Question for Acme 112 users?

Jefe · #1 10-19-2011, 08:02 AM

I've been thinking about a pair of Flatwound 8 ohm cabs for a dual duty rig. One duty would be for use in a alt-rock band. Streamliner 900 would be the head for this setting (5 string Jazz with Big Singles). Looking for a solid tube tone with just a hint of grit and LOTS of weight on the notes. I'm sure that combo would get me there.
However I also plan to use this rig in a heavier project (think Kyuss, QOTSA, COC, etc). Same bass here but thinking of using a pre- power setup with an RBI sending a dirty signal to one cab and an RPM sending a clean signal to the other cab. Power amp would be sending about 450 watts to each cab.
For those of you that have used Flatwounds with a dirty signal, how do you think this setup would do. My intuition tells me that these would handle grit well being a single driver system, but would like to hear from others.

MysticMichael · #2 11-03-2011, 10:23 PM

I own a pair of the Acme Full Range cabs, in eight ohms, that I'm just beginning to explore. No direct experience with the FlatWounds, although I can make some reasonable inferences based on what I've heard from my Full Ranges...

Basically, I think you're on the right track for the kind of tone & vibe you're trying to achieve. For the kind of old-school distortion and grind you're describing, the FlatWounds would certainly be the preferred choice. And make no mistake: they WILL convey LOTS of weight and authority in the lows...

Note: A larger power amp, allowing you to devote as much as 700-800 watts or so to each cab, will definitely make a difference in the lows...even if you never turn up more than halfway (you probably won't need to)...

Note 2: Even better than using a separate preamp/processor for each cab, with one sending a clean signal and the other sending a dirty signal, would be to use a single preamp plus a dedicated two-way crossover - sending your dirty signal to the high mids and highs of both cabs, and your clean signal to the low mids and lows of both cabs. Much better...

MM

3rdcurve · #3 11-04-2011, 06:37 PM

That is my exact rig. I have a Wren and cuff Pickle Pie Hella Fuzz as well. I haven't ran it through the rig yet as I just got my second cab broke in this evening. I'll try it with some nastiness tomorrow and report back.

Jefe · #4 11-04-2011, 08:40 PM

MM,

Excellent suggestion (referring to the crossover)! I hadn't thought about that.

I knew those cabs were power hungry, but Yikes! That's a lot of power. In your opinion, would a pair of those hang with a couple of half stacks and a heavy hitting drummer? I have a big rig when necessary, but I was hoping this would cut it for medium size venues (200-400 people).

3rd, I look forward to your feedback as well!!

MysticMichael · #5 11-04-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefe

I knew those cabs were power hungry, but Yikes! That's a lot of power.

FWIW, I'm not saying that you actually need that much power. Only you can determine that, once you're in the thick of things. Merely saying that with the additional headroom, you would notice a difference in the lows - depending on how loudly you play. Maybe that would make a crucial difference for you, maybe not...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefe

In your opinion, would a pair of those hang with a couple of half stacks and a heavy hitting drummer? I have a big rig when necessary, but I was hoping this would cut it for medium size venues (200-400 people).

Yes, they probably would. Word is, what the Acmes may lack in pure SPL, they make up in terms of sheer low-end authority...meaning that you may not need to turn up as loudly as usual, yet achieve even better presence and penetration in the mix.

Mind you, I'm operating from general knowledge only, as I haven't actually gigged my own Acmes yet. If that rig still isn't cutting it, you could tame the ultra lows with a bit of EQ, then bump up the upper bass and low mids accordingly.

Good luck...

MM

MysticMichael · #6 11-04-2011, 10:15 PM

FYI, I'm a big fan of the newer generation of Carvin high-powered heads - the BX1500 and B2000.

A dual-Acme B112 rig, with two 8-ohm cabs and a BX1500 head (operating in bridged mode @ 4 ohms) puts approximately 750 watts into each cab - for oodles of glorious headroom, plus lots & lots of tone-tweaking options.

And for a real monster stack, a triple-Acme B112 rig, with three 8-ohm cabs and a B2000 head (operating safely @ 2.67 ohms) puts approximately 525-535 watts into each cab - and should be able rock any mid-sized club right off its foundation.

A couple of really sweet options there...

MM

3rdcurve · #7 11-05-2011, 01:38 PM

I agree with MM, three of these with 1500 watts would be wild. I opened up my rig a bit today and ran my Bass Chorus into my PPB Hella Fuzz. Since the pedals suck out some of the low end I was able to crank the bass on the streamliner to compensate. The results were bad a$$! They'll doom if you want doom.

Bluesy Soul · #8 11-05-2011, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefe

...would a pair of those hang with a couple of half stacks and a heavy hitting drummer? I have a big rig when necessary, but I was hoping this would cut it for medium size venues (200-400 people).

I've used two 8-ohm Flatwounds for most of the past year and they have always been up to the task, including one outdoor gig. And I'm powering them with Gallien-Krueger MB500 (which sounds fantastic with the Acmes). I've used the pair in venues of 500+ on several occasions with volume to spare. I'll buy a G-K MB800 when they're available, but really only to have even more headroom that I haven't needed yet. (I used to drive a pair of Low-B2s with 200-1500 watts--and no problems--so I guess I'm just used to having that kind of reserve juice purely out of habit and for peace of mind.)