Arnopol 8 Cabinet - A Winner!

[LennyJ]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

Just played a super loud gig with 5 string electric. Crazy 88 on top of a Crazy 8. Articulate, loud deep tight bass. Sounded fantastic. Best definition I've ever gotten Huge room, bad acoustics everyone commented on that they could hear everything I played. Lots of compliments.

Mike,

Why did you put the 88 on top of the 8 and not the other way. I bought my 88 used from another tb'er and am considering an 8.

Just wondering on which to put at top.

Last week I was asked to turn down at a gig, I am in a 3 piece - bass, guitar and percussion.

thanks for the great cabinet.

[Red Planet]

Originally Posted by wilsonn

Wondering if anyone is powering the Crazy 8 with something other than a small bass amp. I just ordered a Headway pre, and it seems kinda crazy to have a pre like that AND run it into a Clarus or EA Doubler amp. You don't really need the front end that the Clarus or Doubler provide.

I am wondering if there's a very small, lightweight, class-D digital amp that puts out 200 to 300 watts of power, single xlr input, 1/4" output, runs on 12v, that you could plug the Fdeck pre or the Headway pre into, and then on to the Crazy 8.

I'm starting to look at car stereo amps. They're 12v...you could use an adapter. Tiny, light.

There are not a lot of choices of power only units out there, in the micro category. That being said at the prices some of these units sell for it would be hard to make a power amp only and ask less for it.


The only choices I know of are the SWR unit mentioned and the MarkBass power amp. Both costly for what they are. http://www.markbass.it/product_detail.php?id=196

The Crown Drive Core XLS1000 might be an excellent choice for a pair of the 88's and of course the QSC PLX1804 is a bad mamajamma.

I have not seen much else out there. Not sure on the battery powered option.

I am predisposed to Genz Benz as their quality, quality control, and unheard of customer service makes me feel safe and secure. There is a certain sense of security in knowing Jeff Genzler and the gang are backing you up. I very often use one of my Shuttle 9.0's as a power amp for running monitors in our PA and it works gloriously.

As for high end preamps I recently was blown away with the sound of my Shuttle 9.0 after AB'ing it with a Summit Audio TD-100 through the power section of the 9.0. With the EQ set flat on the Shuttle and the load control off on the TD-100 I could not tell a difference between the two. This made me do a double take.

[Mike Arnopol]

Originally Posted by LennyJ

Mike,

Why did you put the 88 on top of the 8 and not the other way. I bought my 88 used from another tb'er and am considering an 8.

Just wondering on which to put at top.

Last week I was asked to turn down at a gig, I am in a 3 piece - bass, guitar and percussion.

thanks for the great cabinet.

I was just messing around with different configurations---not a big difference with the 88 on top or bottom. But------If I was purchasing an 88 and 8 I'd have the pole mount on the top and on the side of the 88. You can use a longer pole with the 88 on its side and have better bass coupling with both 8's near the floor. It sounds really good that way. Bigger bottom but still articulate from the single 8 up high. Just my thoughts.

[dukeorock]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I was just messing around with different configurations---not a big difference with the 88 on top or bottom. But------If I was purchasing an 88 and 8 I'd have the pole mount on the top and on the side of the 88. You can use a longer pole with the 88 on its side and have better bass coupling with both 8's near the floor. It sounds really good that way. Bigger bottom but still articulate from the single 8 up high. Just my thoughts.

Been wanting to try that same config myself

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I was just messing around with different configurations---not a big difference with the 88 on top or bottom. But------If I was purchasing an 88 and 8 I'd have the pole mount on the top and on the side of the 88. You can use a longer pole with the 88 on its side and have better bass coupling with both 8's near the floor. It sounds really good that way. Bigger bottom but still articulate from the single 8 up high. Just my thoughts.

Great idea!

Wish I'd thought of that!

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

\As of tonight, the Crazy88 is slightly ahead of the VL208, and the stacked 8 & 88 beat the venerable VL208 handily in my living room, with my hands, my basses, and my beer.

That's saying something.

