Double Bass Acoustic Cab Shootout

[thudfromafar]

Actually I was talking about a full-size double bass when I said that, one that's showing a lot of promise in louder surroundings - and not a cab or amp ; }

But here's the wood version of what Mike and I have been working on, complete with tweeter. The crossover is on its hopefully last iteration. The cab'll be available either with a full-fronted fine-mesh grill, or a round one just over the woofer as you have seen in Mike's pictures.

Why a crossover? Some players I've talked to like that for slap/thump and string detail/air - and for acoustic guitar or whatever else it gives some nice sheen. For mini-PA use of course, it's essential. The cab can pole-mount or tilt.

I'm supposed to stop spending money.....

 

[John D Harris]

Wondering -- how well would those drivers work for an 8x8 cab?

 

[Bmorefoozler]

Extraordinarily expensive.

I think these are ~ roughly~ $150 drivers.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

$179 to be exact. It would sound smokin' and likely have the ability to go louder than an SVT. Never thought of it, but I could build a composite cab for an 8x8 but boy would it be pricey. Ballpark weight would be around 65 lbs., though.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Someone already built an 8x8 with this driver. Discussion and pictures at:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/lds-8x8-catch-fever-790683/

 

[John D Harris]

Kind of off-topic for acoustic double bass since doing a 2 x 4 baffle arrangement kills a lot clarity, focus, accuracy, and imaging that is typically desired for these beautiful instruments.

...

I apologize to the OP for the OT.

...

And yes, 8 drivers is considerably more expensive and heavier, compared to other ways at arriving at the same tonal profile and SPL potential.

Yeah, I was waiting for you to say exactly that, but I think the tonal profile would be different enough to be significant (given the right enclosure/tuning).

 

[kraigo]

I wonder if the woofer doesn't have enough breathing room between it and the floor, sort of like when you have a port too close to a wall and it makes the effective tuning of the cab lower than designed.

KO

Just as a technical comment, at low frequencies the sound from a speaker is omnidirectional, so doesn't matter (other things being equal) where is pointing at. If that system has a mid driver, then you are going to get the full sound to you. You can test this easily: stand behind a speaker playing low content music; actually you only hear the bass frequencies. That said, I haven't listened to the AI, so I can not comment if this design is a sound success or not, this is strictly a technical comment from someone that has spent some time with speaker design.

 

[greenboy]

Hey guys,

For Mike's and my cab, pole-mount top-hats are optional. This is the most flexible approach for mini-PA setups for entire groups, or for getting the cab up nearer you in your own rig, or putting it up on a woofer-only version and gaining more distance in between.

They also work really nice for tilt-backs as they are lighter than the spring-loaded tilt-back legs, and can be custom set to a tilt angle with a short tube/dowel or whatever is handy.

 

[flatback]

Hey guys,

For Mike's and my cab, pole-mount top-hats are optional. This is the most flexible approach for mini-PA setups for entire groups, or for getting the cab up nearer you in your own rig, or putting it up on a woofer-only version and gaining more distance in between.

They also work really nice for tilt-backs as they are lighter than the spring-loaded tilt-back legs, and can be custom set to a tilt angle with a short tube/dowel or whatever is handy.

I had a custom 1x8 over another on a pole like that that LDS made for me sometime ago. It worked really well. Now I use two wizzys one on a PA stand and another on the floor with the amp on it. The only problem with the pole built in is that you have to put the amp on the top which means the cords are all hanging down and easy to topple the amp.
I go back and forth between having the wizzys stacked and having one on a PA stand (small gigs just the PA stand)
I love having the speaker up near my ear...Makes the 4099 much more useful and dynamic.

 

[powerbass]

After consulting jeffpau, I decided to swap out my original Genzbenz Shuttle 8t" driver for the Faital 8PR200. I played through it tonight at a rehearsal. It is a noticeable improvement! Much warmer and natural sounding. The driver seems very well made/quality materials.

 

[fdeck]

Since it's for URB, you could name it the fURBall.

 

[fdeck]

Dang, you guys have got me gassing. Too bad it's 40 degrees in my workshop, and there is a sheet of drywall bearing the implied message: "No fun projects until the bathroom is finished."

 

[jeffpau]

After consulting jeffpau, I decided to swap out my original Genzbenz Shuttle 8t" driver for the Faital 8PR200. I played through it tonight at a rehearsal. It is a noticeable improvement! Much warmer and natural sounding. The driver seems very well made/quality materials.

Yeah !

 

[GrowlerBox]

Since it's for URB, you could name it the fURBall.

I like that.

 

[powerbass]

Dang, you guys have got me gassing. Too bad it's 40 degrees in my workshop, and there is a sheet of drywall bearing the implied message: "No fun projects until the bathroom is finished."

fdeck I hear you. I have a bathroom I'm trying to finish and I work in an unheated basement which is not fun

 

[Matt Ides]

After consulting jeffpau, I decided to swap out my original Genzbenz Shuttle 8t" driver for the Faital 8PR200. I played through it tonight at a rehearsal. It is a noticeable improvement! Much warmer and natural sounding. The driver seems very well made/quality materials.

Interesting. I thought with the hpf it couldn't sound any better. Was the swap out straight forward?

 

[SgtClaymore]

I had an Acme B1 a while back but had to sell it. It was a real nice cabinet, at a lower price point than the 2Ten or the Thunderchild. Jeez, I wish I could sit in a room and play them all to decide.

I also have a B1 and I'll never sell it I love the damn thing!!!

-KK

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

But here's the wood version of what Mike and I have been working on, complete with tweeter. The crossover is on its hopefully last iteration. The cab'll be available either with a full-fronted fine-mesh grill, or a round one just over the woofer as you have seen in Mike's pictures.

Why a crossover? Some players I've talked to like that for slap/thump and string detail/air - and for acoustic guitar or whatever else it gives some nice sheen. For mini-PA use of course, it's essential. The cab can pole-mount or tilt.

Would you use a different crossover in this cab if a pair were used for a small PA system?

 

[dukeorock]

Ukiah,

Here's what I was referring to the other day, a bass that plays and feels and sounds like a decent upright but allows one to play on high SPL stages. Even when one is directly above a bank of cranked 218 subwoofers or is pointed directly into a high-powered sidefill stack, these basses supposedly do not feed back, and still retain the desirable playing a feel characteristics.

I'd recommend giving this a read even if that kind of gig isn't your bag.

The Rise of Blast Cult

This reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a certain designer

I know for sure this aint everyone's bag, but I love seeing upright bass played in every context, so I'm a Blast Cult endorser because my main rock band 'Th' Legendary ShackShakers' is retardedly loud

Even though I mostly lurk these threads so as not to expose myself for being just a dumb rock guy, I want to thank everyone for all the great things I've been learning.

 

[dukeorock]

Oh...the pictures are of my new Blast Cult sig. model, lovingly named 'The Dutch Oven.'