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Double Bass New Acoustic Image 'DOUBLESHOT'

#441
While I cannot say for sure, I think in your case, the Double Shot would be a serious upgrade where you likely would not need the PJB Earbox. IME, while the Ten2 is a exceptional amplifier, even with it's 2x10 configuration, that downfiring 10 can really muddy the waters in a large ensemble. Rick Jones realized this and went for the Double Shot. Which I can confirm as a listener, in many concerts at the ISB convention last summer, at Indiana University in Bloomington. I heard many different amazing bass players some played the Upshot, but most played through the Double Shot. By comparison to years past in similar halls, with the Ten2 the clarity and projection of the Double Shot, was quite an improvement, so much so that Rick Jones is no longer building the Ten2's or Contra's, he's moved to the Double Shot as his premiere DB speaker, and from hearing it in person for good reason. So IMHO you owe it to yourself to test a Double Shot and see what you think.
 
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#443
Ric Vice said:
...so much so that Rick Jones is no longer building the Ten2's or Contra's...
Click to expand...

The Ten2 has been discontinued; the practical reason that he was out of cabinet enclosures was partly responsible for the decision, but the Doubleshot is louder, clearer, smaller and cheaper, so that also played a role.

The Contra/Coda/Corus models still exist, are still current and actively being made (and sold.)
 
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#444
I used my Clarus SL/DoubleShot combo for big band rehearsal last night. Since I was coming from a rehearsal for a musical where I would have had to leave the upright in the car (don't do it...it's cold up here), I did big band rehearsal with my G&L JB-5 strung with flats and some foam at the bridge. The long and short—the DoubleShot sounded terrific with the electric. It was clear, articulate, punchy, had lots of bottom, and was plenty loud, even with 20 people in the band last night (8 saxes instead of the usual 6). My drummer buddy commented at one point, "You know, that things doesn't sound at all out of place here", and he's a big fan of the upright. That G&L now has an Audere multi-impedance preamp in it, so I was using a low impedance setting and a bit of mid boost. Although the Clarus was set flat, there was some certainly some EQ at play. Nonetheless...just a great result. I'm really getting to love this cab! :D
 
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#445
Mark Gollihur said:
The Ten2 has been discontinued; the practical reason that he was out of cabinet enclosures was partly responsible for the decision, but the Doubleshot is louder, clearer, smaller and cheaper, so that also played a role.

The Contra/Coda/Corus models still exist, are still current and actively being made (and sold.)
Click to expand...

And I think to that end, those enclosures are expensive to manufacture and Rick doesn't do that in house. By comparison the Upshot and Double Shot sound better and don't require outsourcing to built. It makes perfect sense to me.
 
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#446
Apologies if this has come up before, but I have one of the series 3 (non-separable) Codas. I see there's a speakon out so in that sense I'm good to plug in a double shot. What I'm not so sure about is the impedences of the thing.

If I'm remembering correctly my 1x10" cabinet is at a nominal 4Ω. Will I be missing out on a lot of the doubleshot's potential when that is a 4Ω but with 2x10"? The newer cabs are 8Ω so don't suffer from this dilemma if I understand correctly.
 
#447
CHYC said:
Apologies if this has come up before, but I have one of the series 3 (non-separable) Codas. I see there's a speakon out so in that sense I'm good to plug in a double shot. What I'm not so sure about is the impedences of the thing.

If I'm remembering correctly my 1x10" cabinet is at a nominal 4Ω. Will I be missing out on a lot of the doubleshot's potential when that is a 4Ω but with 2x10"? The newer cabs are 8Ω so don't suffer from this dilemma if I understand correctly.
Click to expand...

The series III Coda did use a 4ohm, internally connected speaker array. You can't disconnect it without taking the cabinet apart (not recommended), so you'd run the DS as an extension to -- not as a "replacement" for -- the internal speakers. Adding a Doubleshot (which is a 4-ohm speaker as well) would create a 2ohm impedance load on the amplifier.

