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Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia
- Thread starter kesslari
- Start date
Recently acquired my second MAS 110. One has the Eminence, the other the Faital with a mid switch. I also have a 1x8 and a Bodai 28. All sound very good. I choose cab(s) by the room I'm going to play. Arkham Abyss and R.A.D. Engineering Pascal 1000 for pre/power. Bitchin' rig(s).
The Faital 1x10:
The Eminence 1x10:
The 1x8 (left) next to the Eminence 1x10:
The Bodai 28:
The Faital 1x10:
The Eminence 1x10:
The 1x8 (left) next to the Eminence 1x10:
The Bodai 28:
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,225
- 45,040
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
@BIGREDSIX Nice Rigs!
Just want to add that I'm playing the 8's exclusively (and have had other MAS cabs).
No issues whatsoever with "too much bottom" or muddy low end. I do use an HPF.
Just want to add that I'm playing the 8's exclusively (and have had other MAS cabs).
No issues whatsoever with "too much bottom" or muddy low end. I do use an HPF.
Ditto - curious to hear your impressions, including how the B28 and the either of the MAS 110s compare in volume and coverage, but also in how everything compares to everything else in every respect, really.
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Well, I'm not going to be able to provide anyone with any "technical" info. I let my ears be the judge. Mike's cabs are simply the best I've ever used, and I've been playing bass since 1966. Even convinced me to let go of my beloved Bergantino cabs, which for the record, are excellent IMO and IME. Anyway of the four of Mikes' that I own and gig, the Bodai 2x8 is the one I've had and gigged the longest/most. It simply has given me everything I could ask of a single cab in any environment/room I've played in yet. I grew up in a house with a grand piano with technically, musically gifted siblings. It's the sound I "hear" in my head. Full range, clear, yet "under" the band, sound-wise. I generally play 5 string, and I'm lucky to have two exceptional ones in my stable. The B28 has performed beautifully every time. Had many compliments from other musicians and bassists in particular. But you other MAS/Big E-aholics already know this.
As for the "differences". Between the two 1x10's, I would say that the Eminence cab has more pronounced low mids and the Faital more pronounced upper mids. The two of them together are mind-boggling, with the Arkham Abyss (thanks Micah and Jake!) and R.A.D. Pascal 1000 (thanks Randy!). I've gigged each separately; yet to gig both together. I gigged the 1x8 and Eminence 1x10 once (with a Quilter Bass 800) and wasn't knocked out with that pairing. I mostly use the 1x8 for rehearsals, although when I got it I was thinking of pairing it with the Bodai 28 (if I ever played the United Center or other mega stadium) . Haven't yet
In conclusion, they are all different flavors of great IMO. I couldn't be happier, and Mike is the best. Kudos to Micah and Randy as well for their exceptional gear.
P.S. I would also add these possibly nebulous terms to describe both of the 1x10 cabs and the B28: Muscular, articulate, and tight. I always use an HPF as well.
As for the "differences". Between the two 1x10's, I would say that the Eminence cab has more pronounced low mids and the Faital more pronounced upper mids. The two of them together are mind-boggling, with the Arkham Abyss (thanks Micah and Jake!) and R.A.D. Pascal 1000 (thanks Randy!). I've gigged each separately; yet to gig both together. I gigged the 1x8 and Eminence 1x10 once (with a Quilter Bass 800) and wasn't knocked out with that pairing. I mostly use the 1x8 for rehearsals, although when I got it I was thinking of pairing it with the Bodai 28 (if I ever played the United Center or other mega stadium) . Haven't yet
In conclusion, they are all different flavors of great IMO. I couldn't be happier, and Mike is the best. Kudos to Micah and Randy as well for their exceptional gear.
P.S. I would also add these possibly nebulous terms to describe both of the 1x10 cabs and the B28: Muscular, articulate, and tight. I always use an HPF as well.
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Played a couple of 90 minute sets over the weekend using one of the former @coyoteboy MA109 cabs. It was on the back deck of a coffee shop with acoustic guitar and vocals through a not-great PA and a not-loud drummer...so not a serious test but still impressive. Some musicians in the crowd noticed my playing so I think the tone was there. Oh, I used an iAmp pro turned way down.
