Double Bass I played through an Acoustic Image for the first time!

[robert_stuart]

It sounded perfect, set completely flat, saw it in a used instrument store in Denver and tested it with:

• My bass w/ Fishman full circle
• Acoustic Image Focus 1 Series iii
• Hartke Hydrive 210 cabinet

Great clear sound, and a real bouncy and deep bass. Nice for funk. I'm guessing the Hartke had something to do with that, along with the AI's power.

I'm totally new to AI, but now I get it, why they're so loved. I'm wondering:

• I see a lot of love here for the Aguilar Tone Hammer series with the SL cabs. Is it similar to the AI, where it sounds great with flat EQ? Or does it need a lot of adjustment?
• Is there a post somewhere comparing the AI heads, and their evolution? I see that the Focus 1 Series ii is $50-100 cheaper, generally. How does it compare?
• How's the reliability of older AI heads?
• Any other models I should consider that have a ton of power, sound at least as good, and are light?

Thanks!

 

[james condino]

There re a lot of great ultralight heads these days. Seriously consider looking at the two channel heads. The single channel are great for you as a bass player; I used a single channel Focus for several hundred gigs....then I upgraded to the two channel and never looked back.

They are also very versatile over the whole spectrum of instruments, so when the guitar player blows an amp or the guest horn player needs more volume, et cetera you have the possibility of having four independent channel options (two mains plus you can use the line in effects loop with a preamp as an additional input on each channel). Plus it gives you plenty of other options for mics and pickups and instruments. I've used my two channel Focus as a stand alone PA for smaller coffehouse type gigs.....

 

[Sean Riddle]

I've played through some Tone Hammers and they're nice amps, but does not behave in the way you noticed the Acoustic Image heads do. The Tone Hammer has a lot of power in the mids to lows. They're made with electric bass in mind, but can totally sound nice for double bass. Expect to adjust the EQ though. Acoustic Image heads are fairly clear and almost neutral sounding you could say. But I have found the Clarus SL-2 I have to have a little extra presence in the low end. Like you noticed, you don't have to do a lot of tweaking on the EQ of an AI amp to get a good sound.

I can't comment on any differences between AI heads, but the principle is the same throughout the evolution of the Clarus and Focus. Clear, focused sound, with no coloring. A lot of people still use older AI gear regularly. They're extremely well made and they have one of the best warranty deals and customer service around.

The Euphonic Audio Doubler might be one to consider. Power wise it's very similar to the Clarus heads. If you want something really light, one of the newer Clarus SL heads will fit that bill. Has 600 watts of powers at 4 ohms and they weigh around 3 lbs. If you want something really powerful, then snoop around for an AI Focus Series III head. 800 watts at 4 ohms and is stable at 2 ohms, putting out around 1000 watts. Like James mentioned, get a 2 channel head. Helpful for the reasons he described and also very helpful for doubling gigs and gives you the ability to blend a pickup and a mic.

 

[robert_stuart]

Thank you! In the store, the white mute button nearly popped off when I pressed it - I saw that it's a hollow sort of tube, and was able to push it back in. Is this an easy fix? It looked like maybe it just needed to be pushed back correctly into the actual button inside the unit?

 

[robert_stuart]

By the way, what are the two circle cut-outs for on the Focus 1 Series iii? I'm guessing it's for some combo it can be part of?

 

[Frits]

I can only agree: AI makes great stuff! I use a Clarus SL2 + Upshot for small gigs (jazz duo bass + guitar), gypsy jazz 4tet and add a Raezer's Edge Bass12 speaker for bigband. It handles all situations perfectly and is very modular/versatile that way. Agreed, these amps don't require lots of tweaking. The low cut filter is great when combining a condenser mic (a Remic D540 inmy case) with my FWF piezo pickup.

 

[Jim Dedrick]

I’ve been using a Clarus for a few years now that was purchased from Gollihur’s (really great guys to work with). As mentioned above, sounds clean flat, HPF great for difficult rooms, plenty of power, and two channels for blending piezo with a mic. I have added a vocal mic as well. Never had to use service and if you search around TB threads you will find their reputation for quality product and great service is second to none.

 

[brianrost]

By the way, what are the two circle cut-outs for on the Focus 1 Series iii? I'm guessing it's for some combo it can be part of?

If you mean the holes on the side panels, that's just for picking the head up.

All the Series IV combos and some of the later Series III combos were designed so the heads could be removed and used standalone. The fittings for that are on the back of the unit, it was called the Cabrio system.

There used to be a history of the various Series over at Gollihur Music's site. the Series III and IV look pretty similar, the others are easy to ID.

The main things:

Series I was much lower power (about 200 watts), combos only, no effects, notch filter only? (I forget). At first, only the single channel Contra model, some two channel Coda models were made later (I've never seen one...not very common).

Series II two channel preamps had one channel XLR only and the other 1/4" only, switchable notch/HPF. The combos were simply the head bolted on top of the cab leaving all controls on the top panel (not a good idea IMHO). Effects processor as an option (R added to the model name). Power (4 ohm) either 200 or 600 watts.

