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Crazy 8 or 88 info?

lookiel

lookiel

Mar 9, 2008
609
108
Hochelaga Archipelago, Canada
#1
I read the thread on the DB side with much interest but there seems to be very little info on this cab.
So what's the story here, is this a Greenboy design or Mike Arnopol, or a collaboration?
Are these cabs designed for electric bass, general use or what?
I checked out the driver figures but I'm no audio engineer, does anybody know the specs for the cab(s)?
And perhaps most importantly, has anybody tried these with electric bass and perhaps compared them to other cabs?
Intrigued...
 
#3
Sorry---haven't been checking the threads---too busy building cabs!
Greenboy (Fearful) and I were working on essentially the same design using the same driver without either knowing. I posted pics of the first generation of my little 8 incher. Greenboy contacted me and we talked and decided to collaborate.
I initially designed what is now called the Crazy 8 to replace my EA Wizzy 10. I just couldn't get the mids under control (on the Wizzy) I decided to try my hand at composite and dug it. Under 10 lbs.The Crazy 8 goes as loud as most single 10's but sounds much better to my ears. (and many others) One of my first customers just bought an additional 2. Without the tweet it goes near flat to 5khz.
Greenboy is responsible for the seamless integration of the tweeter.
We came up with the 88 which I'm really pleased with. It's a woofer-tweeter--woofer design which is very common in high end audio. It goes about as loud as a 2 x 10 but has probably the best midrange I've heard. Low end is tight and full but not boomy.

As far as Electric bass, they really sound great. You just have to work within the dynamic parameters---A Crazy 8 goes as loud as a single 10"---an 88 same as a 2x10". It's tuned to 49 hz which is the same as most of the top cabs. Mids are present but balanced and not aggressive. I put a Crazy 8 and an 88 together and it was a GREAT electric sound. Loud fusion group on electric. I feel a bit weird talking about my own build and design but what sets me a bit apart from others is that first and foremost I play bass for a livig. 50/50 between slab and doghouse. As big a variety of gigs as you could imagine. So I try these cabs on everything from jazz duos and trios with upright to weddings and funk-fusion gigs with electric bass. So I feel very emotionally invested in my tone.

Hey administrator guys--is it ok how I responded?---since the question was asked I figured it's ok. (Talkbass has some very sensible policies as far as commercial entities hawking their wares unsolicited---I can respond to questions, however)
 
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#5
Pics up tommorow. Tried it against some other cabs. Pm me I'd be happy to discuss my findings. Don't think it's fair to besmirch someone else's producs on the forum. Unless they're a complete weenie.
 
#7
Mike and I fought about which aspects of our respective designs to use in a collaborative effort. After we both had sustained injuries to everything but our fingers we decided we better stop beating on each other so we'd still be able to play our basses.

The Crazy88 is like a lot of my other designs that waits in the wings on the hard drive as drawings, until the single-woofer/tweeter version has proven out. Then I modify what I need to get that model out too.
 
#9
Pictures of a finished Crazy 88. Size is 21.5 x 10.75 x 13" deep.
Weight is 20 lbs. on the button. Just had a friend over to try all the cabs in the house. He and I both agreed that the 88 had the best mids and highs we'd ever heard. The bass is no slouch either. It (the bass) sounded very similar to the Thunderchild TC112 with one port plugged. Which is to say very focused and tight with just enough "bloom". I have my own 112 cab with a 3012ho (VERY similar to a Barefaced Midget) and a Greenboy Bassic with a 3015. They both really cut through in the mids department. The 88 had enough presence to cut through but without any harshness. As Greenboy says " I can't find anything that this cab does wrong". You can't push it past the volume of a 2x 10 cab.(although we did--it just doesn't fart out--) It will meet it but physics are physics. Thanks for all of the interest!
 

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#11
Just played a super loud gig with 5 string electric. Crazy 88 on top of a Crazy 8. Articulate, loud deep tight bass. Sounded fantastic. Best definition I've ever gotten Huge room, bad acoustics everyone commented on that they could hear everything I played. Lots of compliments.
 
#16
BFunk said:
I hope Mike and Greenboy offer monitor versions of these cabs. These are just begging to be used as stage monitors.
Click to expand...

Howdy BFunk,

In several ways this is already being addressed, and one is a tilt-back leg with a fairly strong tilt angle - stronger than the picture would seem to indicate actually:

TiltLeg.jpg


Also I was looking at making the design work well for pole-mounting sockets, which works well on the floor with a short length of tubing or dowel, and for mini-PA on standard fixtures - and for a revival of the "hot spot" monitor concept that puts the source closer to the ears. These will do that a lot better than previous examples of hot spots as long as the sight-line is not a problem.

As far as actually putting these drivers into a wedge, by the time you've jammed in the necessary porting and allowed for driver depth and crossover etc, you won't end up with anything as convenient as this tiny right-angled box, really, and it'd probably weigh more as well.
 
#19
The biggest problem I have had is getting a good sound on stage - and throughout the room. In large halls this is not as big an issue since my FOH sound is almost entirely in the mains. But in smaller venues it seems when my stage volume and sound is good to the point where I can hear myself clearly, and the drummer is happy with my sound, it's often too loud out front. Sometimes I can barely hear myself, the drummer is asking me to turn up, and it's already too loud out front even with me out of the mains. I'm playing through a GB 9.0 with 2 Eden D112XLT's.

From what I have read about these speakers it sounds like either a pair of 8's or the 88's might fix this problem due to their fidelity and dispersion characteristics. Without being able to try them it is hard to know but I am definately giving this some thought. Do any of you have other comments from your gigs about stage and FOH sound fidelity and volume? I read Mikes' and Ukiah Bass' posts and it sounds like they both have had great results.
 
#20
I have the same issues.Am I going to be too loud on stage so that I can hear myself well enough and be able to enjoy the gig or will I be too soft and frustrated because I don't hear and FEEL myself well enough? My solution is good for me but likely a bit pricey for someone who's not building them. My go-to rig these days is an 8 and an 88. In a vertical tower. Floor coupling and dispersion that makes it easier to hear myself than anything else I've played. I wind up with a softer stage volume because I'm hearing my upper bass, mids, and highs from the elevated 8 and getting enough thump from the floor coupling. Fdeck's new version 3 HPF (which will be available soon) greatly increases the dynamic range. This isn't a huge Fearful bass sort of sound. More focused and tight (but not at all dry) which is what I go for. Still very warm and thumpy but great definition. And I play 5 string. The sounds guys are thrilled because I've been able to lower my stage volume.
And I don't need a luggage cart anymore. With the help of others here we've found that Meinl's largest Cajon bag should fit an 88. And they have another bag that will fit an 8. Zippered with shoulder straps. That's what I'm talkin' about!
 

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