AudioKinesis 1x12 Cab Part Two

[Vic]

"Where's the rest of your rig?"

I've heard that various times as well with some of my stuff, and it's always fun to see their reaction after hearing things. It's a great time to be a bass player.

So there you go! In addition to being a great cab for double bass and a great cab for dance/pop/Motown, the Thunderchild is also one heck of a rocker!

This is very cool. Interestingly, the RH750 is one of the first heads I wanted to try with my TC112AF when I get it (which should hopefully be in a couple weeks). I'm really looking forward to this cab.

In fact, I should probably get my order in for a cover now.

Ken, which one did you like best?

 

[JxBass]

In fact, I should probably get my order in for a cover now.

Ken, which one did you like best?

I'm not Ken but the padded Tuki cover fits great. And quality all the way.

 

[Vic]

I'm not Ken but the padded Tuki cover fits great. And quality all the way.

Fits great is key to me, and I'm familiar with those, so maybe I'll just get that one going now.

 

[Vic]

Basically $75 with shipping, and yeah, that's padded, with the strap and no logo. Tuki on the way.

 

[JxBass]

Basically $75 with shipping, and yeah, that's padded, with the strap and no logo. Tuki on the way.

The standard one from Tuki (don't know if they have a non standard) has just the handle opening at the top ... just in case you ordered something different from Duke, like side handles, etc.

 

[Vic]

The standard one from Tuki (don't know if they have a non standard) has just the handle opening at the top ... just in case you ordered something different from Duke, like side handles, etc.

Nope, but thanks for the heads up!

 

[Ric Vice]

I have one of the 115AFs on order as well. Question for you guys; my amp is a Streamliner 900 which would be pushing more watts than the cab should take.
For those that use the same amp, where do you guys keep the master volume so as to avoid any issues with melting the speaker on the 112?

ghiadub,

Well, both my amps exceed the 500 watt rating of the Thunderchild 112. Walter Woods amps were rated at an

8 ohm load, my MI-400-8 is a 600 watt amp at 4 ohms while the Walter Woods Electroacoustic Ultra is 1,000 at 4.

I'm certainly mindful of volume levels but with a Double Bass the rig will feedback way before I hit critical mass.

With electric bass I'm actually playing at lower volumes because the Thunderchild's voicing is so accurate and articulate.

Ric

 

[KJung]

I've heard that various times as well with some of my stuff, and it's always fun to see their reaction after hearing things. It's a great time to be a bass player.

This is very cool. Interestingly, the RH750 is one of the first heads I wanted to try with my TC112AF when I get it (which should hopefully be in a couple weeks). I'm really looking forward to this cab.

In fact, I should probably get my order in for a cover now.

Ken, which one did you like best?

Hey Vic. I find the LECover and Tuki to be virtually identical. My only preference is that when I spec'd out the LeCover version, I spec'd the full handle opening with the entire indented area on the top of the cab being open. That makes for a very comfortable carry. Another user spec'd another LeCover TC112 design with the more traditional 'slit' opening for the handle. A bit trivial, but I prefer the LeCover design that I originally spec'd. That takes full advantage of that very nice handle design of Duke's.

In the bigger picture, pretty trivial, and either of the LeCover spec's or the Tuki is top notch.

Edit: I'll be interested in hearing your take on the RH750. I REALLY didn't like the RH450 with the Thunderchild. The top end was fine, but the accuracy of the Thunderchild really amplified that compressed, chewy, attenuated feel to the low end of that amp (which can work very well in a more traditionally voiced cab, like your AE210 for example). I guess I can see it sounding pretty good with the treble roll-off switch engaged on the cab, and lots of tube tone dialed in, like the situation that Tom described. However, that isn't really what this cab is about, and I greatly prefer my AE210 for that sort of thing. You will find that the output of the 8ohm AE210 and the 4ohm Thunderchild is pretty much identical between the two, with the impedance making up for the bit of lower efficiency in the Thunderchild. Of course, the tone is night and day, and I equally like the bigger, smoother, more even and pure Thunderchild versus the tighter, more mid forward and more upper mid aggressive AE210, depending on the context. IMO and IME there.

