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Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia

#561
Stepping away from my most recent posts on unique modular rigs,

Getting back to tone...

Today, I took a trip down talkbass memory lane and re-read / mentally relived all of my old posts about rig searches for the last ten years.

A few things stood out, and a few important things I feel my most recent rigs have missed.

In particular, reviewing my own words,

1. I like cabs that throw Harmonics clear as a bell.
2. I like softer home hifi-esce highs.
2. I like cabs that punch quick, like the old 10s verses 12s debate everyone hates ( I prefered tens)
3. I like cabs that were deep, more importantly I guess, sounded deep.

As soon as I read those posts, bam, I was like that's what's been missing.

Two moments in history stood out.

1. Owned an Accugrove Whappo jr. for years, it was the clarity and the highs were dead in line with what I love.
2. Multiple experiences with 3 older EA cabs, the CXL-210, CXL-112, and the VL-210B
I remember two major things, number one, they all seemed to sound "deep". And when I read the posts, I
totally remembered that tone, I only played 4s, so it wasn't actually deep, it just sounded that way. Particularly,
the CXL-210 and the CXL-112.
The second was that, in my whole life, I believe, the CXL-210 was the most dead on cabinet to my tonal goals
and playing. Anyone who know the cab, it was a 210 with a coax top driver. It had a not so shrill soft-domeish
top end, was super clear, and quick punchy through the whole range, and it sounded deep on the bottom end.
I remember I never bought it because I couldn't justify buying a pair of 80+ pound 210s, each. It sucked
because it was so right.

So, long story short, I'm curious with anyone who's had experience, which of these cabs can cop those killer jump out harmonics, slightly soft domeish highs, quick punch and have that "deep" sound, like a CXL-210 / Whappo jr.
Hybrid? Obviously with the added bonus of the MVw dispersion mayhem.

I'm asking because I heard how great the harmonics are on the 5 based cabs, but how deep the 6s are, how punchy the flexes are, and how immediate the 112s are. A wide array of killer characteristics.
 
#562
I've only played the Flex and heard Mtngrown's 48.
So I can't speak for the other cabs, but for what you want, the Flex210 (or Modular, like mine) delivers.
1. I like cabs that throw Harmonics clear as a bell.
Check.
2. I like softer home hifi-esce highs.
Definitely available with the various switching options. Check.
2. I like cabs that punch quick, like the old 10s verses 12s debate everyone hates ( I prefered tens)
Check plus!
3. I like cabs that were deep, more importantly I guess, sounded deep.
Check. The lows I get from the 210 feel more solid and more visceral (lower) than my old 15/6 fEarful.

Have fun...
 
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#563
I can only comment on the MAS112 ,that's the only one I have . as far as how immediate it is ,well it is immediate! I was able to talk with Mike before my purchase a bit about cabs . In my past the cab I loved the most was my EA VL210 I used it with an ashdown ABM 500 and it was my altime favorite setup.I sold it in a effort to ditch the weight of the VL210 and have tried everything since and never really found what I was missing .I have at this point since purchasing the MAS112 ended my search it is over the MAS112 has given me everything I was missing. The clarity and outright authority this cab delivers for its given size and weight is nothing less to me than astonishing. I was on the fence between this cab or a pair of Duke's Hathor 1203 cabs . I will still end up getting one Hathor 1203 for my more intimate low volume small stage gigs but just for the convenience of a smaller footprint. But the MAS112 Can do the smaller gigs with ease as well just like both builders designs and they both have their place.and by the way Mike used to play through the VL210 cabs himself so he can definitely give you comparison's on his cabs verses the VL210
 
#564
It's enticing every time...

The cab I currently drag to small open mic we run and jam at is a friends BA-115 ampeg. 21x21x15 at 60 lbs,
About the same size as a flex 110 and only a hundred what 15.

No brainer if I wanted to hold size, but I was looking lighter smaller, etc, seems recently volume necessities are not so maximized.

I feel like a flex 110 would fit the volume bill easily.

I'm just curios if I maybe goin the 25/110 sub or 112 route may give me similar volume with the modularity I seek.

The thing I never do is the flexibility thing. Certified set it and forget it guy here.
But if that one sound is on the flex...

Then I hear about the deepness of the sixes and a 46 or dual 26 is intriguing as well.


Oh, and another past cab that had that "deep" character was the eden XST-210s I had. Threw that out there.

