Acme Low B-2

Try a search on Acme to see previous commentaries about these cabs. Their need for much power seems to be a consensus. I'd love to try an Acme but haven't yet. I'm currently using EA VL210 and VL208 cabs which also require much power. I briefly used an EA iAMP600 and it clipped like crazy. Now have a Crown K2 - no more clipping.

 

First let me say I love my ACME B2s, but I don't think is sounds 4 times it's size. I'd say that a single b2 would be good enough for a hundred seat club if the drummer and guitarists were listening for you and playing accordingly.

I would not try to compete with guitarists that had Marshal stacks or a heavy handed drummer.

If your main goal is loudness, try for something bigger. And watch for the effecency ratings they tell you a lot.

jc

 

I've been wondering about these Acme cabs for awhile. I knew someone who had one and raved about it. I never got to hear it, but he said they were the most "transparent" cabs made. That they don't color your sound at all so you need a great sounding bass, pre, and amp. In other words, don't rely on the cab for tonal quality. Does anyone else have an opinion on 'em?

 

Unfortunately it does leave what your fingers are doing rather naked. I actually had to get better at playing the bass to overcome this issue, but in the end I am happy with how things turned out!

BTW- I love how my us made P's sound with these!

jc

 

They claim to be "tuned" for a 5-string. Do you play a 5 through it? Do u notice any more definition on your B?

 

One of my P's is strung B-D and yes the accuracy in the low end is astounding, if that is what you mean by definition.

jc

 

O.K., I have two of these thing's, and a B-4.
I run 1,100 watts into it and the B-2 will take it all.
It can keep up with all but one drummer I've worked with.
I play a 5 string through it and the amount of low end it is capable of is absurd. In a bad room it can be problematic. With a 4 string and good power I would say it would be all but impossible to blow unless you just got stupid loud.
I've used a bunch of stuff (especially cabinets) and the B-2's are head and shoulders above the rest in the moving air dept.

It DOES NOT sound like a "modern" cabinet with exagerated low mids and highs over 3k, but it WILL sound like that if you E.Q. it in.

It will keep up with a 100w marshall 2x12 combo, but not the 4x12 marshall.

I've NEVER needed more than the B-4 anywhere, but just for grin's I took a B-2 and B-4 to my last loud gig. I spent four glorious hours slamming the guitar player against the wall and "having my way with him". For once in my life I burried a marshall, had the drummer bitching about having to play so hard and moved so much air it caused an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach.

If your focus is on clear deep low end, take a hard look at the Acme's. If your focus is on top end, look hard at the Eden stuff.

As far as B string definition goes, I can do Rocco-esque 16th notes between the B and C and you can hear each note and the pitch (and each screw up) with the B-2.

 

Bikertrash82 was just added to my gallery of heros for inflicting revenge on Marshall wielding guitarists!!!

I have a Low B-2 (and would like another for a vertical array). I drive it with one channel of my PLX2402 (700 watts into 4 ohms), I got killed at an outdoor gig this summer up against two guitarists with Marshall TSL 2x12 combos (one had an extension cabinet too).

I settled the score at the next gig when I rolled in my Ampeg 810 and let it have 700 watts!!!

I think that a pair of B-2s would do the trick and I love the tone with my rack (an old Pearce preamp and the QSC). My main bass has been a MIM P Bass that is quite amazing. My active Charvel sounds even better, but it doesn't like being tuned down to Eb.

The B-2 is so easy to move around too!!!

Good luck!

Bill

 

Calculated at a distance of 1 meter, I figure the 810H puts out 128 SPL at 700 watts. The pair of B-2 will put out 121 SPL, plus another 3 dB more if stacked for the mutual coupling effect. The B2 pair is -3 dB less than the Ampeg 810, but it will be a lot easier to carry around.

 

I have a pair of Low B-2s (4 ohm). One was not enough for me. I play with 2 guitarists, 2 keyboardists, 1 acoustic guitar, a horn section, percusionist, a drummer and a group of vocalists. I never have a problem being heard and heard well.

I use a Kern preamp and a QSC 2402 amp.

Jeff

 

I love my rig because of portability as much as the sound I get.

But I have a weird idear now due to the waskally wabbits in this thread.

I have the Carvin RC210 combo with an 18" ext cab. It's cool and portable.

What if I was to use the Low B 2 in the place of the 18? I would get more portable, and likely more accurate, right? The only drawback I can think of is that when I biamp we would be talking about 300w max to highs, and 300w max to lows... Is that enough to drive the low b 2?

Uh, oh... that might be GAS building up.

 

The B-2 is rated at 350 watts.

 

Cool deal! Then how would I try one of these? Are they available in stores, or are they another mail-order company?

 

Strictly mail order from what I understand, but it sounds like it's well worth it. BTW the whole wattage vs amp rating thing: I have a hartke 4x10(don't laugh, that's why i'm asking about the acmes)rated at 200 watts at 8 ohms. I drive it with a demeter tube pre and a crown stereo poweramp that I bridge to 840 watts. The extra wattage dosn't blow the cab, although it can. It just gives me the head room I need for clear transients and a thick low end. Amps lose their clarity if you push them too hard. In my opinion, the more power, the better (unless your playing a jazz gig).

 

It seems like common practice (and Andy Lewis' recommendation) to give a B-2 at least 500 watts (or have that much available).

If you're using the B-2 as just a woofer, you can get the B-2W which comes without mid and tweeter and costs less (but would certainly have lower resale value).

Brand new ones are only available directly from Acme. I bought my gently used B-2 Series II for only $150 this June. I guess the used gear store knows the name SWR but not Acme. If only they had two... The same store sold a B-2 Series I last December for $160. I hesitated on buying it and it was gone shortly after that.

Used prices seem to hover around $300 to $350 or so.

Take care,

Bill

 

From Andy's website:

300 Watts sine wave @ 30.87 Hz continuous.
That's TOUGH!

He also calls 350 rms a good STARTING point.

I think 500 is a good starting point.

Let's look at Mr. Gavins calc. Two boxes, 45lbs. each, half as many speakers and only 3db less volume than an SVT cab? AND better low end IMHO.
The winner is clear. You ain't gonna throw that SVT cab on your you sholder and walk it out to your car at the end of the night.

I used the B-2 last night with my old fretless P-bass
in my acid bluegrass gig and it sounded great as always (I think I like it best with a P)

That's a problem room with a big hollow stage. I have to cut the bass on my grand prix back to about 9 o'clock to get it to clean up. That's how much low end that cab has.

Thanks for the kudos on spanking Marshall booty.
It was the highlight of my career and I get to do it again tonight, and tomorrow. We're in there for the next three weekends and I'm gonna make it my mission to wear that boy out.

 

I just put my RL410 Carvin up for sale in my local paper.I have it and a 210 Carvin and was thinking of adding a 15 but I've decided to get a pair of 8ohm B2s.That way I'll get 750w. into one and 1000 watts into two with my R-1000 Carvin head and have much less to haul around.Will this be enough power? I was considering Edens(115XLT or 210XLT)but they are much more expensive and much heavier.

 

After having played through a Carvin 15" and RL210, I think you will be very much happier with a pair of B-2s. Much, much happier.

 

just a tech note for the non-technical- 3db louder is twice as loud-look it up