Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia

[J.Wolf]

Can I take just A and B, please?



I found your comparisons succinct and well-put. Was cool to read the Flex vs. 112 comparo, as that's the one I didn't get to hear that I'd have really liked to.

With the 112, did you run with the tweeter (if there was one) on or off (or did you try both)? Do you feel that the tweeter adds much? How about the mid-position switch -- "hot" or "normal"? I wouldn't describe the low end of the 112 as "pillowy," but perhaps we have different ideas of what that means. Can you elaborate a bit on the differences in top end detail you heard (or similarities, if you feel them more similar than different). Finally, and this is pretty subjective, did one seem to have more of a 3-Dimensional quality to the sound than the other? Hard to describe, but having gigged a 210 Flex a few times, I think you know what I'm talking about!

Thanks for the useful post!
-Mark

P.S. Mike, dig the shoes!

Thanks Mark. We had a blast! I'll address your comments in order:

112 Tweeters: we did some comparing back and forth with and without the tweeters, and it was a surprisingly subtle difference. The 4's go up to about 14K per Mike if I'm not mistaken, so there's plenty of high-end without them, but kicking them on definitely adds a slight edge of air on top. I would say most players would be just fine without them, with the exception of guys who like a lot of a particular brand of high-end. Like if you love your UL 410 and run the tweeter hot, you might want a 112 with tweeters for sure. With my ash maple jazz, I preferred the tweets on for that Marcus type slice, for example. But otherwise I could prob get along ok with out them. I'm a "just in case" kind of guy so if I ordered a 112, I would probably order one with tweeters just to have them

Mid switch: personally there's plenty of mids in that cab without it, but I could see that additional mid boost being useful for certain players in certain contexts. It never hurts to have the options, and I'm sure certain players with different preferences and different gear might find those options really helpful

I think terms like pillowy is problematic, because it means different things to different folks. In this case, i meant it as very wide and extended sounding, with no perceives rolloff in the Lows, and no upper bass bump to obscure the lows. Playing a low D note with sustain, there is just this hugely fat and thick "pillow" of bass for lack of a better term.

As far as dimensionality, I guess I would say that the flex has a little bit more of that 3-D quality, given its relaxed mid range and upper trouble extension. It certainly is a bit more elegant and refined sounding, which is a bit of a parallel to "3-D" in my book.

Again though these comparisons are only to one another so it's hard to have a reference point. As in, the 112 is no doubt more 3-D than almost anything else I've heard, except the flex.

Hope that helps to clarify a bit

 

[3rdcurve]

Thanks Mark. We had a blast! I'll address your comments in order:

112 Tweeters: we did some comparing back and forth with and without the tweeters, and it was a surprisingly subtle difference. The 4's go up to about 14K per Mike if I'm not mistaken, so there's plenty of high-end without them, but kicking them on definitely adds a slight edge of air on top. I would say most players would be just fine without them, with the exception of guys who like a lot of a particular brand of high-end. Like if you love your UL 410 and run the tweeters hot, you might want a 112 with tweeters for sure. With my ash maple jazz, I preferred the tweets on for that Marcus type slice, for example. But otherwise I could prob get along ok with out them. I'm a "just in case" kind of guy so if I ordered a 112, I would probably order one with tweeters just to have them

Mid switch: personally there's plenty of mids in that cab without it, but I could see that additional mid boost being useful for certain players in certain contexts. It never hurts to have the options, and I'm sure certain players with different preferences and different gear might find those options really helpful

I think terms like pillowy is problematic, because it means different things to different folks. In this case, i meant it as very wide and extended sounding, with no perceives rolloff in the Lows, and no upper bass bump to obscure the lows. Playing a low D note with sustain, there is just this hugely fat and thick "pillow" of bass for lack of a better term.

As far as dimensionality, I guess I would say that the flex has a little bit more of that 3-D quality, given its relaxed mid range and upper trouble extension. It certainly is a bit more elegant and refined sounding, which is a bit of a parallel to "3-D" in my book.

