AudioKinesis Cabs Part VI...

[TrentB]

I have a Hathor 212 on order with Duke...
I foresee your negotiations-with-wife process happening in my household, but in reverse:
Hathor 212 first, followed by TC212.

And a side-note: Here's a big 'thank you' to all you posters on this Audiokinesis thread...

I took a multi-year hiatus from music due to tinnitus issues but recently started playing again.
I'm excited by all the new gear that's come to market during my layoff and I ordered
the Hathor 212 based on what I've read here and elsewhere on TalkBass. I've learned a lot
and look forward to participating in these forums (fora?) and playing bass again!

You're going to love the Hathor 212! I have Duke's first H212 build and still loving it!

 

[tombowlus]

Thank goodness! My wife will be much more understanding if I tell her Mr. Bowlus said I need a pair of Hathor cabs.

I mean, the guy really knows his stuff!!

Ha! Glad to help!

 

[Dee-man]

Warning: Birdhaus content.

Had my first living room bluegrass/indie acoustic jam this past weekend with my new Birdhaus 46. Wasn't quite sure where best to put the cab since we were in a circle, but it sounded great with my ABG (it didn't hurt that I was playing my Guild ABG through a WW blue light). I left it unplugged and it was on the floor in a 10 x 20 foot space. Those 6" drivers are very articulate with quick attack/response, but the dispersion makes the sound nice and round. I'd compare it roughly to a MAS 46 but with wider dispersion rather than punch, and with the AK signature clarity with warmth. Plus, the switchable cheater switch was a nice option to play with the upper end at different times. It also took a fair amount of power (800w - pre was around 10:30-11:00 and post was noon at times), and seemed quite willing to take more, but I didn't try.

Anyway, a big thumb's up all around.

Thanks again, Duke! DM

 

[MarkA]

I have a Hathor 212 on order with Duke...
I foresee your negotiations-with-wife process happening in my household, but in reverse:
Hathor 212 first, followed by TC212.

And a side-note: Here's a big 'thank you' to all you posters on this Audiokinesis thread...

I took a multi-year hiatus from music due to tinnitus issues but recently started playing again.
I'm excited by all the new gear that's come to market during my layoff and I ordered
the Hathor 212 based on what I've read here and elsewhere on TalkBass. I've learned a lot
and look forward to participating in these forums (fora?) and playing bass again!

I've had a few scary episodes with tinnitus -- things are pretty good now, but I am more on-guard than I used to be against people and circumstances that might be harmful to my hearing. Take care -- and welcome back to playing! I also know what it's like to come back after years away. Good fortune to you on your return trip.

 

[MarkA]

@ DLM (and whoever else might find it interesting), here is another quick-and-dirty clip of the Hathor slapped. Like the other, this one is made at home with my phone and not a lot of forethought (apologies again to the gear thus sloppily represented and to the gods of audio). What's different this time:

• Hathor is played atop the MAS 110 sub.
• Phone is about two feet off the floor, four feet from the cabs, and 15 degrees off axis.
• Amp is a Shaw B-150 tube amp.
• No looper this time - played through the same little riff four times: with both switches up, mid down/treble up, mid up/treble down, and both down, in that order.

Too many differences to admit of direct comparison with the other clip, but I hope that it's useful nonetheless - if nothing else, it might give some idea of the function of the switches.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Durbs]

I'm a new member here, but I've been lurking for several years. I just bought a Hathor 1203 from Duke. It is one of the best pieces of gear I've purchased in my 21 years of playing bass, and I'd like to match it with a suitable head. I'm currently using a TC Electronics RH450, which I really love, but I'd like a second amp to add to the stable. I just need a little help deciding which direction to go in.

The Hathor is an 8ohm cab which will eventually be paired with either another 8ohm Hathor or a TC112. I'd like a head with adequate power to really hit the cabs' sweet spot. It is my understanding that the Hathor's sensitivity makes it a little "power hungry," so I want to get some advice before I make a purchase. Size and weight is an issue as I'd like my rig to remain portable, but i need enough volume to stand up to two guitarists and a loud drummer.

Here are the heads I'm considering...

GK MB800
Mesa Subway D800
Aguilar TH500
Quilter BB800
Handbox R-400

I live in Marquette, MI, so I'm a LONG drive from any place where I could sample these things. I'm actually leaning towards the Handbox, because it is a class A/B, which is what I have experience with and have enjoyed in the past. I'm just wondering if the 400W the handbox wields would cut the mustard, or if I should explore my other options.

Thanks for any help! I apologize if these things have been addressed previously in the thread. There are a lot of posts to pick through.

 

[MarkA]

I'm a new member here, but I've been lurking for several years. I just bought a Hathor 1203 from Duke. It is one of the best pieces of gear I've purchased in my 21 years of playing bass, and I'd like to match it with a suitable head. I'm currently using a TC Electronics RH450, which I really love, but I'd like a second amp to add to the stable. I just need a little help deciding which direction to go in.

