Double Bass Bose L1 Series II

[fdeck]

Perhaps a compromise with a system like the L1 is to use an appropriate number, say one or two poles at most for a jazz group, and simply finagle a way for each player to have their own volume control.

 

[Ric Vice]

Very good to know Ric...the corner must have done you in. This all being said, I sold my L1 Series 2/2 bass bin unit and never looked back. I'm using a variety of bass amps and letting the bandleaders deal with the PA. If I can't do it in one trip - I ain't gonna do it!

Martin,
Yep, I feel the same way. Now if I could just find a way for the VL 208 to walk it's self into the concert gigs I'd be set. Otherwise a Woods and the VL 108 does the trick. Oops. that's two trips, what am I doing wrong? How the heck can you do it in one trip with the upright?

 

[seamonkey]

Another contender in the Bose PAS competition
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I don't know where you can buy them or how much they are, but I know they're expensive.

I'm always amazed that there isn't even more competition.

 

[fdeck]

Another contender in the Bose PAS competition
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I don't know where you can buy them or how much they are, but I know they're expensive.

I'm always amazed that there isn't even more competition.

Someone should try a DIY build. None of the individual parts involve any rocket science.

 

[fdeck]

Martin,
Yep, I feel the same way. Now if I could just find a way for the VL 208 to walk it's self into the concert gigs I'd be set. Otherwise a Woods and the VL 108 does the trick. Oops. that's two trips, what am I doing wrong? How the heck can you do it in one trip with the upright?

Either of my amp rigs fits inside a little cart called a "pack n roll" that I can get at any office supply store. I have a shoulder strap on my bass bag.

More and more, I only do this in extreme situations. In reality, I load my "one trip" setup in two trips. The bass goes in first, as it is a rather visible symbol of my profession.

 

[larry]

Martin,
Right you are, but the L1 has some space requirements that make it ineffective in some situations...
...So I'm not sure it's a viable option in tight clubs with small stages.

This is very spot on.

I play for a singer that uses one. I've probably done 75 gigs with her since she got it. I've used it with with my own amp, without my amp, with a mic, with a pickup, etc...

It has to be a few feet behind you to work well. If you are shoved against a wall or in a corner, it's going to present some challenges.

I still think its better than a conventional PA 90% of the time.

 

[Ric Vice]

Someone should try a DIY build. None of the individual parts involve any rocket science.

Francis,
You built the HPF Pre so why don't you give this a shot when you have time. I think it's a worthy project.

Ric

 

[fdeck]

Somebody beat me to it...

Link Removed

 

[seamonkey]

I did some investigating. Hardest thing I find is trying to locate some affordable drivers to use. Bose is using 2.5" I think. I can find plenty of suitable and affordable 5" drivers, and these could work but then it's going to need a tweeter array. BFM has some good implementations of affordable tweeter array, but housing this and the 5" is going to be bulky.

Also, Looking at the Peavey versarray - it uses little drivers in an array for the mids

These are meant for big concert system use, but the implementation can be scaled down.

 

[fdeck]

From what I gather, there was a golden age of DIY line arrays, when Parts Express sold a batch of 4" driver for 49 cents apiece. Right now I can't find any bargains anywhere.

 

[Wal Pawlik]

Someone should try a DIY build. None of the individual parts involve any rocket science.

I have, albeit a bit primitive and bit more bulky than the bose L1, but it works.

I even posted the result on TB last year
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408951&highlight=wal+pawlik

The columns are actually driveway drains fitted with 18 4 inch speakers and driven by a regular powered mixing desk with a couple of old 12 inch PA boxes with the horns disconnected as the bass boxes. Worked remarkably well.

I have always meant to refine the build, but something else has always got in the way.

 

[bobsax]

This weekend I played a concert with a big band using the Bose L1 system with one bass module. I was very impressed with the clarity, volume, sound -shaping capacity, and even-dispersion of the sound. The system worked well for double bass and electric bass. The only criticism I had was that the system seemed not to like the B string on the electric bass. They are a little pricey, and I think a little bit of a hassle to set up, but the owner of the system told me that he saves this for the important gigs and has something smaller and easier to set-up for the gigs where portability and ease of set up are important. The owner also told me that he usually blends a mic with the pickup with this system, we did not do this, but the Bose system is naturally geared for blending, and I imagine that a real audiophile product could be obtained.

PS- One response to Ric and Glen, there is no way to compare the sounds you get from a WW to this- not that one is better than the other, the difference is the way the bass sound is projected. The lows are omnidirectional, and the mids and highs are somehow projected in a very even and natural-sounding way. As I would walk from one side of the smaller concert hall to the other- as the big band was in full roar (and the owner was playing); the sonic image of the bass did not change.........pretty impressive.

Interesting --so I assume you mean the whole band was using the Bose system , not just the bass?
How many mics? What was the sub? B1 or B2

 

[bobsax]

As for subs Bose recommends 2 B1's for BG and 1 B2 for bands with horns but I don't see a recommendation for DB. Any upright players out there try the B2? How does it compare? How are you using it? Just a bass amp or with a group?How big a group? Are you using the T1 mixer?

"B2 Bass Module
This Bose L1 Model II system comes with a B2 bass module to ensure more accurate amplification of lower notes for most voices and instruments-including guitars, keyboards and various horns. The double bass package is recommended for use as a bass guitar amplifier, and for kick drums and DJs.

The Bose B2 bass module is a high-performance flexible bass solution designed for L1 Model 1S and Model II systems. It features two 10" high-excursion woofers mounted into a rugged enclosure."

 

[kerrycares]

Has anyone tried the Bose F1 812 ?
It’s got 8 array speakers, a port and a 12”.

 

[kerrycares]

So I went across the street to GC and bought the 1,000 watt Bose F1 Model 812 to compare it to my current Headway EDB2/QSC 1,000 watt K8 rig.

The Bose sounds great with the 8 x 4.5” mid and 12” woofer ..... amazingly loud,full and clear.

I had no complaints with my rig ...... until now.

After carrying both rigs up and down the stairs I came to my senses !

Bose is way better at 44.5 lbs but not as portable as the QSC at 27 lbs.

I’m now thinking that a great compromise would be the new 2,000 watt K8.