with the very even low end of the TC cabs. I don't feel the need to do that with my TC112 and TC115, but some would.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by KJung

The Big Bang is supposed to sit kind of right between those two according to the Markbass guys I talked to at NAMM...

+1 Yup. I've been playing with a Big Bang for a while, and this is generally in line with my observations.

[otto B]

I wish i could find a F500 but they are hard to find

[KJung]

Originally Posted by otto B

I wish i could find a F500 but they are hard to find

It is my favorite piece of gear. I bought a second one as a backup. I guess they didn't sell well. The only thing I can think of is that all those little concentric knobs that control the massive features of this amp in that very small space on the front panel might have turned buyers off. I've never had a problem with it.

The Shuttle Max 9.2 is the only other head I've experienced with that level of EQ control.

[Chef]

The SWR Baby Blue was laid out like that.
I loved that amp.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Chef

The SWR Baby Blue was laid out like that.
I loved that amp.

+1 So many, just like with the Walkabout, dreamed about a 'high powered Baby Blue', but it never happened. That was a magic little amp for its time!

[Chef]

Yeah....I don't get either of those decisions...........I would have bought either of those.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 So many, just like with the Walkabout, dreamed about a 'high powered Baby Blue', but it never happened. That was a magic little amp for its time!

Hey,
Well, I owned both the original Baby Blue 2x8 and the matching extension cabinet. It was a nice little amp for EB, not so much with DB. Personally, I just didn't like the Aural Enhancer. Interestingly enough, there are TB tech's that found a way to modify and defeat that circuit. The great thing is that there are so many better amps and cabinets available now. Markbass makes great gear, I'll be interested to demo a Big Bang when they finally get to market next year.

Ric

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Hey,
Well, I owned both the original Baby Blue 2x8 and the matching extension cabinet. It was a nice little amp for EB, not so much with DB. Personally, I just didn't like the Aural Enhancer. Interestingly enough, there are TB tech's that found a way to modify and defeat that circuit. The great thing is that there are so many better amps and cabinets available now. Markbass makes great gear, I'll be interested to demo a Big Bang when they finally get to market next year.

Ric

Yeah, the cabs were, of course, not big enough to do much with, but the concept of three bands of fully parametric EQ on a bass amp was pretty revolutionary in those days.

+1 that it is more of a 'back in the day' thing than anything relevant to today's market.

Hey Ric, I'm in town Saturday (gigging at the Four Seasons), but yet again, no time to hang (coming in Saturday afternoon from another gig in Illinois on Friday). I'll have the TC115/Aguilar/PBass pumpin' away!

[kringle77]

Can anyone (the 3 who have tried one) compare the hathor to any more common cabs like a bergantino ae series, eden xlt series, carvin ls1503, etc?

[staccatogrowl]

Here is my report on an AudioKinesis Thunderchild (TC) 212AF. I have had the good fortune to own and play several competent and heavy bass cabinets. Weight was not an issue until I developed tendonitis in my left wrist, attributed to repetitive playing stress. I gave up my heavy multi-cabinet live rig for a good set of IEMs, learning to rely on and appreciate Aviom sound.

Following the Thunderchild threads, I was not convinced that a single-driver-with-horn cabinet would make me happy. I was also skeptical of the horn, thinking that it would just sound like a big, harsh tweeter.

In the back of my mind I heard, “212, 212, 212. I sure miss my old 212 (the best of my old cabs).” Then, the TC 212 was released as presented in this thread. Until then, I considered buying a used TC115 on TalkBass. However, they always sold before I had a chance to buy. Plus, reluctant of having a single-driver cabinet, the cost of two singles ended my exploration, as did the thought of moving two cabinets around.

I spoke with Duke LeJeune about ordering a new TC 212 cabinet. He was extremely pleasant and patient, answering questions and addressing concerns. I was almost ready to order a new cabinet when I learned of the possibility of buying a used TC 212.

I purchased a TC 212 from TB moderator "Chef." He is a great person, and I enjoyed working with him in an easy-going transaction. My TC 212 arrived last week, and it is simply amazing.

The overall dimensions, accurately provided in this thread, are ideal for me. At 6’3’’, I appreciate the height of this cabinet. I also appreciate the low and well-balanced weight, awesome power handling, and full-spectrum tone provided. The lows and mids of this cabinet are well balanced, sounding strong with my five-string electric bass. Projection is even and dependable across a stage area or listening room. And, the highs?

The highs are extremely smooth and musical, and the best I have ever heard from a bass cabinet. This is from a person that always rolls off pesky highs. Before hearing this cabinet, I estimated that I would certainly roll off its horn-produced highs, using the toggle-activated filter at the back of the cabinet. How wrong I was. The unattenuated highs of the TC212 are beautiful and pleasing. I am thrilled.

The workmanship of the cabinet is top notch, being well crafted and visually pleasing. The application of the design is professional, meeting my expectation of quality for a custom hand-built cabinet.

In conclusion, I am a very happy AudioKinesis bass cabinet owner. The TC 212 cabinet is now my all-time favorite. I am grateful for the technology of today, the design expertise and quality build by Duke LeJeune, the TalkBass forum, and its moderator “Chef.” Thank you all!