Double Bass New Acoustic Image 'DOUBLESHOT'

[Karl Kaminski]

^^^ is the Upshot bag also a Mooridian? Cause it actually works very well even loaded up with 18+lbs in it. I wonder if the strap design of the Dbshot is different?

Though when I have a "full" pack, I do shorten/tighten the straps once its on my back to levelup and secure the pack to my back. I dont think the UpS pack is comfortable loose—like a school backpack 'slung over the shoulder'. I feel it works best secured like a hikers pack. My guess is that its the same with the DBshot bag.

I would agree (IMHO) that the quality of the Mooridian stuff has waned over the past 20yrs (little things like quality control; zippers, stitching). Some of my Mcases from the 80s are still going strong , while a few of the 'newer' pieces have fallen apart.

 

[jmlee]

^^^ is the Upshot bag also a Mooridian? Cause it actually works very well even loaded up with 18+lbs in it. I wonder if the strap design of the Dbshot is different?

Though when I have a "full" pack, I do shorten/tighten the straps once its on my back to levelup and secure the pack to my back. I dont think the UpS pack is comfortable loose—like a school backpack 'slung over the shoulder'. I feel it works best secured like a hikers pack. My guess is that its the same with the DBshot bag.

I would agree (IMHO) that the quality of the Mooridian stuff has waned over the past 20yrs (little things like quality control; zippers, stitching). Some of my Mcases from the 80s are still going strong , whole a few of the 'newer' pieces have fallen apart.

The UpShot is a lot shallower then the DoubleShot so its centre of gravity is much closer to your back in the pack. And it’s at least one driver lighter. Add the extra mass, and put the centre of that mass further from your back, and the result is very different I’m sure.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

agreed. I do load up my pack with alot of extra gear so at worst Im reaching up to a 20lb pack-though it is closer to my back. Im just curious how users are 'wearing' the pack, as i found keeping it secured tightly to your back aids in the comfort. Just a thought, YMMV.

 

[Michael Drost]

An update on my Doubleshot usage:

It has been a few weeks since I started using the Doubleshot/SL combo.

I have been very happy with the sound. My Golia>Full Circle>SL>Doubleshot. Very simple. It just sounds good to me. One disclaimer: I elevate the DS at every gig using a bracket of my own design and a short speaker stand.

The rig sounds great pizz and arco. Most everyone I have played with has positively commented on the sound. This has not happened since I entered the rabbit hole that is "upright bass amplification". Haha. It could be the eclectic look that triggers a comment, but I truly think it is the sound that warrants positive comments.

Another important consideration is Acoustic Images customer service. Second to none.

At this point, I can safely say that this will be my double bass rig for a while.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

My bass is a mid grade plywood with Zyex lights that are over 7 years old, with a full circle. I, too, love the doubleshot.

After 8 gigs with it since I got it, I have some specific observations.

1. The backpack seems decent quality for storage, like if it was in a trunk or trailer, or is going to be used heavily or handled by roadies, but as a travel bag, does not work for me for all the reasons listed above. I put the clarus and cables in the amp carry bag, and carry that and the doubleshot in one hand and my bass in the other. That method works great.

2. The portability and ease of use is fantastic. It is light and easy to carry. Fits in tight spots on stage, and for a local gigging musician (keep my gear at home, drive to gigs, no roadie help, I take great care of my gear) it is definitely durable enough.

3. The tone works well for what it is (see #2). What it is, is a small speaker/amp. Like any small cab, the very low frequencies will be rolled off and the "low mids" or "high bass" frequencies will be a little artificially boosted because of the higher resonant frequency of the box. To my ears, that bump is what can make an amp sound "small" or "cheap." At low volumes, no biggie. When turning it up higher, I can usually mitigate it by boosting a little low and cutting some low mid on the Clarus. I almost always boost the highs and turn the high kids to flat or slight boost depending on how dry the room is. I suspect the full circle does not put out a ton of treble information to work with.

