For sale Michael Arnopol 4x8, original (Big E) design

Oh I bet this is sweet. Wish I was close .

I did a search and found when another TB member was selling one of these and Mike informed the following:
A 66 is around 900 cc's of air moved. The 48 is around 1400. Should also be 4 ohms according to that thread.

I got to play through one of these, once, with a Shaw B-150 tube head. I recall the sound as thick and articulate and feeling a big ol' grin creeping across my face. Mike and the Big E guys made some more refined designs subsequent to this, but in terms of sheer muscularity and visceral impact, I don't know that they made anything to better it (at least in a single cab). 210 Flex (which I've played live -- about 1200 cc, for reference, though that doesn't tell the whole story) might have been close.

This is not a living room cab -- I've found that the Big E cabs need a little space, literally and metaphorically, to open up to sound and work their best -- but if you're playing outdoors or on a loud stage somewhere, I imagine that it'd kill.

The dispersion and other benefits of the Big E/MVW cabs are real, too -- when I was playing my MAS 112 in clubs, I found that I could take myself pretty much out of the monitors (everyone's, not just mine) and everyone on stage said they could still hear me clearly -- made for a cleaner mix on stage and a more satisfying experience for me (since I could hear and feel what I was doing more clearly than before).

Mntngrown is a straight-shooter, too.

mntngrown said:

...4 8" bass speakers and 4 tweeters in the rear. 4 and 5 strings sound great through this cab...

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The version of the cab that I played through had a single HF driver with horn in the front -- the four HF drivers in the rear are interesting.

Thanks Mark. I think the HF drivers are crossed over pretty high and I saw that Mike said so in the thread for the cab you played. I don't know if an old school finger style flats guy like me engages them much. The eights cover the mid range well IMHO

My 1st gig report on this cab the year I bought it. :While we wait for the reports from the GTG, and after gig, I will post my gig impressions.
No measurements or comparisons. Sorry scientific proof seekers. I have played this medium sized club with high ceilings twice before, both times with a 1515/66.
Played my SB-2, (p/j) with well worn GHS precision flats, into Ampeg svt7pro. Did not even try to change the settings on the amp EQ, due to inadequate light for my old eyes, and did not bother switching to the roundwound equipped Spector p/j at the break either.
I did go wireless, and at set up, went all the way across the club with my bass to the bar I moved around the club before and during the gig. The 4x8 was placed in a spot to the left of, and in front of the band due to space constraints. My drummer expressed concern about this as he likes my cab just to his left. I relied on the reports of dispersion from Mike and Leland, as I confidently told him, "You should hear me just fine". This turned out to be the case for all band members, who were essentially behind and to the right of the cab.
Our drummer recruited a keyboard player that he works with in another project for this gig. He plays with some artists in the SF Bay area that oldtimers would recognize.
So I was interested in his impression, but did not solicit one.
Before we played the first song, I knew the bass was going to be very present in the mix, having walked around wireless. After the first couple songs I asked the keys if my bass was too loud for him, because it was thick but articulate to me, and he was behind the 4x8, but only a few feet away. He said, "No I love bass". At the break he came up and complimented my bass playing, at at the end of the gig he said,"awesome bass rig bro" or similar.
Our guitar player told me my sound was "fat" and he and the drummer said they could hear it clearly even though the placement was off to the side and forward.
So what I subjectively experienced was a very enveloping well dispersed thick but clear note production, throughout the club, and even into a back room I wandered into while playing.
Remember I warned you this was subjective.
Unlike some other cabs I have played which were very subject to off axis fade out, the bass was just "there" no matter where I moved. Gonna have fun with this one.

