Boom Bass Cabinets - Demo Opportunity In Denver!

[Low Class]

Brad, I appreciate what you're saying, but I think most of us are looking for a sound we like. If that's not there, the rest of it doesn't matter so much to us. So although only 20% of the video might have been playing, it was 90% of the impact for me. I understand that the cabinet can do other styles. Of course it can, it's a cabinet, and from the sound a pretty good one. But from my perspective I really only heard one sound come out of the cabinet, so that's the lasting impression I'm left with.

The video talks about all the features the cabinet has. For me, I don't focus much on features for a cabinet in particular. Light weight is great, the tilted grill and side ports are interesting. But I'm 99% looking something that sounds GREAT to me, and if it does that, then I'll look at the other stuff.

I'm not criticizing the speaker - after all, I haven't played it or heard it in person. I'm just telling you that the impression I get from the two videos I saw is that it is being targeted at a very particular kind of player (slap, urban gospel, clean modern funk). If you want to interest more players outside that, you might want to shoot some video with a rock player (pick and fingers), a reggae player, a jazz fusion player, or maybe just one person that is good at dialing in several different tones.

+1!

 

[Brad Johnson]

Trust me, I get where you're coming from... Drue and I discussed this subject today before I even saw this thread. We'll likely address it in the next video, if we don't do one with upright first.

Here's my position and I know I'm in the minority... I have never based interest in a cab on a great sounding video because I can't recall a great sounding cab demo. I don't like the vast majority of bass demos either. And I have really nice setups on my computers so that's not the problem. I personally don't put much stock in them for that reason.

IMO the reason why people test out basses and cabs by slapping is because it's harder to find gear that does it truly well. That presence is tough to pick up with a camera mic on a Youtube video. IRL I haven't tried a cab that sounded great with aggressive playing that didn't sound as good with fingerstyle. Same with basses. OTOH I have experienced the opposite with basses and cabs that sounded great with fingerstyle first.

So since I know I'm not stuck with whatever sound is on a demo, I know the real test is hands on. That is true with these cabs too but like I said, I get it. If this demo rules out our cab for now with some folks it was expected.

 

[smeet]

I have never based interest in a cab on a great sounding video because I can't recall a great sounding cab demo. I don't like the vast majority of bass demos either. And I have really nice setups on my computers so that's not the problem. I personally don't put much stock in them for that reason.

I'd have to agree with you on this actually. There are too many variables involved in a recording to parse out which aspects actually represent how the gear sounds in person.

IMO the reason why people test out basses and cabs by slapping is because it's harder to find gear that does it truly well. I haven't tried a cab that sounded great with aggressive playing that didn't sound as good with fingerstyle. Same with basses. OTOH I have experienced the opposite with basses and cabs that sounded great with fingerstyle first.

Interesting. I see it the other way, and I'm guessing that's because I'm more interested in a great fingerstyle tone with thick mids as opposed to a bright scooped slap tone. It sounds like you lean the other way. To me, they are very different sounds, and a great slap tone without re-eqing often sounds thin, scooped-out, and clacky when played fingerstyle.

Anyway, I'll keep an open mind and hopefully I will get a chance to play through some Boom Bass cabs.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I'd have to agree with you on this actually. There are too many variables involved in a recording to parse out which aspects actually represent how the gear sounds in person.

I just checked out a demo of a new hot bass in a group setting. It sounded very good, like a recording. My guess... because it was a recording. That IMO was not a demo.

Interesting. I see it the other way, and I'm guessing that's because I'm more interested in a great fingerstyle tone with thick mids as opposed to a bright scooped slap tone. It sounds like you lean the other way. To me, they are very different sounds, and a great slap tone without re-eqing often sounds thin, scooped-out, and clacky when played fingerstyle.

Anyway, I'll keep an open mind and hopefully I will get a chance to play through some Boom Bass cabs.

Actually I don't. I play predominantly fingerstyle. I still want my gear to sound great in the event I choose to slap. So while the demo has top end even on the fingerstyle, that's not what I typically do. I need smooth and I need aggressive. I get both with my rig. and I go for a fuller slap sound than most current players, while still having clarity. For example, one slap tone I love is playing through my B-100R. No sizzle. If the cabs actually clanked as their base personality I wouldn't use them. Plus I use them with fretless and want the ability to push the mids as hard as I could possiblity want. Check.

