Acme Cabs + Thunderfunk = ???

[Chef]

I can't speak to the Acme q, but I will say this:
My TFB420 has never left me wanting for power.
I know Schroeder cabs are very efficient, but it pushes the 1400 watt rated 410 Schroeder very, very well...

 

[KJung]

I can't speak to the Acme q, but I will say this:
My TFB420 has never left me wanting for power.
I know Schroeder cabs are very efficient, but it pushes the 1400 watt rated 410 Schroeder very, very well...

Since I've owned Acme's and currently own a 1210... all I can say is, all other things being equal (bass and amp) the 1210 and most other cabs will give you about 300% more volume than the Acme. The Acme sounds wonderful at home, but I just was bummed at how buried they got on stage. Quite a few other ex-Acme TBers feel the same way, while others disagree. I've only used a 4ohm Acme b210 and a Walter Woods Ultra (1200 watts), two 8ohm Acme B210's with a Walter Woods Utlra and an iAmp800, and a 4ohm B110 with the original Clarus. The B110 with the Clarus was the BOMB with my Rob Allen on small gigs. However, I found that almost any other single cab with the iAmp800 and WWUltra just totally blew the 2 8ohm Acme210's away in a live setting... for volume, punch and projection in the room (all other things being equal... bass and amp)

Since there are a number of TBer's who's posts I really respect just love the Acme's, I'm willing to consider that I was doing something wrong (i.e., I never used a big 'lead sled' amp with them, etc.). Again, not baggin' on them, just providing my 'real world' on the gig experience.

 

[jokerjkny]

interesting KJ,

cause i'm pretty much there w/ Rick. when i'm onstage, the sound is there, but not quite as present until i walk out a few feet. BUT on a few live recordings i've done, my acme is VERY present and accounted for. and yes, i was NOT in the pa.

i will say however that i was using my parametric EQ to dial out any woofy boomy tones, which allowed my bass to be as punchie and full, allowing me to turn up my volume without feeling the wrath of the room i was gigging.

different strokes for different folks, i guess.

 

[KJung]

interesting KJ,

cause i'm pretty much there w/ Rick. when i'm onstage, the sound is there, but not quite as present until i walk out a few feet. BUT on a few live recordings i've done, my acme is VERY present and accounted for. and yes, i was NOT in the pa.

i will say however that i was using my parametric EQ to dial out any woofy boomy tones, which allowed my bass to be as punchie and full, allowing me to turn up my volume without feeling the wrath of the room i was gigging.

different strokes for different folks, i guess.

I'm not talking about a few feet... I'm talking about 50', where most of the audience is on a typical gig. I understand about rolling off the low end... however, even rolling off the extreme low end with an Acme never produced the punch out in the room versus a cab that was tuned more 'conventionally' to roll off a little higher (Eden, Epi, SWR, Schro, Berg, etc., etc.). I was WAY into the small 'flat' thing for a while, as you can see by my 'previously owned gear'. I just ended up being very disappointed on the gig.

Again, it's all personal preference... not trying to bag on other's preferences... if you dig it, it's good

 

[jokerjkny]

well,

that's the interesting thing. with the flatter profile of the Acme, i was able to zero in and dial out the "bad" frequencies, and all i was left w/ was a punchie fat tone. keep in mind, i didnt add anymore lower mids or anything. i actually ended up dialing out even more clacky high end, which made for a smoother fatter sound.

i have tried to do the same w/ "conventionally" tuned bass cabs, but found the results not nearly as good, and harder to dial out those offending frequecies. *shrug*

 

[KJung]

well,

that's the interesting thing. with the flatter profile of the Acme, i was able to zero in and dial out the "bad" frequencies, and all i was left w/ was a punchie fat tone.

i have tried to do the same w/ "conventionally" tuned bass cabs, but found the results not nearly as good, and harder to dial out those offending frequecies. *shrug*

As with everything else... so much has to do with the tone we are trying to achieve. I have a feeling the type of music and the type of tone we are each going for is totally different. Hence, the differences in our take on the Acme's.

Let us know how you like that TF!

K

 

[jokerjkny]

ahhh,

therein lies the rub.

 

[jokerjkny]

thought i'd give a little update to the guys who PM'ed me.

after a few months, i love my TF/B2 combo!

i've found that unlike most of the 500 watt range amps i've used w/ my 4 ohm Acme B2, when pushed to the extremes, the TF holds the low end together like no other. no harshness in the mids or fartiness in the bass until the very furthest extremities of the volume knob.

also, while again, i find the taper of the EQ knobs not as dramatic as i'd like, they still do a fine job of helping me sculpt out my sound.

one thing that really keeps me coming back to the TF/B2 rig is the smoooooooove fatness. i like my bass almost synth and sub like with a nicely scooped out upper midrange and top end that isnt too harsh or peaky. after playing thru the tf/acme combo, everything else just sounds harsh and abrasive!

gig wise...

at rehearsals for a 4 piece original band, the TF/B2 keeps up nicely alongside a 4x10 peavey classic 50 combo, and some moderately loud drumming. volume is pretty rockin', and yet i can still keep up. its only when our guitarist decides to go into fullblown rockstar poses that i'm suddenly gone from the mix. but when he's about 4-5 on his master volume, no probs.

took the pairing to a few rehearsals for an impromptu easter gospel choir gig in philly, and again, the TF/B2 kept up just fine. the drummer was behind a glass shield most of the time, so ironically, my real volume competition was the 75 person choir themselves! and woah nelly, they can literally melt your face in terms of volume! still, i thought the TF/B2 combo kept up just fine. and yet, the choir director kept telling me to turn up! said they like their bass driving as well as LOUD AND PROUD.

at rehearsals for a r&b/rock diva, the tf/acme keeps its head just above water. she rotates with a keyboardist and a guitarist. with r&b side / keys man, no probs. we get along great in terms of volume, and rarely step on each others toes. i stay down low, he sits in the middle. BUT, when our "non master volume marshall" lovin' guitarist shows up, its time to truck out the schroeder or epifani gear, cause the acme is NOT going keep up whatsoever.

but bottom line, for moderate volume work, the TF/B2 combo has made me a very happy customer.