I’ve been using the Claris series 4 with a 10” Genz-Benz speaker I happened to have, and it’s been decent for a few years, but not the speaker is staring to distort. What’s actually a good cabinet to pair with this amp? Acoustic Image cabinets are difficult to find now they’re out of business. I’d appreciate any wise suggestions. Thanks!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Cabinet recommendations for AI Claris amp
- Thread starter Bass68
- Start date
I can't say why your other cab is going.. but Ive had great experiences with AI upshot, doubleshot, Barefaced 2x10, ACME 1x10s @4ohm. That head goes in my Gear Hall of Fame as "Best Multi-Use, Portable, Powerhouse Of A Head"
but Ive also used my head at clubs with a variety of cabs and never had a issue with power or tone. YMMV
edit: never got a chance to try it with the Revsound 2x10... but I bet its just as great from what im hearing online
but Ive also used my head at clubs with a variety of cabs and never had a issue with power or tone. YMMV
edit: never got a chance to try it with the Revsound 2x10... but I bet its just as great from what im hearing online
Thing is you can probably get a replacement speaker through Eminence who I believe provided speakers for the company.
Alternatively, GR Bass makes a very nice Carbon Fiber 1x10 they are pricey.
Alternatively, GR Bass makes a very nice Carbon Fiber 1x10 they are pricey.
Acme Low B, Series III 1x10 sounds wonderful, warm, punchy, can and will distort if you are "too" generous with the eq. Easy to dial in tone and volume with everything at noon, adjust level and master to taste. Have used cab with Clarus series 4 quite a while and owned several/different Acme cabs since Andy's first iteration of cabs. They are pretty consistent. If I needed more volume, I would opt for the 1 or 2x12. It's a great setup for fretless players. Good luck!
Barefaced super mini T (12” @ 600w) is a perfect match for mine. I might still be in the honeymoon phase but I can’t imagine wanting anything else from a cab.
That ACME b1 is cool too, but I feel like the 600w Clarus would be better matched to a pair of them.
That ACME b1 is cool too, but I feel like the 600w Clarus would be better matched to a pair of them.
If the cab you have been using is is the STL-10T, chances are you have been pushing it too hard.
While I understand the desire for a light cab, you need to factor in your volume requirements.
I think the Genzler Acoustic Array line would be a really good choice for upright.
Here are the specs from the series IV AI manual
The Genzler BA10-2 is rated 300W RMS with a 97db 1W/1m sensitivity rating. Weight is 19lbs. With one BA10-2 you will probably be at about the same place were with your Genz Benz cab...pushing it a bit over the edge. Calculated SPL at 300W is 121.8dB
If your GB cab is the STL-10T, it was rated 200W RMS and had the same sensitivity rating as the BA10-2. Calculated SPL at 200W is 120dB. So the Genzler should be able to play ever so slightly louder.
A safer option would be a BA12-3. This cab is rated 400W with a 98dB 1W/1m sensitivity rating. Weight is 35lbs. Calculated SPL at 350W is 123.4dB
The BA210-3 or BA15-3 gives you even more headroom. Both are slightly larger, but about the same weight.
While I understand the desire for a light cab, you need to factor in your volume requirements.
I think the Genzler Acoustic Array line would be a really good choice for upright.
Here are the specs from the series IV AI manual
The Genzler BA10-2 is rated 300W RMS with a 97db 1W/1m sensitivity rating. Weight is 19lbs. With one BA10-2 you will probably be at about the same place were with your Genz Benz cab...pushing it a bit over the edge. Calculated SPL at 300W is 121.8dB
If your GB cab is the STL-10T, it was rated 200W RMS and had the same sensitivity rating as the BA10-2. Calculated SPL at 200W is 120dB. So the Genzler should be able to play ever so slightly louder.
A safer option would be a BA12-3. This cab is rated 400W with a 98dB 1W/1m sensitivity rating. Weight is 35lbs. Calculated SPL at 350W is 123.4dB
The BA210-3 or BA15-3 gives you even more headroom. Both are slightly larger, but about the same weight.
I’m having good success with a 15” speaker in a combo amp (bass uses a mic, not a piezo). I’m guessing that the size matters; the 15” is the closest in size to the face of the upright, so its response should hypothetically be closest to that face. I know it sounds more “like the instrument, but louder” than a 4x10 using the same amp.