The Hathor is an 8ohm cab which will eventually be paired with either another 8ohm Hathor or a TC112. I'd like a head with adequate power to really hit the cabs' sweet spot. It is my understanding that the Hathor's sensitivity makes it a little "power hungry," so I want to get some advice before I make a purchase. Size and weight is an issue as I'd like my rig to remain portable, but i need enough volume to stand up to two guitarists and a loud drummer.

Here are the heads I'm considering...

GK MB800
Mesa Subway D800
Aguilar TH500
Quilter BB800
Handbox R-400

I live in Marquette, MI, so I'm a LONG drive from any place where I could sample these things. I'm actually leaning towards the Handbox, because it is a class A/B, which is what I have experience with and have enjoyed in the past. I'm just wondering if the 400W the handbox wields would cut the mustard, or if I should explore my other options.

Thanks for any help! I apologize if these things have been addressed previously in the thread. There are a lot of posts to pick through.

The Handbox is one I've been looking at. As nice as some of the new, small class D heads are, I prefer the iron. That said, I just gigged the 1203 and my MAS 110 sub together for the first time and drove them with an Eich T-900. I was able to dial in a clear, punchy sound with good depth and both amp and cabs seemed to have a lot left in the tank. Will have to see how they do on a really loud gig. I had a Kustom KXB500 that sounded good with the cabs and I'd have loved to see how it held up on a gig but, alas, I fried the poor thing last week. I'm confident that it would've been fine on most gigs, but I also suspect that it would've run out of steam before the cabs if pushed.

I've just tried the cabs (see clip above) with a 150 Watt tube amp... not sure when it will be practical to gig that, but I'm curious to see how it keeps up.

If you get a head that goes below 4 Ohms (or maybe even if you don't -- Duke?) you might consider a Hathor 15xx as a second cab, if efficiency is a concern. The Handbox head is available with a 2 Ohms mod.

Someone here (I forget whom - Shrigg?) runs a KXB500 with his AK cabs. If it keeps up and stays dynamic at 4 Ohms, I suspect that the TH500 and Handbox would, as well, but it depends on your volume needs and tonal preferences...

Here's another thought - decide which cab you'd like and, when you get it, try it with your RH450. If it keeps up with your band, I'm confident that any of the other heads you mentioned would, as well. If not, maybe the "800 Watt" micros would be a safer bet.

 

[shrigg]

If you get a head that goes below 4 Ohms (or maybe even if you don't -- Duke?) you might consider a Hathor 15xx as a second cab, if efficiency is a concern. The Handbox head is available with a 2 Ohms mod.

Someone here (I forget whom - Shrigg?) runs a KXB500 with his AK cabs. If it keeps up and stays dynamic at 4 Ohms, I suspect that the TH500 and Handbox would, as well, but it depends on your volume needs and tonal preferences...

Here's another thought - decide which cab you'd like and, when you get it, try it with your RH450. If it keeps up with your band, I'm confident that any of the other heads you mentioned would, as well. If not, maybe the "800 Watt" micros would be a safer bet.

Guilty as charged... I run the KXB500 into the 4-ohm/8-ohm switchable H1505 and before that used it with an H1203. Plenty of headroom and dynamics, especially at 4 ohms. I will (finally) be comparing to a pair of H1203's soon, will report back!

 

[slagheap]

Guilty as charged... I run the KXB500 into the 4-ohm/8-ohm switchable H1505 and before that used it with an H1203. Plenty of headroom and dynamics, especially at 4 ohms. I will (finally) be comparing to a pair of H1203's soon, will report back!

great! as the happy owner of a pair of H1203 i'll be very interested - i'm saving for an H1505, will get there before year is out.

 

[nostatic]

I'm a new member here, but I've been lurking for several years. I just bought a Hathor 1203 from Duke. It is one of the best pieces of gear I've purchased in my 21 years of playing bass, and I'd like to match it with a suitable head. I'm currently using a TC Electronics RH450, which I really love, but I'd like a second amp to add to the stable. I just need a little help deciding which direction to go in.

The Hathor is an 8ohm cab which will eventually be paired with either another 8ohm Hathor or a TC112. I'd like a head with adequate power to really hit the cabs' sweet spot. It is my understanding that the Hathor's sensitivity makes it a little "power hungry," so I want to get some advice before I make a purchase. Size and weight is an issue as I'd like my rig to remain portable, but i need enough volume to stand up to two guitarists and a loud drummer.

Here are the heads I'm considering...

GK MB800
Mesa Subway D800
Aguilar TH500
Quilter BB800
Handbox R-400

I live in Marquette, MI, so I'm a LONG drive from any place where I could sample these things. I'm actually leaning towards the Handbox, because it is a class A/B, which is what I have experience with and have enjoyed in the past. I'm just wondering if the 400W the handbox wields would cut the mustard, or if I should explore my other options.

