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Avatar Owners Club Pt. 2

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#62
kaiser_sosea said:
Ready for a bump, rig all packed up and ready to go to the gig.

May09photos066.gif
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Looks like your kitty is stoked on your Avatars and your dog couldn't care less!:D
 
#63
ERIC31 said:
Looks like your kitty is stoked on your Avatars and your dog couldn't care less!:D
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LOL, ya the dog is pissed cuz that's where he likes to sleep and the cat's looking for some carpet to scratch. It's funny, I have two cats and they both love to sleep on top of my amp after it's been running, apparently it's a bit warmer than the ambient temperature of the home.
 
#71
I know Avatars get a lot of great reviews and there are many fans of the cabs, but I have an issue that maybe some of you guys can comment on. I had been playing a pair of SWR Jr III's for over ten years with no problems, except that I put better Eminence speakers in them a few years ago. I had been looking at all the Neo cabs out there and reading reviews etc. The weight reduction was my main goal - to make it easier on my back. I finally decided on a pair of Avatar Neo 210's. My first impression was that the grills were way cheap - and you can cut your fingers on them if you're not careful. I don't think it would cost that much more for them to install grills with folded edges! But, that's a minor nitpick. The more important topic - sound. These boxes do not have the punch or low end I was used to hearing. I went to the trouble of swapping out the Neos and put in the Eminece speakers from my SWR's - same problem - I think. I'm no sound engineer and I don't know anything about designing a bass cab, but I think it's the cab itself. Either the tuning or the construction. One thing I noticed is that there is no support inside the cab running from the baffle to the back of the cab as on the SWR. This would make for a less rigid cab, no? So, my first experience with Neo's and Avatar is not so good. I'm having a local shop build me a pair of 210 cabs using the dimensions and design of the SWR's now - with no carpet - natural like the Bag End natural birch series. So much for weight reduction. I'm going back to the Eminence Delta 10's as well. I guess I gotta go with what has been working. Has anybody else A/B'd the Avatar 210 against others?
 
#72
bwoodman said:
I know Avatars get a lot of great reviews and there are many fans of the cabs, but I have an issue that maybe some of you guys can comment on. I had been playing a pair of SWR Jr III's for over ten years with no problems, except that I put better Eminence speakers in them a few years ago. I had been looking at all the Neo cabs out there and reading reviews etc. The weight reduction was my main goal - to make it easier on my back. I finally decided on a pair of Avatar Neo 210's. My first impression was that the grills were way cheap - and you can cut your fingers on them if you're not careful. I don't think it would cost that much more for them to install grills with folded edges! But, that's a minor nitpick. The more important topic - sound. These boxes do not have the punch or low end I was used to hearing. I went to the trouble of swapping out the Neos and put in the Eminece speakers from my SWR's - same problem - I think. I'm no sound engineer and I don't know anything about designing a bass cab, but I think it's the cab itself. Either the tuning or the construction. One thing I noticed is that there is no support inside the cab running from the baffle to the back of the cab as on the SWR. This would make for a less rigid cab, no? So, my first experience with Neo's and Avatar is not so good. I'm having a local shop build me a pair of 210 cabs using the dimensions and design of the SWR's now - with no carpet - natural like the Bag End natural birch series. So much for weight reduction. I'm going back to the Eminence Delta 10's as well. I guess I gotta go with what has been working. Has anybody else A/B'd the Avatar 210 against others?
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Well, remember, Avatars are entry level, cheaper alternatives to most upper brand name companies, like SWR. IIRC.

But the sound, maybe they just arent for you. You know? I love my tone through them.. Opinions, opinions.
 
#74
I think I have owned every bass cab Avatar has ever made. If I was rich, I would have kept them all. Dave at Avatar gets help from Eminence's engineer Jerry McNutt, on his cab design and porting, as I'm told, and thats why all his cabs sound so great. I own two 410neo cabs, each 4 ohms at this time, and love them. I hit them with 850 watts each, from my Carvin DCM2500 power amp, and they just make the chest pounding thump, and pants flap, that we all long for. They have deep lows and crispy highs. The best cabs that I have personally ever owned. Probably my last cabs, 'cause I'm 56 now, and won't be giging steady much anymore. But I'm not selling, just in case you know. They still rock the hell out of my garage each day, and living out in the sticks, I can crank it to the limit anytime I want to. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

Buy Avatar cabs. At the price point, you just can't go wrong.
 