4. This personal point probably puts me in the minority... I like the amp placed where I HAD to place amps before (usually right behind me or back in the corner). I actually like the low end coupling effect from this rig when it is near the floor/wall/corner. I think the 360⁰ dispersion and the sealed design make the coupling bass effect desirable because it is controllable and even. It makes it project more than enough into the room and gives it a nice thick low thump on the attacks. I know I am in the minority on this point. I have elevated it and put it on the floor in front of me (see pic above with the big band). I just prefer it behind me and near a wall or corner on the floor. There was one place where I liked it out front (and sideways, oddly), and it was a notoriously boomy stage that is elevated behind the bar. I am going for Paul Chambers, not Eddie Gomez, so I like the thump.

I have to add that the Clarus as a standalone amp head set flat is very good for the upright. With many amps, I usually have some sort of midrange problem when plugging in the upright that needs to be pinpointed on a parametric mid EQ band. The Clarus has a nice balanced sound and is an easy plug and play head for the upright. The two buffered inputs with different impedances is right on. I always start with low Z when setting up. I immediately know whether to leave it there or go Hi. Low gives me a bit more mids and highs and slightly tighter lows as a starting point. In some rooms that sounds weak or too bright. In that case I put it in the high z, and I have thicker lows and a smoother sound (which can sometimes be too dark or boomy).

The other night I had a usual doubling gig, only the upright set was on the bandstand and not in another place. I had my usual rocking electric bass rig with a very loud 212 cabinet. I did all my tweaking with my usual amp head (a Mesa WD800 which has lots of eq shaping). But the upright sounded better through the Clarus into the big cab, and tons of power to spare.

I think this rig is a keeper. If I ever sell it, it's because Stevie Wonder finally called, or I quit playing upright. It fills out a decent size room with a loud big band. If i needed any more volume from my rig, there would either be a PA or it would be much bigger than some local one trip in and out gig and I would bring the big dawgs out.

 

[Michael Drost]

I agree completely.

I just received my backpack for the Doubleshot last week.

I had been carrying the combo around in my old Mooradian Ten2 bag. It worked fine. Perhaps a shoulder strap, as opposed to the backpack strap, would alleviate the awkwardness you feel? The Ten2 shoulder strap works great for me.

As for the DS backpack, the gear fits nicely and it looks and feels sturdy to me. I just use it for protection. Probably won't use it regularly as a backpack. It still fits into my "one load scenario" which is of the utmost importance. Haha.

 

[jmlee]

OK, here's a good one. I got my new DoubleShot recently and was very excited to try it out someplace other than my basement. Down there, I had been experiencing an odd, loud rattle when I hit certain notes: especially low on the A or E strings. Since my practice area has an assortment of odd rattles at the best of times, I was having a hard time convincing myself it was the new speaker.

So...off I go to big band rehearsal this past Monday and set up the Clarus 4S/DoubleShot rig. Holy rattle, Batman! The racketd was loud and only coming from the left speaker. My drummer buddy and I got the thing up on my stool and had a hard look at that speaker with the flashlight in my iPhone. What we thought we saw through the grill was a thin, triangular piece of metal lodged between the speaker and the grill, apparently causing the rattle. Well that's annoying, I thought. Having no alternative I used the amp for the rehearsal and earned the displeasure of the MD who didn't think it was adding much to the piano solos.

The next morning I wrote Mark Gollihur about it and he in turn corresponded with Rick Jones. The instruction I got from Mark was that some (unspecified) material had been used to damp the grill on the two woofers and this was coming loose due to faulty glue. I was instructed on removing the grill with a spoon and told the material could be discarded. That evening I popped the grill and the result was what you see in the image below. (And, yes, I had duct tape over the hidden end of the pry bar...) There was a bonus logo button stuck to the cone of that left speaker. With only the phone light, my buddy and I had mistaken the edges of the stylized "A" for the edges of a piece of metal. In corresponding with Rick the next day, I was told that they had put extra buttons on the inside of the grills to somehow attempt to "damp" the grill motion but had now determined it didn't work. Since they're falling off, he suggested I remove the other grill and take the other logo button off.

This isn't typical of the sort of engineering I've come to associate with AI and perhaps it reflects the velocity with which production and shipping of the DoubleShots has occurred. Anyhoo, get yer spoons out!

I'll report back in with my experience with the speaker after next Monday (minus the shake, rattle, and roll). No other gigs for now between-times.

 

[Ric Vice]

Weird!