Things seem to have gone quiet on the two threads? I recently moved to the Lost Sierra's and am working with a start up in Reno NV and I always take the MAS 28 to the rehearsals in a basement club of a historic era bar. I started to hear some kind of distortion or gank, (technical term), and figured since I have challenged the 28 with even outdoor gigs that I had finally damaged a driver. I took off the grill to push on the driver cones to hear scratchy symptoms of driver damage. I found none to my relief and during the process was impressed with the fit and finish of Mike's work. That grill fits into the cab so tight and precisely one must be careful in the replacement. The issue with the distortion turned out to be the input jack on the bass being a little loose. Back in business and still amazed what this little package of dynamite can put out. I hope these cabs can be in production for all who hear about them. Best wishes to MAS and BigE genius
Well, I mentioned in the other thread how much I (on a recent visit to Mike's place) dug the new 110s with the Faital driver -- seriously considering a pair of these for a modular rig. Super-easy to carry, too.
Gained a new appreciation for the MAS 28, too -- I think that Mike must have done something to the 8s since I heard those two prototype 18s, way back -- both the MAS 28 and the Bodai 28 were still deep, but tighter and more articulate than I recall the proto 18s being. I'd call the MAS 28 thick, but still clear and articulate.
The Bodai 28 -- holy cow, is that thing detailed -- and the mids are sweet. I'm kind of jealous of those like @kesslari and @BIGREDSIX who are gigging them.
Between the Bodai 28 and the MAS 110... depends on the amp and the situation, for me.
The Bodai is 4 Ohms, gorgeous sounding, and a good and compact one-cab solution for a lot of stuff. Brought out the nuances in all of the fancy preamps we tried with it.
The MAS 110 is 8 Ohms, but can sound almost as loud/big as a 28 while being smaller. The one I played brought out the best in the Orange 4-Stroke 500 -- more open-sounding, to my ear, than the MAS 28 and two would make for a stack louder and way more compact than my MAS 112, which is hard for me to believe. Not as detailed as the B28, but nice -- natural-sounding and fun to play.
Hey mate (and other MAS aficionados), I stay subscribed to this thread to catch updates from time to time but my current situation does not warrant anything close to the level of refinement that Mike's gear provides (but @MarkA's reviews and thoughts are super and I enjoy reading them).
Earlier this year I scored a 2000 Fender Bassman 400 210 combo and it is one of, if not the best sounding rig I've owned. I can plug in any of my basses into it, keep it set flat, and each one of them sound fantastic. Never been able to do that before (GK 800rb comes close to that!) That said, the combo is all I need for my own purposes right now, but I will say that when I'm able a Mesa D-180 and a Flex 210 would make for a nice addition to my new townhome's music room, just sayin'...
At my church I play their gear, except for our last event that my combo was the right solution for, so anything extra is a luxury right now. And apart from an event back in June I haven't done much with my band; sure wish I could replace the Workingman's 15 in our sanctuary with my combo but I would need something at home. Wait, did I just justify a 18??
Raz
I really enjoyed having my 18 in the living room. I still get to hear it every Sunday in its current duty as a keyboard/vocal monitor. 
Finally got my Jack Casady Sig through the B28 at a larger living room jam. 3D lows and everything else again... This bass has a unique low end that came through great.
I don't want to bother the guru's who are busy building and innovating with a pm. Does anyone know which would be louder without strain in an outdoor situation, between the MAS 28 and the 66?
Thanks for the updated descriptions! These are the two cabs I’m torn between for downsizing my 112. I’ll probably call Mike to be the deciding factor. Sounds like I can’t be wrong either way.
I think the MAS 28 would edge a 46 by a small amount in volume -- and I like the tone profile and note envelope a little more for how I play electric bass -- but for sheer volume, I don't think it would hang with a 66, assuming both are adequately pushed by the amp.
A good HPF, per Mike (and per my observations of various pres, with and without HPF, through the cabs at Mike's place), can make a big difference with the 28 if the pre/amp has a lot of extension below 30 Hz. Don't know how sensitive the 6s are, relatively speaking.
Edit: See correction a few posts down -- a MAS 28 should be closer in potential output to a 66 than to a 46.
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You could add to your list the new, downsized 112 -- didn't get to hear it, but I did get to see one that appeared to be awaiting speakers and, relative to the old school MAS 112s, that thing is tiny.
Sound per cubic centimeter, though, the new MAS 110s appear to be king -- and, from everything Mike says (and from my experience of my own 112 and the earlier 112 with the custom Eminence speaker), would have more booty than the 112 (though still sounded open and nicely balanced to my ear).
Bodai 28 is a beautiful-sounding (and, again, outrageously detailed -- but not at all harsh) cab, but if you like a bit of paper-cone breakup with your cab, it's probably not the way to go. Would depend on your amp, too -- as I said, the Orange amp was more sympatico with the 110 than the Bodai.
All set at Captains Getaway in Okoboji, Iowa for the next two nights...really big room and this cab was tearing it up before soundcheck...doors not open yet so let it fly right lol...and the top end is exceptional...pretty spoiled
