I'm trying to find a 4 ohm lightweight cabinet to use with my recently purchased EA Micro amp. When I bought the amp, I didn't think about the idea that a 4 ohm cab may be better suited for it...and I'm trying to replace my 42 lb 12 inch Aguilar with a lightweight cab. Any suggestions on a lighter cab thats 4 ohms? Am I overthinking this whole thing? It's for an upright not electric.
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Double Bass 4 ohm lightweight cab?
- Thread starter andy6126
- Start date
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Hi Andy,
I've thought about possibly building such a cab, though I have to finish a couple of other projects first.
I'm under the impression that a cab for amplifying an upright should have smooth, non-boomy bottom end, and that very deep extension isn't a high priority. I'm also under the impression that good midrange tone and clarity is the highest priority, and that a smooth and fairly extended treble is also important. Seems to me that the SPL requirement is modest compared to electric bass; a 2x10 or even a good 2x8 (like the legendary VL-208) would probably be plenty loud as long as the sound quality was there.
Please correct where I'm mistaken, and please add anything you'd like.
Thanks!
I've thought about possibly building such a cab, though I have to finish a couple of other projects first.
I'm under the impression that a cab for amplifying an upright should have smooth, non-boomy bottom end, and that very deep extension isn't a high priority. I'm also under the impression that good midrange tone and clarity is the highest priority, and that a smooth and fairly extended treble is also important. Seems to me that the SPL requirement is modest compared to electric bass; a 2x10 or even a good 2x8 (like the legendary VL-208) would probably be plenty loud as long as the sound quality was there.
Please correct where I'm mistaken, and please add anything you'd like.
Thanks!
I'd recommend the Euphonic Audio Wizzy M-Line. Available in a 4-ohm version and very efficient, it definitely makes the most of your amp's potential power. The Wizzy M weighs about 10 lbs less than your Aguilar cab, and is fairly compact and easy to haul around.
I've owned other cabs in the 15 to 20 lbs range, and I found in practice they weren't all that much easier to transport, and just couldn't deliver the same quality of sound or the amount sound the Wizzy M can give you.
I've owned other cabs in the 15 to 20 lbs range, and I found in practice they weren't all that much easier to transport, and just couldn't deliver the same quality of sound or the amount sound the Wizzy M can give you.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
+1 I love my 4-Ohm Wizzy 12M. Not only is it compact and lightweight, it sounds great with both DB and slab, and doesn't take a lot of power to drive (according to the EA website sensitivity is 103dB). As an added bonus, the side-mounted ports make my drummer smile. 
FWIW, 5-string electric bass has been no problem.
FWIW, 5-string electric bass has been no problem.
I play a Micro 300 through an 8-Ohm 12" DIY cab that weighs about 17 pounds. This rig is capable of getting stupid loud. Indeed, I think that I could further downsize to a 10" system, but at this point I can't justify another project and the 12" is already easy enough to transport.
The Wizzy certainly seems like a good approach too.
Duke, sounds like you're on the right track.
The Wizzy certainly seems like a good approach too.
Duke, sounds like you're on the right track.
I Just got back from a big band rehearsal where I recorded my electric upright played through a AI Coda Top with an EA Wizzy 10 (18 lbs). Listening to the recording as I write this I am extremely pleased with the full and powerful sound I got. No problem cutting through the band. EUB but sounds like upright. Acme B1 sounds great too but is 31 lbs.
Wizzy 10 or 12 are both great choices...which one you choose depends on weight vs bottom you need. I'm also trying an Acme B-1 cab, but it's almost too much bottom for upright...most of my playing is on a EUB and Wizzy's do great.
Is it just me or do the Wizzy cabs sound a little 'urgent'. What I mean I guess is I go for a bit of a more 'old school' tone and I feel like the M at least sounds a little more 'modern' (for lack of a better word). I dig the sound and it has improved as the speaker has broken in but feel like I've had to do a fair amount of eq work to get that thing to sound less upfront or something.
I used a 10" + tweeter cab I built (I actually modified and retrofitted a box I had with new drivers, a new crossover, etc) for the past couple gigs where I needed something portable and I felt like the tone was full and full-range without sounding too up-front.
I guess I like my sound to be more cushion and I feel like the Wizzy M is a shade too cutting.
Don't get me wrong though. Great cab and the side port design is awesome. Very 'surround' kind of a sound. I just did some gigs at a fairly large club with a fairly small stage and I needed to be pretty on top of my amp and I could hear everything clearly.
I used a 10" + tweeter cab I built (I actually modified and retrofitted a box I had with new drivers, a new crossover, etc) for the past couple gigs where I needed something portable and I felt like the tone was full and full-range without sounding too up-front.
I guess I like my sound to be more cushion and I feel like the Wizzy M is a shade too cutting.
Don't get me wrong though. Great cab and the side port design is awesome. Very 'surround' kind of a sound. I just did some gigs at a fairly large club with a fairly small stage and I needed to be pretty on top of my amp and I could hear everything clearly.
You might like the Acme Low B1 in that case. It has more of an ambient sound to it. Really full and deep sounding. It isn't agressive at all. I myself prefer something a little more "forward" sounding as it helps me to cut. I am going to pick up a Wizzy 10 in the near future...
You can get a Schroeder Mini12L (with or without tweeter) in 4ohms. It is about 20lbs and a really easy huck. I quite like it for DB and EB.
W
W
I have the EA Doubler and the Mline Wizzy. I really like the way the sound spreads on the Mline cab. It seems to be coming from everywhere. I use this cab with an old 1937 Kay with gut strings and a K&K p/u. Playing in a duo with a guitarist doing really old blues. He uses an old national thru one of those fishman P.A.'s. I was really suprised how well it really sounds, so much better than the regular wizzy that I am selling.
My favourite for both DB as well as BG is the Epifani 112UL. When in need of more power I use 2 of them. Never heard such a natural sound out of a bass cab.
I have a Schroeder mini 10L. It is 17lbs. Amazing amount of sound coming from such a little box.
i have a m line wizzy and a acoustic image contra combo. i prefer the acoustic image for the not so in your face sound. the acoustic image sounds more natural to my ears. that being said as far as live sound i prefer a fishman pro plat. direct into the pa head as long as your playing thru a good pa. one of the bands i play with have jbl mrx 15's for mains, that is a great sound in my opinion. it also makes loading in and out a breeze.
FYI.
I replaced my Bergantino HT 112 8 ohm speaker with a 4 ohm neo.
Works well for me. I use it as a stand alone on electric also.
I also had no use for the tweeter, which had blown.So i removed that also.needless to say the cab is small and lite.
Which is what I wanted .And at times i will use it with another 8 ohm berg ht112 .
I replaced my Bergantino HT 112 8 ohm speaker with a 4 ohm neo.
Works well for me. I use it as a stand alone on electric also.
I also had no use for the tweeter, which had blown.So i removed that also.needless to say the cab is small and lite.
Which is what I wanted .And at times i will use it with another 8 ohm berg ht112 .
I don't think the wiizy mline as a light cabinet, althought it is a great cab. The wizzy 10 is the one for me.
