AudioKinesis Cabs Part VI...

[DukeLeJeune]

I think that those reports referred either to an earlier or to a prototype version of the 15" Hathor cab, and that @DukeLeJeune tweaked the design subsequently. I'll let him confirm or correct this, though.

The tweakage was mostly to the midrange region. In the bottom end, I moved the tuning frequency north a little bit, and maybe that makes a bigger perceptual difference than what my modeling program indicates.

I realize that "-4 dB at 62 Hz" gives the impression of a low end that's on the weak side, but people have told me that the 15" Hathor cabs have a bigger low end than other cabs with more impressive specs (including at least one of my own). If I claimed a more impressive spec, Tom Bowlus is probably the only one who would bust me on it.

 

[tombowlus]

I realize that "-4 dB at 62 Hz" gives the impression of a low end that's on the weak side, but people have told me that the 15" Hathor cabs have a bigger low end than other cabs with more impressive specs (including at least one of my own). If I claimed a more impressive spec, Tom Bowlus is probably the only one who would bust me on it.

Ha!

 

[steve_rolfeca]

No, I didn't want to go down a compressor rabbit hole.

Different strokes...

A Diamond BCP put the final polish on my AudioKinesis signal chain.

Mine is barely on, but it provides just the last bit of warmth and roundness I needed to smooth out my G-K heads and bright, articulate Dingwall bass.

 

[Mark Sacchetti]

Morning practice with warts and all. The B46/H1203 still sound great . Excuse my playing. Still working out the kinks.

 

[engedi1]

Sounds good Mark, and that's a beautiful bass. What is it?

 

[Mark Sacchetti]

Sounds good Mark, and that's a beautiful bass. What is it?

Thanks it is a Skjold. Great basses!

 

[engedi1]

amazing wood grain

 

[nutdog]

Morning practice with warts and all. The B46/H1203 still sound great . Excuse my playing. Still working out the kinks.

Love the ending

But just so you know, I already have the copyright on it.

 

[DukeLeJeune]

Nice cabinet, slots well into a mix. A little dark sounding but full. Easy to hear at any angle. Super easy to transport. Perhaps the best cabinet on the planet for living room writing sessions with a guitarist at low volume.

I think I've found a solution for the "a little dark sounding" issue.

The cause is that, at any given angle, we have more woofers contributing lows (all of them) than contributing highs (half of them at most, in the direct sound). Well, last night I completed the design of a "cheater circuit" that boosts the top end a bit. The cheater circuit will give us about 3-4 dB more top-end energy.

The cheater circuit will be included in all future Birdhaus cabs, and can be retrofitted into any Birdhaus cab already out there, but the cab would have to be shipped back to me. Contact me for details.

As Gene LeBell (the guy who choked out Steven Seagal) has said, "If you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough."

 

[dmrogers]

Just curious , I have been a rock bassist for a long time and recently got signed on with a country artist.i have been using the Quilter bb800 with my homebuilt 15/5 . Actually Duke you helped quite a bit with the build. We've got some big gigs coming up ,night in the country and so on. I am seriously thinking of getting a Hathor 1203 for something smoother. How would it fit the bill.

Currently, I have 2 1203 cabs and a Jule Monique 700 as my main rig. At times, I use a single 1203 with various heads.

I am not familiar with the Quilter head, however, the last band I was in (a theatre house band - plus various gigs) consisted of classic rock, Americana, bluegrass, traditional country - you name it, we were called upon to perform it.

The thing I contribute to the versatility of the 1203 is the switches. I could get as grindy as I needed or as smooth as required. The switches made it so much easier. The 1203 can handle a fair amount of power and the frequency spread gives you a lot to work with. Mine respond well to EQ adjustments. Of course the Monique is a great head, but the same holds true with the TH500 and Thunderfunk.

One 1203 works great for many applications. Especially if you have FOH support. Personally, I think it is hard to go wrong with the 1203. They are very versatile!

Hope this helps.

 

[wagdog]

So how efficient is the 1203? I'm thinking pairing it with an Ampeg PF-20T would make a killer home rig. But only if 20w is enough to drive it adequately without the little Ampeg wheezing the whole time. Thoughts?

 

[McFarlin]

I'm guessing there is a reason you aren't considering the PF-50T.
It's a fairly efficient cab, but physics is physics.
I bet the Ampeg and 1203 would be a great combo. But in addition to the extra wattage, I would want the extra midrange flexibility of the 50T.

 

[wagdog]

Yeah, I thought of the 50T but it's $300 more which is just enough to make me think twice about a 'fun rig'. On the other hand, it could be a cool modern take of the B-15N.

 

[Marial]

The TC112 handled tonight's improv noise like a champ. No mud but plenty of wump.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

My 1203 TC112 combo sounded great tonight at our benefit show. My x32 producer & turbosound gear killed too.

 

[banditcosmo]

For the first time I plugged a couple of the ports on my TC115 and it really worked well. I play at this old building with wood floors once a month and the sound guy kept telling me I was too boomy so I would turn the bass down and I had to keep my volume down too. Well I completely forgot about the port plugs since I've never used them but at the gig last night I plugged a couple of the ports and the sound guy said it made a huge difference and I was able to turn my amp up more since I cut the boom down.

 

[TomB]

For the first time I plugged a couple of the ports on my TC115 and it really worked well. I play at this old building with wood floors once a month and the sound guy kept telling me I was too boomy so I would turn the bass down and I had to keep my volume down too. Well I completely forgot about the port plugs since I've never used them but at the gig last night I plugged a couple of the ports and the sound guy said it made a huge difference and I was able to turn my amp up more since I cut the boom down.

Indeed! As I get more and more familiar with my TC's I've come to realize how those pluggable ports are like a dream come true in difficult venues. Friday night I played in a huge vaulted-ceiling church up on a big wooden stage. ...potential low-end nightmare. Gramma pad below and 2 (out of 4) port plugs in back of the TC115 and it was perfect - full & tight. ...remarkable!

 

[McFarlin]

As much as I would like to find a more appropriate size and weight companion, I'm not sure it can sound much better than this.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Indeed! As I get more and more familiar with my TC's I've come to realize how those pluggable ports are like a dream come true in difficult venues.

Yup. I mentioned this on another thread:

I played a conference last week, in a boomy converted gym. "Unplugged" arrangements, with only a mic'd Cajon and jingles for percussion, fairly low volume levels.

Took my modded Rumble 100 V3 combo, as the mods focus on taming the low-mid peak, and the little low-wattage single 12 often works well in bad rooms.

Unfortunately, I also took a P-bass loaded with flats, and the combination of a dark sounding bass and the exaggerated "vintage" sound of the Rumble resulted in a muddy, undefined mess. Couldn't fix it with EQ, and had to run my level so low, that I was barely audible.

I took my TC112 for the second day, along with the MB200. With both ports blocked and just a smidge of EQ, I got a perfect, punchy tone that provided a nice foundation and carried the whole room.

 

[Willy B]

I lost the port plug to my h1203; can i find a replacement at the hardware store?