another early adopter of the 4x8 said:

i had a chance to A/B the 4x8 with a new Fender 810 neo cab in a brick & mortar music shop yesterday ( the owner is a friend & i've been telling him about the 4x8 since i've ordered it )
we set both cabs up in the store & i plugged the super bassman into the 810 first & it sounded very good at a moderate volume, as we started adding the volume, everything seemed to just be intensified as if you could almost see the sound pressure building & blaring at high levels. it was a very directional tone coming out of the cab, the dispersion was typical for the design, sounds best when stand directly in front of the cab, but take three ( well, maybe not three, but five definitely :scowl: ) steps to the left, & it all drops out. we didn't dime the head/ cab but we were pushing the 6550's pretty good, & the cab was loud & intense, that would be my best description

then we plugged in the 4x8

brought it up to a moderate level & the whole experience & perception changed. as i said earlier, the cab has a voice all it's own, & that voice carries & reproduces bass notes/tones quite well, exceptionally well actually. i had my wireless on & we went around to different locations in the room & the tone with all the lows/mids/highs were present EVERYWHERE IN THE ROOM, the dispersion is INCREDIBLE ( the dispersion that i saw/heard in your vids are what sold me on this cab, & prompted me to place an order, so glad i did as it does not disappoint )
we rolled up the volume & the cab/voice/tone just expanded & got bigger/larger & as we took it up to about the same volume as the 810 before, the cab handled it with no problem whatsoever, but gone was the intensity, sound pressure, of the typical bass cab, & the tone /voice was so present & musical & natural, it's quite an experience, my friend REALLY LIKED this cab, ( so do i )

might place an order for a 4x6 & have the small/large cab thing covered, as i have found my sound

I dropped the price a little. I understand people want light and loud, but I have been told by a guitar band leader who I have subbed in with on gigs that this and my SVT 7 pro sounded better than SVT tube on a fridge. This weighs less than a fridge and IMHO would make a sturdy bassist glad they bought. Heck I gigged it at 70 years old.

I also go to the summit of Hwy 80 for ski days, Sugarbowl resort, if any Sacto or bay area bassists ski or board.
70 something lbs is light to exceed your expectations of what your 4x10 can do in a large club or outdoors. Many years ago I had Mesa Diesel 2x15 and Ampeg 4x10 HEN and they were not even close

Say it isn't so! GLWTS!

It is not so..I know what this cab can do but the market speaks

I was reacting to the fact you listed it for sale, knowing how much you liked the cab. So what now, did it sell or are you keeping it? Sure wish I was closer.

Razman said:

I was reacting to the fact you listed it for sale, knowing how much you liked the cab. So what now, did it sell or are you keeping it? Sure wish I was closer.

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Wondering that myself , oh well it’s a good thing it’s not available now I was getting tempted to make the drive!

I got tired of bumping the thread. When there is no interest at 550.00 for this thunderous cab, I think I might contact some local demolition companies.

mntngrown said:

I got tired of bumping the thread. When there is no interest at 550.00 for this thunderous cab, I think I might contact some local demolition companies.

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Makes sense.

I’m super curious and impressed by the specs of this cab, but I really don’t want to be hauling around to 70 pound cabinet anymore

I don't blame anyone for wanting light and loud. I would say it would be great for a bassist who plays outdoor gigs with no PA support. It was and may be again for me, if I need it. I have the MAS66 for indoor and medium bar/restaurant patio outdoor gigs. When I told Mike I was used to 1515/66 cabs where I could play school football field gigs w/o PA he put all them tweeters in the chamber in case I needed them.

mntngrown said:

I got tired of bumping the thread. When there is no interest at 550.00 for this thunderous cab, I think I might contact some local demolition companies.

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Everyone’s worried about their backs apparently

Ethix4 said:

Everyone’s worried about their backs apparently

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Yes, I certainly am. I use it a lot!

I took it to an outdoor jam and had a little help getting it up on stage but could have done it myself as I did loading it into my car and using a cart to roll into the venue. I have been lucky with my back and frequently deadlift this or more in the gym and I am in my 70's. But it is a fridge killer as stated before. At the jam the other band's bassist said I was too loud. Ha Ha If you have in ears and a sound man that hucks his heavy stuff then no need for this. The jam host said it was deep and he could feel it.

Lots of 4x10 cabs and of course 8x10 and 2x15 weigh more than this powerhouse. It will beat some or most of them. I have owned Ampeg 4x10 HEN, Mesa Diesel 2x15, and they could not handle volume and outdoor like this cab. 1515/66 cabs could but this is easier to load and has the dispersion of MVW technology.