Thank you! Yes, that’s exactly the cab I’ve been using. This is really the kind of info I’m looking for! I’m really not a gear person, so I’ll definitely look into some of these cabinets. It’s the thing where most gigs I don’t have to turn up that much, but then you’re playing outdoors, or in a really live room and band mates are asking you to turn up. In a perfect world I’d have multiple cabinets for different situations, but I have neither the dollars nor the space for that.
Thanks to everyone for chiming in! I have some research to do.
Unfortunately, the Genzler Bass Array cabs are not cheap.
Desire:
1. A single cab solution that exceeds your volume needs and is light enough.
2. A modular rig that can be scaled to your volume needs. This would be my preferred solution, but it's generally more expensive.
A Gallien Krueger NEO cab might suit you, for a bit less $. The latest NEO IV 112 is rated 400W and weighs about 31lbs. AFAIK they don't list sensitivity for the IV series, but the previous gen NEO 112 was rated 98dB 1W/1m. Calculated SPL at 350W is 123.4dB; same as the BA12-3
I have an old GK 700RB/112 combo. IME it's better for double bass than bass guitar.
Especially if you have a Guitar Center nearby, consider their online used offerings. Not sure how the do it, but their shipping has been surprisingly cheap for every big item I have bought from them. I have had to return a few items that were not as described. I drove across town rather than deal with return shipping. Easy transaction.
Thank you! This is really the kind of info I’m looking for! I’m really not a gear person.
The vast majority of what I play is small combo jazz. But even with that, there are times when more volume is needed. I think Wasnex is right, I’ve pushed the speaker too hard.
I expect the STL-10T to be the same as the cab from the Shuttle 3.0-10T that I have.
I need to reduce the Bass EQ more when it gets louder, but for a 5 piece combo it should work well with a DB.
I even used it indoor with a 11-piece Latin band on EUB with 3 percussionists and rather loud, but that was close to the limit. I forgot to connect the second speaker (12” Genz Benz Focus, great cab) and was not too happy with the sound (but also not with the band and room for playing).
I did several smaller outdoor gigs with the same band with EUB and both speakers (STL-10T and Focus 112) and the Shuttle 3.0 and that worked well. The 10” directed at the band and the 12” at the listeners. But that’s close to the limit of the setup.
BTW, I’m not a big fan of 15” speakers. I have an old Fender cab that had a lousy speaker that I have replaced with something cheap but not bad, but it doesn’t sound as good with DB as any of the 12” cabs I have tried. But not bad with BG.
I need to reduce the Bass EQ more when it gets louder, but for a 5 piece combo it should work well with a DB.
I even used it indoor with a 11-piece Latin band on EUB with 3 percussionists and rather loud, but that was close to the limit. I forgot to connect the second speaker (12” Genz Benz Focus, great cab) and was not too happy with the sound (but also not with the band and room for playing).
I did several smaller outdoor gigs with the same band with EUB and both speakers (STL-10T and Focus 112) and the Shuttle 3.0 and that worked well. The 10” directed at the band and the 12” at the listeners. But that’s close to the limit of the setup.
BTW, I’m not a big fan of 15” speakers. I have an old Fender cab that had a lousy speaker that I have replaced with something cheap but not bad, but it doesn’t sound as good with DB as any of the 12” cabs I have tried. But not bad with BG.
Last edited:
@Bass68
An idea:
@agedhorse may be able to replace or recone the STL-10T driver.
Then you could continue using it for lower volume gigs and get something a bit more robust cab for when you need more volume.
An idea:
@agedhorse may be able to replace or recone the STL-10T driver.
Then you could continue using it for lower volume gigs and get something a bit more robust cab for when you need more volume.
Anyone using Raezers Edge cabinets? They seem well priced and lightweight. I was thinking maybe the stealth 12”.
My recollection is they are fairly HiFi but have pretty limited power handling capabilities.
You may also consider the RevSound cabs. David Luke has been making wonderful cabs in New Hampshire for over 25 years. Made one at a time, choose speakers, choose colors, etc. I don’t believe they would be considered FRFR, but very transparent and exceptionally well made.
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,736
- 8,941
- 70
- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
I’ve been using the GK MB112X with my Clarus, they still show up for sale on the secondary market. Friend of mine, Sam Edwards, uses the Phil Jones cab with two 8” speakers and gets a great sound….
