I need a "close quarters" option

SteveC · #1 12-20-2010, 10:38 AM

I am debating a new amp. My current amp (GB Shuttle 6.0-12T combo) is pretty nice, but I have been told I need to put out a little more sound at times, and it needs to be a little more full than the Shuttle 12 cab can produce. This isn't news for many on this forum who have told me my amp is probably the "weak link" in getting the tone I think I want.

My best local option is a Shuttle 9.0 and a Uber Quad cab. It sounds quite nice. However, the cab sits low to the ground, and in most of my gig situations, it would be about a foot away from my feet which isn't the best as far as me hearing myself very well.

Surely some of you play in "close quarter" venues like this. What do you do for a rig and to hear yourself?

greenboy · #2 12-20-2010, 10:40 AM

greenboy · #3 12-20-2010, 10:42 AM

jnewmark · #4 12-20-2010, 10:43 AM

A simple solution is just to raise your cab, or tilt it up toward your ears. There are many ways to do this, including pre built amp stands made for this purpose. I always raise my cabs that are 24" or less in height. A company that makes several models is Quik Lok.

**Chef** · #5 12-20-2010, 11:03 AM

what is this one?
or should I say whose?
haven't seen it before...

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenboy

Or

greenboy · #6 12-20-2010, 11:12 AM

Chef,

That would be Dizzy G - check out the personal pages in the wiki.

Mine's a 12/6cube like tombowlus's above, except for I use the super wide dispersion JBL waveguide and a round-holed grill.

**Chef** · #7 12-20-2010, 12:05 PM

thx gb!

SteveC · #8 12-20-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnewmark

A simple solution is just to raise your cab, or tilt it up toward your ears. There are many ways to do this, including pre built amp stands made for this purpose. I always raise my cabs that are 24" or less in height. A company that makes several models is Quik Lok.

I have seen those. I'd rather have the cab be on the floor and tilted - more like a monitor - than raised up higher.

Does anyone make more of a cradle for an amp? I've seen them used on major tour stages that still use amps. It's like a roasting rack for your turkey, kind of a V shape. Maybe I could have something made.

**Chef** · #9 12-20-2010, 12:28 PM

http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl...w=1280&bih=610

CElton · #10 12-20-2010, 12:31 PM

I've used this with my Walkabout Scout. Still keeps it close to the floor, but angles it up where I can hear it nicely. They're not super heavy duty, but worth the price.

Edit: I see you are searching for something to use with the Uber Quad. In that case, you would need the larger(largest) version.

MX21 · #11 12-20-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I am debating a new amp. My current amp (GB Shuttle 6.0-12T combo) is pretty nice, but I have been told I need to put out a little more sound at times, and it needs to be a little more full than the Shuttle 12 cab can produce. This isn't news for many on this forum who have told me my amp is probably the "weak link" in getting the tone I think I want.

My best local option is a Shuttle 9.0 and a Uber Quad cab. It sounds quite nice. However, the cab sits low to the ground, and in most of my gig situations, it would be about a foot away from my feet which isn't the best as far as me hearing myself very well.

Surely some of you play in "close quarter" venues like this. What do you do for a rig and to hear yourself?

Stick another 12 underneath the shuttle. With the shuttle on top and the tiltback leg engaged, this gets the sound from the 12T up and aimed toward you. The second 12 increases the shuttle output to 600W, plus adds cone area. I've used an Avatar SB112 on end or a fEarful 12/6.

jnewmark · #12 12-20-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I have seen those. I'd rather have the cab be on the floor and tilted - more like a monitor - than raised up higher.

Does anyone make more of a cradle for an amp? I've seen them used on major tour stages that still use amps. It's like a roasting rack for your turkey, kind of a V shape. Maybe I could have something made.

this one ? http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...and?sku=450727

SteveC · #13 12-20-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl...w=1280&bih=610

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnewmark

this one ? http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...and?sku=450727

I hadn't seen one that stayed close to the floor like that. Definitely an option. I'll have to go and see if any local store has anything like that.

Now, how to keep a Shuttle head from falling off a tilted cab....velcro maybe?

My name is Mudd · #14 12-20-2010, 01:22 PM

I have my Acoustic B20 up on one of these...the angle isn't bad enough to cause my pedals, etc that are on top of the amp to slide off.

craig.p · #15 12-20-2010, 04:11 PM

You could stack a pair of 2x12 cabs or a pair of 2x10 cabs so the drivers line up vertically.

You could leave your existing cab where it is and run something like an Acoustic B10 on a stand as a personal monitor (with bass rolled off and set to low volume, so as not to interfere with/cancel/phase-disturb the output of your main rig). You'd still hear the bass frequencies from your main rig, and the small stand-mounted amp would supply the midrange you're not hearing because of where the main rig is located.

If you're space-compressed on the stage front to rear, you don't want to go too high up with your stack or else you'll bleed into your vocal mic. (If you sing, of course.) And if you have to play at any reasonable volume, a tall stack can get old fast if there's no way to get away from it, as would happen with a shallow stage. This is another argument for the personal monitor solution.

Parts Express has stand cups for under ten bucks as I recall.

craig.p · #16 12-20-2010, 04:14 PM

Just wanted to add: When I suggested a small amp on a stand, I mean a tripod speaker stand with the amp supported by the center pole, with that amp a couple of feet away from you at roughly chest height, aimed AT you (away from the audience).

Stingray5 · #17 12-20-2010, 08:33 PM

At 31" high this could get the job done. I sometimes have very little space to set up and end up being right up close to my amp. No probs hearing myself:

Interceptor · #18 12-20-2010, 09:08 PM

For the card table sized "stages" I seem to be drawing lately, I've been clobbering a clone of an Accugroove 208. Two eights, a six and a pair of dome tweeters. It works well in low volume jazz work even with a five string. It has enough bottom to keep a drummer from getting lazy with his right foot.

If wasn't so darn hard to motivate me to go and and have fun with the table saw, I'd build a 12/6 fEarful. I like the ability to hear myself that a six handling the mids provides.

One of these days I'll hit the tipping point and build a 12/6.

Jim

SteveC · #19 12-20-2010, 10:15 PM

Well, tonight everyone - including myself - thought I sounded really good. Nice tone, loud, solid bass. I have been playing around with my EQ and may have found a setting that helps with the deficiencies - real or perceived - of the cab.

tombowlus · #20 12-20-2010, 10:24 PM

As my jolly green friend suggested above, a fEarful build would most definitely get the job done. I've been getting really good results driving mine with either a GK MB500 or a Markbass F500, but I'll give it a go with my Shuttle 6.0 sometime and see how that works out.

Do you have just the 6.0/12 combo, or do you have an extension cab for it? My regular band room rig is my 6.0/12 the Shuttle 1x12 extension cab, and it keeps up just fine. That being said, if I want a more full tone in a similar or smaller footprint, my Ibanez Promethean 5210 (2x10) combo is very impressive.

Tom.