AudioKinesis Thunderchild 112 cab

[KJung]

Hello from EB land. Just in case you guys aren't aware of this cab, I thought I'd post up. This is an amazing cab built by Audiokinesis (a high end audio company.. Duke, the owner, is a TB member). It is 34 pounds, is based on a proprietary version (4ohm) of the amazing Eminence 3012LF Neo driver, and uses a high quality PA type horn and compression driver with a VERY high end crossover.

The horn can be turned off, or gently rolled off at around 3.5K. It is very warm and organic sounding, and the cab has a huge low end that can be nicely controlled with the provided port plugs if necessary in problem rooms, or with an instrument that is a bit bloomy down low.

Duke (the owner of Audiokinesis) specifically designed this as a stand-alone solution for use with the various 500 or so watt micro heads. Hence, the 4ohm nominal impedance and the nice recessed handle on top, allowing for the micro's to sit flat on top of the cab. It gets shockingly loud given the almost otherworldly specs of that 12" driver, and the relatively low crossover point and big horn makes it a treat regarding midrange dispersion on a tight stage and/or small room.

For those who dig the old EA VL cabs or the Acme's... this is another flavor of 'wide, pure and even'. It is not quite as extended as the Acme Low B cabs, but has a much bigger low end than the 'typical' 112. It has a bit of common tone with the Bergantino HT112ER.

This cab is VERY much in the spirit of the 12/6/1 boxes, but is 4ohms, a bit smaller, and a bit punchier.

Just FYI!!!





Here's a picture of the port plugs, which tighten up the low end.

[geoffbassist]

Thanks for the heads up. It looks like a great cab!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by geoffbassist

Thanks for the heads up. It looks like a great cab!

No problem! This seemed like a 'DBer possibiliity'. I believe Duke is working on a version of this that is voiced specifically for DB, although this one seems pretty well suited for those who want a relatively transparent and relatively wide sonic footprint.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by KJung

No problem! This seemed like a 'DBer possibiliity'. I believe Duke is working on a version of this that is voiced specifically for DB, although this one seems pretty well suited for those who want a relatively transparent and relatively wide sonic footprint.

+ 1 Ken's owned virtually every high end cabinet on the market, in fact I got my original VL 108 from him, thanks Ken. He dosen't hold on to em either, instead, he gives other players the opportunity to buy them used rather than have them sit around. When Duke gets the DB version up and running I may have to clear out my closet.

Ric

[kesslari]

Thanks for posting this.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

+ 1 Ken's owned virtually every high end cabinet on the market, in fact I got my original VL 108 from him, thanks Ken. He dosen't hold on to em either, instead, he gives other players the opportunity to buy them used rather than have them sit around. When Duke gets the DB version up and running I may have to clear out my closet.

Ric

Hey Ric! Well, I do like to try this stuff. Just to clarify for others, I am 'DB clueless', so I have no idea if this cab would do a DB justice. However, it is from that universe of cabs that many DBers seem to like (including you!)... relatively wide tonal footprint, relatively organic top end, and very little midrange distortion (ala Acme, EA VL, and the 12/6 and 15/6 executions using the LF woofer and various high quality mid drivers).

And, those port plugs really do a nice job revoicing the big low end of that cab.

Ric, I'll make sure to bring this cab to St. Louis next time I drive in, and maybe we can get a clip with your Walter and a couple of my micro's with your DB.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by KJung

.... However, it is from that universe of cabs that many DBers seem to like (including you!)... relatively wide tonal footprint, relatively organic top end, and very little midrange distortion (ala Acme, EA VL, and the 12/6 and 15/6 executions using the LF woofer and various high quality mid drivers).

And, those port plugs really do a nice job revoicing the big low end of that cab.

Ric, I'll make sure to bring this cab to St. Louis next time I drive in, and maybe we can get a clip with your Walter and a couple of my micro's with your DB.

Sounds great, since you got the first Acme Low B1 several upright players use that cabinet now as well. I look foward to seeing you and checking this baby out.

Ric

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Sounds great, since you got the first Acme Low B1 several upright players use that cabinet now as well. I look foward to seeing you and checking this baby out.

