Aguilar GS112 Neo conversion: first impressions.

[philthygeezer]

I had one the drivers replaced with an Eminence Deltalite II 2512 in a pair of GS112s and just compared them a few minutes ago.

First impressions with a Fender Hot Rodded P bass, P pickup only, at low volume since it's later in the evening (both tweeters OFF ie minimum):

The factory driver is sweet, smooth and creamy warm, and sounds great!

The neodymium driver is more present, a bit 'ringier'. Like a thin wool blanket was taken off the speaker. Definitely more 'there' with mids. I can't say whether it's louder or not yet. A hair less perceived thump and a fair bit more grind. Rolling off the tone knob a bit gets you closer to the factory speaker sound, but different in a way because the volume seems to weaken a bit too.

So far, all I can say is that there is a significant difference in sound between the two drivers.

Weight-wise, the seven pounds difference is nice. The cab is easier to lug around without feeling like dead weight.

I'll keep them different for awhile and noodle to some songs to see how they behave. Also will compare the Neo sound with the Schroeder 1210. to see if it sounds more similar.

Caveat: I'm a bedroom noodler with a gear fetish. I'm describing what I hear and my impressions will likely evolve the more I practice with them. YMMV.

Inspired by this thread and this thread. Easier to do easily reversible mods on cabs I already like than to flip them, pay for new ones including shipping, duties, taxes etc on heavier weights and larger sums of $$...

 

[12bass]

I'll be curious to hear if the sound changes after the new driver has been broken in.... could open up the bass response a little.

 

[Jefenator]

Interesting mod. Can't wait to hear how it does on the gig.

I just got one of these things and am very impressed with the sound. In stock form, they're worth every ounce AFAIC.

 

[Mike Shevlin]

I felt a chill in the air over the western desert this evenenig....I thought perhaps hell was freezing over, but it was a NEO Aguilar. My God.

 

[jokerjkny]

somewhere dave boonshoft just kicked in his sleep...

 

[Humblerumble]

Interesting!

 

[Dave B.]

somewhere dave boonshoft just kicked in his sleep...

It's all good. I think the OP did a real good job describing the difference in tone between our speaker in the GS 112 box and that particular neo driver.

kick...kick....

 

[philthygeezer]

It's all good. I think the OP did a real good job describing the difference in tone between our speaker in the GS 112 box and that particular neo driver.

kick...kick....

One of my first impressions comparing the two was, "Nice: I can see why they chose this driver.". The factory speakers are warm, welcoming and powerful, yet with clarity that lets the growl in a Jazz shine. They aren't going anywhere as my whims might change and I try not to get rid of anything good.

Also, a bonus of this tinkering was seeing that my cabs are very well-made.

 

[philthygeezer]

Interesting mod. Can't wait to hear how it does on the gig.

If you are waiting for me to gig you'll be waiting a while...

I've got miles to go on this stuff. Learning bass is the hardest thing I've ever tried to do. But it's a fun hobby, and fun is all I want out of it.

 

[cb56]

How does the neo speaker do at loud volumes? Especially interested in how it handles the low notes at loud volume. That's one of the things I love about the GS112s is that (IMO) they do the impossible, Low, Loud and light.

 

[blowinblue]

Also, a bonus of this tinkering was seeing that my cabs are very well-made.

You must have missed the thread in which a TBer questioned the build integrity of the GS 112. That thread went on forever (or so it seemed ). I'm with you. I own three Aguilar cabs and am impressed with the build quality of every one. Their tone ain't half bad, either.

M. M.

 

[rogueman]

Aguilar/Dave B glad to meet you here. I run my Alembic Rogue 5 into a F-1X through a Carvin 1000 into two GS 112's . Big FAT tone. I run them full range. Interesting thread, I've heard alot about the neo speakers. Although the enclosure was not designed for the neos it will be an interesting experiment to say the least. How do you enhance the mids coming out of the cab? Been thinking about putting a mid driver in place of the horn. Come to think of it mine rattled a little when I got them. I was bi-amping them with the F-1X. One was getting lows the other highs. When I Y'd them and put them in full range it sounded a lot better. When I cleaned the volume pots on my Carvin Amp it disappeared. So, three things to check. 1. The carry handle. 2. They like to be ran full range 3. Check for dirty pots on your amp. What's your opinion? Is the pot on the GS 112's self cleaning like my Alembic pots? I can turn my pots back and forth on my Alembic 20 times and they self clean.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Philly, you should definitely break in the new driver.

Run 25-30Hz into it. Measure voltage with an AC voltmeter to get about 10 volts. You'll see the driver moving nicely. Leave it 24 hours.

