FLITE Speaker Enclosures

[drew_bassmore]

Okay:

I am going to amend my post to the following one question-
Does anybody have experience with Flite Speaker Enclosures, and if so, what is the experience, and what amp/pickup combinations have you used with them?

However: Thank you for the legacy posts which answered the other questions I had-

Hello Double Bass Enthusiasts and Professionals:

I have 18 years experience on Electric Bass Guitar in Rock, Blues and Singer-Songwriter settings.

Currently, I am 15 months into Double Bass/(refreshing/expanding)Jazz Harmony studies. I am flying to Phoenix, AZ this Friday to check out Steve Koscica's basses for sale http://www.stringemporium.com/ so I may return my crappy rental and begin to seriously establish myself with SF Bay Area jazz/bluegrass/gypsy jazz/pop/latin performance & recording opportunities on a real instrument.

I have a few questions to throw out there- hopefully this is an appropriate place to present them:

1) I have currently been using Underwood pickups. The bass I have at the moment isn't very good, but I am not particularly thrilled with the sound of the pickups.

I am looking at the Rev Solo II & The Realist once I complete purchase of new instrument - Pros & Cons?

2) I am using my SWR Baby (Electric) Blue Studio Reference Amplifier (1st Generation) for amplification. I currently have a 2x8 SWR Baby Blue Monitor (speaker enclosure), which was originally marketed for studio and Double Bass use (however, I don't believe the DB community took to it). Since I can't afford to start over yet with a whole new amplification system, I am thinking of getting a smaller speaker enclosure for use with the Electric Blue.

I have seen several posts debating the likes and dislikes of AI and EA speakers. If EA introduces a 10" speaker cabinet, I may look at it, but has anybody had experience with Flite speakers?? http://www.flitesound.com/index.html

3) Does anybody have any experience with the basses that are up on String Emporium's site? I am looking for a fully carved vintage instrument within the $5-9K range, constructed within at least 30-50 years. I'm looking forward to trying them out, but looking for some feedback from Jazz players.

Cheers,

drew

[Reuben]

I have a Flite 1x10 and a 4 ohm 1x15. Neither one has a tweeter.

I use them with a Walter Woods Super Hi-Power (amber light). I have also used them with an Acoustic Image Clarus.

They are good cabs, though a bit midrangey for my tastes, which makes them a little better suited to electric bass. The 1x10 is so lightweight it's truly astounding, and in many situations is plenty big sounding. I think there are other choices out there that are a little better sounding, and fairly light weight, but not as lite as Flite. If portability is your #1 priority they are a good choice. I have considered dumping my 1x15 since I rarely use it, but the little cab is awfully handy.

[Jumbotron]

I've got the 8 ohm 115 cab, no tweeter or mid. I run a Carvin PA into it with a Bass Pod Pro as a preamp, using a number of different basses (no actual DB, but I do run a piezo-equipped Aria EUB into it, which is vaguely in the ballpark). I really couldn't be happier with this cab. It has a very round tone, to my ears, and plenty of power for what I do. And, of course, it's super light and small. Eventually, I want to add another cab to the rig, but the 115 works well alone.

[hdiddy]

Hey Drew, I met you at one of Glenn Richmann's gigs at Eccolo. Good to see you on here.

I'm sure Glenn told you he bought his Flite 1x10 from me. Good little cab. I think the 1x12 is a little better. The only problem with Flite cabs is that I think the construction isn't made to handle high heat - it's all synthetic materials which is why it's so light. I wouldn't store it in your garage if it gets over 105 degrees or something like that. Otherwise my impressions are pretty much the same as Reuben's.

You should also take a look at the Epifani UL110. Great cab for the weight. Reviewed at length here. Sounds better than the Flite. Both Glenn and I have one.
-Huy

[Reuben]

Yeah the Epifani is more full range, and still light enough to be really impressive.

[drew_bassmore]

Originally Posted by hdiddy

You should also take a look at the Epifani UL110. Great cab for the weight. Reviewed at length here. Sounds better than the Flite. Both Glenn and I have one.
-Huy

Huy- Nice to see you too. I am taking your advice and flying to Phoenix this week (as mentioned above) to shop for a bass. I am going to go for a vintage Fully Carved if it catches my ear. But I will try a Wan Bernadel while I'm there.

Thanks for the info. The Epifani sounds like a good possibility.

And for everybody else- I really appreciate the feedback!

[hdiddy]

Sweet. I'm glad my advice was of help.

BTW: Welcome to TBDB. There's a wealth of info here on TBDB. It takes a while to read through all of it but it's definitely worthwhile.

Anyways, there was a guy who used to come here and is from San Mateo. He did the same thing and came home with a Wan Bernadel. He seemed extremely happy. Some of the other basses look pretty good tho. I think the owner stopped posting prices so who knows what they're selling for. Either that or it's the "if you have to ask you can't afford it" deal. I'm sure that your trip will be worthwhile, even if you come home empty handed. Happy hunting.

