Ai Focus 2R: ideas for quick setup

WovenGraphite · #1 08-22-2007, 12:13 AM

Alright, I am looking for ideas on how to best carry the 2R (bag, or rack or whatever).

Right now it's in a duffle bag on in its own bag with all the other cables messed up... I hate it. It takes me 10mn to get all ready.
I'd like something that I can "open", connect power, connect speaker, connect bass... on... I can play...

I thought of a shallow rack case with shelf in there to hold the weird size of the 2R but I am not convinced. There are mixer cases (open top), but I need to find a way to have the 2R fasten... I also have a small tuner that I connect to the preamp out...

How do you guys do it?

mstclairmiller · #2 08-22-2007, 02:53 AM

Why not leave the power and speaker cables connected to the amp, but coil them up together and tie them with a bit of vecro. Pull the amp out of the bag, uncoil leads, plug into power and cab, and hey presto. My tuner sits permanently on top of my Contra, but only having one channel it sits behind the knobs perfectly. Another idea could be to use self adhesive bits of velcro - stick one bit on top of the amp and the other bit on the tuner. It will always be in place, but you can remove it if you need to. Just plug it in with a short patch lead. Set and forget.

Wilbyman · #3 08-22-2007, 06:54 AM

It takes you 10 minutes to remove the Focus and connect two cables? I'd say you should get some twist ties and organize your cables better.

Uncletoad · #4 08-22-2007, 07:42 AM

See if you can get the original bag.

I have a 2RIII and the speaker cable, power cable, instrument cable, tuner and it's little cable live coiled up inside the little bag just on to of the amp.

I'm in, plugged up and ready to play in a couple minutes.

tornadobass · #5 08-22-2007, 08:12 AM

I used to carry all my cables to every gig but have started picking out just what I'll need for the amp/cab/basses/effects on a specific gig.

Go to your favorite big hardware store and buy some velcro straps, one for each cable. They either come with several on a card, or in rolls of 25 or 50. I've been working on my same roll for more than a year and still haven't finished it off. Coil each cord separately or bunch cords together that are similar in their purpose.

While you're at the hardware store, pick up a tool bag. These are really sturdy and can hold just the right amount of cables. Not too expensive either. The AI amp bag can be stashed inside.

Keep in mind as you pack to include some redundancy, with an extra speaker cord and guitar cable, just in case. Sometimes I've even loaned my extras to a guitar player who was trying to get by with a subpar cable

WovenGraphite · #6 08-22-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

See if you can get the original bag.

I have a 2RIII and the speaker cable, power cable, instrument cable, tuner and it's little cable live coiled up inside the little bag just on to of the amp.

I'm in, plugged up and ready to play in a couple minutes.

Oh, yeah, sorry, it's a 2RIII and I have the bag but you can't leave the cable connected in the bag, you do have to coil everything up and reconnect each time...

Anyways, seems like I could cut on the number of spares and also get my cables organized better.

Thanks!

Uncletoad · #7 08-22-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WovenGraphite

Oh, yeah, sorry, it's a 2RIII and I have the bag but you can't leave the cable connected in the bag, you do have to coil everything up and reconnect each time...

Anyways, seems like I could cut on the number of spares and also get my cables organized better.

Thanks!

I leave all my spare stuff in a separate bag in the van since I hardly ever need it. On the rare occasion I do need something I just go out and get it.

So my amp and cables all fit in that little bag over my shoulder, the bass in it's usual carrying position and cab in other hand and I'm in and out no sweat.

I use a cart if I have to walk more than 20 or 30 yards though, I'm fat and lazy.

Bob Gollihur · #8 08-22-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WovenGraphite

Oh, yeah, sorry, it's a 2RIII and I have the bag but you can't leave the cable connected in the bag, you do have to coil everything up and reconnect each time...

Anyways, seems like I could cut on the number of spares and also get my cables organized better.

Thanks!