I hope you do get a chance to check one out... it's fun to watch the first reaction to these. There is no substitute for hearing one in real life and really have a go at it. Even better, with your bass and amp. They're starting to spread around the country so maybe that'll happen sooner than later. So far all of our customers seem to be more than willing to let others check them out. You could get Rich's thoughts on his 1215. He paid for it and has no reason to blow smoke...


Again, the target is bassists... electric, upright, keyboard, whatever. Style of playing and music is entirely optional.

 

[HolmeBass]

This is a small operation so a "factory tour" might be a bit underwhelming. We're looking for a larger space but that still won't likely be very large. That was a 1215 at Vic's camp... he got one of the first cabs and used it with the Nashville Symphony with his new bowable Fodera.

The idea of the factory tour was to get a chance to try all of the models. I will probably hit Chuck first and see how whatever they have makes me feel. They probably have the 1012 Tank, right?

 

[murphy]

at the BBC
Ming Tea
BBC 1.....BBC2.....BBC3........BBC Seven....BBC Heaven

 

[murphy]

Cool video.....Sounds great

 

[jusplayinmybass]

I am intrigued. How is the low end on these? I run synth bass and Extended Range Bass.

 

[MrLenny1]

I heard one at a bass clinic 2 weeks ago. Wicked.
I think it was the 10/12.
Rob was running his active Fodera 5 thru it with an effects pedal.
Really fat and loud.

 

[Brad Johnson]

The idea of the factory tour was to get a chance to try all of the models. I will probably hit Chuck first and see how whatever they have makes me feel. They probably have the 1012 Tank, right?

Chuck's should have all four of the models in stock. Probably best to call first and check. They've been moving pretty well there.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I am intrigued. How is the low end on these? I run synth bass and Extended Range Bass.

I gig the smallest cab, the Tank 1012, with what by most standards would be a group of very aggressive, hard hitting basses. Not a hint of stress running that cab with my 500w, 900w and 1500w amplification. If they couldn't handle my basses, particularly the low end and my playing I wouldn't use them. Period. I wasn't in the market for new amplification when I got mine. But bear in mind that I've since become a part of the company so I understand if one might think I'm biased.

There are folks in this thread who've actually experienced the cabs in real life. I look forward to their comments.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I heard one at a bass clinic 2 weeks ago. Wicked.
I think it was the 10/12.
Rob was running his active Fodera 5 thru it with an effects pedal.
Really fat and loud.

We sent three Tank 1012 cabs and one 1015 to Jim for the Bass Fest. Apparently they did okay.


These definitely aren't just "slap cabs".

 

[ebozzz]

... it's fun to watch the first reaction to these.

I often use videos to help make decisions with regards to gear as unfortunately, I frequently find myself being unable to hear or try a lot of what I am interested in first hand (locally). The body language of the person using the gear in the video is important to me. Are they enjoying the product? Does it seem to please them? How do they react during the process?

There's not a lot of video available on these cabinets and I simply chose the one that I used to start this thread because I think that I see one of those first reaction moments that you mentioned. Albeit brief, the player appears to clearly be enjoying the experience of playing through that cab. The fact that slap technique was being used was just a coincidence. If I could have found a comparable video using fingerstyle, a plectrum, tapping, etc...... I would have added it as well.

 

[iualum]

They're only available in 1 place currently? Everything is 4-ohms, so no possibility of adding cabs unless you have a 2-ohm-stable amp? And not inexpensive. Wondering what incentive there is to ever buy a 10/12 or 10/15 when 12/12s & 12/15s are available for the same price & are only slightly larger/heavier. .

 

[ebozzz]

They're only available in 1 place currently? Everything is 4-ohms, so no possibility of adding cabs unless you have a 2-ohm-stable amp? And not inexpensive. Wondering what incentive there is to ever buy a 10/12 or 10/15 when 12/12s & 12/15s are available for the same price & are only slightly larger/heavier. .

Brad or someone else might be better able to explain this but from what I understand, the thought process behind it is that you would only need one of these. Well, one at a time that is. One cab solution...

 

[Brad Johnson]

They're only available in 1 place currently? Everything is 4-ohms, so no possibility of adding cabs unless you have a 2-ohm-stable amp? And not inexpensive. Wondering what incentive there is to ever buy a 10/12 or 10/15 when 12/12s & 12/15s are available for the same price & are only slightly larger/heavier. .

They're available through one store and direct. Other products that are only available direct are only available from one place, not sure how many have an issue with that.

