AudioKinesis Cabs Part VI...

[MarkA]

I'd expect it to struggle outdoors but nope.

Don't you hate it when gear doesn't meet your expectations?

 

[Mystic Michael]

Hi MM. I am not familiar first-hand with Acme cabs. If you're referring to 10s (or possibly 12s), I would think those would be "quicker" or "more responsive" for fast playing (which isn't my style). The thing about the tc118 for me (and maybe the Acmes do this too) is that you can feel/hear the entire lowend of the note (so-called "low end extension" I guess), even the low ones, and the cab doesn't seem to break much of a sweat and seems like it can go even lower (handled a low B with ease); with other cabs, the low end gets cut off at some point. What kind of style of music are you thinking of using the tc118 for?

I was playing through a WW blue light (so 800w into 8 ohms). Was using a Rob Allen fretted Mouse with piezo and LaBella tapewounds. First went though an Fdeck HP3 then into Walter. Compression would have helped. Again, it could have been the room, but the lowend outta this thing can get to be too much of a good thing (even with the port plugs in), so an HPF or compressor (or both) seems to help. The combo of the Walter with piezo pup and the tc118's horn and rear tweeter gave too much high end for my taste for what we were playing (think psychedlic cowboy jamband music), so I had to turn that down.

Yesterday, I was playing with drums and 2 guitards at home in my living room, using a few basses including a 5-string. Was going into a Lowend True Voice pre into a Glock BAC pre (with EQ only on bass, which was at about 11:00 or so), a Rane compressor and an Alembic SF-2 powered by a Crown K2 (so it was like 1200w per side or something ridiculous, but never had either volume above 11:00). I had the tc118 on 1 channel and a 4 ohm tc112 (v.1) sitting on top of the tc118 (but pointed sort of backwards) on the other. Man, that sounded good! All port plugs in on the tc118. The tc112 was aiming right at me and I was behind and to the side of the tc 118. Regardless, the effect of the tc118 was totaly there. The tone was clear and, again, tons of girth and heft to each note (the SF-2 doesn't hurt in that regard, though I didn't have it set to its lowest frequencies). Cutting the bass on the pre and boosting the compression a bit really helped keep the furniture from rattling too much. My playing sucked but that rig was clear and strong!

Anyway, gotta run. Hope this helps. Feel free to pm me if interested.

And to Coyoteboy, if you're in SF area and want to check out my tc112 (v.1), let me know. Cheers, DM

Thanks for the rundown. You've got some very nice gear.

My Acmes are the newish Full Range 1x12 two-way cabs with tweeter. They're reputed to be just about the ultimate in low end extension - something like -6db @ 31Hz. Do a little search on them, if you happen to be curious. They have a reputation, to be sure.

In terms of signal processing gear, I've got two compressors - an Aguilar TLC and a Diamond BCP-1, along with a pair of SFX Sound micro-Thumpinators (HPF). So I should be able to tame any low end that threatens to get out of control.

The style of music I have in mind is a sort of sub-genre that I'm developing. Call it a fusion of ambient/electronic with modern experimental rock; just a dash of world music and free jazz for seasoning. Think vintage Pink Floyd meets King Crimson, if you need a reference point. For something more contemporary, the sound would be somewhat similar to Porcupine Tree - but more groove-oriented, more subtle, complex & understated guitar, much more keyboards, fewer traditional chord progressions and song structures, more abstract & ethereal vocals.

MM

 

[steubig]

recordings of this yet?

 

[Mystic Michael]

recordings of this yet?

Still in development...

MM

 

[steubig]

sounds intriguing. i'll be interested in hearing it.

 

[dmrogers]

Just got an email from Duke......

Yep, they are shipping out tomorrow. Hopefully they will be here by Thursday!

 

[Freddels]

Just got an email from Duke......

Yep, they are shipping out tomorrow. Hopefully they will be here by Thursday!

Mine is shipping tomorrow too!!!

 

[LeonD]

Sounds like Duke's been a busy guy.

 

[dmrogers]

Mine is shipping tomorrow too!!!

I was thinking about you yesterday. Wondering if you got a message too.
Looks like Duke has been a busy man. I certainly hope his hand is healing properly.

 

[morebassbaby]

Mine is shipping tomorrow too!!!

Me three!!

 

[Freddels]

I think before Duke left, what held up some of these from shipping was waiting on the grill covers. Duke had said that he had ordered the wrong ones or something like that.

 

[dmrogers]

I think before Duke left, what held up some of these from shipping was waiting on the grill covers. Duke had said that he had ordered the wrong ones or something like that.

That is correct. He contacted me before he left and stated that my cabs (2 x 1203) were ready but he was waiting on the proper grills.

