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Acme Users Unite!!!

#202
I'm in the "rebuilding mode" and will soon have a pair of B-2's to add to the arsenal for a real backline. The band I'm with has 1 set(flagpole & 4 bass cabinets BOSE) of the BOSE's per person. All I bring to gigs is a small rack(SansAmpRBI+DBX) or a Line 6 LIVE with the BOSE doing the work. Easy setup.

:help:
Has anyone used ACME's with Line 6 stuff?

They should do quite well by NOT adding any coloration.
Just checking as I KNOW they'll do fine with my traditional "rack" rig. Photos once they come in...and thanks!
 
#204
jokerjkny said:
FYI: the "Flat" Setting...

aighty, a few guys have PM'ed me asking what the true "flat" setting on the attenuators are, and from what i gather from you guys, and what's in the manual, i'm pretty sure its:

-2dB on the highs attenuator
-5dB on the mids attenuator
Click to expand...
That's interesting. So it's possible to add brightness before resorting to eq. Do you know what the operating ranges for the mid driver and tweeter are?
 
#205
As regards using the attenuators, just be sure you don't try to force back in what you take out.

In other words, if you attenuate the mids... and then pump the mids on your EQ... you run the risk of overheating the crossover circuit.

This is what happened to a young gun I sold my first B4 to. He attenuated the mids and highs by at least half... then cranked the high and mid EQ on his amp to try to hear some definition. Ended up overheating the circuit so much that he smoked some of the interior batting!

Great visual for the show... not so good for the cab.
 
#206
BillyB_from_LZ said:
If they're brand new cabinets, please be sure to break them in properly before cranking them up...
Click to expand...
Is there a "correct" procedure other than just playing through them and getting progressively louder?
I live in the boonies so I could set 'em out back and let 'em rip all day long on some Stanley Clarke tunes to break 'em in....

I've got a QSC 700/side @ 4 ohm so headroom's there and I intend on using the low filter & DBX comp as protection.

All I was going to do was use them at various volumes before our next show. I'm very nearly convinced that the BOSE does NOT go much below 50 Hz. I'm used to good headphones, 15's and 18's on my old rigs, etc. LOW notes count.

I've run 2 shows just via the BOSE using:
1) SANSAMP>DBX166XL> BOSE flagpole + 4 subs
2) POD XTlive>BOSE flagpole + 4 subs
At both jobs, things sounded great until I played below the C note on the A string. Below that, the bass sounded like it was running through a Marshall(!? ***?). The ONLY song my patch sounded EXACTLY like the record(and what I wanted it to do) was the one for ZZ TOP's "T-Bird" ...the live version with all of it's dirt and mid(and also, lack of LOW LOW...).

Next job will be ACME's with the "flagpole" for added dispersion/clarity "all around".
 
#207
So I am looking for cabs to go with my Eden WT550. I am thinking of trying Acmes. I don't have a big budget, I want good sound, and I need to carry a room as the PA has no subs.

I'm thinking either 2 B1's for versitility, or a B2. I want to run a 4 ohm (or 2 ohm) load to make the most of my amp. 500 at 4 ohms and 750 at 2 ohms.

Any thoughts???
 
#208
SteveC said:
So I am looking for cabs to go with my Eden WT550. I am thinking of trying Acmes. I don't have a big budget, I want good sound, and I need to carry a room as the PA has no subs.

I'm thinking either 2 B1's for versitility, or a B2. I want to run a 4 ohm (or 2 ohm) load to make the most of my amp. 500 at 4 ohms and 750 at 2 ohms.

Any thoughts???
Click to expand...

Steve, email Andy and ask him. I did and within a couple days I got an email back telling me that my Genz Benz 600 had enough oomph for one B2, but not for two. The WT 550 might be different, but Andy is very responsive and is the one who knows his cabs best. No BS, no salesmanship, just straight information. Kinda like talking with Jim Bergantino.
 
#209
So thanks go to Brian (baloeb); I just bought his B2 II 4 ohm, and am looking forward to it being delivered sometime next week! I'll post some pictures here when the rig is finally complete (after I buy that QSC PLX and quite possibly an Ashdown ABM 500 head, for when I won't use my preamp). Wheeee!
 
#210
SteveC said:
So I am looking for cabs to go with my Eden WT550. I am thinking of trying Acmes. I don't have a big budget, I want good sound, and I need to carry a room as the PA has no subs.

I'm thinking either 2 B1's for versitility, or a B2. I want to run a 4 ohm (or 2 ohm) load to make the most of my amp. 500 at 4 ohms and 750 at 2 ohms.

Any thoughts???
Click to expand...

FYI, the ONLY pair of single 10" cabs that has ever sounded full to me were the acme b1's. also, IMHO, each acme speaker should at least get 350 watts each, so i say go w/ the pair.
 
#211
BillyB_from_LZ said:
If they're brand new cabinets, please be sure to break them in properly before cranking them up...
Click to expand...
OK :D
We hooked 'em up to a CD player, aimed 'em into the BIG room, and fired 'em up.
ChefClatter.jpg

Amy & Joe got the 1st test while my son and I were doing Friday night cleanup(wife and daughter were out). My son kept smiling every time he walked by 'em....probably thinking about playing his bass or Yamaha DGX505 thru 'em.