 

[Musicman20]

These reviews nail what I want in a small cabinet, but I'm in the UK

 

[JxBass]

I Vic. I find the LECover and Tuki to be virtually identical. My only preference is that when I spec'd out the LeCover version, I spec'd the full handle opening with the entire indented area on the top of the cab being open. That makes for a very comfortable carry. Another user spec'd aother LeCover TC112 design with the more traditional 'slit' opening for the handle. A bit trivial, but I prefer the LeCover design that I originally spec'd. That takes full advantage of that very nice handle design of Duke's.

In the bigger picture, pretty trivial, and either of the LeCover spec's or the Tuki is top notch.

The Tuki has the full handle opening. At least mine did - I spec'd the first one for Tuki.

 

[KJung]

The Tuki has the full handle opening. At least mine did - I spec'd the first one for Tuki.

Cool. Then the choice becomes very trivial!

 

[steve_rolfeca]

These reviews nail what I want in a small cabinet, but I'm in the UK

It's always hard to try before you buy with boutique cabs. None of the "super twelves" are widely available in local stores over here, so I'm thinking that your options are roughly the same as ours, with one small advantage:

Alex Claber's Barefaced Big Baby T covers roughly the same sonic territory as the Thunderchild, in terms of relatively hif-fi "mini monitor" frequency response and crazy high SPL levels for its size. It's only about 4lb heavier and and a few inches bigger than the Thunderchild.

Shipping costs put it somewhat out of reach over here, but depending on where you are in the UK (and how many he has out in the field), you may even be able to try before you buy.

The Barefaced is 715 quid, vs 750 US dollars for the Thunderchild. At current conversion rates, that gives you about US$350 to cover shipping and duty on the AudioKinesis. Providing that the tariffs aren't too crazy on American imports, they should be fairly close in price on your side of the pond.

If you enjoy DIY, you can also add the fEarful to your list. If you specify Auraco, it's only about 9lb heavier than the Thunderchild, and the increase in size shouldn't be a show-stopper in most situations. An all-neo 12/6/1 deluxe flatpack kit from Speaker Hardware with a handle and pre-built crossover costs about the same as the Thunderchild (assuming you have some black paint kicking around the house), and it might be cheaper to ship.

This means that at least three of the leading contenders are fairly price-competitive, and available to you in the UK!

 

[DonovanBankhead]

Good to read another person using the RH750 with the Thunderchild. I've had a different experience than KJung, but that might be because I'm using the RH750 and not the RH450. The Thunderchild is clean and articulate with the RH750, and is covers the stage in a most perfect way that I've experienced so far.

I had a little fun at band practice last night. The guys whom I play with are used to me showing up with different gear all the time, and although this is a new band for me (an AC/DC tribute band, in fact), I've played with two of the guys in another band for years. After bringing mostly different Ampeg rigs, last night, I decided to take the TC112AF. I was going to take the F500, as this is the head that I've been using the most with the Thunderchild, but since this was an AC/DC band, I opted for my RH750 (so that I could dial in some emulated tube drive ).

As I walk in with my basses and amp over one shoulder, and the TC112AF in one hand, I hear "What do you have this time?" and "Where's the rest of your rig?" I didn't say much, just set about getting everything plugged in and ready to go. Two more comments catch my ear, "Well, I guess we can turn down if we have to," (this from a guitar player, if you can believe it!), followed by, "Aw man, I gotta feel it to be able to play this stuff!" from the drummer. I just smile, and keep going about my business.

The band fires up High Voltage, and a few bars in, everyone is staring at my rig in amazement. One of the guitar players nearly stopped playing. We get done with the first song, and I hear, "What d'you got in that thing!" and "Well, alright, then!" During our first break, I have one of the guitar players pick up the cab, and he was equally shocked at the light weight.

I have to say, I wasn't sure how well this cab would do in a band setting where I am competing with two Marshall half stacks (and they do crank 'em a bit!) and a LOUD drummer, and I wasn't sure how well it would do a gritty/grindy rock tone. Based upon my noodling around on my own, I felt that it would do pretty well, and I am happy to say that this little rig worked amazingly well in that setting. Not only was the volume more than adequate (I had plenty of throttle left to go), but the tone was just dead on. The Thunderchild has that nice, strong low-mid presence, and while it is a very uncolored cab on its own, it takes to external colorization very well. I had the gain on the RH750 about halfway up, the TubeTone about halfway up, and the EQ set to the factory default. The bass was an alder/rosewood Celinder VP4 (P-bass) with SS rounds (MTD brand), and again, this package just nailed it!