[drew_bassmore]

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Sweet. I'm glad my advice was of help.

BTW: Welcome to TBDB. There's a wealth of info here on TBDB. It takes a while to read through all of it but it's definitely worthwhile.

I think the owner stopped posting prices so who knows what they're selling for.

Huy:

Your advice was very helpful. I had come across String Emporium on earlier Google searches. So far, my experience with Steve has been extremely impressive.

He has been very responsive to my questions. He sent me a price list upon request. Furthermore, he is picking me up at the airport and putting me up in a room (hotel).

We'll see if I come back with something- but I am determined (and hopefully not over eager). I will trial the bass. Bring it by for Glenn Richman to weigh in with his comments, and then the rest will follow- cabinet, new pick-up system- not to mention I am already being offered gigs for DB outside of my own projects. Just don't think it's great to take them with my current rental instrument.

And finally, no kidding there is a wealth of information. I love the idea of community in the arts.

I commend all those who have constructive information to offer on the various TB forums.

Cheers,

drew

[Adrian Cho]

Originally Posted by drew_bassmore

If EA introduces a 10" speaker cabinet, I may look at it

EA is introducing a 10" speaker - the Wizzy 10. Do a search for it on the forums here. Not yet delivered - latest estimate is mid-April but it looks like like a winner with sound as good as the Epi UL110 and weight and dimensions similar to the Flite cabs.

[MichaelVee]

I have a 1993 Flite 4x8 cab that sounds lethal with a mic'ed or piezo'ed upright. I'm not playing upright currently, so am thinking of selling it. Very unusual design that works great. I'd like to hear it with a high power Walter Woods head.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by MichaelVee

I have a 1993 Flite 4x8 cab that sounds lethal with a mic'ed or piezo'ed upright. I'm not playing upright currently, so am thinking of selling it. Very unusual design that works great. I'd like to hear it with a high power Walter Woods head.

Michael,
I once owned two of the Flite 2x8's with those Near Black Aluminum Liquid Spension Drivers. One of them had a tweeter and the other one didn't. They were very unique when they were introduced. I'm not sure that Kurt built very many of those cabinets since the speakers were pretty expensive.

Ric Vice

[drew_bassmore]

Originally Posted by Adrian Cho

EA is introducing a 10" speaker - the Wizzy 10. Do a search for it on the forums here. Not yet delivered - latest estimate is mid-April but it looks like like a winner with sound as good as the Epi UL110 and weight and dimensions similar to the Flite cabs.

Adrian:

Thanks for the update. That would be good timing for me (Mid-April). I have picked up quite a bit regarding the Wizzy posts on TB.

I wonder if it defeats the purpose using the SWR head I have. I really don't have any other experience to draw from, so it will be trial and error for many years I presume.

Cheers,

drew

[bolo]

Drew, I think what you've got with the SWR Baby Blue Studio Reference Amplifier (1st Generation) and 2x8 SWR Baby Blue Monitor (speaker enclosure) might actually be pretty happenin' for DB. I would think it might could turn out to be a very workable and perhaps even a pretty coveted combination.

It might also be worth experimenting with a preamp too that's well suited for DB in front of the SWR head, including trying running it into the amp's effects return.

Pickups? Harder to say. Like you said, lots of folks like the Realist and Rev Solo, and the Fishman Full Circle too. I am on my 5th pickup, and 3rd mic (all listed in my profile). Happy, sure. Done experimenting, nope. Everyone's bass and tastes are too different to generalize. And equipment is evolving all the time.

Good luck finding that new / old bass.

[drew_bassmore]

Originally Posted by bolo

It might also be worth experimenting with a preamp too that's well suited for DB in front of the SWR head, including trying running it into the amp's effects return.


Good luck finding that new / old bass.

Is it Steve? Bolo-

Thanks for the encouragement. I haven't it tried it live just yet, but I have flattened the eq on the Electric Blue and tweaked the frequencies based on other posts I've seen here. Also, of note, the Aural Enhancer is completely off- a SWR nicetie on Electric Bass, but wreaks tonal havoc on DB.

In any case, with my crappy laminated rental, Underwood pickups, and the Gain and Master to 12 O'Clock- it doesn't sound half bad. Any louder than that, and it sounds too electric.

I get the feeling that the cabinet I am using is a bit boomy, so I will be anxious to try something that may better reproduce acoustic instruments.

Also, I haven't looked up any posts here, but I have a stomp box Sadowsky DI/Preamp that I will try. His website says it's good for EBG & URB. It makes for a good boost without coloring tone on my electrics. Although, I like to EQ it for my Fender Fretless Jazz (Naftacaster). So when I finally get around to experimenting on a new/old DB bass, I'll report back.

