Double Bass Alternatives for MAS 18

[wellso74]

BTW--one more thing. I've changed the powered 18. Four guys have them and there was a consistent problem with all four. The amount of components stuffed into the driver chamber is nuts. There was a resonance that I didn't pick up. It doesn't do it with electric (for me) but does more so with DB. I've taken the cabs back and added a mini filter to bring the resonance down. It helps but I'm not satisfied.
I've changed the design of the 18 to house the electronics outside of the active enclosure. Imagine tilting the cab forward so that the top is parallel to the floor. I think that this is a much better way to add a power module.View attachment 3479909 View attachment 3479911 View attachment 3479912 It adds very little to the size and it still functions as a wedge. No air turbulence and much less vibration. All future powered cabs will be done this way. The four guys that have the Pascal/HPF cabs. If you'd like---I'll switch things out to a new cab at no cost.
Oh---and for those whining about the top slanting---it doesn't on the powered 18

Mike- I'm glad you posted this. I noticed this resonance when using my Remic but not my piezo based pickup. As I'm trying to figure out which preamp I want to use with your powered 18 I kind of dismissed it. If it would not be too much trouble I'll reach out and get more details from you about a remedy.

 

[Michael Drost]

BTW--one more thing. I've changed the powered 18. Four guys have them and there was a consistent problem with all four. The amount of components stuffed into the driver chamber is nuts. There was a resonance that I didn't pick up. It doesn't do it with electric (for me) but does more so with DB. I've taken the cabs back and added a mini filter to bring the resonance down. It helps but I'm not satisfied.
I've changed the design of the 18 to house the electronics outside of the active enclosure. Imagine tilting the cab forward so that the top is parallel to the floor. I think that this is a much better way to add a power module.View attachment 3479909 View attachment 3479911 View attachment 3479912 It adds very little to the size and it still functions as a wedge. No air turbulence and much less vibration. All future powered cabs will be done this way. The four guys that have the Pascal/HPF cabs. If you'd like---I'll switch things out to a new cab at no cost.
Oh---and for those whining about the top slanting---it doesn't on the powered 18

Mike,

I believe I am one of the four you mentioned. I’d love the conversion. How long before the cab is back in my hands? You have my cab in your possession right now. : ). Thanks again. Take care.

 

[Ric Vice]

Here's a picture of the Bassics Preamp that Mike mentions in the post. I do not own one, I have a Grace Designs Felix.
I like the illuminated control's.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Here's a picture of the Bassics Preamp that Mike mentions in the post. I do not own one, I have a Grace Designs Felix.
I like the illuminated controls.

The features look cool, but I would need to see one in person to know if I liked the illuminated controls. Some of the LEDs on newer gear can be a little intrusive. I have a Keeley Bassist compressor, and the light on it is so bright that on a dark stage it blinds you to the point where you can't see how the control knobs are set!

 

[J.Wolf]

The features look cool, but I would need to see one in person to know if I liked the illuminated controls. Some of the LEDs on newer gear can be a little intrusive. I have a Keeley Bassist compressor, and the light on it is so bright that on a dark stage it blinds you to the point where you can't see how the control knobs are set!

Those laser beam led’s drive me nuts. If it’s so bright i can’t see the pedal on stage, they should have picked up on that in testing/development.

 

[Pat Harris]

The labeling of the EQ bands is a little Spinal Tap-esque... it's all bass

 

[Mike Arnopol]

One criticism---no treble control. I prefer a shelving treble control. But--the 3 semi parametric bands were implemented with a lot of thought. Very good control up to 3k. I don't care if you hate compressors--you'll like this one. The layout is a bit of a swing and a miss. I don't know anyone that would want to switch on and off eq bands. I think that the pedal form is not the best. I'd prefer a smaller rectangular box with no eq switches.

 

[Ric Vice]

The labeling of the EQ bands is a little Spinal Tap-esque... it's all bass

Yeah, everyone seems to have their own layout for Preamps, there all different.

 

[basster]

Just to let you know---there is a 2 week trial period for my cabs. If you don't like it--send it back for full refund. I'll tell you what---since shipping is expensive from Italy--and I'm so confident of my cabs---if you don't like it I'll split return shipping. I like Italy and Italians.

Dear Mike, please let me know if you have any customers here in europe / european union. If so, please let me know how they handled these strong rules to get electronic gear importet to europe. Since 2019, the rules went stronger than before. The unit must have the ROHS - sign, it mus have the CE - sign, and at least it needs a printed manual in the language of the recipient country (french, german, hungary, whatever).

I think at this moment it´s impossible to import a powered mas18 to italy or anywhere else in the eu. BUT if you know a customer who did it it would be nice to know his trick. Thanks!!

 

[logdrum]

The new powered 18 is 1200 watts and features a power switch that when turned off disables the power amp connection to the internal speaker. There is a speaker output jack. When the switch is turned off the extension jack functions as a passive input so the speaker can be used with an external amp. When switched on the extension jack can be used to power a second speaker. The HPF then functions for the internal speaker as well as the extension speaker.
With the HPF you will get an additional 3db of output before low end fartout. That's the same as adding a second speaker.
SO--if you have two 18's and one is powered (with the HPF) you will have the effective output of four MAS 18's. And the low end will be better controlled and punchier.
BTW---this is the best single channel pre I've used for DB. (electric, too) It's normally $500 to $600 but this seller has them for $281. I bought one and 3 friends have. Reputable seller. It was designed by Malcolm Toft, the designer of the Trident studio boards. I love his sound concept. If you only use a single channel---buy one. (only 5 left in stock}
Bassics BPA-1 Bass Preamplifier | Diffusion Audio Inc
The addition of the 1200 watt Pascal board and the HPF is $400. I cannot retrofit them into existing cabs---too much work. Winds up costing about the same as selling yours used and buying a new one.

The website say 700 watts. http://www.masoundworks.com/manage.numo?pid=27&module=shopping_cart&component=catalog&cid=1 Is this the right one or the website is just not current? Thanks