Makes me wonder if you would feel the same way in after a bar gig.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

I bought the Wizzy to stack on top of the VL208 for loud outdoor gigs, and although it sounds OK by itself, I was surprised at how it sounded in comparison to the other two cabs.

I like that sound too.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by Blue

That's saying something.

Makes me wonder if you would feel the same way in after a bar gig.

Yes, I feel the same way after several bar gigs (playing both electric and DB).

[Badong]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

You can use a longer pole with the 88 on its side and have better bass coupling with both 8's near the floor. It sounds really good that way. Bigger bottom but still articulate from the single 8 up high. Just my thoughts.

Have you guys thought of doing a wedge shape like this?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampli...peaker-cabinet

Seems like it would allow the cab to couple with the floor and eliminate the need for extra stands and whatnot. Is there some disadvantage to this shape sonically?

[Mike Arnopol]

Actually Greenboy's new cabs for 12's and 15's are like that. With the Crazy 8 or 88 we thought that the fold-up tiltback kick stand was a better choice. When you cut out the 45 degree section you have to add to the other dimensions. Which means a slightly bigger footprint to keep the air cavity the same.

[lowEndRick]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

Actually Greenboy's new cabs for 12's and 15's are like that. With the Crazy 8 or 88 we thought that the fold-up tiltback kick stand was a better choice. When you cut out the 45 degree section you have to add to the other dimensions. Which means a slightly bigger footprint to keep the air cavity the same.

Is there a loss of coupling with the kickstand that negatively affects things like low end or volume?

[Ukiah Bass]

Originally Posted by lowEndRick

Is there a loss of coupling with the kickstand that negatively affects things like low end or volume?

Not in my experience. This cab often sounds better when you place it on a chair, which is a lot higher than a kickstand.

[Mike Arnopol]

Thert is very little low end change with the kickstand

[Nathan Levine]

Is it possible to add a kickstand to my 88? No room to prop it up on a chair last night and found myself having a hard time hearing the bass clearly with it on the floor.

[Ukiah Bass]

Originally Posted by Nathan Levine

Is it possible to add a kickstand to my 88? No room to prop it up on a chair last night and found myself having a hard time hearing the bass clearly with it on the floor.

Try the AmpWedge. You stick this rubber goodie under the bottom front of the cab to tilt it backwards. I've used one for years on all my cabs (except my Crazy8, which has the kickstand built in).

http://www.ampwedge.com/

[Nathan Levine]

Originally Posted by Ukiah Bass

Try the AmpWedge. You stick this rubber goodie under the bottom front of the cab to tilt it backwards. I've used one for years on all my cabs (except my Crazy8, which has the kickstand built in).

http://www.ampwedge.com/

Thanks for the tip!

[Michael Glynn]

I just stick a little cardboard box, or whatever is handy, underneath if I want to prop it up. Might not be pretty, but it works. The cab is so light that just about anything will hold it up.

[Matt Ides]

You can always easily mount a spring loaded surface handle assuming you have rubber feet for clearance on the bottom. One less thing to carry IME.

[flatback]

I am getting ready to get a new cabinet. I really like the crazy 88 but Im really intrigued by the idea of the Big E. Can the Big E be put on its side like the Crazy 88 with the amp on the top so that the lower speaker is aimed up at the player? What about either of these with a mic? Has anyone played the big E yet ...video? audio? besides mike on electric?

[Mike Arnopol]

Look at the review by Eric Hochberg.(in this section) He's the one guy that can objectively compare---he's played all of my small cabs with DB.

That's one thing I really like about the Big E's. Setting them horizontally or vertically works like a response control. Horizontal---more bass less mids and highs. From the player's vantage point. Works VERY well tipped back. Then you get the lows but can hear more mids and highs.
In the audience mids and highs are the same either way.

In the vertical position is like a super tiltback. You get the low crossfiring woofer aimed right at you. As well as the diffuser for the highs. This is awesome for tight stages. I use this position more often. Big stages, outside,---get horizontal.

Fine with a mic too. Again---small changes in placement can give a lot of options in micing the cab. If you're closer to the vortex ports---warmer with more midbass. Closer to the center---more prominent mids and highs.