Cab for AI Clarus and Rob Allen Mouse?

fish slapper · #1 09-26-2010, 11:58 AM

So, I recently acquired a Rob Allen Mouse and I'm tweeking my amp sitch. I have an Acoustic Image Clarus 1 Series III that matches it well. My current cabs are an EA Wizzie 10 and a Schroeder 12L+. The Wizzie is great for portability and general tone but doesn't have a ton of bottom end and not a lot of volume for outdoors or larger rooms. The Schroe delivers bottom end and volume but just isn't a good match with the piezo "natural" tone I'm going for with this rig.

I'm in a Jazz combo doing Real Book standards. Lot's of the latin stuff and tends to get into the 60's sort of "boogaloo" side of the books (think Chitlin's and Coming Home Baby) but plenty of straight swing.

Cabs I have been considering:

EA Wizzie 12
Acoustic Image Ten2
Something Berg (don't know these models too well)
Or just a straight 12 with no tweeter (Bag End??)

Also due to some health issues, weight is a factor, so lighter is better.

Suggestions?

KJung · #2 09-26-2010, 12:12 PM

Hello. The Clarus works wonderfully with the RA basses. My favorite cab for an RA bass and an AI head is the Acme 110 or 210. Very big down low to help mimic the bloom of a DB, and very warm and organic up top to again bring out the beautiful 'woody' tone of those basses. I believe the Clarus III is the high powered model, right... kind of like the old Focus? If that is the case, an 8ohm Acme B210 would be a very nice thing if you wanted it woody, fat, a bit bloomy.

As much as I am a Bergantino fan boy, I don't particularly like the match-up of the AI with most of the Berg cabs myself. If you are looking for a bit tighter, more modern tone (a bit more sparkle up top and upper mid brightness and less deep bass bloom) you might consider an Epifani 112UL, which matches up very nicely with the AI heads.

If you aren't totally in bed with the AI head, I also really like the sound of the TC RH450/RS210 rig with the RA basses... warm and organic up top like the Acme, but a bit more controlled down low.

Here's a clip of my fretted Mouse through my TC rig FYI.

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/u/5/jpB4P5HllVY

Edit: The Acme cabs are not featherweights, so that might not work for you. But, they sound GREAT with the AI heads and Rob Allen IMO.

fish slapper · #3 09-26-2010, 04:22 PM

Wow. I really dig your vid. Yes, nice Mouse tone. TC hasn't even been on my radar. Looking at their website, they make a single 12. Maybe that with the AI head? Not "married" to the AI head but don't really want to spend another grand for the TC head when I have one I'm happy with.

**Freddels** · #4 09-26-2010, 05:22 PM

I have a Clarus SL and I did have a Wizzy 10. With my Mouse, I would use a Sansamp with that amp and Wizzy 10 to get more low mids. The Wizzy 12 would work well with that amp and bass.

fish slapper · #5 09-26-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

With my Mouse, I would use a Sansamp with that amp and Wizzy 10 to get more low mids.

Excellent suggestion. I have a Sansamp para driver so I'll give that a shot but still think a bigger speaker is going to give me the volume boost also.

KJung · #6 09-27-2010, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish slapper

Wow. I really dig your vid. Yes, nice Mouse tone. TC hasn't even been on my radar. Looking at their website, they make a single 12. Maybe that with the AI head? Not "married" to the AI head but don't really want to spend another grand for the TC head when I have one I'm happy with.

Thanks! It is hard to make an RA sound bad. Unfortunately, the TC cabs are not featherweight (they aren't neo) and the Acme B210 is also not neo... not stupid heavy at all, but not a lightweight.

The suggestion to get the larger Wizzy and add some extra EQ power to your AI via an additional preamp might work well. Actually, with the AI amp, you can bypass the AI pre by putting your Sansamp directly into the effects return. That might sound the best, since running the active RA into a preamp and then into yet another preamp can start to mush things up a bit.

richnota · #7 09-29-2010, 08:43 PM

I really do like the the berg 1x12 with the AI and Mouse.

I currently run an AI/Bergantino 1x12HT, TC Classic/2x10 or an AI with a pair of accurgroove Tri110's.

To date my favorite sound is from a single or double bergantino 1x12T. In an acoustic rock setting, it seems to settle better into the mix (which is mostly to do with midrange).

tedw · #8 10-07-2010, 08:56 PM

I have two Epifani UL-110's that I use with my Mouse and the same Clarus head that you use. To my ears, this set up sounds really great, and I typically use only one of the speakers (~20 pounds).

fish slapper · #9 10-08-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedw

I have two Epifani UL-110's that I use with my Mouse and the same Clarus head that you use. To my ears, this set up sounds really great, and I typically use only one of the speakers (~20 pounds).

Thanks for the input. Forgot about Epifani. Yikes so many choices. If only I could get into Tom B.'s basement.

Still thinking a 12. I'm happy with the Wizzie 10 for small rooms. Thinking a 12 will give me just the bit more of bottom end I'm looking for.

Dee-man · #10 10-08-2010, 08:06 AM

I can't give you all the technical details, but in my bluegrass/roots acoustic sessions, I'm very happy with my Mouse, Puma 500 and a Berg HT112 or, for extra bottom, the HT112ER (a tad larger cab and a few pounds heavier). I had an AI Clarus I Series III for a little while and it sounded real good with an EPI T-112 too. Good luck, DM

coyoteboy · #11 10-08-2010, 10:55 AM

How about another wizzy 10?

fish slapper · #12 10-08-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyoteboy

How about another wizzy 10?

Yeah, I'm seeing lots of folks do that. Hmmm. I usually roll with one cab at Jazz gigs but two little ones? Thanks for another good suggestion.