Series IIa combos were the same electronically as Series II but the head was sunken into the cabinet for better protection.

Series III had XLR/1/4" combo jacks on both channels, preamp controls on the front panel. Power (4 ohm) either 400 or 800 watts. New Ten2 cabinet introduced alongside the older/smaller Contra/Coda cab design. New Corus cabinet designed for non-bass instruments, louder but less low end extension. Focus SA power amp introduced.

Series IV went to a four band EQ, separate XLR and 1/4" on each channel, redesigned power amp and redesigned speakers in the combos. All combos had "Cabrio" system. Power 500 watts (4 ohm) only. Flex system (preamp plus powered speaker) introduced.

Most recently Series IV+ brought the smaller SL series heads (no XLR inputs) and the new Upshot and Doubleshot cabinets no longer have downward firing woofers. Contra, Corus and Ten2 discontinued, Clarus 2R head remains. Redesigned Coda cabinet has upfiring woofer. The "combos" are heads mounted to brackets on the cabs, no longer self contained.

There were many interim changes made over the years. I own two Series III combos, on one the mute and Ch2 buttons are red but white on the other. The buttons are also not the same length. One has a switch to disable the internal speaker, the other doesn't.

For full specs, download user manuals for Series 2 to 4 amps here.

Reliability? I have a friend who is still gigging her Series I. AI is known for doing many repairs free of charge regardless of the age of the unit.

 

[BobbyT]

I gigged an early Clarus head for a while. It was the closest I have come to achieving “my bass only louder” in a traditional pickup/amplifier setup.

I struggled to get a workable sound (and volume) on bass guitar, so it ultimately went up for sale. I still regret getting rid of it.

The AI heads are very different from the Aguilar you mentioned. The Tone Hammer colors the sound—in a good way, in my opinion—so it’s less transparent but may work for you if you double.

Never had any issues with reliability and would not hesitate to use AI service if needed.

 

[statsc]

I’m a long time AI user (series I Coda + EX —> series II Claris I —> Series IV Ten2 + EX —> Series IV Claris SL). There’s nothing I can add to this discussion that hasn’t already been said: they sound great, they’re lightweight, they last forever, and if they don’t Rick Jones usually fixes them for free!

 

[16fuss]

AI is still the way to go. One day, when mine bites the dust, i will simply get another one!

 

[james condino]

'Love AI heads, but..... every time I tried to like their cabs, it never worked out. I've probably spent $2k on AI cabs and sold every one of them. The heads are very neutral, so you can fine tune your sound by mixing with different cabs and sizes. The later high power Focus can push a 4 x 10 at rock levels with a heavy handed drummer no problem and yet they still work great at low levels with a small single cab like a 1 x 10.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Digital watts works like electric horsepower. You get immediate torque, but no zoom.

I like my AI. It’s a nice amp. But it isn’t in the same hemisphere as the Walter Woods feeding EV drivers in tight little 3/4” plywood boxes I used to cure rat problems in dirty nightclubs.

 

[james condino]

13 posts and we're back where it always goes around here...."but my Walter Woods..."....

When you can find a used 800 watt Walter Woods for $600 and get free lifetime servicing with two day turnaround, then that is a fair comment. We all know WWs are fantastic, but they go for 3-5 times what an AI head sells for on the secondhand market and good luck getting it serviced, so there is no comparison. I don't understand why this always comes up....

 

[Don Kasper]

I don't understand why this always comes up....

Because it's true?
(jk)
Love my WW.
IMFO, of course, as always.

 

[james condino]

It is irrelevant to the F@#$!%& conversation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A guy is shopping for a 10 year old used Toyota and you keep telling him your Tesla is better.

 

[Sean Riddle]

It is irrelevant to the F@#$!%& conversation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A guy is shopping for a 10 year old used Toyota and you keep telling him your Tesla is better.

Acoustic Image is the people’s amp.

 

[neddyrow]

I agree with the 2-channel option.

I upgraded and just kept the 1- channel.

as for the WW stuff - tough to buy an amp so expensive with an uncertainty as to who’ll repair it someday. AI AInt going anywhere and have great service.

I did have my GB Shuttle in there too. That has some nice power and at a price point close to AI. Also GB doesn’t exist so it’s a similar situation to WW. I played a show with my GB on DB and was surprised how well it sounded!

sorry for the digression but I’ve seen shuttles on here for $400. Might be another route.

 

[16fuss]

'Love AI heads, but..... every time I tried to like their cabs, it never worked out. I've probably spent $2k on AI cabs and sold every one of them. The heads are very neutral, so you can fine tune your sound by mixing with different cabs and sizes. The later high power Focus can push a 4 x 10 at rock levels with a heavy handed drummer no problem and yet they still work great at low levels with a small single cab like a 1 x 10.

I feel for the AI cabs the same way. I played a few hundred gigs with an AI combo. Getting rid of the cab was great! A simple 110 sounds so much better!

 

[Ric Vice]

Dual channel amplifiers for bass are only built by a few companies now. So realistically, if you want one for doubling
their are only three choices AI, EA or “he who shall not be named”.