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Dr.Bass vs. Avatar vs. Low Down Sound

iualum

iualum

Apr 9, 2004
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#1
What do you guys think of these 3 outfits. Is one any better than the other for quality/cab performance? Is one easier than the others to work with? Thinking about doing 2 cabs from Dr.Bass, a 210 & a 212, all Neos, but looking for any input before I pull the trigger. Are there any other companies to consider? But please don't say Ampeg, SWR, Accugroove, etc... Thanks very much.
 
#2
I don't see a a 2-12 cab from DrBass on their site but they do make mention of it. May be it hasn't been up dated. Seems strange that the price difference between Dr Bass 1-12 and 1-15 in birch is $10.Avatar cabs are 3/4 plywood and have good reviews and cost much less that the 3/4 ply Dr Bass. Also consider Peavey and Hartke ,both can be heard at store where the direct order ones cannot .
Also easier to get problems resolved at store than thru mail.
 
#5
I have only dealt with Avatar and the service and product is top notch. I would go back to them in a heartbeat. Well built cabs and they have worked out great for just about everything.

I really like the look and the options from Dr. Bass. The bedliner-type covering and the option for a built in rack means that you could roll your own combo. Pretty cool.

The Low Down sound stuff is what I have the least info on. It seems like really good stuff too.

I'm not dismissing the advancements in bas cab design that folks like EA, Epifani, Accugroove... have made. If you are looking for a hi-fi sound and the linearity that these kinds of cabs give, then you might want to go that way. I think that there is a use for everything from a sealed 1x15 to a Whappo, and all points in between.

Don't forget Acme for a hi-fi cab on a budget. Be sure to bring some power to the party!

Pete
 
#6
www.lowdownsound.com
They will shoot cabs with the coating as well as configure a rack into the cab if you so request it.
I guess the difference is that LDS will custom build whatever you would like cab wise.
Never having delt with Avatar or Dr.Bass, I couldn't comment on what options they offer other than what their web sites mention. But judging from the comments here on TB, I'd say they are making some great cabs.
I'm a little biased to LowDownSound because I know Don and his staff personally (I live 2 min from his shop) and they are working players and take their products personally.
Do a search for them here and you'll get more info on them.
I know their 2x8 is causing quite a stir around TB these days.
 
#9
MikeBass said:
www.lowdownsound.com
They will shoot cabs with the coating as well as configure a rack into the cab if you so request it.
I guess the difference is that LDS will custom build whatever you would like cab wise.
Never having delt with Avatar or Dr.Bass, I couldn't comment on what options they offer other than what their web sites mention. But judging from the comments here on TB, I'd say they are making some great cabs.
I'm a little biased to LowDownSound because I know Don and his staff personally (I live 2 min from his shop) and they are working players and take their products personally.
Do a search for them here and you'll get more info on them.
I know their 2x8 is causing quite a stir around TB these days.
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, what are some rough estimates on the prices on his cabs?
 
#10
I ordered some custom cabs from Dr. Bass and got them a few days back, pretty darn nice! Marc was really pleasent to deal with and he'll pretty much make anything that you ask him to. His price points are pretty attractive as well. I used one of the cabs at a rather loud rehearsal yesterday and it performed flawlessly, I'm really pleased with it so far! I'll be posting a more complete reveiw once I get a chance to put them head to head against my GS112, hopefully tomorrow.
 
#12
Wow Emprov! Kinda wild. Just saw your Harmony Central post.
Your Dr.Bass 3-way(1x12 Neo, 1x6, & compression horn) is outperforming your Aguilar GS112? Maybe I should give-em a try myself. I think I'll maybe wait just a little while longer to be sure it doesn't crap out on you tomorrow or somethin', lol.
 
#13
iualum said:
Wow Emprov! Kinda wild. Just saw your Harmony Central post.
Your Dr.Bass 3-way(1x12 Neo, 1x6, & compression horn) is outperforming your Aguilar GS112?
Click to expand...

This was a *very* preliminary opinion based only on a single, very loud rehearsal. All that I've had time to do with them at this point is install the head, throw it in the truck and plug into it at a rehearsal. I haven't yet had time to really freak around with it and give it a proper test yet, hopefully that'll come today. And, I decided against the Neo's. Marc and I spoke for a while and I came to the conclusion that, for my uses, Neo's probably wouldn't be the best speaker.
 
#14
Yeah, well that's really good, I mean the part about you & Marc working together to get the right sound for you. Pretty important. Tells me a lot about his commitment to doing right by his customers. Something for me to give strong consideration to as I decide where to place my business. Nothing against Dave @ Avatar or Don @ LDS. I've seen good appraisals of their help too.

Just thought it was a 12" Neo because that's what the Dr.Bass shows. So, which speaker did you go with?

May I ask the ballpark price of the Dr.Bass cab & the Aguilar cab?

Hoping that you'll have time to give another follow-up on it. I'm real interested.
 
#15
I have some experience with Dr. Bass cabs (prototypes, with neo drivers), and no experience with Avatar. But I have been up to Low Down Sound several times, and if I were to be buying from one of these three, it would be from Don at LDS. Nothing against Dr. Bass or Avatar (in truth, I was fairly impressed with the Dr. Bass cabs), but not only is Don super easy to work with, and willing to customize a cab to your needs, but I have been extremely impressed with every one of his cabs that I have heard, which include: 1x12 w/ horn (very GS112-like), 1x12 w/ coax tweet, 1x15 (one of the best 1x15's I have heard), 3x10 w/ horn, 3x8 w/ horn, 4x8 w/ horn, and 5x8 w/ coax tweet. That 3x8 is really something special (all his long-throw 8" cabs are impressive), but I am very much hankering to hear some of his 2x8's. On my first visit, Don took me back into his shop and showed me a 1x12 in the build process. I can assure you that his construction techniques are impeccable, and his attention to detail is impressive (all caulked joints, high grade birch plywood, etc.). The build quality/approach is very akin to Epifani cabs.

The nice thing is that all of these lesser known makers are putting out some very respectable products at affordable prices. Another person to conisder is Joey Nahas. There are some TalkBassers who are very happy with his cabs, too.

Tom.
 
#16
Just to keep this thread alive, no official review yet, (hopefully tomorrow?) but I'm definitely keeping these things and selling my GS112. The cab's aren't quite as boomy or have quite the low end that the Aguilar has but they definitely have more clarity, punch, note definition and volume. Don't get me wrong, the Aguilar's a great cab but so far I'm way more impressed with the new cabs. And BTW, they were about $300 each.
 
#17
I have an Avatar B115H (older rear-ported)... and I must say I love it. Great sound and volume, reliable (had it over a year, loud practices and gigs)... Dave is a GREAT help, as well.

However... having looked at these LDS cabs, Im really diggin the custom cab thing. Haha.. I may hafta give him a call and see what a 1x15"+2x10" might run me. I dont mean to hijack the thread, but does anyone have some unusual cab concepts they either want or have custom made?
 

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