BFM Omni 10 vs anything else?

[Michael Vee]

As purveyor of Cyclopian avatars and general devil's advocate, I would like to encourage Tom to commission one of the Fitzmaurice authorized builders to build several of the BFM designs for his review.



How about it, Tom?

 

[fast slapper]

Here's an interesting thread comparing an Omni 15 to a DR280.

Sound clips included.

http://billfitzmaurice.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4653

 

[pjwalsh]

I've been playing through a pair of Omni 10.5's I built this summer. These are built to the plans with 2 piezo tweets each wired in parallel and Emminence Beta 10 drivers. When playing through a single 10.5 I also find the low frequencies to be thin but the pair used together has good low end - kinda similar to the Tom Bowlus experience when adding a second 1-10". If I use the mid scoop/contour setting on my GK 700RB-II I perceive the low end of a single 10.5 to be much more prominent. So far I've mainly been using the pair together.

 

[bgavin]

Measurements confirm the bass rolloff. It is simply the way it is, with this design. Those wanting a brighter sound in the harmonics will love it. Those wanting a thick bottom will not.

Bottom is a non-issue for players with PA support.

 

[tombowlus]

As purveyor of Cyclopian avatars and general devil's advocate, I would like to encourage Tom to commission one of the Fitzmaurice authorized builders to build several of the BFM designs for his review.



How about it, Tom?

You just wanted to prompt me to switch to that new avatar, didn't you? Thanks, again.

I'd love to review some more BFM cabs, of course.

 

[Michael Vee]

You just wanted to prompt me to switch to that new avatar, didn't you?

Your confession is now in hand, Brother Tom!

Cyclopian malformations, indeed.. There will also be an easter bunny cyclops, naturally. (Cracking up!)

Now, back on topic: There is a fellow bassist up in the tri-cities (Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City) area who has built an Omni 10. I am going to make a road trip up there after the holidays to hear his Omni 10. I can't wait!

I am either going to break down and build an Omni 10 myself this winter, or commission a BFM builder to do one for me. Leland Crooks has done some beauties.

 

[Maurice Carr]

OK I actually located this on the BFM site, you can do it but, it is intended for a cross firing tweeter array. Anyone have pics of the cross tweets?

I don't know how much longer I can wait to build one.

My O10's and O10.5s are built with the cross-fire tweeter arrangement width ( 23") but using the straight 4 ( or 2 ) tweeters rather than the cross-fire arrgt.

They are equipped with Eminence DLII2510 drivers.

For a very light "grab and run" cab that is easy transported to a gig, they are marvellous, and often i use the O10 and O10.5 together.

bgavin pointed out that they can be a little light on the bottom and SPL charts support that, however at every gig I have played using the O10/O10.5 I have had people come up and say how much they liked the sound of the bass rig and how clear everything was.

Seeing that it's the audience who pays the bills, I'm inclined to cater for them rather than yield to my own personal demands for just "a bit more bottom"

If you've got the building chops and a bit more room, the DRs with the T39s underneath are an unbeatable combination in my opinion.

 

[whodom]

I've been playing through a pair of Omni 10.5's I built this summer. These are built to the plans with 2 piezo tweets each wired in parallel and Emminence Beta 10 drivers. When playing through a single 10.5 I also find the low frequencies to be thin but the pair used together has good low end - kinda similar to the Tom Bowlus experience when adding a second 1-10". If I use the mid scoop/contour setting on my GK 700RB-II I perceive the low end of a single 10.5 to be much more prominent. So far I've mainly been using the pair together.

Nice to see some new postings in this thread.

pjwalsh, thanks for your comments; they're very helpful. Have you gigged with the cabs? Just wondering how they hold up in a band setting. Based on Maurice's comments, it sounds as if they'd do very well.

 

[pjwalsh]

I've used them in a small room with drum kit, tenor sax, electric guitar and keys. Had no problem with being heard over the drums and guitar - not many bodies in the place though. This Thursday I'll doing a set of Christmas songs at a workplace party with a hundred or so souls in a bigger place. I don't expect any issues with volume - with the GK 700RB-II these babies will put out plenty of sound.

I've been using them for long enough now that I can be more objective than right after building them. They have a very detailed sound, changes in my eq both on the bass and amplifier make a bigger difference with these than the sorta dog-eared Peavey 1-15" cab I had been using previously and there is of course a lot more high frequency content. If you are looking for a zingy jazz bridge pickup sound these cabs deliver it in spades. Using both bridge and neck pickups and eq set flat, notes played in the middle and high end of the neck sound incredibly full. however the open E string and low F are bit weak. From this point I can get a decent low E by turning the contour knob up to 12 o'clock, boosting bass, low mids, upper mids and cutting treble a bit. If you have a 5 string instrument with a low B or are into dropped tunings I would go for a different design (Omni 15) because the bass response is not gonna be enough but I like it for a 4 string so far.