 

[Dee-man]

Hey MM. Sounds like the tc118 may work out fine for your style of music. Only one way to find out....

Yes, I am lucky to have some nice gear (thanks to too much time here on TB generating GAS), but it's time to downsize a bit before my wife lets me have it.

 

[shrigg]

Fwiw I'm on an outdoor jazz hit with a single H1203 and the Smith 5-string is killing through it. One can definitely does the low-B. I'd expect it to struggle outdoors but nope.

Most. Amazing. Small. Cab. Ever.

 

[maisbass]

So I just got back to NYC from Sweden, and finally got to test out my Hathor 1203's. I tested them out with my Glock Blue Soul, and my Monique/Minnie.

So first I tested the pair with the Glock. Instantly I was bummed and bewildered by the lack of bottom. It sounded like an hpf was engaged. So I remembered here some TB'ers complained of some problems when chaining the cabs. So I tried them individually. They both sounded fantastic! I was very surprised the bottom this little cab put out. Both cabs performed identical sonically when solo'd. So you can see where this is going....

So for sh*ts and giggles I tried the stack with Monique/Minnie and had the same results. It confirmed my first synopsis that the cabs were wired out of phase. So I placed the cabs side by side and the phase cancellation was obvious. So just a note, if you have the cabs stacked on top of each other, and notice a huge loss in bottom, chances are the cabs are wired out of phase. Side by side they sound... Well, phasey!!

I opened up both cabs and noticed right away one of the cabs were wired out of phase. I verified connections with a continuity meter just to be sure, but indeed one cab was wired out of phase at the 12" speaker. Duke uses the white striped wire for positive, and the other for negative. So I switched the connection and screwed everything back in.

And when I did.... Wow. What a difference. The pair sounds tremendous and will definitely cover any gig I play. They are very clear and articulate sounding, and definitely have a bit more of a mid bump than my tc112 v1, but do not have as much bottom individually as the tc112, but stacked, well the answer is obvious due to using two 12's compared to 1. And they handle a low B quite well.

I have to admit I am really surprised of the performance of 1 Hathor 1203. It seems to go pretty loud and has a substantial amount of bottom that is sufficient enough for some of my gigs. While I may favor my tc112 for a one cab solution, I can see myself having a tough decision on which cab to use when I need only one cab, due to the the 1203 size/weight and good amount of bottom it puts out.

The true test is when I get to gig with them which won't be for a few weeks. I'm still traveling around on vacation for a while. Next stop, extended weekend trip to Cali to visit some family.

Oh by the way did I say how incredibly small and light the 1203's are???? Holy cr*p!! My 5 year old son had no problem lifting them!!

 

[DukeLeJeune]

Maisbass, man I am so sorry about that. I was really tired when I finished up that batch, a side-effect of the hand injury (working longer hours + difficulty sleeping), and forgot to battery-test that batch of cabs before shipping them. All the cabs that I shipped yesterday were battery-tested.

 

[Freddels]

Now I'm going to want a pair of 1203's and a Monique.

 

[dmrogers]

Now I'm going to want a pair of 1203's and a Monique.

As good as Monique sounds with my GS112s, I can't wait to hear it (in person) through the 1203's.

The sound clips that nostatic playing through the Monique and the 1203's (and steubig) posted really helped seal the deal on the 1203, but standing right in front of them has got to be a blast!

 

[LeonD]

Now I'm going to want a pair of 1203's and a Monique.

Not sure about want but I'd like to compare the 1203 to a TC first hand.

And I'd like to compare my Demeter to a Monique.

 

[maisbass]

Maisbass, man I am so sorry about that. I was really tired when I finished up that batch, a side-effect of the hand injury (working longer hours + difficulty sleeping), and forgot to battery-test that batch of cabs before shipping them. All the cabs that I shipped yesterday were battery-tested.

Duke,
No worries, I know you're burning the candle at both ends, dealing with your injury, and trying to fill back orders. I totally understand, you are a boutique dealer, not a big box manufacturer, so you basically take everything on yourself. Considering everything you're going through, sometimes sh*t happens. It was such a minor fix so really, no worries here.

As for Monique with the 1203's, it does sound great. But as I said many times before here, my Glock sounds fantastic as well and IMO, rivals Monique, and gives it good, stiff, competition.

Honestly Duke's cabs are so crisp and articulate, that they will basically reproduce anything you throw at it. So if you're happy with how your bass sounds, and whatever head you presently use, I think you will be very happy with his cabs. Sure the 1203's have some mid bite, and some say the TC's are "polite" in the mids, but in the end it's basically your sound from your bass and amp. So if you're happy with that, you will be a happy camper.