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Boutique 3-way 115 and 215 on a budget

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#961
GB; I'm well aware of your opinion of the Em 3015LF and I think I heard Bill Fitz say it's the best 15 he knows of. Does Eminence (or anyone else) have a neo 12" woofer that shares similar characteristics or performs so outstandingly well in the important parameters such as xmax, power handling, bass extension etc. at a reasonable price point?

I've started to think about building (actually, having built) a little smaller three way airhead cab to be used as a combo. Before ordering the LS, I had explored several options including DR Bass' RL1260 ( cab volume seems too small to effectively utilize a woofers capabilities). I actually bought a GK Neo112 2way but it farts at any significant volume.

This topic is probably best suited for another thread but figured I'd snag you here for a woofer suggestion.
 
#962
As was predicted above UPS did NOT deliver my cabinet in time for band practice, which is very unfortunate because now I have to wait a week and will only get one rehearsal to make up my mind.

Anyhoo, I got home and picked up the cabinet from my next door neighbor. (I had left UPS a note.) I plugged the GK and the SansAmp in and here are some preliminary impressions. Keep in mind that I'm trying this thing in my basement office and there is a lot of stuff that rattles, etc. That said I don't hear any rattle from the grill or any other oddball sounds. I don't seem to have any problem dialing in a little dirt and getting a good Motownish sound, at least as well as a GK and SansAmp can do. I will say that the SansAmp does soften up the sound a bit but going straight into the GK seems to produce more volume (maybe GB can explain why that would be) and I can hear my attack better (both good things, IMO). The response does seem very even and I don't notice that infamous p bass 'E' string roll off nearly as much. As for the midrange, its definitely something that I feel more than actually hear. That probably doesn't make sense but its almost like I can feel some pressure when I play it cranked vs. hearing a nasally sound. Much to my relief I don't find the sound harsh or sterile, and there is no string sizzle, etc. that one might expect from such a modern contraption.

I probably won't make up my mind until I hear it with the band but so far I'm having fun with it.
 
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#963
knuckle_head said:
For those that have gotten and are using these new little beauties, are you hearing things differently? Are you still playing your basses the same way? Are you goosing your on-board stuff in a different manner?
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Hearing things differently? Most definitely.
Hearing more than I've ever heard before.
Subtles and nuances that I didn't know existed.

Playing differently? Absolutely!
Things I used to get away with (such as sloppy technique) I can't get away with anymore.
So I play crisper, cleaner, and pay more attention, all of which are good things.
I'm actually playing more notes. Notes that would have simply been lost before.
Taking the pocket deeper.

Goosing? Nope.
One way I know equipment is giving me "my sound" is when everything is flat.
I have not touched any EQ (bass or preamp) or tweaked my EFX eq's.
 
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#964
pedro said:
I can hear my attack better (both good things, IMO). The response does seem very even and I don't notice that infamous p bass 'E' string roll off nearly as much. As for the midrange, its definitely something that I feel more than actually hear. That probably doesn't make sense but its almost like I can feel some pressure when I play it cranked vs. hearing a nasally sound. Much to my relief I don't find the sound harsh or sterile, and there is no string sizzle

I probably won't make up my mind until I hear it with the band but so far I'm having fun with it.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find it gets better from here.
Attack (definition of notes is great)
'E' string roll off (you'll probably also notice the famous Fender dead spot is less apparent)
I can feel some pressure when I play it cranked (I think that's what I meant when I said it "feels" like the old SVT)

I'm truly happy for you Pedro!
 
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#965
Got the UPS shipping notice this evening for my order from last night. Called this afternoon and they said no backorder - it should be here in about 5 days.

Woooo whoooo!!! (I think I am more psyched than my son. <grin>)

He's been playing with the Sansamp RBI for the last 2 days non stop - tweaking tones. And this is through my crappy little 1 12 Roland Cube 60 at low volumes. Can't wait to hear how it sounds with the Crown xti1000 and the new cab. (Got the power amp today btw!!!)

I am concerned now that maybe I should have gotten the xti2000. Oh well. We'll see how this does and who knows - maybe we'll spring for a second 1503. They can use one for practice vocal reinforcement - and then he can use BOTH for gigs. KILLER!!!

Cheers!
 