Again though these comparisons are only to one another so it's hard to have a reference point. As in, the 112 is no doubt more 3-D than almost anything else I've heard, except the flex.

Hope that helps to clarify a bit

Your findings pretty well parallel my own.

 

[MarkA]

Vortexitude!


Well, actually, it's a device called an Mbrace. Mounts on a mic stand, is adjustable for angle.
I had to have 3 vertebrae fused in my neck. The neck stuff made playing with a strap rough, but you do what you gotta do.
When I had the surgery the deal was that I couldn't lift more than 5 lbs for 6 weeks - so no holding a 9.5 lb bass - especially not with a strap on my shoulder. No way was I going to go 6 weeks without playing music.
I was going to have a friend build a stand when I found the Mbrace - already out on the market. That let me play really soon after the surgery - no holding the instrument needed. There are a few photos lurking on TB of me doing gigs with a neck brace on, and the bass on the stand. I liked it enough that I keep using it.

That and I'm Buddhist enough to enjoy having a bass without attachment...

Thanks for the explanation. I thought it might be something like that, but wasn't sure. Looking at the photo, I thought, "Did he just hang his bass on a mic stand (by the strap?) and walk away?" I think I'd have a hard time playing an instrument that didn't move with me -- I don't like the tripod stands on some electric uprights for that reason -- but then, it might help me to fidget less when I play. It's cool, in any case, that you have something that lets you play without worry of injury due to the weight of the bass -- I guess it makes the weight of the bass irrelevant, actually. As for attachment, I've got all kinds of issues with that, so you're ahead of me there!

And we can't let this go without a shout out (or something ...) to Mike's shoes!

I kid about Mike's shoes, but seeing them gives me some context for a remark he made about my own questionable kicks (a torn-up pair of Innov8s -- "barefoot" shoes sans the five separate toes; for me more comfortable and natural feeling than just about anything for everything from hiking to sitting to play cello) the last time I saw him. It seems we both prefer "low, flat, and flexible" when it comes to footwear. I can't touch the Blue Suede though! (I did have a pair of bluish suede shoes as a kid that I liked, and I did like the song!)


(Speaking of which, I just listened to this over laptop speakers, but I'm shocked at how well the bass player -- unamplified, I think -- comes across here. I also didn't know that this song wasn't original to Elvis.)

Thanks Mark. We had a blast! I'll address your comments in order:

112 Tweeters: we did some comparing back and forth with and without the tweeters, and it was a surprisingly subtle difference. The 4's go up to about 14K per Mike if I'm not mistaken, so there's plenty of high-end without them, but kicking them on definitely adds a slight edge of air on top. I would say most players would be just fine without them, with the exception of guys who like a lot of a particular brand of high-end. Like if you love your UL 410 and run the tweeter hot, you might want a 112 with tweeters for sure. With my ash maple jazz, I preferred the tweets on for that Marcus type slice, for example. But otherwise I could prob get along ok with out them. I'm a "just in case" kind of guy so if I ordered a 112, I would probably order one with tweeters just to have them

Mid switch: personally there's plenty of mids in that cab without it, but I could see that additional mid boost being useful for certain players in certain contexts. It never hurts to have the options, and I'm sure certain players with different preferences and different gear might find those options really helpful

I think terms like pillowy is problematic, because it means different things to different folks. In this case, i meant it as very wide and extended sounding, with no perceives rolloff in the Lows, and no upper bass bump to obscure the lows. Playing a low D note with sustain, there is just this hugely fat and thick "pillow" of bass for lack of a better term.

As far as dimensionality, I guess I would say that the flex has a little bit more of that 3-D quality, given its relaxed mid range and upper trouble extension. It certainly is a bit more elegant and refined sounding, which is a bit of a parallel to "3-D" in my book.

Again though these comparisons are only to one another so it's hard to have a reference point. As in, the 112 is no doubt more 3-D than almost anything else I've heard, except the flex.