I need to road trip to Chicago, lol, only 17 hours or so. Haha
 
#565
johnnybass01 said:
I can only comment on the MAS112 ,that's the only one I have . as far as how immediate it is ,well it is immediate! I was able to talk with Mike before my purchase a bit about cabs . In my past the cab I loved the most was my EA VL210 I used it with an ashdown ABM 500 and it was my altime favorite setup.I sold it in a effort to ditch the weight of the VL210 and have tried everything since and never really found what I was missing .I have at this point since purchasing the MAS112 ended my search it is over the MAS112 has given me everything I was missing. The clarity and outright authority this cab delivers for its given size and weight is nothing less to me than astonishing. I was on the fence between this cab or a pair of Duke's Hathor 1203 cabs . I will still end up getting one Hathor 1203 for my more intimate low volume small stage gigs but just for the convenience of a smaller footprint. But the MAS112 Can do the smaller gigs with ease as well just like both builders designs and they both have their place.and by the way Mike used to play through the VL210 cabs himself so he can definitely give you comparison's on his cabs verses the VL210
Click to expand...

I know, mike has a close historical relationship with EA and they are 1/2 an hour from my house. Great guys, great gear.

I talked about this with mike once before. My AG jr. I had in the past had such great highs to me, just perfect, and harmonics sang in that cab. Later he told me the original 5 based cabs used the same soft domes.

A few days ago we discussed a modular setup that has me intrigued. Basically, a 25 top as a mid high speaker that can go full range solo as a small practice/ coffee house rig, over either an Ma-112 essential, or MAS-110 sub.

I guess, if I look at my goals from my latest post...

Harmonics that ring super clear, that home hifi softdomish top, quick punchy throughout, and a deep character,

If I were to get a 25 with a pair of vifa softees, I'd have my first two goals checked in a heartbeat.

Brings it back to which bottom has the best balance of taught punch, immediacy, and a deep deep character.

Less I forget, Mike already recommended the MA-112 Essential. But the added size and power may be overkill for my needs, but the presentation may be perfect. Hence my next post...
 
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#566
I've decided I have retrograded into speculation like I used to as a younger soul.

I refused to do that again.

Fact of the matter is, I have a new custom bass being built that hit the luthier table this morning.
No need to make decisions until new bass is in hand and personal impressions are made, IN PERSON.

I'll have to hit a fall GTG, or plan a road trip to the mid west.

For now I will sit back, and enjoy these developments.
 
#569
ImageUploadedByTalkBass1407814296.494851.jpg


That mvw stack really makes that berg 212 look tiny!
 
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#574
DirtPoorRobins said:
Oh and I'm thinking of getting a mas112 too.....
Click to expand...

Interesting thing is that the MAS112 sounds a lot different than the other cabs you have. About exactly the same size as the Berg. Man-- I just remembered---that 46 was one of the first cabinets I made!

Mark went with the same color scheme as the Great Kesslari.
 
#575
Mike Arnopol said:
Interesting thing is that the MAS112 sounds a lot different than the other cabs you have. About exactly the same size as the Berg. Man-- I just remembered---that 46 was one of the first cabinets I made!

Mark went with the same color scheme as the Great Kesslari.
Click to expand...

Yeah mike, I've been with you since the start, ever since I called you asking about a crazy 88 and you said, "man have I got something new for you."

I'll try and give you a call tomorrow about that mas112.....
 
#578
ImageUploadedByTalkBass1407846463.400251.jpg

This was my July 4th rig for an outdoor concert for 6,000 people. The stage was huge, like 60x35 maybe, and my cab was all the way to the back of the stage, so when I would walk to the other side of the stage to jam with the guitarist it was important that I could still hear myself even when I wasn't in front of a monitor. Mission accomplished. I think the flex does this even better than the other cabs I have.
 
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#580
I continue to be amazed at the undisputed sonic authority generated by the 10 and mid-pair of the Flex 110. I was playing my SJ/P5 this past Sunday which requires different EQ and cab settings than my other three basses because it has more energy in the low and upper bass region. With the other three basses, I can run the ten in phase with the mid/high section and plug into the 'bright' input of the Reeves. With the SJ/P5, I plug into the 'normal' channel, cut the bass a bit on the instrument and amp, throw the ten out of phase and Oh. My. GOD. It's amazing, visceral, and SO much fun!!! :bassist::bassist::bassist:
 
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