Acoustic Image amp

A Stick player on the board!

I had one for about six months a few years ago and decided that I'd either have to quit my job and leave my family and live in the woodshed or else get rid of the Stick. I can see why folks who play it are so fanatical about it.

I go the NAMM show in California every January for my job, and I always make it a point to hang around Emmet Chapman's booth -- some of the players are breathtaking.

Good luck with the amp search.

 

My friends love the sound of my Acoustic Image Contra. Be advised that it is heavier than the small G-K which everyone seems to use.

 

Wow, Mike...two Cheesehead ex-Stickers on the same forum...let's start a club....

I think the dark overall sound of the Contra would be great for the low end of the Stick, which is brighter tonally than most basses. AI makes a little guitar wedge thing that might be great for the treble strings.

Good luck with the Stick.

 

While I love the sound of the Acoustic Image amp for upright, I'm not that fond of it handling electric instruments. It is a bit bland elec-wise. Most of the stick players I've seen have a Euphonic Audio setup. The Iamp 350 should take care of your stick sound really nicely. Good luck.

 

I personally found that the Stick (Bass side) sounded great through my GK rig(800rb w/(2)4-10 Hartke). But was rather dark & indescernable through my URB setup (polytone). Which made doubling a nightmare.
I ended up scrapping the Stick after 13 yrs of headache.

 

You'll love the low end on the AI Contra. I have a "C" extension on my DB, and the AI Contra has no trouble putting out the lowest notes - cleanly.

 

While I am sure that the NL-210 would sound killer, and is very much worth checking out, for a cab that is full-range (well beyond the typical range of electric and upright basses), very tight and detailed, and very uncolored, you are going to be hard-pressed to find something better than Accugroove. If you are looking for something fairly compact, yet very powerful for its size, the Mini Whappo is fantastic. If you might want a bigger rig, the Whappo, Jr. is a good option. If you'd like to stay on the smaller side (and if you want a very natural, laid back cab for upright), the Tri 208 is a joy. I own a bunch of EA cabs (which I really like), and you should definitely check them out. However, the Accugroove cabs are also really something special, and for stick, I would say that they'd be tough to beat.

Hope this helps, Tom.

 

I am currently looking to replace my working rig with something small, powerful, and that works well for doubling (URB & FBG, no more Stick!)
I have to compliment a snazzy drummer, 2 guitars and a Singer/songwriter.
I have been looking at the AI stuff. Looks nice but I'm concerned with volume. The Coda combo is rated 300watts @2 ohms.
Question: What are the internal speakers in the Coda combo rated?
Is it a 4 ohm load that with the optional extention cab pulls off the 2 ohm / 300watt power rating?
What about the Coda combo with an added 8 ohm cab?
That's, what, a 2.67 ohm load? 250 watts?

Does anyone have any suggestion how to put the low end back into my Alt-Country gig?

Thanks in advance.

Rev.

Mulehead.net

 

If loud volume is a prime consideration, I suggest you look elsewhere.

 

It's not that I'm looking for "LOUD", I'm just looking to be heard.

 

As long as you're not trying to fill a convention hall or a rock club, the AI should let you be heard. However, it you want to use it for PA or such, it is not as directional as most of the rectangular boxes with front mounted speakers. I have no trouble cutting through a 13 piece big band with it.

 

In a similar setting (doubling on electric bass and URB), I use a Mesa Boogie Walkabout head (12" by 12", 300w into 4 Ohm load) and two Epifani cabs, T-110UL and T-112. This mini rig will keep up with all but the loudest guitars, and is very nice and warm. The Walkabout is a very versatile head, with great tone.

I also have some EA cabs, and would be tempted to bring two VL-208's to a similar gig. However, they like more than 150w each. To remedy this, I am considering picking up an iAMP 800 or Walter Woods head. I do have a used EA Wizzy 1x12 coming, though, which is more efficient and rated at 4 Ohm, so it should sound pretty nice with the Walkabout, too.

What kind of tone are you going for? The Raezer's Edge cabs are killer in some settings, while EA and Accugroove also make some killer cabs.

Tom.

 

Have you tried using a front loaded cab in conjunction with the Coda combo?
Theory: The best of both worlds. Omni-directional "real" bass sound and force fed, directional bass "current".
Just wondering.

Rev.

 

No, I'm quite happy with the way it comes from AI.

 

This is only true if your mindset is that you're going to get your EQ from your Amp with a BG. If you dial in your sound from the EQ on your bass or through the use of a EQ pedal such as the Sansamp BDDI the Clarus will sound very sweet.