So there you go! In addition to being a great cab for double bass and a great cab for dance/pop/Motown, the Thunderchild is also one heck of a rocker!

 

[triplelutz]

After all the talk about a Thunderchild, I got one. Just spent some limited time A/Bing it and the Schroeder 15+L...

They're both nice... real nice. The Thunderchild is smoother and fuller... but the Schroeder is certainly louder and more punchy... I'm guessing on the gig I may prefer the Schroeder, but for upright and smaller gigs, the Thunderchild will do wonderfully... I'll get more info later, but right now they both sound truly great...

It's awesome to have two solid, single cab solutions.

 

[Passinwind]

The Tuki has the full handle opening. At least mine did - I spec'd the first one for Tuki.

Yep. I bought one to your spec with one click on the website, which seems to be the default, and was exactly what I wanted.

 

[IntrepidCellist]

My TH500/TC112AF rig at the recent Metalguitarist.org gathering/jam session. My friend Mike Sherman on bass, tearing it up on my Ric. Guitarists and drummer are no slouches either.

MG.org Meetup 10-15 - Monster Talent here! - YouTube

 

[KJung]

My TH500/TC112AF rig at the recent Metalguitarist.org gathering/jam session. My friend Mike Sherman on bass, tearing it up on my Ric. Guitarists and drummer are no slouches either.

MG.org Meetup 10-15 - Monster Talent here! - YouTube

I love clips! I'm on the road with no phones. I look forward to checking this out tomorrow when I'm back home!

 

[KJung]

After all the talk about a Thunderchild, I got one. Just spent some limited time A/Bing it and the Schroeder 15+L...

They're both nice... real nice. The Thunderchild is smoother and fuller... but the Schroeder is certainly louder and more punchy... I'm guessing on the gig I may prefer the Schroeder, but for upright and smaller gigs, the Thunderchild will do wonderfully... I'll get more info later, but right now they both sound truly great...

It's awesome to have two solid, single cab solutions.

Cool! That little Schro 15 is a great little box, and I'd actually put it on my list of 'Super 12's', since it is about the same size as these other executions.

And yes, the little Schro is 'all punch' for better or worse, and just loud as the beejeebers because of that... very attenuated deep low end, but a beautiful upper bass punch, and a lot of brightness and grind up top. I dig it also.

I think when you get the Thunderchild on a gig, it will be a bit louder than you think, but in a different way than the Schro for sure.

One of the reasons I (and others) love the Thunderchild so much is that it balances all these tonalities really well. If I had to create a continuum of these 'stand alone capable' small cabs, ranging for the 'least punchy/most full' to 'most midrange voiced and punchy' it would be:

Acme - fEarful12/6 - Thunderchild12 - Baer ML112* - Schro15L+

The Thunderchild sits right in the middle to me... plenty of low end, nice 'top of the driver' midrange, lots of clarity in the upper mids/low treble.

*Note: Going on other reviews of the Baer... won't be able to check one out until Monday.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

I'm really digging the ability to plug one port. Put's it in the "less full/ more punchy" in Ken's continuum . Usually I like both open, but it's like more than just a tone control---changes the character of the bass---for better or worse depending on the situation. Not an instance of "cone rock" and I've cranked it, although Duke has warned about the potential problem. I agree with Ken in that it's very in the middle---probably the least coloration of any cab I've used. Tried it with a Demeter pre on both upright and electric. Just used the Doubler's power amp section. Sounded astounding on electric. I was worried that a tube pre wouldn't have enough focus on upright, but that was not the case.Sounded fabulous. I'm trying the pre because I'm jonesin' for the new 7 lb Peavey power amp with DSP. I think that the neutrality of the TC brings out the best and worst of associated gear.

 

[lomo]

I blasted my 12 with 1 port plugged and never had any rocking (or other) issues, although I was also warned by Duke it was "a theoretical possibility".