Double Bass Lightweight bigger cab for use with Clarus & Upshot?

[damonsmith]

The Upshot is great, it just served me super well on tour. However, it doesn't work well outside for obvious reasons and sometimes I need a bit more. I have an old 15 that is perfect but a back breaker.
I need something like that but lighter, could be a smaller speaker. The double shot seems great, but a bit more than I want to spend for "secondary" cab.
Since the Clarus has two speaker outs, I'd likely use it in conjunction with the Upshot.
What is out there in the $400 and under range?
You can hear the live sound I am getting here:

 

[John Chambliss]

Watch reverb.com for an Audiokinesis Thunder Child 112. I picked up one last year at a great price - closer to $500

 

[John Chambliss]

Or a Fender Rumble 112 v3 cab or similar?

 

[bherman]

I think that the Upshot is really not a good choice for outdoor use (unless maybe with FOH support?) maybe something more directional just for outdoor use, like a 210. Might be tough at that budget level though.

 

[John Chambliss]

I really think the TC112 would be wonderful - maybe @Ric Vice and @JeffKissell will throw in their $.02

 

[damonsmith]

I think that the Upshot is really not a good choice for outdoor use (unless maybe with FOH support?) maybe something more directional just for outdoor use, like a 210. Might be tough at that budget level though.

Right, that is what I am saying. It doesn't work outdoors except as a monitor. I have two channels, so I need something for outside plus when I need more power in general indoors.

 

[bassically_eli]

In that price range, I would look for an Eden EX112, which uses a whizzer cone and is surprisingly musical for upright. It comes in around 29 or 30 pounds IIRC. There's also an EX110, which is about 25 pounds. The whizzer cone is a bit mid forward in a way that works nicely with DB, and it's quite capable in terms of SPL. It's obviously not as hi-fi as a Thunderchild or DoubleShot, but it's a steal at its price point (under $250 when I bought mine)

Unfortunately, I'm not finding any on Reverb or eBay now. Hopefully it has not been discontinued.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

REBL 112 - Raezer's Edge

 

[damonsmith]

REBL 112 - Raezer's Edge

those look promising!

 

[james condino]

I love the AI heads, but I've been extremely disappointed with every cab of theirs I have owned in terms of power and headroom (the voice was always nice). Every one has blown up at what I would consider mediocre to modest volumes...but... I have used the head for around 500 gigs with every combination that you can think of, even a big old SVT backline refrigerator and it worked fantastic. It is surprising to see that tiny little dictionary sized amp rockin' a giant cab. I went through a cab searching phase where in 18 months I went through 22 different cabs; I started to feel like Tom Bowlus!

The range of voices and sound with all of those different cabs was pretty surprising; almost enough to say it was worth the effort.

I really don't understand what the obsession with ultralight cabs is. Most of the time they travel 40 foot from your basement to the car and then another 40 foot from the front door to the venue stage and only you and one other bass player in the room even notices. If you use a simple dolly, they travel 10 inches from the floor to the dolly and then you roll it around. It's not like when I lived in Tokyo and would travel 2 1/2 hours by train each way for rehearsal....

 

[damonsmith]

I really don't understand what the obsession with ultralight cabs is. Most of the time they travel 40 foot from your basement to the car and then another 40 foot from the front door to the venue stage and only you and one other bass player in the room even notices.

Yeah, I mean I have an old HH 15 Cab that is perfect. Maybe I will just stick with that for now. I like getting it all in one go. The Chicago spaces are often upstairs, I just get lazy. My amp set up now is 12 pounds! I can roll in with my side bag of CDs, Clarus and Upshot in one go.

 

[james condino]

12 lbs????? !!!!!!

Yup- stairs are tough....

I was thinking a while back maybe if I just lightened myself by 30 lbs and then went back to a 4x10 I'd be at net zero for weight! Nothin' like a hungry angry vegan to set the crowd straight....

 

[bassically_eli]

I really don't understand what the obsession with ultralight cabs is.

It's not like when I lived in Tokyo and would travel 2 1/2 hours by train each way for rehearsal....

Aahhhhh, so you do understand

Personally, I'm not so concerned about weight (as you say, I don't have to carry anything that far that often), but I really like having small-sized cabs. Makes loading cars so much easier and is easier to position on stage.

 

[damonsmith]

What do people think about Markbass cabs? There was one at the studio I recorded at yesterday, unfortunately, I did not have my amp. They seem to be around at decent prices.

 

[crd]

What do people think about Markbass cabs? There was one at the studio I recorded at yesterday, unfortunately, I did not have my amp. They seem to be around at decent prices.

It's been a really long time since I used one but I remember it being voiced without much mid (like a smiley face EQ was kind of baked into the speaker). That sound doesn't bother me to much but it doesn't always help an upright bass project.

Great stuff with Adam and Jason BTW! I hope to catch you all the next time you're here in Chi. I love playing with both of them. Jason sounds better than ever these days.

They don't seem to come up used very often but I love my MAS 4.5. I got it used for $450ish many years ago. It goes up and down the stairs at Elastic no problem.

 

[bherman]

Markbass cabs are ok, they tend to be tonally colored which you may or may not like so best to try out if looking at a used one. My recommendation? A RevSound 28, 19 lbs and put out an amazing amount of sound for the size. Only cab I ever had that I regret selling. New they are over $500. but if you are patient they ocassionally show up in TB classifieds for about $400.

RS28V | RevSound

 

[fu22ba55]

I've used an older GenzBenz Neo 112 (designed by @agedhorse, light as a feather and loud as bombs), but I prefer a second upshot 1x10, which does wonders: I place one near me (for intonation) and one closer to the drummer/ensemble.

 

[bassmanbrent]

What do people think about Markbass cabs? There was one at the studio I recorded at yesterday, unfortunately, I did not have my amp. They seem to be around at decent prices.

I know a lot of folks don't like Markbass stuff for DB, but I do. If you're using a separate head, their 112 cab (NY112?) would be a good choice for sound, size and form factor IMHO.

 

[bassically_eli]

The point about the smiley face voicing is good to keep in mind. Many (probably most) of us dial back the mids when using piezo pickups anyway, so having that tone baked in isn't necessarily bad. GKs are quite common among DB players and have a mid scoop, likewise for the Fender Rumble series. There have been some posts recently about the MarkAcoustic AC101.

Here's another idea: what about a Fishman Loudbox? Those can be had quite affordably used and have some very nice preamp features. Has anyone here used one for DB?

Also, regarding my earlier recommendation for an Eden EX cab, they're sold by Gear4Music now. They have a bunch of stuff marked way down rn, but supplies are low.

One more thing: +1 for a used MAS. I have a pair of MAS16s that I bought used for $500 (so 250 each). They're the best speakers I've ever owned or played through.

 

[damonsmith]

I
Great stuff with Adam and Jason BTW! I hope to catch you all the next time you're here in Chi. I love playing with both of them. Jason sounds better than ever these days.

Thanks! I am very excited about this trio! I played with Jason in Philly, in around 2009. He is incredible right right now. He was at such a high level on this tour. Adam is also fantastic, I find him very easy to play with and he has strong ideas.
I play Elastic June 20th with this trio:

I have really been enjoying Chicago!