Acme Low B2

This thread here is something to follow concurrently. It deals with preamps that produce an exaggerated response to boost the highs and lows.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31683

The Acme B-2 is a hi-fi type cabinet, with a pretty flat response all the way down. I suspect a boosting type preamp, like my Alembic F-1X might make it very muddy. Perhaps an SWR IOD or SVP-PRO would be more suited to these cabs.

They are very power hungry. Buy LOTS of amplifier power. Don't be afraid at all to jump into at least a QSC 2402, or larger.

 

The Acme cabs (I've had the B2 and currently have a B4) are great sounding--very open down in the low range, much more than any other 10" cabs I've played. I wouldn't call them boomy at all, even with something like the Alembic pre, but they don't have the aggresive high end that Eden or SWR does.

They are quite power hungry, though. I simply could not get the volume I needed for a rock band out of the B2. You can only pump so many watts into a little 2x10, and since I kow people have blown them with Mackies (1400 watts), I can't imagine using a PLX 2404 with a B2.

The B4 is obviously louder and handles much more power, but even with a Mackie I don't get all the volume I could want sometimes. I've got a Aguilar 4x10 that I use for the really loud rock gigs--it doesn't sound as good on the lows, but it's more efficient and the agressive highs help it cut through a bit better.

For what it's worth, I've played Eden, SWR, and Demeter amps and preamps through the Acmes. They all sound different--it really depends on the preamp tone you're going for.

Mike

 

Oops, forgot to add that I'd also used a Peavey alpha tube preamp--heavily tweaked by Harry Kolbe so that EQ worked just like the Alembic passive EQ setup--with a Crest power amp and the B2. It sounded great. So, I really don't think the Alembic pre would be a bad match, except that it might be a little mid-shy (according to others who spent more time with the Alambic/Acme combo).

Mike

 

I have the b-2 and b-4 series II's and have used them a bunch over the last year with an SWR Grand Prix.

With the attenuators at max, they're about as flat as anything you can get. (Based on pink noise tests outside with a goldline DSP-30 spectrum analyzer)

I run a Crown CE1000 and the cab is comfortable to a SPL of about 90 db in a club that holds 150 people. Maybe 95 db depending on the guitar players tone. The cab is probably capable of more because the amp will clip before the cross-over light will flash. Thats pretty damn good in my world. The cab is AMAZING but it's still just a 2x10 box and only going to move so much air under any conditions.

I would recomend a preamp with a lot of e.q. or using a good 31 band graphic with it. A lot of people don't like "flat". You can use the 31 band to e.q. the curve of just about any cab you want into the b-2 and use your preamp e.q. to tweak your sound.

The neutral sound of the b-2 makes it very easy to " cabinet emulate" if you have enough e.q.

 

I have been using 2 Low B-2s for about 2 years now and agree with all said above. Regarding the preamp, I would recommend you look at the Kern. To me, it is a very good match to the Acmes. I would also recommend the QSC PLX series of amps. I use the 2402. They're light and sound great.

One other thing, my experience is that one B-2 maybe okay for very small venues. However, 2 are outstanding. I've never had a problem with not enough volume with the 2 cabs.

Good luck!
Jeff

 

I would check out the Aguilar preamps with the Acme. The Aguilar has a warm tube sound, but the effect is quite unobtrusive - no excessive bloom or slow response.

The Acmes sound amazing at almost all ranges, can move some serious air, are lighter than many competitors, and are an excellent value (approx. $450). However, the power requirement is a real pain. While the cab is a bit lighter, I am really tired of lugging around an 80-pound rack. I would love to keep the Acme and go with a smaller head (e.g., Mesa Boogie Walkabout, Eden WT-400, etc.), but the Acme just doesn't reach it's potential until it sees well above 500 watts. Since my cab is the 4 ohm model, running in parallel with another cab isn't much of an option. I could find an 8 ohm version, but finding an amplifier that can throw off enough power at 8 ohms gets me away from my small amp desire (I play double bass - we're constantly looking for smaller and lighter).

If I were still playing lots of loud BG gigs and unopposed to schlepping 80-100 pounds of rack gear, I would step up with a monster power amp and grab a second Low B2. This would be an incredible system! However, I am pretty sour on racks right now and I've yet to play a jazz gig requiring that kind of amp horsepower.

If you and/or anyone else is interested in my Acme or any of my rack gear (Rack Rider power conditioner, Korg DTR2 tuner, Aguilar DB659 preamp, Mackie 1400i power amp, SKB 8-space rack), email/PM me and I'd be happy to talk.

 

Get a Walter Woods 1200 watter (800 watts at 8 ohms), just be willing to part with $2200 for it

I almost went for one, instead replaced my B2 with an Epifani 1-12 and found a used 225/350 watt Woods.

 

these acmes are sounding better the more I read about them . . . I was about to get 410 118 stack . . . can they really put out lows like an 18? also, is it possible to run two acme 4 ohm cabs in stereo without cooking the amp?

 

they won't put out lows like an 18", it'll be better.
Occaisionaly just for goofs I run a 4 ohm B-2 and B-4 together in series at 8 ohms/900w. The amount of air it can move will make me feel slightly sick to my stomach if I stand too close for too long.

 

(drool)

bikertrash, I see you run an swr and crown power amp. do you normally run in parallel, or in series? how do you connect the amps/cabs?

 

All my cabs are 4 ohm. Ive never needed more than the B-4 unless I just wanted to spank the guitar player or watch the drummer sweat to keep up.

Even at the same volume, there is a sensation of air movement with those 6 10's that's not present with 4. It's hard to quantify, kinda like cruising around town in a car with a 400 hoursepower engine.
Even though you're not using it, you can feel that it's there.

The Crown specs at 1100 at 4 ohm, and 900 at 8 ohms briged. The coupling effect of the two cabs more than make up for loss of 200 watts.

The cable I use is just you're basic series cable coming out of the amp twice. + from one cab to - of the other with the remaining +,- jumped together inside the neutrick connector at the amp.

 

hey if you dont mind can you explain the +'s and -'s, I dont know what they mean

 

now that I'm awake...