- Mar 22, 2000
- 1,972
- 73
- Disclosures
- Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
I took a pair of Wizzy 10 cabs out under a Focus 1 a little over three weeks ago. However, it was not an URB gig, but an electric blues/rock (two guitars, electronic drums, me on five string fretted bass). I usually take my iAMP 800 over a pair of VL208 cabs, and frankly did not expect the two tiny tens to hold up to the volumes necessary to compete with the stage volumes, and did load my usual rig into my truck as well, as 2nd or 3rd set insurance. I never did need to go out for it.
Just for the sake of details and circumstances, I was gigging a Hoyt five string (low B) with Lane Poor Pickups and 3 band Bart preamp, whose controls were close to or at flat for most tunes. I was surprised that little EQ was necessary at the Focus. I recall moving the bass control to somewhere between 12:30 and 1 o'clock, I advanced the treble control to around 1 o'clock, I think the midrange was backed off to about 11:30 o'clock. Subtle EQ, eh?
Sonically, the Wizzy 10 cabs obviously don't have the highest frequencies of the VL208 cabs, since they lack horns, but they still have plenty of presence. I actually turn up the horn and midrange controls on the back of my VL208 cabs to about 2-2:30 o'clock because they do tend to be natively dark IMHO. Could be my 56 YO ears, too.
The Wizzy 10s had much better clarity than the VL208 cabs, with a more pronounced midrange-- which I actually prefer. I'm obviously no fan of the popular ebass smiley curve, being brought up as a string bass player I learned that midrange and edge helped me be heard; I played a lot of gigs without amplification in my youth.
Stepping off stage and backing off as far as my 20ft cable would take me, I liked the tone, it was tight and not boomy, very clear and pronounced in the mix. Yet it was full enough for loud and obnoxious ZZTop, Aerosmith, etc., tunes in the fourth set. This was a huge surprise to me.
Now, I realize that y'all are probably not including classic rock in your jazz trio repertoire, but still felt I should share the experience. I have, of course, auditioned the cab with my URB but only in the shop, URB gigs have been a little thin lately.
Just for the sake of details and circumstances, I was gigging a Hoyt five string (low B) with Lane Poor Pickups and 3 band Bart preamp, whose controls were close to or at flat for most tunes. I was surprised that little EQ was necessary at the Focus. I recall moving the bass control to somewhere between 12:30 and 1 o'clock, I advanced the treble control to around 1 o'clock, I think the midrange was backed off to about 11:30 o'clock. Subtle EQ, eh?
Sonically, the Wizzy 10 cabs obviously don't have the highest frequencies of the VL208 cabs, since they lack horns, but they still have plenty of presence. I actually turn up the horn and midrange controls on the back of my VL208 cabs to about 2-2:30 o'clock because they do tend to be natively dark IMHO. Could be my 56 YO ears, too.
The Wizzy 10s had much better clarity than the VL208 cabs, with a more pronounced midrange-- which I actually prefer. I'm obviously no fan of the popular ebass smiley curve, being brought up as a string bass player I learned that midrange and edge helped me be heard; I played a lot of gigs without amplification in my youth.
Stepping off stage and backing off as far as my 20ft cable would take me, I liked the tone, it was tight and not boomy, very clear and pronounced in the mix. Yet it was full enough for loud and obnoxious ZZTop, Aerosmith, etc., tunes in the fourth set. This was a huge surprise to me.
Now, I realize that y'all are probably not including classic rock in your jazz trio repertoire, but still felt I should share the experience. I have, of course, auditioned the cab with my URB but only in the shop, URB gigs have been a little thin lately.
, and most have been out for years. As Bob pointed out previously in this thread, their service and support are great. The problem, as Bob mentions, is the 'hundreds of posts' praising the virtues of EA's service and support. I've unfortunately had to use the service too many times over the past 10 years or so. I'm much more impressed with companies that have virtually no posts talking about their 'great service'... that's the sign of a company that's cookin' IMO.
