EMPEROR cabs????

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by chillerthanmost

Was just wondering how much (everyone seems to say there is so much science behind bass cabs and since we're on the subject regarding Emperor) of the "science" of a bass cab applied to sealed cabs? Besides enough breathing room, insulation and a speaker that works well in a sealed cab. Say I decide to get a sealed 6x12, would dividing the inside to three 2x12's (in the style of 8x10's) give me better results?

you still need to optimize the internal volume for the speakers used, properly brace the cab so it's not vibrating and radiating sound, stuff the cab, etc. Its not as much work as properly tuning ports and such on a ported cab but still important for a well designed cab. One of the most common criticisms of emperor is that they don't bother doing any of this and just slap stuff that looks good together. I don't own one so I can't really comment and have only heard guitar cabs in a direct (ie not large venue FOH) setting.

[chillerthanmost]

Someone (not me) should get a sealed, insulated, 3x divided 6x12 from them and let me know how it sounds. I would if I didn't like vintage cabs so damn much more. But the idea sounds intriguing.

[MikeD1687]

I'm hoping to order a divided 2x15/2x12 soon. Have it wired to be able to play them seperate or all together.

That way I can have two heads running through it for a compact stereo rig, or bring my 4x12 and that for full stereo destruction.

[knivesarequiet]

God I wish I'd read this thread before taking the plunge on an Emperor staggered 4x12. I broke the 'try before you buy' rule. I made a decision based on hearsay, and wishful/hopeful thinking.
Here's how it went down... After a lot of conversion with the guys at Emperor, I was persuaded to get the 18" deep staggered 4x12 with Eminence drivers (Delta-12LFA or B's. They don't even know which ones they used). I told them I'm going for an aggressive and edgy rock tone like The Jesus Lizard and Shellac and that I'd be running it with an 800RB with some additional dirt for heavier stuff. Knowing this they made me a cab and filled it with 2000 watts of pure subwoofer mud. It's literally the worst sounding speaker cab of any sort I've owned.
The next day I called them complaing about the tone of the cab and they basically blamed it on not having enough speaker options for a 4ohm 4x12 bass cabinet. He said they stopped using Webers because people were blowing them. At 175 watts each the Weber filled cab would be 700 watts...plenty for my application.
I really have no one to blame but myself. I didn't do enough research and didn't play one before I bought it. The guys at Chicago Music Exchange and Midwest Buy N Sell rave about them and some bands I really dig swear by them.
Anyway,Sean at Emperor said he would order some Weber 12s and ship them to me free of charge so there's that I guess. My hopes aren't high though. It sounds like they're guys who made guitar cabs with good results and decided - 'Hey, you know what? I bet we can make bass cabs just as pretty!'

[chillerthanmost]

Bummer to hear that. I think I've heard two of their bass cabs live sound decent. If I were to order a bass cab through them, I would be insanely picky with every aspect of it. Besides that, I'm definitely in their guitar cab clientele.

Webers are supposed to be more JBL voiced, should clear up the mud a little. I'm sure you've tried this but whenever I get a new cab I start completely fresh with the EQ of whatever amp I'm using. If* you haven't tried it, of course that would be the best thing to try until the new speakers arrive. I don't know anything about the amp you mentioned, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Drop the lows, pick up the mids, keep the high end punchy and maybe it'll stand out a bit more?

Good luck.

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by knivesarequiet

At 175 watts each the Weber filled cab would be 700 watts...plenty for my application.

Thinking it works like that will be a bunch of why they are blowing all the time. I doubt Emperor could correct the idea either. Isn't that watt rating that says when they'll blow.

[father of fires]

There must be other speaker options for you.

The more I see cabs that sound good that shouldn't, the more I feel that anything can be made to work. You may want to try some other EQ's if the GK isn't flexible enough for you.

At this point you need some highs. Maybe you could just replace 1 or 2 speakers with something less bassy.

Good luck. I bet the cab is sexy as hell!

[Jason!]

I've got Delta-12A in my 4x12, nothing muddy about that cab & I'm glad I've got the 1x18 for the low end.

[Mr. Foxen]

The 12LFA is a low frequency driver, different to the 12A.

[knivesarequiet]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

Thinking it works like that will be a bunch of why they are blowing all the time. I doubt Emperor could correct the idea either. Isn't that watt rating that says when they'll blow.

I kinda figured out that after my post. Guys are blowing Webers because of improper cabinet design not low wattage ratings. Now i wanna keep the Webers (when I get them) and buy or maybe even build a cab they'll sound good in. Any guidance in that area would be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by Jason!

I've got Delta-12A in my 4x12, nothing muddy about that cab & I'm glad I've got the 1x18 for the low end.

Hi Jason. It's Mike from Knives one floor up in the Ice Sculptures warehouse. Like mentioned, the A isn't like the LFA and when I talked to Sean he said it could also be a 12B or LTA. He wasn't sure. For a $1K 'custom' bass cab you'd think they'd know that info. Also, Rodney mentioned (if I'm remembering correctly) you added batting to your cab and it made it sound better. Is yours the 18" deep staggered 4x12 like mine?

[NKBassman]

I added bracing and batting to my Emperor 2x15 (w/ Eminence Legend speakers) and it made a noticeable improvement.

[Jason!]

