Bose L1 Model 2 as bass rig...

Bass Mayhem · #1 04-26-2011, 01:39 PM

Two days ago I wrote a review of the Bose L1 Model 2 personal PA/monitor system used as bass rig. I'm just curious if anyone else have used the system in a similar way as I wrote about in the review. I know it can be like saying ugly words in church, but I take the chance anyway.

In short: I used the L1 with two B1 subs and the T1 Tonematch mixer and nothing else (other than my basses of course). No preamps or pedals of any kind. As I said in the review I'm not interested in "amp" tone, just bass tone.

Please, give me some input if you have, constructive critics and questions too...

Mr. Foxen · #2 04-26-2011, 02:02 PM

Are those subs the dinky ones that use psycho-acoustic tricks to sound bottomier than they are? If so, the lows won't be there in the mix, other stuff will be making the same frequencies they use and mask them. Fine for monitoring when low end isn't the aim I guess.

rpsands · #3 04-26-2011, 02:13 PM

I've used it and find it to be boomy and muddy. Sounds fine in a "just adding some bottom to the tunes" thing, but any fast music or articulate parts disappear. Not a fan.

okcrum · #4 04-26-2011, 02:14 PM

A local guy uses his L1/2xB1/T1 setup for his bass, vocals, and his Line 6 Variax. He says it sounds fine for small/medium venues on bass as long as the volume stays sane.

DJS · #5 04-26-2011, 02:23 PM

I used to make pretty good money selling Bose, but I can't fathom how two 6.5" speakers could ever move enough air to be heard in a band situation.

JimmyM · #6 04-26-2011, 02:37 PM

not the model 2, but i did use the model 1's for bass once. i second the opinion of the person who said they were ok for light duty but nothing else. plus they told me i should use a minimum of 4 subs for bass, and at the price they go for, i could buy a heritage svt rig and get much better sound, albeit with a heavier schlep.

seamonkey · #7 04-26-2011, 05:14 PM

In the original L1 they had all the drivers pointing forward. Problem is when they went to L1 Model II they went to pointing every other driver off axis - what? I guess they didn't read about near field arrays after all.

Bose will never release measurements. High price + no measurements = not my money.

billfitzmaurice · #8 04-26-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

when they went to L1 Model II they went to pointing every other driver off axis - what?
.

That's actually OK. Making the system from the cheapest components available, not so much.

seamonkey · #9 04-26-2011, 05:55 PM

Radiating Planes/Center-to-center I don't have access to all the AES papers but I'll take your word for it if you're wearing a lab coat.

billfitzmaurice · #10 04-26-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

Radiating Planes/Center-to-center

Moot in this case, as the basic footprint is still vertical. I do have access to all the AES papers, and it's either PJs at the computer or jeans in the workshop for me.

JimmyM · #11 04-27-2011, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Moot in this case, as the basic footprint is still vertical. I do have access to all the AES papers, and it's either PJs at the computer or jeans in the workshop for me.

sexy!

Bass Mayhem · #12 05-07-2011, 08:09 AM

OK! Got a lot of response.

It suits my needs. I got all amplification I'll (n)ever need already. Most of the time it sits in the basement collecting dust. The gigs I do nowadays are either church gigs or big concert hall gigs. In churches I'll never need more than moderate volume. In concert halls there's always f.o.h. taking care of the audience. In these situations the Bose setup is perfect for my own monitoring, even if the drummer is on stereoids and the friggin' Leslie on my other side is roaring. I hear myself perfect wherever I walk my full cable length (27 ft/9 m) in any direction.

And: If I want more low end when just playing electric, no EUB or vocals through the system, I'll use one (enough) or two (overkill) of my Eden D112XLT's as sub(s). They color the sound and make it a bit more "ampish" but that's OK for electric.

I ordered the system yesterday, so soon I'll have my own PA/monitor/amp system as well as three bass rigs. One big reason for me going this direction is my injured back. Carrying big ol' bass rigs is not for me anymore...

allexcosta · #13 05-07-2011, 08:17 AM

I wouldn't use it for anything bigger than a coffee house gig...

Bass Mayhem · #14 05-21-2011, 02:59 PM

Well, I've had at least one big gig with the system. Due to input from people who knows what they talk about, the band has never sounded that good before. We used three Bose systems alltogether doing backup for a church choir in a BIG old church. Some 70+ singers and several hundred in the audience.

I had a very pleasant volume behind my back, a pristine sound with no harsh oddities. It was the easiest thing in the world to soundcheck: just listen and adapt yourself to the common sound palette.

Next Saturday we'll have a trio gig in TV, guitar, bass and vocals doing some Elvis stuff. We'll use my system as backline for the three of us. Will be cool...

I've also used my Boss GT-10B as preamp connected to the analog input on the Bose, ie. not through the T1 mixer. It works very well. Any preamp you use can be connected there, saving the 3 - 5 channels on the mixer for other stuff.

I know it is not cool to use stuff like this, but concerning my bad back, who hates carrying gear, the fact that it sounds very good, even if the woofers are redicoulusly small, and the hip factor is non existing, this is the best rig I've used so far. I've had SVT's and GK's in the 80's, Trace Elliot in the 90's, Eden, Markbass and Genz Benz in the 00's, so I know how things can be and sound. These things are truly good, but I don't want to lug them around anymore, well, maybe the Genz Benz ShuttleMax 12.0 and my Eden 112's...