#966
UPDATE: LS1503 Users 09/27/2007

1; greenboy
2; Supertanker
3; lbwdog
4; Tom Bowlus
5; alembic5
6; jnewmark
7; MichaelVee
8; EricBoyer
9; pedro
10; Bass Below
11; Sliderbass
12; craigb
13; edgeruner

(pending; Mike V S, FroggyOne2, SeaMonkey, A9X)

prediction: look for Carvin to introduce a three way bass cab in the next twelve months.
 
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#969
One other thing is that I get the feeling that this thing really shows its colors live. Passive on its own its fine. But I've noticed that it tends to sound better when I play along with music. I hope that it shines even more with live musicians.

P.S. What a pity I didn't have it this afternoon - we absolutely kicked butt.
 
#973
pedro said:
One other thing is that I get the feeling that this thing really shows its colors live. Passive on its own its fine. But I've noticed that it tends to sound better when I play along with music. I hope that it shines even more with live musicians
Click to expand...


That is truly where it shines, at least for me. Before, my bass just thickened up the sound with foundation, now it is laying that same thick foundation, without the clutter, PLUS it has made the bass more of a musical instrument instead of just a low presence in the room. As I said earlier, it makes it so much easier to hear everything else in the room. All upside, there seems to be no compromise, nothing negative.

I havent gigged with it, and probably won't for quite some time as we are going to be spending a good chunk of the month of October in the studio recording our next CD, but I have complete confidence that it will be a major improvement in that setting as well.
 
#975
The compromise is that it's larger and heavier than a neo 112 cab.
Click to expand...

Well GB, while I withhold ultimate judgement until I hear it with the band the one thing I'm totally prepared to give it thumbs up on is the portability of it. I'm almost 52 and have two kids in college so I had two parameters - portability and price. I've not checked the weight of my 2x10 but I don't think the Carvin weighs much more.
 
#976
Mine arrived yesterday as well. Unfortunately I didn't get to do more than check it out at very quiet levels (sleeping kids). Because I knew I wasn't going to be able to crank it at all I just used a Yamaha BBT-500H (only about 130W at 8 Ohms) instead of my rack (Bmax/PLX2402).

At very low volumes I found it very clean/clear and somewhat subdued in the highs/presence area (in the Sansamp usage of the word presence) compared to my usual setup (an Avatar B210Neo plus some number of Avatar-based 12s). I think I need to spend some time with it and let my ears adjust - very similar to when I got Sennheiser HD280s to use with my Cafe Walter instead of the various junk headphones I'd been using. And in fact I need to do some A-Bing with my current rig and with the Sennheisers (if I use the BBT its got a headphone out so I can keep that part of the equation the same).

I did notice big lows (I'm a 4-stringer) even at quiet levels with some of the BBTs models. The cab really did show the differences between them.

Size/weight wise it's good. I'd love something lighter but it's not difficult to move around. I'll get some pics showing it with some of my Avatar cabs for comparison this weekend.

All in all I'm reserving judgement for now. Band rehearsal is Monday so that's when it will really get checked out. I've got an outdoor gig next Saturday where it will get the ultimate test (although I'll probably pair it up with an Avatar 1x12 or 2x12 rather than ask it to carry the load by itself).

At low volumes "smooth" is the word I'd most use to describe it. My G&Ls (L2K, SB-2s) which can be harsh never were. Even the SB-2 which can be clicky & metallic was just clear. I'm curious to see how it meshes with the Bmax (ss version) which also alleviates some of that clickiness - whether they work well together or not.
 
#977
After dropping my wife off at work I took 20 minutes or so and cranked it up a bit. I gotta say I was really pleased. There was a great presence (especially without the SansAmp) - very articulate. At lunch I'll do some more playing but so far I'm happy. I tried it w/ my 66 p bass, my 64 jazz and even the little Epi Ebo. The Epi is remarkably muddy but this cab really gave it some articulation that I had never heard.

(pedro looking back over his post and wondering what'll happen to his Dr Gloom label.)
 
#978
I'm so happy for you I baked you a cake!

Enjoy!!!

It's low calorie...

FrontpageTopsyCake4.jpg
 
#980
GB, Super, LBWdog, others, what's the general assessment of how sturdy the 1503 is? I realize none of us have had it that long but those of you who have gigged with it must have some general impressions on how well its holding up to set up/tear down, etc.?
 
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