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Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia

#2,081
MarkA said:
When I got the 46, I was looking for something versatile and one-hand-schleppable I could use for practice at home, practice with people, and playing smaller rooms. It's not as small as a compact 1x12" and it's a good deal louder, but Mike did say it would "get going" earlier in smaller spaces and at lower volumes than the 112. To my ear, it does, though I have a hard time quantifying exactly how much earlier. I think that this would translate to "loading up" a small space less than the MAS 112, but, again, don't know how to quantify that.

I've never overloaded the room on a gig with the 112, but playing a quiet blues jam in a small space once with it and my GBE 1200, I didn't feel like I could get the cab or the amp going properly -- total overkill and I felt a bit silly, yes. It sounded good, but not at its best. For reference, I think I could've covered that jam with 100 Watts and decent 1x10" -- for sure and easily with my little Markbass 121P combo (have covered bigger and louder with that little amp in the past).

The 46 feels and sounds different than the 18 Sound 112. Could be nice for a contrast, but isn't "the same but smaller". Last time I talked to Mike he said that the new 109 would be more similar to the 112 vibe -- we didn't go into detail about it, but something to think about, depending on what you're looking for.
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Thnx for the description.

I'm pretty sure I've over-pressurized/loaded up a room on a couple occasions with my MAS112. As (I think it was Steve R and others) some folks mentioned there's a loss of clarity when you hit that point. Still sounds as good as the conventional cabs I've used, but not that "mastering room" kind of quality to the bass, in the live mix. Most times the MAS112 is perfect for the rooms I'm working, but I'd like to have a smaller cab that I can push sufficiently for the smaller rooms.

(Scratching his bald head...) So Ima gonna save up for a smaller cab for smaller rooms. 'Sall good!
 
#2,082
The reference rig for next month's Wisconsin Bassists GTG.
(absolute date pending)

And yes; it will be used Outside.

I have one room that could possibly let the Matchless / MAS LPT let loose and run the Vortexitude but the Sigs would crush.

20150823_092431.jpg
 
#2,084
You may be spot on EWO.

We will find out soon.

70% of the time it's the Matchless and the LPT 112

Occasionally a Glockenklang Blue Sky and one or two sigs.

The trio gets the composite set up.
Lehle little dual
Matchless + LPT
Blue Sky + one MAS 112

One outdoor show I brought all three.
Drummer put the spare sig behind him.

Two songs in, second song was 17 minutes or so, he asked me to disconnect it. Mumbled something about chili dogs and cheese curds.

LOL
 
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#2,089
thumbs&fingers said:
The shaw is really special, gettin ready to play it now. My neighbors are gonna hate me-but it's worth it.
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Amen, brother. My all time favorite quote is from a guy we all know who happens to have the same initials as TalkBass. "Life is too short to play with crappy gear" - Tom Bowlus

Life is too short to not experience an amp as good as the Shaw B-150... :bassist:
 
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#2,090
Playing around a bit with the 112, Flex, and 46 -- and listening. The 112 was described some posts up as "tight and right". I second that. Still my default cab -- the one I'm most familiar and comfortable with. Sounds lovely opened up. It is "tighter and righter" than any backline cab -- of any size -- that I encounter, despite extending lower. I think people associate "tight" with "attenuated/rolled-off bass", but that doesn't have to be the case. Even with 4-string, the difference is audible and palpable. It's spoiled me a bit for other cabs -- when I play them now, E string notes sound thin (or bloated when you try to compensate with EQ).

I've been playing the 112 with various tube pres and my GBE 1200 -- I like that amp quite a bit. Some of the tube pres do some things better than the GBE -- a little more lush, a little more "bounce", a little more detail -- but that amp is quick, detailed, solid, even, a hammer, and reliable. I've been going back to it now and then to reset my ears after experimenting with other stuff. Much as I like that amp, the 112 shows me how it rolls off down low -- never noticed that with other cabs, and never felt it was an issue. I rarely engaged the "LF Boost" feature (which has a bit of boost but also rolls down the HPF) before playing the 112, now I use quite a bit of it (and just a little bass boost), dialing it in until the bass sounds even throughout its register. The GBE's default voicing/HPF makes sense with a lot of cabs, but I'm glad, now, that I can roll it down!

The Flex goes just a bit lower than the 112. I think I can hear it.