Thanks for any help! I apologize if these things have been addressed previously in the thread. There are a lot of posts to pick through.

Hard to find fault with the Mesa. I've been gigging either the D800 or D800+ for a year or two and never have a complaint. It plays really well with the H1203, and in fact that is by far the most consistent sounding rig I've had (and I've owned a bunch of stuff, including GK, Aguilar, TC, blah blah blah).

Handbox is interesting but I'm not interested in owning electronic gear that doesn't have easy customer service options. Mesa is about as good as it gets. Anything overseas can be a pita if something goes wrong. Totally ymmv.

 

[Type-55]

I run a Puma 900 with my TC-115 4 ohms and it's great.
Look for a used amp, that way you can try several to make a good decision.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

I use a Puma 500 with my Hathor 1203. It sounds awesome, and the whole rig is small enough for carry-on luggage:

 

[nutdog]

The subway size, weight, sound, features, quality and support per dollar is hard to beat. Just like the 1203.

I don't think of the Hathor as power hungry in that it needs a lot to sound good but that it will handle a lot and that's the way to reach its full potential, especially if you want the most out of one at 8ohms.

 

[DukeLeJeune]

I prefer to hear a lot of airy treble coming at me indirectly, always have. As I've told you quite a few times, my ideal would be something like the horn and compression driver from the TC118 in a TC112, which would make the cab more synth and vocal friendly at higher volumes IMHO.

For several years I've been meaning to do a "synth/modeler" version of the TC112, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Unfortunately that elliptical horn in the TC118 is no longer available. I bought the last few.

We all could hear each other and create that on-the-spot conversational jazz that is so fun to play.

^^^THAT^^^ is what I was hoping the Changelings would do! Thank you VERY MUCH, Ken!!

Sorry guys I have very limited time right now, I'll be back and write some decent replies in a couple of days.

 

[wateroftyne]

Handbox is interesting but I'm not interested in owning electronic gear that doesn't have easy customer service options. Mesa is about as good as it gets. Anything overseas can be a pita if something goes wrong. Totally ymmv.

One of the great things about the Handbox is its simplicity - it's just a well-designed class A/B head. There's no mysterious tech going in that will confuse your repair guy in the years to come.

But I understand the reluctance re: not having the reassurance of a representative in the US.

 

[Ken Lloyd]

I'm a new member here, but I've been lurking for several years. I just bought a Hathor 1203 from Duke. It is one of the best pieces of gear I've purchased in my 21 years of playing bass, and I'd like to match it with a suitable head. I'm currently using a TC Electronics RH450, which I really love, but I'd like a second amp to add to the stable. I just need a little help deciding which direction to go in.

Here are the heads I'm considering...

GK MB800
Mesa Subway D800
Aguilar TH500
Quilter BB800
Handbox R-400


Thanks for any help! I apologize if these things have been addressed previously in the thread. There are a lot of posts to pick through.

So stating from the outset that I haven't kept up with new amps and features and vendors, there's a reason.
I've been using Acoustic Image amps for maybe 12-15 years. They never fail. They have great two channel features. The company provides the best customer service you could ask for. Small, light, super reliable, hi-fi frequency range; they've been doing two ohm since their early years and I've used two 4 ohm cabs (Euphonic Audio Wizzy's) in parallel on many gigs. I've played upright, fretless, 6 string acoustic, 6 string electric, vocals and guitar at same time, bass and drums at same time, and even just a two channel hi-fi PA for a small gig where space and volume were limited.

It's possible AI was in the forefront of the lightweight powerful amp momentum; not sure. And I haven't keep up with amp vendors since my two 2-channel amps (a Focus and a Clarus) have provided all the flexibility, power, features and reliability I need. One validation of their value to players is that their resale value is very high. And no I'm not affiliated with them or any vendor in any way.

Good luck.

 

[engedi1]

AI was certainly one of the innovators of class D amps, maybe the first one that I can think of, but I don't know if they were THE first. Great company and Great rep.

 

[steubig]

walter woods was making small portable switching power supply amps in the 70s. in my mind, he's the godfather of this revolution.

 

[JimmyM]

AI was certainly one of the innovators of class D amps, maybe the first one that I can think of, but I don't know if they were THE first. Great company and Great rep.

walter woods was making small portable switching power supply amps in the 70s. in my mind, he's the godfather of this revolution.

AI is a fine company, but Walter Woods was doing them for decades before anyone else, and believe it or not, Ampeg was the first commercial company making them with their Portabass series.

 

[steubig]

probably in the range of tmi (or old dude anecdote that means nothing).

i first saw a walter woods head in 74/75. al jarreau was opening for les mccann at the troubadour in l.a. (i think it was the night that al got signed)

the bass player (wish i remember his name; it was a great band) had this little red box on top of a 1x15 and sounded huge. mind-blowing really, when you consider how big amps had to be to fill a stage or a room at that point in time.