If you can, remove the driver from the cab and set it face up on some carpet. Much quieter outside the box for break-in.

 

[ElMon]

If this is a secret attempt to convince Dave and crew to do Aguilar's take on the Neo Cab wave, complete with their signature 'fat yet clean' tone, then I'll gladly put a blank signed check in the mail. Dave, what's your address? Paypal works for me too. I'll eat the fees if its under 30lbs in a GS112!!!

 

[blowinblue]

I posted this (in quotation marks) in the 'Official Aguilar Club' thread a while back. I thought it might bear repeating here.

"I own and enjoy ceramic magnet speakers. I own and enjoy neodymium magnet speakers. I suffer from occasional back pain.

It occurred to me that I have a lot of respect for Aguilar Amplification partly because they don't come out with a new version of their products every 18 months like some companies. My GS 212 is six years old this month. Probably designed at least a couple of years prior to that. As far as I know, the current GS 212 is still made the same way with the same components. I like that. Progress is certainly good, but it says a lot about Aguilar products that they have models that are still relevant in the marketplace many years after being introduced. It seems that Aguilar discontinues more products than they introduce. And no neo speakers yet. And no lame excuses as to why they don't have neos. They just keep cranking out great speakers. While I use and enjoy my Epifani neos on a regular basis, there is a certain hard-to-describe pride of ownership that goes with owning Aguilar speakers. At least that's how I feel. Now that I've said this, Dave B. & Co. will come out with a whole new line of ultra-light cabinets. "

Aguilar neos? What's the world coming to? Tell me it's not so.

M. M.

 

[philthygeezer]

How does the neo speaker do at loud volumes? Especially interested in how it handles the low notes at loud volume. That's one of the things I love about the GS112s is that (IMO) they do the impossible, Low, Loud and light.

Philly, you should definitely break in the new driver.

Run 25-30Hz into it. Measure voltage with an AC voltmeter to get about 10 volts. You'll see the driver moving nicely. Leave it 24 hours.

If you can, remove the driver from the cab and set it face up on some carpet. Much quieter outside the box for break-in.

The installer at the store cranked it till things were rattling in the rafters to test it. He stayed on EAD strings in the first four frets. No farting - it sounded strong. I can't really crank it as I'm in an apartment, but I have a fretless SUB5 and could noodle fairly loud on the B string.

Does a speaker not being broken-in make this test a moot point? Also, maybe the neo needs to get broken-in for any sound test to have merit-?

 

[philthygeezer]

You must have missed the thread in which a TBer questioned the build integrity of the GS 112. That thread went on forever (or so it seemed ). I'm with you. I own three Aguilar cabs and am impressed with the build quality of every one. Their tone ain't half bad, either.

M. M.

I've had Fender, Yorkville, SWR and Ampeg combos. A Schroeder cab now too. On disassembly, the GS112 impressed me with quality materials and tight tolerances.

How do you enhance the mids coming out of the cab? Been thinking about putting a mid driver in place of the horn.

I found that rolling off the bass a little and turning up the volume worked well. In a way, I think it's nice because it seems generally harder to pull thunder out of the small cabs that I owned, and easier to get loud.

If this is a secret attempt to convince Dave and crew to do Aguilar's take on the Neo Cab wave, complete with their signature 'fat yet clean' tone, then I'll gladly put a blank signed check in the mail. Dave, what's your address? Paypal works for me too. I'll eat the fees if its under 30lbs in a GS112!!!

35 lbs is fine to me - it takes the edge off carrying them. I love the construction and size of the cabs. A pair fit in the trunk of a Mazda 3 or a Honda Civic coupe, and not even the Schroeder 1210 will fit in those.

 

[4Mal]

If the deltalite replacements make the Aggie a little more mid-forward - I for one might be inclined to like it a lot more... I find that cab to be a little more scooped sounding than I want in stock form.

 

[philthygeezer]

More noodling with the other basses is confirming my first impressions:

• The neo provides a jump in volume and a more forward sound: more present and 'in your face'.
• The neo is a bit tighter.
• The neo loses a little of the pillowy thunder and laid back creaminess of the factory driver.
• The neo has more string noise too.
• Both have strong bass.
• Bongos sound f*!ing awesome even compared to Stingrays.

Summary: you lose a little Motown and gain some mids and volume?

 

[cb56]

So now you have one cab with the stock speaker and one cab with the neo right? Just curious as to how they sound stacked together compared to when you had two with the stock speakers. Wondering if you get a best of both worlds scenario where you still get the nice fat Aguilar sound with a bit more punchiness.