Double Bass Acoustic Image, am I the only unhappy user?

[musicman5string]

How did you guys that own AI stuff go about trying it out first? Were there stores around that had them, or did you just order one and try it out at home/gig?
I'm having a real hard time finding a place to go try one and I'd rather not do the whole order one, pay for it, send it back, get refund thing.

 

[Silversorcerer]

I had my eye on the AI stuff for a while and when I got ready to buy they had the Coda Series III in developement but it took a while for them to ship in large numbers. In the meantime I purchased an Ampeg set, PB 212H cab and PB 800 head. That would allow me to double with EBG and DB and it had 2 identical channels. At the same time I was able to A-B the Acoustic Image Focus head with two channels in conjunction with the Ampeg cab. I am fortunate that I was able to deal with the Atlanta Bass Gallery, which is the only local Atlanta resource for Acoustic Image gear. I also got the Ampeg gear there. They have all the high end amp gear that you might want to try. I was interested in light weight and small footprints for all of my new gear, which explains my choices in yet another way. It is great to be able to try before you buy and in this case I could take my DB in and park both heads next to each other through the same cab and know what's what.

What I found was that I could get more gain before feedback with the AI Focus. Particularly with the notch filter. That is indispensable as far as I'm concerned. In an unfriendly room, feedback can be horrible and if it is some resonance in the room it can be difficult to cure with limited EQ controls. The sweepable notch is the perfect tool. And so simple to use. It also had a slightly bassier rendition that I could get with the Ampeg head by pushing the bass boost button. One nice feature is that it has true high impedance inputs which are well matched to the K&K piezo I am using;- with no accessory pre-amp and with flat EQ. The Focus is very similar to the Coda head, so I knew the Coda used with the Ampeg cab would be about the same with the added advantage of having a monitor speaker as well that I could use on my side of the stage opposite the extension cab. I also knew it would be perfect for a lot of small venues without the Ampeg cab and could save me carrying a heavier rig than necessary. And since it had phantom power and XLR inputs, it would work well for incorporating a compact cardioid condenser mic;- without the usual battery powered pre.;- and that is of course the next thing I'll add and hopefully the last piece of the puzzle. Finally, there are those times when one is reduced to the vocal-with-instrument-accompaniment type performance. With two super clean channels with XLR for a vocal mic and on board reverb (plus a few other nifty effects) it is perfect for the coffee shop thing. So for me it is a piece of equipment that plugged a lot of gaps. One thing that will be unfamiliar to a lot of users it that it is a high fidelity amp. It adds very little color. Those used to most bass amps might find it a bit too open sounding. It can remind one of a high quality PA in some ways.

Yours is a good question because the underlying answer is that yes, my purchase of the AI Coda combo was well considered and a part of a long term strategy to have a very versatile and scalable system and I was able to try it out and hear it before I bought it. I'm really happy with it because I knew exactly what I was getting and exactly how it was going to be useful for gigs and situations I am currently playing in. And I think that is key;- knowing what your needs are and how the equipment relates to them. I have already used it in most of the configurations I anticipated and it has delivered in spades every time. The only thing left for me to try with it is the compact condenser mic. And I won't need the usual blender to blend it with the piezo because with two channels, I can do that right on the AI. I do think most people will need an extension for some of their louder gigs. I bought it with the extra cab in mind. And I don't think I prefer it's rendition for EBG. It works fine, but it is really for acoustic instruments. Sometimes it takes specialized tools for specialized purposes. Obviously it will not fit everyone's needs.

I still really like the Ampeg PB 800 head for EBG. It also has a great sound for the DB, even if I have to watch the feed back, so I have some safe amp head redundancy in case something breaks down. Both systems are USA made with 5 year warranties so I probably have nothing to worry about.

 

[Reuben]

I just remembered a funny thing that happened when I still had my AI Contra (series I).

I was on a bill one night opening for one of my favorite local bassists, a guy who really has a great ear for sound. After my set I walked up to him and said, "hey how did that amp sound to you?"

He said, "when you were warming up before the first tune I thought to myself, 'that is the best sounding amp I've ever heard in my life.' And then you turned it on."

Ha ha, I think that may have been the last gig I ever used it on.

 

[Silversorcerer]

Admittedly most amp systems stink compared to a good acoustic instrument on a well designed stage.

