AudioKinesis Speaker cabs Part IV: TC112, TC115, and more!

[DukeLeJeune]

Originally Posted by Bassist30

Do they sound the same?

The widebody has a little bit more energy down low, mainly due to its slightly greater internal volume. For instance the widebody is -2 dB at the first overtone of low-B (62 Hz), and the compact is -3 dB there.

[dspellman]

Originally Posted by DukeLeJeune

Well now you've given away my secret: "the sound in RColie's head" is what I've been basing my designs on all along...

What are the similarities regarding using a corresponding volume of empty space in your cabinet?

[thudfromafar]

My TC chipped (very lightly) on the front too, but I don't care. It looks kinda cool.

[Mike Arnopol]

You can but Duratex in pints. Super easy to do touch-ups. And not out of the realm of possibilities to recoat the cab. Very easy stuff to work with. The whole key to touch-ups is to use a small brush and do small "dabs", wait a minute and touch the dabs with the brush lightly and "lift" them a bit to pull up the texture.

[nostatic]

I'm not going to worry about it - the cab just sounds too good. A fellow TB'er (steubig) came over and brought his Fodera 6 strings. They both killed through the Puma/TC setup, especially the fretless. By comparison the AE sounds a lot more compressed. That has its place, but the TC was just ridiculously wide open with a sweet high end.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by DukeLeJeune

The widebody has a little bit more energy down low, mainly due to its slightly greater internal volume. For instance the widebody is -2 dB at the first overtone of low-B (62 Hz), and the compact is -3 dB there.

That sounds pretty close. But its amazing that a cab could be that light with so much bottom. I guess working with composite material is the next step as well as helping the environment.

[Cashu]

My TC115w has been my main cab for all my gigs (large and small) since I got it from Duke back in Feb. It immediately replaced by Berg rig consisting of 1 or 2 AE210's which I had been using for about 3 years. After about 35 gigs or so with it so far, it is just about perfect for my needs. And volume-wise, it puts out pretty much what the Berg stack did. I also find it to be a much more versatile cab, able to handle different size and sounding venues much easier and more consistently than the stack. And at about 43 pounds total for the cab and a Puma 900..

[chadhargis]

Originally Posted by engedi1

Can't wait until my TC115 arrives which should be in a week or two. Played another gig tonight with a borrowed Markbass 102hf. This cab has actually been working great for upright, but I am not in love with it for electric bass. It has more highs than I am used to and the lows are a tad boomy. I eventually dialed the boomy out, but then I didn't have the bass support I wanted. I am really looking forward to the super clean, clear projecting bass of the TC.

Man, you must have great friends to let you borrow such a fine cabinet.

Looking forward to hearing your new cab. If its better than the MB stuff it was to be the shizzle.

[engedi1]

Originally Posted by chadhargis

Man, you must have great friends to let you borrow such a fine cabinet.

Looking forward to hearing your new cab. If its better than the MB stuff it was to be the shizzle.

I can't tell you what a life saver the MB cabinet has been. It has been amazing for upright bass, but I am just not used to the highs. It is matter of preference I think more than anything. After using TC Electronic gear for the last year I am used to REALLY compressed lows and highs. Too much so in the case of the RS212.The MB cab is so wide open that I am having trouble dialing in the tones I am used with my new Jazz bass deluxe. On my gig last night, I eventually got it worked out by putting the bass in passive mode and dialing the tone about 50% back. This was a trio that was REALLY quiet, I am not used to quiet gigs! It did much better with a country gig at a honky tonk a couple of weeks ago that was more of a usual volume. Of course all things come down to preference. I think the TC115 will be in between the two as regards highs. More polite than the MB, more range than the TC electronic. And the lows of the Thunderchild have to be heard. SUPER clear and clean without being boomy.Thanks again my friend! I'll have her back to you soon!

[nostatic]

Is there a site or can someone give a synopsis of the various models that exist (with dimensions and weight)? As near as I can figure there is a TC112, TC115 (compact and wide), and TC212 (prototype?) and there are composite versions. Dukes site has the specs for:

TC112
Dimensions: 22" high by 14" wide by 14" deep; net internal volume 1.7 cubic feet
Weight: 31 pounds

TC115
Dimensions: 25" high by 21" wide by 14" deep; net internal volume 2.9 cubic feet
Weight: 40 pounds

[PDGood]

Don't forget the AF version adds a little weight.
Also there are composite versions which weigh less.

So there is a:
TC115
TC115W
TC115 AF
TC115W AF
TC115 composite
TC115W composite
TC115 AF composite
TC115W AF composite

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Cashu

My TC115w has been my main cab for all my gigs (large and small) since I got it from Duke back in Feb. It immediately replaced by Berg rig consisting of 1 or 2 AE210's which I had been using for about 3 years. After about 35 gigs or so with it so far, it is just about perfect for my needs. And volume-wise, it puts out pretty much what the Berg stack did. I also find it to be a much more versatile cab, able to handle different size and sounding venues much easier and more consistently than the stack. And at about 43 pounds total for the cab and a Puma 900..

