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Double Bass Duke LeJune's Birdhaus 4x6

Ric Vice

Ric Vice

Supporting Member
Jul 2, 2005
14,294
12,464
Olivette, Missouri
#1
Hello All,
I had a very nice gig last evening using Dukes new 4x6 cabinet. We were doing a Louis Armstrong
tribute with 2 Trumpets, Clarinet, Tenor, and Rhythm. Using a Walter Woods Ultra with the Ehrlund EAP and pre amp. I got a very warm, articulate, sound. Very nice little cabinet that weighs 23 lbs.
It has two front firing 6" drivers and two side firing 6".
Birdhaus 4x6.jpeg


Ric
 
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#5
james condino said:
I've been lusting after a Thunderchild for the whole year and now that one looks very cool and then after checking out the website....must have the 4 x 8 model......!!!!! Duke is the man!
Click to expand...

James,
The Birdhaus 4x6 is a horse of a different color compared to the TC-112. The Horn, Crossover, and Driver in the Thunderchild are seamless over the entire range of the Double Bass.
The Birdhaus has a special EQ circuit (he calls it a "Cheater") that helps with definition. It has a defeat switch on the newer cabinets. It also has a single rear port that can be closed
with one of Duke's famous Orange port plugs. Because of the side firing speakers, I don't this cabinet would be ideal for use with microphones, like a DPA or Troll, but I haven't tried it. The weight of the 4x8 didn't appeal to me as I was looking for something more
portable, with a smaller footprint.
 
#6
I bought a Thundetchild 112 a few months ago, and it is a stellar cab!
I didn't tell anyone in my band that I had a new cab, and as soon as I started playing at the first gig, two people in the band turned their heads and exclaimed my bass sounded amazing. Big smile on my face.

Ok, back to the Birdhaus discussion.
 
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#7
GenzBenz AI Hybrid.jpg
Ric Vice said:
James,
The Birdhaus 4x6 is a horse of a different color compared to the TC-112. The Horn, Crossover, and Driver in the Thunderchild are seamless over the entire range of the Double Bass.
Click to expand...

Ric, New speaker for you or are you just critiquing it for Duke?

In either case, How does it compare to your 4x5?

Also, you say the TC is seamless across the entire range, I take it that the Birdhouse is not? How are the lows with the Birdhouse.

Re: mics, you mentioned it might not work well with something like the DPA or Troll. I have been continuing to get great results with my Ischell - even using my new AI Contra cab right in front of me and facing directly back at the bass - No feedback.

I don't know what I'll do with myself if I get off the gear 'merry go round', but I am really happy with my current setup. Carved Shen Gemunder w EP Weichs > Headway EDB-2 > Genz Benz 6.2 > AI Contra.

I don't know if you saw the picture I posted earlier, but the GB fits beautifully into the AI cab making a sweet tiny and lightweight combo
 
#8
rickwolff said:
View attachment 1200968

Ric, New speaker for you or are you just critiquing it for Duke?

In either case, How does it compare to your 4x5?

Also, you say the TC is seamless across the entire range, I take it that the Birdhouse is not? How are the lows with the Birdhouse.

Re: mics, you mentioned it might not work well with something like the DPA or Troll. I have been continuing to get great results with my Ischell - even using my new AI Contra cab right in front of me and facing directly back at the bass - No feedback.

I don't know what I'll do with myself if I get off the gear 'merry go round', but I am really happy with my current setup. Carved Shen Gemunder w EP Weichs > Headway EDB-2 > Genz Benz 6.2 > AI Contra.

I don't know if you saw the picture I posted earlier, but the GB fits beautifully into the AI cab making a sweet tiny and lightweight combo
Click to expand...

Rick,
Nope, I bought it from Duke in Feburary. It needs to go back to him for an upgrade, because he's added a switch to turn the EQ off. The lows are really good, so good infact,
that I've always used the port plug to tame them. The cabinet is different from the MAS 4x5 because the sound has a much wider dispersion. Which I suppose is more akin
to the something like the AI Ten2 or a Phil Jones Superflight case. It's form factor makes it dandy to schlep. MAS cabinets are so amazingly detailed and project off the stage
so well. The Birdhaus is a horse of a different color I guess. I did see that picture, it's amazing that those two pieces are so compatable. I did that once with a SWR Baby Blue.

Ric
 
#9
Jim Dombrowski said:
I bought a Thundetchild 112 a few months ago, and it is a stellar cab!
I didn't tell anyone in my band that I had a new cab, and as soon as I started playing at the first gig, two people in the band turned their heads and exclaimed my bass sounded amazing. Big smile on my face.

Ok, back to the Birdhaus discussion.
Click to expand...

Love the TC-112, it's a great cabinet for doubling on a stage.
 
#13
Ric Vice said:
I own a Birdhaus 4x6 isn’t very nice cabinet. A “horse of different color”

Isn’t very nice cabinet? Not sure I understand.

in the small cab realm. Great dispersion. Just to clarify you didn’t keep TC-112? Did you own that cabinet or were you just demoing it.?
Click to expand...
I shipped the TC-112 off yesterday.

Out of all these cabs I’ve had the pleasure of sampling, the Wizzy with the Beta 10 is my fave and the Peavey Max Bass 208 still stands out as the best value for the money.
 
#14
The Birdhaus is a very natural sounding cab for upright bass .
Warm and acoustic sounding more than any other cab I can remember.
Most cabs make an upright sound artificially electric with its fundamental but this cab seems to sound acoustic with no overstated low end.
The cab sounds more natural with the rear port sealed.
 
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#15
Well just goes to show us that for different players there choices that
work better for them. I own a Birdhaus 4x6 and, as you know a MAS 1/8. Both are great the projection and tone profile, and quick response of Mike’s cabinet is ideally suited for concerts and clubs.
 
#16
So this past week I had 3 gigs with my different rigs.
The Peavey although a great value was the heaviest and so it’s out.
The Doubler/Wizzy was good.
The Doubler/Birdhaus was superior.

The Birdhaus is truly a unique cab with its side mounted speakers.
My drummer could surely appreciate the difference because I used the Wizzy on Friday then swapped out the Birdhaus on Saturday on the same stage at the historic Bakers Keyboard Lounge.

In a straight up A/B the Birdhaus wins hands down!
 
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