One thing that I really didn't anticipate using the Coda III for was amping my bass guitars. I kind of assumed I would prefer the Ampeg head for that. So I tried it out with my electric basses again. I think most players would be really pleased with the sound. The downfiring woofer sounded awesome with my pine flooring. I think for any sizable venue the extension cab would be a big plus, but for small venues this amp could go it alone for DB or EBG. And the effects are much cooler on a good EBG, although I'm not much of an effects fan myself, these are tame enough to be useful now and again.

I really think overall that the Coda III is one of the best made and most versatile pieces of gear I've ever owned.

 

[Bob Branstetter]

I really think overall that the Coda III is one of the best made and most versatile pieces of gear I've ever owned.

While I disagree with Silver on a lot of things, on this one, I totally agree. I've never played nor seen any small combo amp that I would rather have regardless of price.

 

[Silversorcerer]

While I disagree with Silver on a lot of things, on this one, I totally agree. I've never played nor seen any small combo amp that I would rather have regardless of price.

Funny, I think I was following your lead when I started checking these out several years ago. (Seems like a reasonable fellow, let's see what he's using.....) Where you and I might disagree is in much finer shades, my friend.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Kolstein's in Baldwin has had one on the floor in the past although I haven't been in there in a month you may want to check first..

How did you guys that own AI stuff go about trying it out first? Were there stores around that had them, or did you just order one and try it out at home/gig?
I'm having a real hard time finding a place to go try one and I'd rather not do the whole order one, pay for it, send it back, get refund thing.

 

[MT Spaces]

.... my purchase of the AI Coda combo was well considered and a part of a long term strategy to have a very versatile and scalable system .... I won't need the usual blender to blend it with the piezo because with two channels, I can do that right on the AI ...

Thanks Silversorcerer .... That post above is a very good summary of my thoughts and experiences also. Count me in as a big fan of the AI Coda Series III. I didn't get to compare any amps before purchase as there are no shops around here that carry anything except stuff for EB. I thought about it for awhile and listened to what folks like Bob Branstetter, Unca T, Bolo, Tornado, and others had to say about their various AI gear.

I'm real pleased and have done several experiments with my Coda, all of which seem to work quite well. I just don't think the down-fire woof is a big problem at all. Hollow stages would be a problem with any amp I believe. At first my bass sounded kinda nasaley / honky / quacky and I was messing with EQ and the HP Filter a lot trying to get "the sound." After loosening up the fit of my Rev II pick-up a tad, everything is peachey and I run EQs pretty much flat and the HP filter at about 10 o'clock. I love the two identical channels, the HP and notch filters, the mute switch, phantom power availability on both inputs, the power (500 w @ 2 ohms), the combo input jacks, pre- or post-effects XLR output switch, switchable tweeter, and the light weight. I've blended a "plain jane" Peavey dynamic mic mounted in the tailpiece with the Rev II thru the Coda, both using amp only and also direct out to PA. Both ways sound great to my untrained ears .

I've run the Coda as a "small PA" system with an external so-so 8 ohm Mackie speaker borrowed from our bigger PA system and used one channel for my bass pup and the other channel for an AT 4033 condensor mic for vocals and acoustic instruments. That set-up worked way better than I expected. After I purchase a 4 ohm Wizzy M-Line, I think that I will have a real useful, lightweight, not-too-many-parts-to-deal-with, small gig, PA system while still having the option of a high-output bass-only amp package when we are using a PA system for big / outdoor gigs. Very Versatile and Scalable System Indeed ! Even though I haven't tried any other set-ups, I sure can't complain about what I got .

 

[Barcza]

I tried the AI combo and I did'nt like it, the sound is very dull, somehow "slow" and it has no volume, but I give a chance to try a Clarus with a decent cab.

 

[Steve Freides]

I have an older AI Contra I bought used. Mine is 200 watts and I think the newer ones are 400 now.

I love and adore my Contra. I've just played a couple of concerts outdoor with it as the string bass player in a community band (think orchestra without strings: just brass, winds, and percussion). Granted it wasn't a large outdoor venue, but I had no trouble being heard using a cheap pickup from Sixsounds that cost $30. I had both volume controls just below 12 o'clock and was playing pretty quietly at that. Worked beautifully for both arco and pizz, as evidenced by all the nice comments after the concerts were over from the other players in the band about how much whole sound and feel of the pieces I play is improved when I'm playing.

Your mileage may vary, of course, but I love mine.

-S-