-drew

[Reefer]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Michael,
I once owned two of the Flite 2x8's with those Near Black Aluminum Liquid Spension Drivers. One of them had a tweeter and the other one didn't. They were very unique when they were introduced. I'm not sure that Kurt built very many of those cabinets since the speakers were pretty expensive.

Ric Vice

He must have built a few of them because I also had 2 of those 4x8" cabs.

[Reuben]

Originally Posted by Adrian Cho

EA is introducing a 10" speaker - the Wizzy 10. Do a search for it on the forums here. Not yet delivered - latest estimate is mid-April but it looks like like a winner with sound as good as the Epi UL110 and weight and dimensions similar to the Flite cabs.

Adrian, where did you hear one of these new 10" EA cabs if they have not shipped yet?

[Rob Hunter]

Drew,

Re: Flite. I have three Flite cabinets and I’m quite happy with them (in fact, I may pick up a fourth). The first two were single 1x15s sent to me unloaded. I installed speakers from Yorkville cabinets (Eminence?) and they've served me well for playing EB. They can't handle really high volume without distorting at the lowest frequencies, but that may be due to the speakers or perhaps an enclosure mismatch (I can't blame Flite since I bought them sans drivers).

More recently, I purchased a 1x12 (no horn) to go with my AI Clarus and this has been killer for the odd DB combo jam. I use a K&K BassMax pickup through a K&K preamp and my Strunal bass sounds excellent through it (similar to its natural sound but louder). In fact, I may get another 1x12 Flite cabinet for big-band applications.

So if you're still considering Flite, I've purchased cabs from both the "old" and the "new" management and I've been pleased.

[Adrian Cho]

I've not actually heard a Wizzy 10 in the flesh. I'm only going by the reports of others who have heard it (Tombowlus, etc.). I have no doubt that because it's EA and from the sound of the Wizzy 12, etc. that it will be good. It's also 4 ohms, the sensitivity is super high, and basically it looks like a winner. I'm on the wait list myself with BobG and I can't wait to get mine.

[bolo]

Originally Posted by drew_bassmore

In any case, with my crappy laminated rental, Underwood pickups, and the Gain and Master to 12 O'Clock- it doesn't sound half bad. Any louder than that, and it sounds too electric.

Drew,

Steve here. Yes, you probably have worked it through in your head already, but it makes a lot of sense to start w/ the front of the signal chain and move out from there just like you are doing. New old bass. Strings. Then maybe a different pickup or two just to compare to the Underwood, both w/ and w/out a preamp.

Your comment about sounding "too electric" might be the bass or the pickup or both. Just my 2 cents.

I had always heard what I thought were complimentary things about the Baby Blues. Maybe w/ the exception of the preamp section of the heads (for DB), which you can bypass. And like you said, Aural Enhancer off (for DB). Two 8" drivers for DB is a config that lots of people like really well.

Best of luck.

[Ric Vice]

1) I have currently been using Underwood pickups. The bass I have at the moment isn't very good, but I am not particularly thrilled with the sound of the pickups. [quote]

Changing pickups is of course the easiest and probably the least expensive way to improve the sound of an amplified instrument.


2) I am using my SWR Baby (Electric) Blue Studio Reference Amplifier (1st Generation) for amplification. I currently have a 2x8 SWR Baby Blue Monitor (speaker enclosure), which was originally marketed for studio and Double Bass use (however, I don't believe the DB community took to it). [quote]

Interestingly enough, although they marketed the Baby Blue as a Double Bass amplifier the "professionals" that prototyped the unit
were for the most part Electric Bassists. When I did a little research on the amps initial design phase I discovered this. IMHO that's why the
amp didn't get a favorable nod from the Double Bass community at the time. IMHO the preamp works great with a Electric but not so great with the Acoustic.


Since I can't afford to start over yet with a whole new amplification system, I am thinking of getting a smaller speaker enclosure for use with the Electric Blue. [quote]



Drew,
I owned one of the original SWR Baby Blue Combo amps and once I played through it a few times, I took the head out and hooked my Walter Woods MI-100-8 to the speakers and it sounded much better than the SWR head. At that time I was using a Underwood PU. So, you might want to consider trying another head with the cabinet, rather than buying a new cabinet. Granted, that's a more expensive route to take however.

Originally Posted by drew_bassmore

I have seen several posts debating the likes and dislikes of AI and EA speakers. If EA introduces a 10" speaker cabinet, I may look at it, but has anybody had experience with Flite speakers?? http://www.flitesound.com/index.html

I had two Flite 2x8 cabinets and Kurt was very nice to me in all my dealings with him. I don't know how they would stack up aginst the newer EA and Epifani cabinets with their significantly improved cabinet materials, speaker motors, and innovative cabinet construction.

Ric