Epifani UL112 and 5 string?

hobbes1 · #1 09-12-2011, 04:46 AM

hi. in reading on this forum, so far not seeing anyone anecdotal discussion of whether people who are using these cabs have used with a 5 string bass. i have a chance to pick one up used for a seemingly good price and wonder if it can hack the low end or if i really should be holding out for a 1x15.
i need portability and lightweight as well as good sound and the ability to handle some low B action. anyone with direct experience on this?
thanks

hobbes1 · #2 09-13-2011, 10:31 AM

bump for anyone with experience.....

saintx · #3 09-13-2011, 10:34 AM

I have no experience with a 5 string, but I had to send an Epi 112 back to the factory for repair. It needed a new speaker. I was told that I should not send inordinate amount of low end to the cabinet. I play a 4 string bass and occasionally use an octave pedal.

Tony G · #4 09-13-2011, 11:45 AM

I used to own a pair, and many people here did or still do. They are a great little cab, and always handled a low B without any issue. However, keep in mind it is a small box. Don't expect it to carry the volume or low end like a 4x10, but for it's size and weight, it does very well.

hobbes1 · #5 09-13-2011, 11:59 AM

thanks for the input.

Tony G: got it. i am looking more for onstage monitoring for myself and my drummer (acoustic kit) and want light weight but also something that he and i can hear/feel but doesn't have to carry the room. FOH and big PA takes cares of that. just need to hear me on the stage area itself, preferably without getting a hernia lugging a big cab around. (i have a boogie 1516 cab that is far too much for what i need and will be off loading it soon).

SlingBass4 · #6 09-13-2011, 12:16 PM

The specs would certainly seem to support the notion that it would be workable for your situation. I use 4-string basses, and have a couple of the T-112NYC cabs (no longer made) - a little different cab in a number of ways. The size/weight of the UL2-112's appear ideal for what you've stated as your goal...and I, too, would be curious what the dedicated 5-string guys have to say. The UL2-410 is very popular with that group, but as you said - maybe more than needed

Jim Carr · #7 09-13-2011, 02:14 PM

I have found a single UL1 210 is great for 5er (two is better, LOL) and think a number of TBers have successfully paired a 5er and two UL112's. Don't know if one is enough for your situation.

**lowfreqgeek** · #8 09-13-2011, 02:32 PM

I have direct experience with this; I use 2 UL112's with a variety of 5 strings and I love them. Of the many bands and people I play with, one is a VERY loud rock back where I make use of the low C throughout the gig. I am careful with my cabs, but they've handled everything I've thrown at them, including Spector and G&L 5's at rediculously loud volumes.

I played a backlined gig a few days ago and used a GK 800RB w/Hartke 410 (don't recall which model), and the bottom end was nowhere CLOSE to what I am used to with my Epifani rig. It was seriously lacking, and when I did hit the low notes, the cab flabbed out like crazy. Anyone who thinks you'll get more out of a *generic* 4x10 obviously hasn't used these very much. I'm sure there are plenty of 410s out there that would eat these for lunch, but they'll cost a ton.

I also love that I can load in/out in one trip with my bass on my back and my entire rig on a little dolly. They work for me, which is all I can really say...

hobbes1 · #9 09-13-2011, 02:55 PM

great! thanks for all the help...really starting to lean close to the epifani over the GK neo, avatar neo and the markbass traveler series. ....

**JxBass** · #10 09-13-2011, 03:31 PM

I used Epifani exclusively for quite a while, great sounding cabs with a nice full bottom end and polite highs. A bit mid-scooped but in a nice way, IMO.

I owned a couple of UL-112s, a UL-210, and a couple of UL-110s. Two UL-112s is nice but my favorite combination is a UL-112/UL-110 stack.

hobbes1 · #11 09-13-2011, 06:15 PM

thanks JxBass: so, would you say the UL-112 would handle 5 string bass with no problems, in your experience?

**JxBass** · #12 09-13-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbes1

thanks JxBass: so, would you say the UL-112 would handle 5 string bass with no problems, in your experience?

From my experience, yes.

hobbes1 · #13 09-14-2011, 05:04 AM

thanks JxBass. appreciate the input.

brianrost · #14 09-14-2011, 07:10 AM

Went from Epi NYC 112 to Berg 112.

The Epi was fantastic with the 5s I had at the time...G&L 2500, Rumblefish 5L...and the heads...A.M.P. 420 or Walter Woods head.

I had one blown woofer (out of 2 cabs) but that was due to a bad batch of drivers they had gotten, they were already hip to the problem. They overnighted a redesigned woofer to me for free and no problems after that. So props for service too!

**jlepre** · #15 09-14-2011, 07:38 AM

I've had 2 of these exact cabs. I've played them exclusively with 5 string basses, alone and paired with no issues at all. They sound round and fat.

hobbes1 · #16 09-14-2011, 11:55 AM

cool. thanks...really leaning this way now...guess i'm gonna have to pony up soon

Tampabass · #17 09-22-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JxBass

I used Epifani exclusively for quite a while, great sounding cabs with a nice full bottom end and polite highs. A bit mid-scooped but in a nice way, IMO.

I owned a couple of UL-112s, a UL-210, and a couple of UL-110s. Two UL-112s is nice but my favorite combination is a UL-112/UL-110 stack.

I'm curious - what did you like about the 112/110 stack vs the 112/112 stack?

B String · #18 09-22-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tampabass

I'm curious - what did you like about the 112/110 stack vs the 112/112 stack?

I've had both the UL112 and the UL110 for a number of years. Even though there are those who say its always best to match the same cabs, there are many guys on TB who think the UL112/UL110 stack is magic. I'm one of them. I'm not as big a fan of just the UL112 as I used to be. A little too mid scooped for me. However, the UL112 has worked great with my 5 string basses. I have a number of friends who love still love the box.

KJung · #19 09-23-2011, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tampabass

I'm curious - what did you like about the 112/110 stack vs the 112/112 stack?

When you double up two identical cabs, the result is very predictable. You will get 'more of the same with an expanded low end versus the single cab. Since, as reported in this thread, the UL112 (especially the current Series II models), has a reasonably extended low end and a significant dip in the midrange, stacking two of them actually magnifies that voicing (i.e., they sound even more scooped). That isn't necessarily bad, but it is what it is.

The UL110 is a small box that is low end attenuated and has a bit more output in the mids and upper mids than the UL112. So, combining them kind of 'fixes and balances' the deficiencies of each cab, IMO and IME.

The UL112 handles the second harmonic of a B string (where most of the sound is) nicely at low volumes. Like most single 112's, it will run out of steam down there at moderate volume levels.

hobbes1 · #20 09-23-2011, 06:00 AM

KJung: i recently aquired a used EPi UL112 series 1 and have been testing it out. it sounds really good and as you noted, i agree that it does run out of steam on the low B,C and D but it still has prescence there and doesn't utterly fail. just not as loud and proud as on the E and higher notes. I tend to use the lowest notes sparingly and so i think this will be a keeper for me but not 100% sure yet. may take it into the local GC and demo against the GK neo112 and MB 112 and a couple of neo based 1x15 just to see how things go.
thanks all for the thoughts.