After doing much research, I decided to purchase an EA iamp 500 to use with my tacoma cb-10 E4 for my bluegrass band. Now I need to decide on either a wizzy cab or a cxl-112. I can get a used cxl-112 for around $450 or a new wizzy for about the same price. Which one would be the best choice?
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Wizzy or CxL-112L with iamp 500?
- Thread starter dalimus-thaden
- Start date
The Wizzy is a good cab, but if you can the CXL112 for about the same money it is a much better cabinet.
I have both the CxL112 and the wizzy and the iAmp 500. They are both amazing cabs. The CxL112 is capable of more overall volume and has a bolder, sweeter sound with rounder lows and glassier highs. In spite of that I am selling it. Why? Well, the wizzy is an amazing little cab. It has a thick meaty sound that works well with upright or electric bass (I do like the cxl better for upright). Good lows, sweet mids and clear highs, but not extended in the way the CXL is. And it puts out a ton of sound for its size. Portability is very important for me and I'm not competing with 100 watt guitar amps. There will be a few gigs where I need more than just the wizzy but I have another small 1x12 cab for those. For most gigs in small to meduim clubs the wizzy will do the job.
- Apr 3, 2003
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Blastoff! 
I like both cabs, but personally prefer the Wizzy (though I am required to add my usual disclaimer that the sound of two Wizzy's is very addicting!). The Wizzy is more full sounding (though the CxL-112 does go deeper), with a bit of a midrange push, and on the whole, it's a great balance of warmth and clarity. The CxL-112 is also a great cab, and based upon personal preferences, I could see many people preferring it to the Wizzy. The CxL-112 goes both more deep and more high, but it seems a bit uneven in the mids (some scooping in the low mids, some sharper peaks in the upper mids). If you want clarity, though, it is scalpel precise. So, if you bass is a bit thick sounding, it might be the perfect ticket. I think they both sound great on upright.
I will also add that to my ears there are some slight differences between the heavier CxL-112 and the later, lighter, version, the CxL-112L (and I prefer the heavier model - more smooth through the mids, a tad more full in the lows).
Tom.
I like both cabs, but personally prefer the Wizzy (though I am required to add my usual disclaimer that the sound of two Wizzy's is very addicting!). The Wizzy is more full sounding (though the CxL-112 does go deeper), with a bit of a midrange push, and on the whole, it's a great balance of warmth and clarity. The CxL-112 is also a great cab, and based upon personal preferences, I could see many people preferring it to the Wizzy. The CxL-112 goes both more deep and more high, but it seems a bit uneven in the mids (some scooping in the low mids, some sharper peaks in the upper mids). If you want clarity, though, it is scalpel precise. So, if you bass is a bit thick sounding, it might be the perfect ticket. I think they both sound great on upright.
I will also add that to my ears there are some slight differences between the heavier CxL-112 and the later, lighter, version, the CxL-112L (and I prefer the heavier model - more smooth through the mids, a tad more full in the lows).
Tom.
This is an.old thread I came across but I must chime in. I recently bought a WIZZY 12 M-line & am impressed. Vintage sound? The modern sound is associated with the Klang & growl of round wound strings, & the Wizzy 12 is quite transparent with its highs, in spite of maybe being down -3db @ 12k(?) I wonder if that eased, open, high end is a result of having no crossover?
Anyway, it has a fullness & roundness to it that complements & fattens out the sound of my light gauge, round core boomers (always pristine, because I wear guitar gloves).
My other cab is a Euphonic Audio cxl110 which has tight, punchy, well defined transients. (I'm sure a cxl12 is better, but 50lbs & so hard to find? Together they sound quite good,. I also have a Markbass122 Ninja Richard Bona Signature Cabinet which in my opinion is the best cab pound for pound. But I'm getting rid of it. I'm going modular with smaller cabs that aren't yellow & line green.
What's inspired me to go modular is that on small narrow stages it's better to disperse the sound on both sides of the drummer where everyone can hear the bass, & no particular band members are blodgeoned, or overwhelmed with boominess. (Including me!) Sadly too many drummers these days can't keep time without leaning on the bassist as a crutch. (Also, comb filtering isn't a worry. Name bassists play through PAs on both sides of the stage all the time.
I'm also prepared to employ these EA cabs for PA use, running a line from a small mixer into the return section of an effects loop. That was inspired by my former employment with a guitarist who used a 100 watt Peavy keyboard amp as his personal vocal/acoustic guitar PA. No feedback issues with the amp behind the group (no need for a monitor) At low levels you wouldn't know he was miked it was so pure & crisp. Playing more electric, rowdy, music at bigger venues, & at levels with our drummer violently pounding away, that cheap piezo tweeter sounded pretty harsh, but didn't blow. CS @ Euphonic Audio told me that the compression tweeter & whizzer cone lack the type of unpleasant resonant peaks that piezos have & should be much smoother. (I thought it was just distortion)
I haven't gotten a new gig yet & will be woodshedding for some time. But I just ordered a Mesa Boogie WD800. I'm sick of amps failing, & because my Wizzy 12 is a 4 ohm cab, I will be having to drive both the 8 ohm CXL 10 & Wizzy together at about 3 ohms.
Anyway, it has a fullness & roundness to it that complements & fattens out the sound of my light gauge, round core boomers (always pristine, because I wear guitar gloves).
My other cab is a Euphonic Audio cxl110 which has tight, punchy, well defined transients. (I'm sure a cxl12 is better, but 50lbs & so hard to find? Together they sound quite good,. I also have a Markbass122 Ninja Richard Bona Signature Cabinet which in my opinion is the best cab pound for pound. But I'm getting rid of it. I'm going modular with smaller cabs that aren't yellow & line green.
What's inspired me to go modular is that on small narrow stages it's better to disperse the sound on both sides of the drummer where everyone can hear the bass, & no particular band members are blodgeoned, or overwhelmed with boominess. (Including me!) Sadly too many drummers these days can't keep time without leaning on the bassist as a crutch. (Also, comb filtering isn't a worry. Name bassists play through PAs on both sides of the stage all the time.
I'm also prepared to employ these EA cabs for PA use, running a line from a small mixer into the return section of an effects loop. That was inspired by my former employment with a guitarist who used a 100 watt Peavy keyboard amp as his personal vocal/acoustic guitar PA. No feedback issues with the amp behind the group (no need for a monitor) At low levels you wouldn't know he was miked it was so pure & crisp. Playing more electric, rowdy, music at bigger venues, & at levels with our drummer violently pounding away, that cheap piezo tweeter sounded pretty harsh, but didn't blow. CS @ Euphonic Audio told me that the compression tweeter & whizzer cone lack the type of unpleasant resonant peaks that piezos have & should be much smoother. (I thought it was just distortion)
I haven't gotten a new gig yet & will be woodshedding for some time. But I just ordered a Mesa Boogie WD800. I'm sick of amps failing, & because my Wizzy 12 is a 4 ohm cab, I will be having to drive both the 8 ohm CXL 10 & Wizzy together at about 3 ohms.