The 46 goes even lower. I can definitely hear it. As low as the 112 extends, the 46 goes audibly lower. It's insane. Most cabs do very little with the fundamental of a low E, let alone a low B, but this lets you hear both clearly -- it's neither anemic nor exaggerated, just there in the same way that the notes an octave up are. Kind of astonishing.

That's not to say I can't enjoy other sounds -- I'm not an 810 guy, but I appreciate the tone of an old SVT, as notoriously rolled-off as it is. All my favorite Motown lines were certainly recorded on stuff without much extension in either direction, but the feel, particularly playing live, of those low notes, fully realized, speaking quickly and clearly, is something special.
 
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#2,091
Another great review MarkA. And thanks for the review in my thread. I am thinking of stacking my super bassman on top of my 46 on top of the 2x10 flex at a gig later this month. Will trade off and see which cab fits my moderate size club needs the best. This one has high ceilings but very reflective. The 46 might be able to go it alone, but this will be fun. Kesslari once joked that I could host my own MAS GTG since I have 3 different models. I'm thinkin you could too! And explain them well too.
 
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#2,092
Hey just thought I would mention for those that don't go to the BigE forum, that Leland and his son went to Stanford U, where there are now installed two of his PA cabs in one of their challenging lecture halls. The Stanford guy responsible for such things is reportedly very happy that the BigE design cabs have cleaned up the sound in that challenging space.
 
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#2,093
+1 to Mark's comments, above, on the 112. (I don't yet have experience with other MAS cabs...there's a 46/sub in my future, though.)

It's unique, of all the gazillion cabs I've played through over the years, in the way it can produce serious slam in the low register and still cut off instantly when I dampen a note. As heavy as I want it, and still immediately responsive to my articulation--that's a very musical trait in a cab!

That works really well for me on the gig. I don't need to fight with crunched up guitar tones for space in the mix. I can swing Thor's hammer _under_ them.
 
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#2,094
Ewo said:
+1 to Mark's comments, above, on the 112. (I don't yet have experience with other MAS cabs...there's a 46/sub in my future, though.)

It's unique, of all the gazillion cabs I've played through over the years, in the way it can produce serious slam in the low register and still cut off instantly when I dampen a note. As heavy as I want it, and still immediately responsive to my articulation--that's a very musical trait in a cab!

That works really well for me on the gig. I don't need to fight with crunched up guitar tones for space in the mix. I can swing Thor's hammer _under_ them.
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got Thor's swing... :bassist:

I got my good vibrations happening this morning trying a new set of strings (Dunlop SS - excellent) on my P/J into the Shaw/Flex 110. I've been digging the -3 db mid setting with the tweet engaged. I feel so blessed to have the best live tone ever and honestly can't imagine a more satisfying rig. :rollno:
 
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#2,097
I'd call that Kustom a small head, mntngrwn. :) Nice kick for a micro, though. Pretty insane with the Flex - will do way more than "moderate volume"!

Would love to hear the Shaw with the Flex. Have had stray thoughts about tube amps (never had a full tube amp), and the Flex seems pretty efficient. Wouldn't be prudent right now, though.

Along the tubey/efficient lines, I tried the Flex with the Mesa Walkabout - just at home so far, but sounded thick with a nice kick. I know that Mike would recommend (and that the cab will handle) more amp, but, based on my experience with the 500 Watt KXB just coasting with the Flex, I want to try the 300 W Walkabout with it on a gig. I don't think the WA's ~165 Watts @ 8 Ohms would do it with my 112, but Mike said it would power the latest, 4 Ohm iteration of the 112 - the one with the new Eminence woofer made for it - just fine. I dunno. I've thought about selling the Walkabout before, but have never managed to put it up.
 
#2,099
Another good gig with Ma-109 powered by Walkabout. All NS EUB this time. Sweet and meaty. Skinny old timey bar, americana and stuff for rep., acoustic, electric, and me. Nothing will sound better than this setup, only different.
 
#2,100
coyoteboy said:
Another good gig with Ma-109 powered by Walkabout. All NS EUB this time. Sweet and meaty. Skinny old timey bar, americana and stuff for rep., acoustic, electric, and me. Nothing will sound better than this setup, only different.
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Thought you were Superbird for a minute, reporting back on the gig, with the 109 and upright!
 
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