Hey Mike, yeah I added foam in mine, walmart bed liner. Big improvement, it rattled like crazy before. Mine is 15" deep and standard 2+2 configuration.

[Scobby Bott]

I've been following this thread for quite a while, so please forgive me if this has been addressed previously. Based on discussion on TB, pictures and articles regarding Emperor rigs, and their use by popular rock bands, 15" and 12" cabs seem to be all the rage. Why no Emperor 410" love?

[Christian Waiau]

Originally Posted by Scobby Bott

I've been following this thread for quite a while, so please forgive me if this has been addressed previously. Based on discussion on TB, pictures and articles regarding Emperor rigs, and their use by popular rock bands, 15" and 12" cabs seem to be all the rage. Why no Emperor 410" love?

I think a lot has to do with the 12s and 15s were based off popular vintage cabs

[helenforsdale]

You sound a lot like me - I've been drooling over the 2x12/1x15 cab setup that Young Widows have been using. I'm not the kind try to buy without trying, so I'm holding off.

It just sounds like they're a company that isn't well educated or informed - more like fans who decided to make cabs. I think the biggest mistake they made in your transaction was that based on your description - "Jesus Lizard/Shellac" - they let you walk out with a 1x18 4x12 combo. That's just nuts. 18s are muddy as heck. They should have pointed you towards a set of 15s maybe mixed with some 10"s or 12"s. Shellac uses a 1x10/1x12/1x15 set up, while the Jesus Lizard used a 2x15.

So shame on you for not doing your research - but shame on them for selling you something so clearly mismatched.

Feel free to pm me - I'd love to know more about your experience with them. They just sound so unprofessional - yet they're charging Ampeg prices.

I'm also really disturbed by the whole vibration thing - their product vibrates so much that people can't put their heads on the cabinet, and their answer isn't to find a solution - but tell them to put it on the floor? That's messed up.

Anyways - it's been a few years since this thread was started - tons of amazing people/bands are using their gear and swearing by it. What's the latest news?

Originally Posted by knivesarequiet

God I wish I'd read this thread before taking the plunge on an Emperor staggered 4x12. I broke the 'try before you buy' rule. I made a decision based on hearsay, and wishful/hopeful thinking.
Here's how it went down... After a lot of conversion with the guys at Emperor, I was persuaded to get the 18" deep staggered 4x12 with Eminence drivers (Delta-12LFA or B's. They don't even know which ones they used). I told them I'm going for an aggressive and edgy rock tone like The Jesus Lizard and Shellac and that I'd be running it with an 800RB with some additional dirt for heavier stuff. Knowing this they made me a cab and filled it with 2000 watts of pure subwoofer mud. It's literally the worst sounding speaker cab of any sort I've owned.
The next day I called them complaing about the tone of the cab and they basically blamed it on not having enough speaker options for a 4ohm 4x12 bass cabinet. He said they stopped using Webers because people were blowing them. At 175 watts each the Weber filled cab would be 700 watts...plenty for my application.
I really have no one to blame but myself. I didn't do enough research and didn't play one before I bought it. The guys at Chicago Music Exchange and Midwest Buy N Sell rave about them and some bands I really dig swear by them.
Anyway,Sean at Emperor said he would order some Weber 12s and ship them to me free of charge so there's that I guess. My hopes aren't high though. It sounds like they're guys who made guitar cabs with good results and decided - 'Hey, you know what? I bet we can make bass cabs just as pretty!'

[Christian Waiau]

Originally Posted by helenforsdale

They just sound so unprofessional - yet they're charging Ampeg prices.

I'm not defending their building designs... But for a small company to build with the woodwork skills that they do and raw material costs... The prices are pretty good. Personally I'd stick with the designs based off somewhat proven designs like their sunn copies.


Also... I do know of a "bigger" name band that is on their site that ordered cabs and didn't get the speakers they wanted. So I'm guessing they seem to throw what's avaiable when they're built

[JimmyM]

The woodworking skills are cosmetically very nice. I'll give them that.

[Christian Waiau]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The woodworking skills are cosmetically very nice. I'll give them that.

Haha I knew once the name Ampeg showed up it wasn't long before a chime

[carbonfold]

+1

I had a 18 deep 4x12 made and it was a fine looking amp. Poor bracing and rear mounting design is what steered me away from it. That cab vibrated the heck out of my Marshall VBA400 and had to pad the top.

I love the look of this cabinet maker but on a performance side, lacks in the bass department. I would however highly recommend them as guitar cabs

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The woodworking skills are cosmetically very nice. I'll give them that.

[helenforsdale]

Oh wow, I saw your posts when you first got it - so what happened, did you sell it?

I'm used to the ampeg 8x10 sound, but I sold mine and would hate to buy something that big again. As I mentioned before, I'm really curious about their 2x12/1x15 or even the 4x12. I've never used 12s on bass before, but the idea is super intriguing to me.

As for tone - yeah, I'm in that Jesus Lizard/Big Black/Shellac realm. I've got the Travis bean inspired Electrical and all...

Originally Posted by carbonfold

+1

I had a 18 deep 4x12 made and it was a fine looking amp. Poor bracing and rear mounting design is what steered me away from it. That cab vibrated the heck out of my Marshall VBA400 and had to pad the top.

I love the look of this cabinet maker but on a performance side, lacks in the bass department. I would however highly recommend them as guitar cabs