 

[damonsmith]

Sorry if I missed it, but, I'd love to hear about more direct comparisons withe Upshot in terms of added volume and projection. I am still pretty blown away by my Upshot. I feel like when I've needed more house sound has been enough or I've needed something heavier like a 15. I am still curious about this.

 

[Michael Drost]

OK, here's a good one. I got my new DoubleShot recently and was very excited to try it out someplace other than my basement. Down there, I had been experiencing an odd, loud rattle when I hit certain notes: especially low on the A or E strings. Since my practice area has an assortment of odd rattles at the best of times, I was having a hard time convincing myself it was the new speaker.

So...off I go to big band rehearsal this past Monday and set up the Clarus 4S/DoubleShot rig. Holy rattle, Batman! The racketd was loud and only coming from the left speaker. My drummer buddy and I got the thing up on my stool and had a hard look at that speaker with the flashlight in my iPhone. What we thought we saw through the grill was a thin, triangular piece of metal lodged between the speaker and the grill, apparently causing the rattle. Well that's annoying, I thought. Having no alternative I used the amp for the rehearsal and earned the displeasure of the MD who didn't think it was adding much to the piano solos.

The next morning I wrote Mark Gollihur about it and he in turn corresponded with Rick Jones. The instruction I got from Mark was that some (unspecified) material had been used to damp the grill on the two woofers and this was coming loose due to faulty glue. I was instructed on removing the grill with a spoon and told the material could be discarded. That evening I popped the grill and the result was what you see in the image below. (And, yes, I had duct tape over the hidden end of the pry bar...) There was a bonus logo button stuck to the cone of that left speaker. With only the phone light, my buddy and I had mistaken the edges of the stylized "A" for the edges of a piece of metal. In corresponding with Rick the next day, I was told that they had put extra buttons on the inside of the grills to somehow attempt to "damp" the grill motion but had now determined it didn't work. Since they're falling off, he suggested I remove the other grill and take the other logo button off.

This isn't typical of the sort of engineering I've come to associate with AI and perhaps it reflects the velocity with which production and shipping of the DoubleShots has occurred. Anyhoo, get yer spoons out!

I'll report back in with my experience with the speaker after next Monday (minus the shake, rattle, and roll). No other gigs for now between-times.

View attachment 3555221

I received the same information about my Doubleshot. A preventative measure apparently. Performed the simple removal of the labels. No biggie.

I have had no issues with the combo. It's been great. I've had it out on 7 or 8 gigs in the past two weeks and it has exceeded my expectations(without the dampening stickers haha).

I for one, appreciate the awesome customer service from Mark and Rick.

 

[Michael Drost]

Sorry if I missed it, but, I'd love to hear about more direct comparisons withe Upshot in terms of added volume and projection. I am still pretty blown away by my Upshot. I feel like when I've needed more house sound has been enough or I've needed something heavier like a 15. I am still curious about this.

Damon,

I own both. Both are great. Much more volume from the DS, for sure. 650 @ 4 ohms as opposed to the Upshot which is 300 @ 8 ohms. I prefer the sound of the DS to the US at louder volumes.

For me, the 5-inch driver and the side-firing speakers offer great monitoring at the gig as well as a very omnipresent sound on the bandstand and in the room.

I have owned the Ten2, Contra, Upshot and this to me seems like a departure in a good direction.

 

[rickwolff]

I received the same information about my Doubleshot. A preventative measure apparently. Performed the simple removal of the labels. No biggie.

I have had no issues with the combo. It's been great. I've had it out on 7 or 8 gigs in the past two weeks and it has exceeded my expectations(without the dampening stickers haha).

I for one, appreciate the awesome customer service from Mark and Rick.

I received the same information about my Doubleshot. A preventative measure apparently. Performed the simple removal of the labels. No biggie.

I have had no issues with the combo. It's been great. I've had it out on 7 or 8 gigs in the past two weeks and it has exceeded my expectations(without the dampening stickers haha).

I for one, appreciate the awesome customer service from Mark and Rick.

Michael, would you introduce me to your agent?

 

[Michael Drost]

Michael, would you introduce me to your agent?

Haha.

