There is a a size and weight advantage to the non powered version of the MAS 1/8 if you’re working in a crowded urban city where mass transport is readily available as it’s more compact and lighter.
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Double Bass MAS 18 Review
- Thread starter SamuelHarris
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There is a a size and weight advantage to the non powered version of the MAS 1/8 if you’re working in a crowded urban city where mass transport is readily available as it’s more compact and lighter.
Been using my MAS18p upside down lately. Anyone else using it in this configuration? I did it in an attempt to get a better sound from my perspective. It seems to work really well at shifting the girth of the notes to the top so it sounds more like my MAS46. Having the ports up seems to sound better. Just curious if anyone else has tried this?
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That’s a interesting idea. The Euphonic Audio VL 108’s were ported like that, so I could see where that might sound great. As I remember, Mike said one-time in a post, that they would work either way.
That’s a interesting idea. The Euphonic Audio VL 108’s were ported like that, so I could see where that might sound great. As I remember, Mike said one-time in a post, that they would work either way.
Since I've owned both a QSC K8 and the MAS 1/8 what I'll say is by comparison regardless of how you angle the cabinet, as you might suspect the MAS 1/8 has much better projection than the K8 and sounds more like
a bass. Just my take though. The QSC is built like a tank and "can take a licking and keep on ticking"
a bass. Just my take though. The QSC is built like a tank and "can take a licking and keep on ticking"
Gotta say I did a session the other day, the guy said just bring your bass, I have an amp...I brought the bass and the tube preamp and it turned out to be a K8. The K8 sounded really good, with the Sarno V8. Those pre-molded powered cabs are super easy to tote, and sound (with a good preamp) excellent. THe MAS stuff is better, but I dont know...I would use the V8>K8 any day, seemed to go pretty loud too. plenty for a trio.
I’ve only played through the first version of the K8, so their less powerful and the newer K8 v2’s actually have different EQ curves for bass. Regardless,
the V8 will make either of the K8’s sound spectacular.
the V8 will make either of the K8’s sound spectacular.
Yeah I really like the 18 upside down and tilted back on an Ampwedge. The ports have the thicker sound and putting them on top, I don't think changes much for the audience but it does for the player. I can see why Mike is now making his cabs with the ports on the side.
Actually, according to his Facebook page, Mike is phasing himself out of building the cabinets and turning the operation over to the
operation to the folks at Big E. Side ports are a great idea.
Total tangent, but if I didn't already have a couple of MAS cabs as well as an AK Thunderchild, I would be very tempted by QSC's newer CP8 and CP12. Based on the Sound On Sound review, they don't fall far short of the K-series. They do have half the power of the K.2s, but that's still plenty, and they are a bit lighter and more compact. At $399 and $499 each, one could buy several and pair them as needed. I think one of each would be enough for most DB players.
Okay, sorry for the tangent. Couldn't help myself.
Okay, sorry for the tangent. Couldn't help myself.
I talked with Mike last week.
From what I understood, he'll still be in communication with (consulting with?) the Big E guys, but the actual building of the cabs and all of the business stuff will be through them -- there will be, IIRC, a Bodai 112, Bodai 28, MAS 28, and MAS 18s in the line.
The 5"-based cabs (the "tower" and "box" 45s mentioned in the big thread on the EB side and on the MAS Facebook page) won't, from what I understood, be in the standard line produced by the Big E guys, but Mike will build a few himself here and there. He said that, while the 45s (the tower version, in particular) are his current faves for his personal use, they cost more and take up more space for a given output volume than the 8s do and were, thus, less practical for inclusion in a regular line (which I get the feeling he and the Big E guys both want to slim-down and standardize).
This could change, of course, and I don't speak for Mike or the Big E guys.
Coming back to the 8s, I was considering a 45 but, after talking with Mike, am inclined toward a pair of 18s, which would see use with electric and maybe, on occasion, amplified cello. It sounded like the 5s (per Mike, more hi-fi) would have an edge for cello but that the 8s would still be good and, with electric bass, more practical (louder as a pair, smaller as a single, and probably voiced more in-line with my preferences on EB).