Ric

Ever since I sold that cab to Zeb, I think every young DB player in St. Louis is using one

[hensonbass]

I should have my Thunderchild cab by this weekend. I intend to use this as my main doubler gig rig. I will report soon if it's going to make the grade. My old Epifani 110UL is already for sale.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by hensonbass

I should have my Thunderchild cab by this weekend. I intend to use this as my main doubler gig rig. I will report soon if it's going to make the grade. My old Epifani 110UL is already for sale.

I know you will totally dig it for EB... simply amazing. It is going to have a LOT more low end than your 110UL, but the port plugs work very nicely to raise the tuning by about 10hz I believe, if that is an issue with your DB. It is just a beautiful sounding box. I look forward to your impressions!

Edit: FYI... I measured mine up and got a nice padded cover from LeCover, so Larry at LeCover has the measurements. It takes only about a week from order to finish... about $45 or so plus shipping, and another $10 if you want him to leave that big 'LeCover' logo off (not a big deal there, but I ordered mine that way).

Pic in next post:

[KJung]

[61pollmann]

Price?

[Mojo-Man]

Thanks,
This cab has got my attention.
Maybe perfect with a micro 500 watt head?
A 2x12 would kill too.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by 61pollmann

Price?

$700 + shipping. Not sure of the build time since he's just starting to produce these.

[hensonbass]

I've been playing my DB and EUB through this cab and I am really thrilled with the sound I'm getting. I know some guys on Talkbass have been using powered PA speakers for amplification and I think this design combines some of those characteristics with better components (crossover, beefier woofer) and light weight (34lbs). The power handling is rated at 450 watts at 4 ohms which is more than enough for most upright gigs because you would probably run into feedback before you could max the volume out. It's still nice to have that headroom though if you have an amp head with that power.

Where this cab excels IMO is how it reproduces very subtle details about an instrument's character. I'm using a Ehrlund pickup and the Thunderchild brought out some details I've never heard from my bass. It really sounded like a new instrument.

My guess is the mid/high horn driver has a lot to do with this. I think a lot of the UB voicing can get lost with the typical tweeter in most bass cabs. Maybe it's that it's not that important a frequency range when amplifying a bass guitar or that bass guitars don't produce much of those frequencies. I'm not sure. Whatever, the Thunderchild reproduces those DB sounds really well.

Oh yeah, it sounds great with the slabs too!

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by hensonbass

I've been playing my DB and EUB through this cab and I am really thrilled with the sound I'm getting. I know some guys on Talkbass have been using powered PA speakers for amplification and I think this design combines some of those characteristics with better components (crossover, beefier woofer) and light weight (37lbs). The power handling is rated at 450 watts at 4 ohms which is more than enough for most upright gigs because you would probably run into feedback before you could max the volume out. It's still nice to have that headroom though if you have an amp head with that power.

Where this cab excels IMO is how it reproduces very subtle details about an instrument's character. I'm using a Ehrlund pickup and the Thunderchild brought out some details I've never heard from my bass. It really sounded like a new instrument.

My guess is the mid/high horn driver has a lot to do with this. I think a lot of the UB voicing can get lost with the typical tweeter in most bass cabs. Maybe it's that it's not that important a frequency range when amplifying a bass guitar or that bass guitars don't produce much of those frequencies. I'm not sure. Whatever, the Thunderchild reproduces those DB sounds really well.

Oh yeah, it sound great with the slabs too!

Great report!

[Ric Vice]

Hey guys,
There are two different weights for the Thunderchild posted on this thread. Is it 34 lbs or 37 lbs? I know that some handbuilt cabinets do varry a little in weight maybe that's why there is a difference.

Ric

[hensonbass]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Hey guys,
There are two different weights for the Thunderchild posted on this thread. Is it 34 lbs or 37 lbs? I know that some handbuilt cabinets do varry a little in weight maybe that's why there is a difference.

Ric

You're right! It is 34 lbs. I remember that the weight on the shipping bill was around 37. I corrected my posting.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by hensonbass

You're right! It is 34 lbs. I remember that the weight on the shipping bill was around 37. I corrected my posting.

+1 Duke said 34 pounds. I just weighed mine on my quite accurate new digital bathroom type scale, and it came in just a smidge under 34 pounds.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 Duke said 34 pounds. I just weighed mine on my quite accurate new digital bathroom type scale, and it came in just a smidge under 34 pounds.

Great, that's cleared up thanks to modern technology.