I've been taking a Focus to select gigs lately and have been using a Roksak http://www.roksak.com/gizmobags.html that is a little bigger than the standard Acoustic Image bag, as it allows me to stick additional cables and other junk in with it. The One I have is 13x14 inches so you could leave cables attached if you prefer, also has separate front and rear zippered pockets.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #9 08-22-2007, 12:57 PM

I toyed with creating a combo out of my Focus 2R series II head and a VL108. I secured the head to the speaker with some flat tiedown straps which hooked onto the handles, then left the power cable and speaker cable plugged in. After several gigs, though, I discovered that it took more energy being careful not to smash the head and cables while loading/unloading than it did to just attach the wires each time. One thing that does help is that I carry an extra long (12', I think) power cable so that I don't need to use an extension cord, and an extra short (12" for the 108, 18" for the 208) speaker cable so that it's easier to set up with no waste. If you think that's pretty OCD, you'd be right... until you saw my sock drawer, which makes the gig rig look absolutely slovenly.

WovenGraphite · #10 08-22-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

If you think that's pretty OCD, you'd be right... until you saw my sock drawer, which makes the gig rig look absolutely slovenly.

Unless you haven't guessed it yet... OCD, I know... and my sock drawer is... shall I say... organized? (55 pairs, by colors and pattern, for easy access and match

)

Uncletoad · #11 08-22-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WovenGraphite

Unless you haven't guessed it yet... OCD, I know... and my sock drawer is... shall I say... organized? (55 pairs, by colors and pattern, for easy access and match

)

Ouch.

I'm a pig.

...and very happy about that.

Wilbyman · #12 08-22-2007, 01:26 PM

I drag my Focus II around in a little sling bag designed to carry an X-Box. It is actually very non-descript and doesn't have any queer X-Box badging on it. Anyway, it has a padded compartment for the X-Box (I mean, Focus) and lots of pockets for other stuff...book, cables, microphone shiat, yada yada. There is a little extra room so if the Focus III is a little differently sized it wouldn't be an issue. Much more organized.

http://www.amazon.com/X-box-360-Slin.../dp/B000EF18PM

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #13 08-22-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WovenGraphite

Unless you haven't guessed it yet... OCD, I know... and my sock drawer is... shall I say... organized? (55 pairs, by colors and pattern, for easy access and match

)

Me too, except I only have 27 pairs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMPLITARD

Ouch.

I'm a pig.

...and very happy about that.

...and that's why we love ya, bro. To each his own, and to own his each.

brandonwong · #14 08-22-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Gollihur

I've been taking a Focus to select gigs lately and have been using a Roksak http://www.roksak.com/gizmobags.html that is a little bigger than the standard Acoustic Image bag, as it allows me to stick additional cables and other junk in with it. The One I have is 13x14 inches so you could leave cables attached if you prefer, also has separate front and rear zippered pockets.

How would you say the quality of the internal padding and foam is?

bribass · #15 08-23-2007, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

See if you can get the original bag.

I have a 2RIII and the speaker cable, power cable, instrument cable, tuner and it's little cable live coiled up inside the little bag just on to of the amp.

I'm in, plugged up and ready to play in a couple minutes.

I've been doing this as well, but after some 20 months of heavy use the bag is starting to tear at the seams. Also I don't think these AI bags have quite enough padding to sufficiently protect the amp from a fall of even just a few feet. Im looking into alternatives.

BG

tornadobass · #16 08-23-2007, 09:02 AM

Mine also came apart at the top seam after stuffing in a power cord and speaker cable. I've switched to a shorter speaker cable (2' or so), which fits much better.

Overall, I'd recommend against using the AI bag as a carry-all. Maybe go to a laptop bag?

Bob Gollihur · #17 08-23-2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonwong

How would you say the quality of the internal padding and foam is?

They are very close to the Acoustic Image bags, with perhaps 75-80% of their padding.

brandonwong · #18 08-23-2007, 10:44 AM

I tried finding them on the net but couldn't get any leads... Can you help me out and redirect me Bob. Thanks

B String · #19 08-23-2007, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonwong

I tried finding them on the net but couldn't get any leads... Can you help me out and redirect me Bob. Thanks

If this is the Rok Sak bag that came with the AI amps for
a while, they don't make them anymore. When the zipper
failed on mine I tried to get another. I looked for days and
spoke to the Rok Sak importers. The just don't make um
no mo. Bob, please let us know if this has changed.

Bob Gollihur · #20 08-23-2007, 02:10 PM

I just did a quick web search to find them, and a google repeat does make it look like they're no longer producing stuff as all the vendors in the search no longer have them. http://www.roksak.com/ is the company web site, I guess you could inquire directly to see if they sell direct. I've never dealt with them myself.