Thanks for the clarification, I'm glad for Mike that he's moved a lot of the manufacturing of his cabinets, over to Big E. Since they are bigger company, their supply chain can maintain components for Mikes cabinets which was always a concern for Mike building cabs by himself.
Since I have both a MAS 1/8 and a 4x5.5 from my personal experience he's right on the mark with the difference between the 1/8 and 4x5's for bass guitar. The 4x5's are very nuanced and spread sound out in a envelope, that works exceptionally well for Double Bass. but
the lows from dual MAS 1/8's are "bigger" .
Wouldn't that do just about the same as using the 18 in the monitor wedge position? Are you doing it like that just so you can stack your pre/amps on top?
Hi Sam. Yeah, I don't ever use the cab tilted that way...no place to put yur stuff. But elevated (as I use it in my studio) or tilted up on an Ampwedge (at gigs) it sounds better to me upside down. Having the ports in the air (at least from my standing position with the cab behind me) clarifies the bass and sends the girth of the note in to the air rather then along the floor. Also I like having the electronics port on the upper side and the on/off/volume closer to where I am using it. Plus the odd shape looks way cooler upside down and provides a much bigger platform for the preamps. I need feet though. Anyone know of any kind of sticky feet that you don't have to drill into the cab?
I asked Mike about the fate of the mini 16p. The only other cab I would want to have, he said (I think) that it will be part of the Big E standard line but nobody ever mentions it. Too bad, because it is the best little cab out there for upright. I had an earlier MAS16 and used it for a surprising number of gigs. Duo's, Trio's, rehearsals, cafe gigs etc. I thought when I got the MAS18p that it would take the place of the 16 and...it has but it is WAY bigger. I really miss that little workhorse.
I asked Mike about the fate of the mini 16p. The only other cab I would want to have, he said (I think) that it will be part of the Big E standard line but nobody ever mentions it. Too bad, because it is the best little cab out there for upright. I had an earlier MAS16 and used it for a surprising number of gigs. Duo's, Trio's, rehearsals, cafe gigs etc. I thought when I got the MAS18p that it would take the place of the 16 and...it has but it is WAY bigger. I really miss that little workhorse.
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Hopefully, that’s something that will be available eventually. Fortunately, I have one of the smaller and lighter original MAS 1/8’s. It’s less powerful, but easier to transport.
Haha, "still be good" is a quite the understatement
. I have a couple of older 16s, and before that I had a MAS26. These are the only MAS cabs I've used, but honestly, they're so good that I just can't see all that much room for improvement. Okay, there's a few obvious ways they could be better since there is no upper limit on efficiency, power handling, etc., and mine are tweeterless, so they only go to about 14khz, but dang, they're pretty damn hi-fi if you ask me. They pretty much put out whatever you put in. All that said, yea, I would still love a pair of MAS18s, and I'd like to try the new 5" and 6" designs.Regarding Mike's involvement, I believe his FB post said that he would still be building prototypes and occasional custom builds for those who really want the absolute best (and can afford to pay for it).
Did you pick up one of the newer 5" builds from Mike, or is this the older 4x5.5? I had the impression that the newer 5" based cabs were completely redesigned from the ground up after he hooked up with Ciare. IIRC, he discontinued the old 5" designs after he came up with the 8s, but then Ciare designed the new speakers for him.
Yes, I have one of the few powered 4x5.5's that Mike ever built. They have 18 sound speakers that were also associated with Ciare, but it's an incredible cabinet. The new ones are different, but I'm not sure of how many of those
cabinets he built. I know he had two that he sold recently that were in his back stock. Mike's had an incredibly tough time of it the last two years. I think he had just had enough.
cabinets he built. I know he had two that he sold recently that were in his back stock. Mike's had an incredibly tough time of it the last two years. I think he had just had enough.
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