#75
bwoodman said:
These boxes do not have the punch or low end I was used to hearing. I went to the trouble of swapping out the Neos and put in the Eminece speakers from my SWR's - same problem - I think. I'm no sound engineer and I don't know anything about designing a bass cab, but I think it's the cab itself. Either the tuning or the construction. One thing I noticed is that there is no support inside the cab running from the baffle to the back of the cab as on the SWR. This would make for a less rigid cab, no? So, my first experience with Neo's and Avatar is not so good.
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Now, I haven't totally given my 112 a run yet, but I may agree with you. Granted I was using a 70lb Ampeg 115 with tweeters but figured a 12 would be a good compromise anyway. And doesn't Avatar NOT make 15s because the 12 can basically do was their 15 could anyway?

I can seem to get a good clean tone out of the Avatar with my GK 800RB, but not the grind/growl GK is known for. So, I dunno, I may sell the 112 and try a 210 and if that works get another 210.

More testing needs to be done though.
 
#76
NS2A said:
Now, I haven't totally given my 112 a run yet, but I may agree with you. Granted I was using a 70lb Ampeg 115 with tweeters but figured a 12 would be a good compromise anyway. And doesn't Avatar NOT make 15s because the 12 can basically do was their 15 could anyway?

I can seem to get a good clean tone out of the Avatar with my GK 800RB, but not the grind/growl GK is known for. So, I dunno, I may sell the 112 and try a 210 and if that works get another 210.

More testing needs to be done though.
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I don't know about selling the 112. I think a 210 would be a good cab to add to your 112. I'm going to add internal supports to my 210 Avatars - 3/4" birch ply running front to back behind the baffle board + I might add some more muffling material. I think that will help, but I won't know until I do the mod. I guess I can't complain: $350 for the Avatar vs. $650 for an SWR for example. What I liked about Avatar is the recessed bar handles and the Line-X finish. My SWRs are pretty beat up at this point - and I've had to replace the handles several times - the spring-loaded type handles break after a few years (the actual spring breaks and the handle doesn't spring back). I'll put the Neos back in as well and see if I can get the punch and low end that I'm looking for. I almost bought the Carvin Neo 210 cabs, but they didn't offer their Line-x cab in an 8 ohm version.
 
#77
Great pic, Panaran! :bassist:

My opinion is that the Avatars sound very good for the money, and are an excellent value.

Before I got my 212 (GK 700RBII), I tested the Ampeg cabs out (most of their cabs save 6X10 and 8X10), Bag End, Ashdown, GK, and have a long familiarity with SWR. I could not be happier with the 212, though I have yet to gig the thing.

As to getting 'grind', that's accomplished easily enough via my playing style and SansAmp VT Bass pedal to dial in whatever I need. I decided I'd rather be able to dial in grind than be 'stuck' with it as a characteristic. DON'T misunderstand me, the Ampegs sound great, but I could not find a configuration of theirs that made me completely happy.
 
#79
First post to this thread, looking for some advice...glad to find y'all!

I'm currently using an 8ohm SWR gollaith II, powered by an old trace elliot 500W beast.

I'm looking to replace the SWR due to weight / size issues (back / hatchback), likely to a pair of 2x10s.

Was hoping for some input from the folks here that may have had direct comparison between the SWR 4x10 and the Avatar 2x10s, either paired, solo, or used in conjunction with something else.

I love the tone of the SWR, just not the weight. For reference, this is going to be used in fairly loud rock bands as well as more minutemen-y improvy situations. My main bass is a 4001, and it'll also see some P/J style, hoffner copy & fretless use. Virtually only 4 string, passive instruments, fingerstyle.

FWIW, I've tried the Avatar 2x12 cabinet, and liked the sound of it a lot, but am really hoping for a modular setup of smaller cabinets.

Thanks!
 
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