Hope that helps to clarify a bit

It does help, thanks again!

And, oh -- I've heard some recordings of Jake, long before this thread. Mike isn't kidding when he says this cat can play!

 

[MarkA]

Might be early for this, but Mike, JGR, et al: Have a good time in Reading, PA! Anyone in the area should check their stuff out. No joke. Get a babysitter. Take a couple hours off work. Go if you can.

 

[JGR]

Thanks Mark. I'm looking forward to playing/hearing all the latest Big E offerings - Mike, have you finalized what cabs you are bringing?

 

[J.Wolf]

That should be one killer booth. JGR, MAS, and Skjold? Talk about the cream of the crop.

Wish I had a chance to hear your amp with the 1200 watt ice module JGR. It sounds like it's really beautifully designed, and that 1200w module is super impressive. IMO a whole different ball game than the 900w

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Behold the two tone MAS 112!

I've seen the the pic of the Flex with that red, and now this shows up! I could see this as a branding opportunity for MAS and BigE. Seen on stage, people will want to know what is that? Who makes that? Can't let Orange have all the fun. Outsides of cabs are usually in the shadows anyway, so the face has to tell the story. Maybe they should all be this way?

Plus, the way the red highlights the bells, it has the look of Jaws coming up or something nefarious is about to happen. Reminds me of a terrified Mister Scott declaring something like 'we are staring right into the maw of death itself' or something like that.

 

[Stephen Regier]

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I agree with the branding idea. We received a request from a well-known guitarist wanting the red as shown with chrome driver baffles on a guitar prototype. There is some serendipity here. I've been talking to Mike about this. It seems that there is indeed interest in red/black as the default color scheme for the MAS series.

 

[kesslari]

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I agree with the branding idea. We received a request from a well-known guitarist wanting the red as shown with chrome driver baffles on a guitar prototype. There is some serendipity here. I've been talking to Mike about this. It seems that there is indeed interest in red/black as the default color scheme for the MAS series.

Gosh, I feel like such a trendsetter!

Rock the red and black y'all!

 

[mntngrown]

some curmudgeons like me like all black just fine, but kudos kesslari for starting a trend

 

[Stephen Regier]

Or course there would be the curmudgeon (red delete) option.

 

[Dominick C.]

I've been thinking about coloring my stack. I'm guessing it's just a regular paint? I was thinking about blue, or maybe green. I should probably just call Mike

 

[spiritbass]

some curmudgeons like me like all black just fine, but kudos kesslari for starting a trend

Bonus points for using "curmudgeon" in a sentence.

 

[One Drop]

Or course there would be the curmudgeon (red delete) option.

I think it is better to offer the red as an option- as cool as it looks it is far too radical a colour scheme for most potential buyers, I would hazard to guess.

 

[ahc]

Bonus points for using "curmudgeon" in a sentence.

The neighborhood kids all hated the old curmudgeon in the last house on the left because he kept chasing them off his lawn.

 

[J.Wolf]

I think it is better to offer the red as an option- as cool as it looks it is far too radical a colour scheme for most potential buyers, I would hazard to guess.

+1

IMO branding is not an issue with a product like this, as it is so radically different from its competition in the bass market. The red is very cool, and appeals to some, but most guys will prefer black, again IMO

 

[Ewo]

+1

IMO branding is not an issue with a product like this, as it is so radically different from its competition in the bass market. The red is very cool, and appeals to some, but most guys will prefer black, again IMO

The red is trick, for sure.

I'd rather have black, myself.

Guess my tastes just run old school, or something--but I'd rather have a plain old '59 burst on a nice piece of ash <rimshot> than a 3D quilt top, too...

 

[DirtPoorRobins]

Great idea, I'll take my MAS cab in '59 sunburst!

 

[Ewo]

Great idea, I'll take my MAS cab in '59 sunburst!

 

[J.Wolf]

And I'll take mine in 3d quilted maple!!