NOTE:MY WIFE LOVES THEM!
She had her favorite CD in a jambox(no bass) Saturday while working in her kitchen.
I put the CD into the ACME system. She started smiling.
She also agreed that another pair(!) would be nice in the big TV room :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:
 
#212
Johnny Crab said:
I'm in the "rebuilding mode" and will soon have a pair of B-2's to add to the arsenal for a real backline. The band I'm with has 1 set(flagpole & 4 bass cabinets BOSE) of the BOSE's per person. All I bring to gigs is a small rack(SansAmpRBI+DBX) or a Line 6 LIVE with the BOSE doing the work. Easy setup.

:help:
Has anyone used ACME's with Line 6 stuff?

They should do quite well by NOT adding any coloration.
Just checking as I KNOW they'll do fine with my traditional "rack" rig. Photos once they come in...and thanks!
Click to expand...


i use a pod with mine. i have never been so happy with a sound. granted i have been using the tube preamp setting with the eq set flat but these cabs are IT! sure they take a bit of wattage but these things are LOUD and LOW and sound like heaven. i cant imagine owning any other speakers. my old epifani's where the only thing that gives these a run for the money. i guess for once my amp gas is cured!:hyper:
 
#213
Jon Burnet said:
i use a pod with mine. i have never been so happy with a sound. granted i have been using the tube preamp setting with the eq set flat but these cabs are IT! sure they take a bit of wattage but these things are LOUD and LOW and sound like heaven. i cant imagine owning any other speakers. my old epifani's where the only thing that gives these a run for the money. i guess for once my amp gas is cured!:hyper:
Click to expand...

Hmm, that's what I'm doing, though I don't have the right power amp yet. What are you using for that? I'm thinking QSC PLX2 series, maybe an 1804.
 
#214
I just opened up one of my Acmes to check out rewiring the Speakon socket (nothing technically wrong with it, it's just wired different to my new leads - only the earliest Series II cabs are like this). Anyway, that proved more effort than it's worth, I'll rewire the lead instead. But whilst I was at it, I got out my snazzy new camera and took a few pictures:

Acme with grill off and one woofer out - note sealing tape to prevent air leaks and noise:

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Inside the cab - note tons of fibreglass wool to stop internal reflections (which cause midrange colouration), seperate enclosure for midrange driver, and extensive bracing (diagonal brace at top and bottom and pre-stressed braces from front to back and side to side):

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Internal end of port - note chamfered end to minimise port noise, and handle glued to port to minimise vibrations:

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Crossover - this is very firmly attached to the attenuator/input jack panel - note the heavy copper traces for good power handling, tweeter/midrange/attenuator protection bulb, 5 components on top (maybe some underneath) so at least a 3rd order crossover on mid and 2nd order on tweeter:

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Cabinet with woofer back in but grill off - note foam surround and rubber centre spacer to damp grill noise - good view of 10" high Xmax woofers, 5" mid and 1" shallow horn dome tweeter:

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And now with grill back on - still looking pretty smart after 7 years:

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Up in it's more usual position - note the extra strap handle I added = one handed carry:

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Rear view - big ports with chamfered ends for low noise, steel edges have taken some knocks, 1/4", banana and Speakon inputs, plus high and mid attenuators, on compact panel to maintain cabinet rigidity:

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With my rack on top - SWR Grand Prix (bought used, owned for 7 years), QSC PLX 3002 (also used, had it 3 years), Korg DTR-2 (bought new 7 years ago), Gator shallow rack (new 3 years ago):

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Flashing lights and shiny lead!

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With my trusty '87 Warwick, rig tilted back on strip of PlatFoam:

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Trying (and failing) to look as big as it sounds:

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Enough!

Alex
 
#215
WOw, thanks for the pics Alex. I just recently picked up a used B4 S II and really dig it. I've only used it for one rehersal thus far. One thing that struck me as odd is that when I reached around back to turn the tweeters down, I actually turned them up by accident. :confused: Do the knobs turn in reverse of most tweeter knobs on most cabs? Seemed as though they were in reverse of my other cabs or maybe I just had too much to drink that night!
 
#216
I must say, having had my Low B-2II's apart a couple of times, Andy builds an excellent cab. I was just amazed at how well made his cabinets are. :)

Truly, one of the best "bargain" cabs out there. You cannot buy a better cab for the money, IMHO.

Tom.
 
#219
Joker,

So do you like your acme/tube set up better than you epifani rig? I want a really good portable rig for upright and electric that will move some air. I am afraid to go back to tens after using bag end 15 cabs for so many years though. I am thinking about two or three Acme B2 cabs with a good tube head like a Mesa 400, SVT II, Demeter or Aguilar. I just want something to pump some good tone.

Thanks
 
#220
to be honest,

not happy w/ my demeter setup into the acme. not enough power. BUT, w/ my stewart 1.2, its crazy nice.

IMHO, tube power into the acme b2 sounds ok w/ my 4 stringers, but my 5 stringers' low B does tend to fart out w/ more aggressive fingerpicking.

and yet, an aguilar db750 sounded UNREAL into my acme b2! had that fat, weighty tube like sound, but was waaaaaaaay tighter and thicker sounding than my demeter by a long shot. was highly highly impressed.
 

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