 

[damonsmith]

Cool, I have a heavy old 15 cab made by HH, I want to get a lighter weight replacement for that, a used DS down the road might be an answer.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

OK, here's a good one. I got my new DoubleShot recently and was very excited to try it out someplace other than my basement. Down there, I had been experiencing an odd, loud rattle when I hit certain notes: especially low on the A or E strings. Since my practice area has an assortment of odd rattles at the best of times, I was having a hard time convincing myself it was the new speaker.

So...off I go to big band rehearsal this past Monday and set up the Clarus 4S/DoubleShot rig. Holy rattle, Batman! The racketd was loud and only coming from the left speaker. My drummer buddy and I got the thing up on my stool and had a hard look at that speaker with the flashlight in my iPhone. What we thought we saw through the grill was a thin, triangular piece of metal lodged between the speaker and the grill, apparently causing the rattle. Well that's annoying, I thought. Having no alternative I used the amp for the rehearsal and earned the displeasure of the MD who didn't think it was adding much to the piano solos.

The next morning I wrote Mark Gollihur about it and he in turn corresponded with Rick Jones. The instruction I got from Mark was that some (unspecified) material had been used to damp the grill on the two woofers and this was coming loose due to faulty glue. I was instructed on removing the grill with a spoon and told the material could be discarded. That evening I popped the grill and the result was what you see in the image below. (And, yes, I had duct tape over the hidden end of the pry bar...) There was a bonus logo button stuck to the cone of that left speaker. With only the phone light, my buddy and I had mistaken the edges of the stylized "A" for the edges of a piece of metal. In corresponding with Rick the next day, I was told that they had put extra buttons on the inside of the grills to somehow attempt to "damp" the grill motion but had now determined it didn't work. Since they're falling off, he suggested I remove the other grill and take the other logo button off.

This isn't typical of the sort of engineering I've come to associate with AI and perhaps it reflects the velocity with which production and shipping of the DoubleShots has occurred. Anyhoo, get yer spoons out!

I'll report back in with my experience with the speaker after next Monday (minus the shake, rattle, and roll). No other gigs for now between-times.

View attachment 3555221

OK, here's a good one. I got my new DoubleShot recently and was very excited to try it out someplace other than my basement. Down there, I had been experiencing an odd, loud rattle when I hit certain notes: especially low on the A or E strings. Since my practice area has an assortment of odd rattles at the best of times, I was having a hard time convincing myself it was the new speaker.

So...off I go to big band rehearsal this past Monday and set up the Clarus 4S/DoubleShot rig. Holy rattle, Batman! The racketd was loud and only coming from the left speaker. My drummer buddy and I got the thing up on my stool and had a hard look at that speaker with the flashlight in my iPhone. What we thought we saw through the grill was a thin, triangular piece of metal lodged between the speaker and the grill, apparently causing the rattle. Well that's annoying, I thought. Having no alternative I used the amp for the rehearsal and earned the displeasure of the MD who didn't think it was adding much to the piano solos.

The next morning I wrote Mark Gollihur about it and he in turn corresponded with Rick Jones. The instruction I got from Mark was that some (unspecified) material had been used to damp the grill on the two woofers and this was coming loose due to faulty glue. I was instructed on removing the grill with a spoon and told the material could be discarded. That evening I popped the grill and the result was what you see in the image below. (And, yes, I had duct tape over the hidden end of the pry bar...) There was a bonus logo button stuck to the cone of that left speaker. With only the phone light, my buddy and I had mistaken the edges of the stylized "A" for the edges of a piece of metal. In corresponding with Rick the next day, I was told that they had put extra buttons on the inside of the grills to somehow attempt to "damp" the grill motion but had now determined it didn't work. Since they're falling off, he suggested I remove the other grill and take the other logo button off.

This isn't typical of the sort of engineering I've come to associate with AI and perhaps it reflects the velocity with which production and shipping of the DoubleShots has occurred. Anyhoo, get yer spoons out!

I'll report back in with my experience with the speaker after next Monday (minus the shake, rattle, and roll). No other gigs for now between-times.

View attachment 3555221

Same thing happened to me. I haven't said anything, but my rattle is not that bad and I still haven't identified the source. But my left speaker grill comes off easily and the "glue" is more like putty. It has not fallen off during transport or in play, yet. It seems like the fit is loose, like the strange black putty doesnt let it sit fully into the speaker. But it stays if i don't kick it. On mine it was the outside logos that came off. I stuck them back on and they have stayed.

