Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia

[radbass]

Mike's done it again. I stopped by the MAS center for bone crushing bass yesterday and got to hear the new Bodai 28. We played some music through it for fun and it has just about the smoothest most natural sound I've heard. I blows away any PA speaker and sounds better than most stereo speakers. Human voice sounds amazingly natural and the low end is just insane. This thing goes lower than any of the other MAS cabs, which is really saying something, with no flabby, boomy bottom, just tight, fast, usable, super low end. To me this is the most natural and pretty sounding of all Mike's speakers, even better than my previous favorite, the 4x5. We were comparing it to a new Bodai 12, which has a more traditional musical instrument sound. The 12 just pounds on you and is probably the ultimate rock bass cab, but the 2x8 goes lower and sounds sweeter. The 12 is a little more efficient, but if you give the 2x8 some power, the low, low end is stronger. We played 5 string electric through both cabs with, I think, a Demeter
pre and an RAD 1200 amp. I was so blown away, I wasn't paying close attention. The Bodai 12 proved it is a most amazing bass cab, loud, punchy, and wonderful mids, but I haven't experienced the sound of a B string like what comes out of the 2x8, tight articulate and super deep. The 2x8 isn't quite as loud as the 12, but we added a 1x8 to the Bodai 2x8 and it was about even. I think if you attenuated the bass a little, the 3x8 set up would have a little more volume than the 12. The weird thing is the cab is about the size of a 4x6 and weighs about the same. The 2x8 is louder and deeper than a Bodai 1x10 and not quite as loud as a 1x12, but has more usable low end. I have a Bodai 28 and a 18 on order.

 

[spiritbass]

I have a Bodai 28 and a 18 on order.

You knew that was going to happen, right?

 

[J.Wolf]

oooooh.. nice write up Randy! Now I really want a 28 or a 2x18

 

[Saetia]

Dude, a 28 or 2x18 is on my list. I wonder how the 28 compares to two 18's?

 

[radbass]

The biggest difference between 2 18s and the Bodai 28 is the MVW enclosure for the 2-4" mids that makes a significant difference in the projection and sound of the mids and highs.

 

[radbass]

I hear there may be a Bodai 3x8.

 

[Razman]

I hear there may be a Bodai 3x8.

Meh, I wanna see a Bodai 212.

drooldrooldrool

Raz

 

[3rdcurve]

I hear there may be a Bodai 3x8.

Sunuva.......

 

[thumbs&fingers]

Mike, if you do a 3x8 I'm in.

 

[MarkA]

I hear there may be a Bodai 3x8.

I was just thinking about that...

 

[thumbs&fingers]

Ok, that's three of us. Let's start a rally!

 

[Stu_Bass]

I like the thought of a 3x8 but wonder what weight it would come in at. At around 47# for the 2x8 it is at the upper limit of how much I can lift these days with my back issues.

 

[radbass]

Get a 2x8 and a 1x8. That's what I'm doing.

 

[kesslari]

I must be a freak. My Flex/MAS109(sub) so meets my needs and desires that I don't feel any need or desire to upgrade.

 

[RoadRanger]

I must be a freak. My Flex/MAS109(sub) so meets my needs and desires that I don't feel any need or desire to upgrade.

Don't worry - you hang around on TB long enough the G.A.S. will strike .

 

[Stu_Bass]

Get a 2x8 and a 1x8. That's what I'm doing.

I just may do that. I'm thinking powered 18 and non-powered Bodai 28. Are the Bodai 28's 4 or 8 ohm?
Actually toying with the thought of (2) Bodai 28's and a sub for the kill.

 

[MrBEAR]

and it all comes around full circle for me.

I first contacted Mike, due to my love of 8's for bass, back when he was building the Crazy 8 and 88.

So here I am, waiting for sunshine to grab some pictures and place a for sale ad in the TB classifieds.

MAS 38 please.

 

[radbass]

For now, as I understand it, the 28 is 4ohms and a 38 would be 2.67. That could change.

 

[MarkA]

I just may do that. I'm thinking powered 18 and non-powered Bodai 28. Are the Bodai 28's 4 or 8 ohm?
Actually toying with the thought of (2) Bodai 28's and a sub for the kill.

If by "sub" you mean the MAS 110 sub (same that comes with the Flex Mod), I like mine and have been using it with a variety of cabs -- goes well with the Flex (of course) and the 46 and I've gigged it successfully with my Audiokinesis Hathor 1203 (just put some taller feet on the Hathor to clear the handle on the sub, so I can do a vertical stack as well as the sub-horizontal stacks I posted before -- haven't gigged the vertical stack, yet, but it sounds nicely balanced at home). From what I heard of the two 18s stacked, though, I'd be shocked if you needed a sub with two 28s... that said, what do I know? Could be great. I thought the sub with the Hathor might be boomy and that the mids/highs might get overwhelmed, but, if anything, pairing the two together -- particularly when the sub gets going a bit -- seems to make the Hathor sound more clear and project better out in the house.

 

[spiritbass]

I must be a freak. My Flex/MAS109(sub) so meets my needs and desires that I don't feel any need or desire to upgrade.

Curiosity didn't really kill the cat, but it did lower its bank account balance significantly. It would be cool to hear some of the new designs, but like you, I'm still happy with my cabs. The only money I've spent on my rig lately was for a custom pickup for my Dingwall Super P and it was well worth it.