Try and test the system yourself and give a second opinion afterwards. I didn't believe it was this good when I first saw it. When I heard it I realized something new was up and about. When I used it the first time, some two years ago, I was convinced. This thing sounds good. Very good. Or more correctly: if you sound good, it will make you sound good everywhere needed and nowhere not needed.

billfitzmaurice · #15 05-21-2011, 04:00 PM

FWIW I tried one today, with two bass modules, side by side with my Jack 15. It was like bringing a knife to a gunfight, with my J15 being a .44 Magnum.
It did an admirable job as an all around rig with keyboard and vocals, and the form factor is an easy haul. If it went for $995 it would be worth it if you need that sort of rig. But as a standalone electric bass rig I found it only coffee house jazz trio capable.

pudgychef · #16 05-21-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Mayhem

Well, I've had at least one big gig with the system. Due to input from people who knows what they talk about, the band has never sounded that good before. We used three Bose systems alltogether doing backup for a church choir in a BIG old church. Some 70+ singers and several hundred in the audience.

I had a very pleasant volume behind my back, a pristine sound with no harsh oddities. It was the easiest thing in the world to soundcheck: just listen and adapt yourself to the common sound palette.

Next Saturday we'll have a trio gig in TV, guitar, bass and vocals doing some Elvis stuff. We'll use my system as backline for the three of us. Will be cool...

I've also used my Boss GT-10B as preamp connected to the analog input on the Bose, ie. not through the T1 mixer. It works very well. Any preamp you use can be connected there, saving the 3 - 5 channels on the mixer for other stuff.

I know it is not cool to use stuff like this, but concerning my bad back, who hates carrying gear, the fact that it sounds very good, even if the woofers are redicoulusly small, and the hip factor is non existing, this is the best rig I've used so far. I've had SVT's and GK's in the 80's, Trace Elliot in the 90's, Eden, Markbass and Genz Benz in the 00's, so I know how things can be and sound. These things are truly good, but I don't want to lug them around anymore, well, maybe the Genz Benz ShuttleMax 12.0 and my Eden 112's...

Try and test the system yourself and give a second opinion afterwards. I didn't believe it was this good when I first saw it. When I heard it I realized something new was up and about. When I used it the first time, some two years ago, I was convinced. This thing sounds good. Very good. Or more correctly: if you sound good, it will make you sound good everywhere needed and nowhere not needed.

i don't think the 'cool' factor is an issue here....most of the comments on this system I have seen on TB were from the 'I wanted to love it BUT' side of the road rather than the 'SVT + fridge or its not an amp' crowd. A pile of players on here use lightweight rigs or run direct - and seems like a lot of guys own decent PA gear - I would think if it worked for a fair number of bassists it would get the love it deserves....just my 2 cents but it seems other than the 'hot item' at any given time you can get a pretty fair, hands on commentary in regards to gear in this range on TB.....

Bass Mayhem · #17 05-22-2011, 01:07 AM

Funny, I've neve seen making music as going to a gunfight...
With ordinary amps/rigs there has been more volume war than pleasure on stage. The issue may not be "loud enough" but good sound at a decent level.

I've used my "best in the world" bass rigs on stage a lot of years, but have so far never heard how good they sound on stage. Mostly, the FOH man says "turn down the volume", in other cases the stages are too small to get the practical distance to the speaker cab so you'll hear more than low end mud rolling around.

We play for an audience who pay to hear us play. If I get well paid I want to deliver so people are satisfied. If I can hear how I sound in conjunction with the rest of the band, so will the audience. Too many gigs I've seen my bandmates play without hearing them properly. One fantastic thing is I can move around on stage and still hear myself perfect everywhere.

Also - no situation is an ideal situation. Bose systems has it's place and purpose. For loud outdoor gigs with a testosterone maxed drummer, I'll use my 1200 W amp with four cabs and really do well in the gunfight. But then, who will enjoy the situation? The audience?

TimmyP · #18 05-22-2011, 02:01 AM

If you want to spend a lot of money on something for bass, get a Danley Sound Labs SH100B DANLEY | SYNERGY HORN

Johnny Crab · #19 05-22-2011, 02:22 AM

Only had to use the PAS direct once when my Line 6 got "watered" and quit at a gig. It was a 1989 Steinberger direct into the channel(preset 00). Tolerable but zero flexibility.

A "normal" no-FOH gig looks like this:

except add one more BOSE system for a keyboard/guitar player's rig.

Yes, SRV played at this venue and yes they PAINTED over the autograph wall :-(

allexcosta · #20 05-22-2011, 05:19 AM

I used to play guitar in a small bar that had 3 attractions per week.

One of them (the guy I played with) used a 6 channel Samson powered mixer and a pair of Peavey's PR15's that cost 100 bucks each.

Second group used a pair of active JBL EON's (old model, gray ones) and a passive 6 ch. Behringer mixer.

Third group used a pair of Bose's L1 sticks with 2 subs.

Bands were similar, with no real drum or bass, just tracks and some sax or guitar playing over them. One or two singers...

Week after week, the Bose was the worse sounding system of the 3, and I could listen to them for a good year or so...