That Puma900/TC115 is probably, IMO, the ultimate 'small rig' on the planet. With the compact composite version, the weight is even less than that (and per Duke's comment above, you aren't really giving anything up with the Compact if you don't have a full size head).

That Puma voicing, similar to my F500, has very good control of the upper mids, which IMO is key with the Thunderchild cabs. For some contexts, it is a must to be able to dial in some brightness around the crossover point (for me anyway).

Nice! I still have my Bergantino AE210 (which is the newer version that is not so aggressive up top). It is VERY similar in tone to Roger Baer's very nice ML112, and I still dig that tighter, punchier, brighter sort of vibe for some gigs.

Interesting that (at least when my TC115 arrives in a week or so), I have a pair of 'small and large' rigs at two different locations that are kind of mirror images of each other:

Location 1: Large - Bergantino AE212, small - TC112, both typically driven my one of my F500's

Location 2: Large = TC115(Composite Compact), small - Bergantino AE210(II). I will probably drive the TC115 with the Aguilar TH500, and use my other F500 for the AE210 (which is just a stunningly good sounding small rig).

Kind of a yin yang thing across the two locations where I keep gigging rigs! All other gear has been sold or is up for sale at this point.

[KJung]

Regarding the finish, I find my TC112 finish much more durable than some other spray on finishes, like the Bergantino AE finish. It is kind of in-between the super duper 'truck bed spray' that LDS offers (that stuff is amazing), and the very thin, but very classy looking simple spray (or roll-on, not sure) that Bergantino uses.

However, for ANY spray on finish, a padded cover is your friend, and IMO, a necessity to keep your cab looking like new.

[IntrepidCellist]

And the 112 and 112AF. Dunno if the 112 is available in composite, or if there is any real benefit for such.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by KJung

Regarding the finish, I find my TC112 finish much more durable than some other spray on finishes, like the Bergantino AE finish. It is kind of in-between the super duper 'truck bed spray' that LDS offers (that stuff is amazing), and the very thin, but very classy looking simple spray (or roll-on, not sure) that Bergantino uses.

However, for ANY spray on finish, a padded cover is your friend, and IMO, a necessity to keep your cab looking like new.

+1 What ever Don Oatman uses is just impenetrable. It reminds me of the spatter coating we used to use on used car trunks when worked for my dad. I never got a cover for the LDS because that finish is so protective. Unfortunately, it does add considerable weight to the cab. Duke's finish might not look quite as pretty, but the cab's considerably lighter. Fortunately, I got my TC 112 from Ken so it came with a cover . Based on what I'm hearing from people on this thread the smaller TC 115 is looking very good.

Ric

[rpsands]

FWIW, I spent some time trying out my new Trace Hexavalve with the TC115, and it's pretty ridiculous how good it sounds. Dingwall -> Hexavalve -> TC with the eq bypassed, on series pups.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by PDGood

Don't forget the AF version adds a little weight.
Also there are composite versions which weigh less.

So there is a:
TC115
TC115W
TC115 AF
TC115W AF
TC115 composite
TC115W composite
TC115 AF composite
TC115W AF composite

Or:

TC112/TC115/TC115W options:
- AF
- composite

[chadhargis]

Originally Posted by engedi1

I can't tell you what a life saver the MB cabinet has been. It has been amazing for upright bass, but I am just not used to the highs. It is matter of preference I think more than anything. After using TC Electronic gear for the last year I am used to REALLY compressed lows and highs. Too much so in the case of the RS212.The MB cab is so wide open that I am having trouble dialing in the tones I am used with my new Jazz bass deluxe. On my gig last night, I eventually got it worked out by putting the bass in passive mode and dialing the tone about 50% back. This was a trio that was REALLY quiet, I am not used to quiet gigs! It did much better with a country gig at a honky tonk a couple of weeks ago that was more of a usual volume. Of course all things come down to preference. I think the TC115 will be in between the two as regards highs. More polite than the MB, more range than the TC electronic. And the lows of the Thunderchild have to be heard. SUPER clear and clean without being boomy.Thanks again my friend! I'll have her back to you soon!

The MB gear is very transparent. I'm convinced it would be just as good a guitar amp as a bass amp. The cab you have is better than the combo as it has a higher spec tweeter in it and it can be attenuated.

Best investment I ever made was a SanAmp BDDI. Holy cow that sucker makes my basses sound great through my amp or DI. Doesn't matter.

[steubig]

howdy, at the risk of seeming like a jerk cause i haven't read all the different parts of this thread.

has anyone played the tc112af with electric as their main instrument?

comments?

also, any possibility of a tc110 in the future?

thanks.

[engedi1]

Originally Posted by steubig

howdy, at the risk of seeming like a jerk cause i haven't read all the different parts of this thread.

has anyone played the tc112af with electric as their main instrument?

comments?

also, any possibility of a tc110 in the future?

thanks.

You might want to read the thread. Many people have done this quite successfully, there is a lot here about that.