 

[turf3]

I apologize if I'm treading trodden ground here, but I'm not really clear on the plethora of stands.

Is it the consensus that the Doubleshot needs to be raised up, or is that just a preference of a small number? Is it about being able to hear it yourself, or about sound out front?

I'm currently using a series 1 Contra (which I find a bit boomy) and I'd like to have an easier load-in (though R2D2 isn't bad). But if I have to futz around with a bunch of three legged stands it seems that the benefits of the Doubleshot's small size and light weight will be largely lost. One of the reasons I invested in the Contra was because I don't need a pre-amp, thus fewer cables and less stuff to deal with.

 

[rickwolff]

I apologize if I'm treading trodden ground here, but I'm not really clear on the plethora of stands.

Is it the consensus that the Doubleshot needs to be raised up, or is that just a preference of a small number? Is it about being able to hear it yourself, or about sound out front?

I'm currently using a series 1 Contra (which I find a bit boomy) and I'd like to have an easier load-in (though R2D2 isn't bad). But if I have to futz around with a bunch of three legged stands it seems that the benefits of the Doubleshot's small size and light weight will be largely lost. One of the reasons I invested in the Contra was because I don't need a pre-amp, thus fewer cables and less stuff to deal with.

I think Michael Drost agrees with me that, at least in situations where you are getting a BOOMY bass sound it can really help to elevate the speaker and reduce the floor coupling. I have found this to be effective while still producing a rich, full bass sound.

One option for you would be to elevate the Contra you are currently using. Check out this thread where Michael and I both show examples of DIY speaker stand/reflectors for the down-firing AI speakers.
DIY Speaker Stand Adapter for Acoustic Image Amps

PS Both Michael and I found elevating the Doubleshot to also be beneficial, though, of course, not everyone agrees (hey, it's TalkBass).

 

[Michael Drost]

I apologize if I'm treading trodden ground here, but I'm not really clear on the plethora of stands.

Is it the consensus that the Doubleshot needs to be raised up, or is that just a preference of a small number? Is it about being able to hear it yourself, or about sound out front?

I'm currently using a series 1 Contra (which I find a bit boomy) and I'd like to have an easier load-in (though R2D2 isn't bad). But if I have to futz around with a bunch of three legged stands it seems that the benefits of the Doubleshot's small size and light weight will be largely lost. One of the reasons I invested in the Contra was because I don't need a pre-amp, thus fewer cables and less stuff to deal with.

Turf,

I think Michael Drost agrees with me that, at least in situations where you are getting a BOOMY bass sound it can really help to elevate the speaker and reduce the floor coupling. I have found this to be effective while still producing a rich, full bass sound.

One option for you would be to elevate the Contra you are currently using. Check out this thread where Michael and I both show examples of DIY speaker stand/reflectors for the down-firing AI speakers.
DIY Speaker Stand Adapter for Acoustic Image Amps

PS Both Michael and I found elevating the Doubleshot to also be beneficial, though, of course, not everyone agrees (hey, it's TalkBass).

I agree with Rick> : ).

It is my preference to elevate, but definitely not necessary with the DS.

In "boomy" rooms. It's nice to have the option.

The rig is as simple as they come. It sounds great, IMHO.

Mike

 

[Ric Vice]

Since I first heard the Double Shot at Indiana University during the International Society of Bassist Convention, it became apparent that this particular design

really benifits from elevation, perhaps more than most of the other Double Bass speaker currently in production. I play a couple of very boomy concert halls here

in St. Louis. I used to use a mic stand mount for my my old GK 200MB to help with that, but that acted like a HPF with the cut off set at 100 Hz. Now I can simply

set a MAS 1/8 or 4x5.5 up on a stool and get a decent sound in that hall. I'm sure that the Double Shot would handle those particular halls as well. This is not your

"pappas" AI cabinet, it's something totally different and IME, IMHO a huge improvement over the earlier Downfiring only AI cabinets, that IME, were very suceptable

to a rooms acoustics.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

@Michael Drost really hit the double shot stand mount out of the park. I think I would order one if I could order that little stand to go with it!