Here was the mindset behind this: ONE kickass cab that'll utilize full power from the majority of currently popular heads while being capable of overkill for most gigs. In the smallest package we could make. One cab to replace what might normally take two cabs. Pretty big task but through experimentation and obviously outside the box thinking we think we've accomplished that goal. The design may not lend itself towards stacking with the three vent design for the the lower driver. We've had folks talk about buying two and we tell them that in most scenarios we doubt it would be needed. Imagine telling someone not to buy two of your products. We do it quite often.


I've always had excellent amplification. But I always hold out the possibility that there could be a next level out there. I'm extremely happy with the basses I play but as I've told many folks, I still look at everything else out there for a couple of reasons. One, to be informed. My overall experience and curiosity has paid off big time over my career as a musician. Two, if I were to come across something that was as much of a leap forward as what I'm using was... that's going to be a hell of a bass. I love being blown away.


If someone really wanted or needed to run two of these, we don't see much of an issue with that. Yes, you'd need two ohm stable amplification. Watts have never been cheaper (or lighter) so that's relatively easy to do. I have a 1500w 20 lb. rack setup that can be set to two channel and run four of our cabs. Completely unnecessary IME but it's an option. I could easily put together another rack with used components at 500w per side for around $500 - $600... the price of a average class D head. Or run two class D heads.

We made these for the production of sound, not reproduction. There's a big difference between the two. We could've tweaked these to be as flat as possible but that was not a design goal. We achieved our design goal.

I'm familiar with most of what's available cab-wise and I'm confident of how our single cab solutions stacks up. This really wasn't about making a 1212 cab to compare to other 1212 cabs by numbered configuration or price-wise or size-wise (I am curious as to what you might think the direct competitors are?), it's about the sum total of the product: the sound quality, the physicality of that sound, the live performance, the ergonomics of the product and how they address common issues many bassists run into. Drue and I both gig. Gigging was the primary focus. We needed to push the envelope... hard. After a lot of work we're pleased with the results. Hearing the cabs, particularly in the mix, is a far better answer to the incentive question than anything I could say. Forgot to mention, people who've tried all four models back to back agree that they sound different. That would be the incentive of buying one Tank model over another Tank model and more important, preferring any or all of them over other cabs

We understand that the price of these is not cheap, by the same token, for what you're getting we think it's very fair and recommend that you compare it to the cost the two cabs you'd need to compete with it. Bottom line, you have to experience these and see if they work for you. Obviously they might not. Fortunately the reception we're getting in real life has been overwhelmingly favorable... once the talking stops and the playing begins.

If I am breaking any CUP rules by stating any of this it is not intentional and any or all of it can be deleted. I hope I addressed what the incentives are in checking these out.

 

[ebozzz]

For the sake of clarification, I am not affiliated with Boom Bass Cabinets in any capacity. I am simply someone who is interested in the product and have been given the green light by the host to pass it on.

Invitation from Vernon Barbary.....

My fellow bass players - I wanted to personally invite to my house to check out some new Bass cabinets on the market called "Boom Bass Cabinets" (BBC).

About a month ago- I was contacted by these 2 gentlemen based out Maryland (Dru Williams and Brad Johnson) - they contacted me to potentially endorse their new Bass Cabinets. I agreed to check them out -so they sent one to me. I received the cabinet (Tank 1012 1200 watts at 4 ohms) on a Wednesday- after checking it out and comparing it against my SWR Goliath 4x10, I was so impressed that I posted my cabinet on Craigslist the next day....

Recently, I received another cabinet (Tank 1015 1400 watts at 4 ohms) and was so impressed that I have decided to make it my rig.

I have attached to this email a link to the BBC Demo Video that I did about 2-weeks ago explaining everything concerning the cabinet. This will give you some information before coming over to check it out with your own head.

Please forward this invitation to other Bass Players that I may not know. Hope to see you all there - believe me this cabinet is a Game Changer.

The date is scheduled for July 11th from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM and the location will be in the Centennial area. @mrb327 & @friendlybass, I'm going to send you two all of the details via PM. If you know of any others in or near the Denver area who might be interested, please let me know....

 

[moody]

Should that read bassist rather than Bassit?

 

[ebozzz]

Should that read bassist rather than Bassit?

Agreed! I'll pass that on to Vernon...

 

[moody]

ain't nothin' but a hound dog