With some other manufacturers' amps, 2 ohms goes below the permissible rating of the amplifier; i.e. you'll burn up the amp. However, Acoustic Image amps (most of them, anyway, including your Coda) are capable, by specification, of safely handling 2ohm loads. So you could plug a DS in as an extension speaker without undue concern. The wattage that your amp can provide (I think 500w at 2 ohms? Memory is a little fuzzy) would be split roughly equivalently between the internal speaker array and the DS, so approx. 250w per unit.

The Coda will get noticeably warm, and if you push it really hard (really high volumes), it may shut off (thermal shutdown, a temporary protective feature). But it should work just fine.
 
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#449
Ric Vice said:
Double Shot, was quite an improvement, so much so that Rick Jones is no longer building the Ten2's or Contra's, he's moved to the Double Shot as his premiere DB speaker, and from hearing it in person for good reason. So IMHO you owe it to yourself to test a Double Shot and see what you think.
Click to expand...

Don't know why it took so long. Those down firing speakers just don't provide clarity from the audience perspective. I couldn't hear numerous bassists at a few ISB conventions, and have been disappointed whenever I've used a Contra as backline, except with the original version that seemed to project with good tone pretty well. Maybe it was the size of that box?
 
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#450
Eric Hochberg said:
Don't know why it took so long. Those down firing speakers just don't provide clarity from the audience perspective. I just couldn't hear numerous bassists at a few ISB conventions, and have been disappointed whenever I've used a Contra as backline, except with the original version that seemed to project with good tone pretty well. Maybe it was the size of that box?
Click to expand...

This is a great example of how everyone's experiences and expectations can vary; the various iterations of AI amps with the down-firing design have been highly successful products for Acoustic Image for 20+ years; so although you may not find that their regular combos suit your particular preference (which is fine!), countless other players have found their experiences to be exceptionally positive. :cool:
 
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#451
My take is that in the right space, usually a smaller club, with good isolation from the resonance of the stage, floor, and walls it could sound pretty good. Out into the house IME was a totally different ball game, you had to have FOH. I think guys fell in love with their

onstage sound, and as long as the band could hear the amplifier, then they didn't always worry about what it sounded like in the room. It was also light, portable, and service was stellar. Rick was acutely aware of the down firing speaker's weaknesses. So, he's been working on a two speaker dual facing cabinet since the ISB

Convention in Rochester NY where he had a prototype 2x8, cabinet one up one down, that he was playing with. He refined, tested and modified it for over 6 years, until he eventually came up with the Upshot and Double Shot. Just my take, but ultimately it's about what we hear on stage, regardless of the make. I found what

I love in the MAS 1/8 line others find it in the Double Shot, it's all good.
 
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#454
I remember that cute little extension leg, it reminded me of the aluminum peg that fit in the back of my B-15N(C). Fortunately, the Contra didn't put near as much weight on the A.I.'s extension leg. The B-15N's was

tenuious at best. Not something I ever used.
 
#455
I wasn't happy with my first-generation Contra and eventually sold it. In some rooms is sounded great, in others not so good. I am pleased with my current amp (Markacoustic AC-101) in just about every setting, but the feature set and portability of the DoubleShot combo have me intrigued.

- Steve
 
#456
Ric Vice said:
I remember that cute little extension leg, it reminded me of the aluminum peg that fit in the back of my B-15N(C). Fortunately, the Contra didn't put near as much weight on the A.I.'s extension leg. The B-15N's was tenuous at best. Not something I ever used.
Click to expand...

Hehe! I remember that pole on my B-15S. Never dared use it. Nowadays the piano player in my big band uses my Contra with the tilt-back to excellent effect. Various players (including me) have used it—with or without its matching extension cab—for violin, keys, acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals, and even piano/bass/vocals with a mixer in front for the odd gig. I consider it one of the best purchases I’ve made.:thumbsup:
 
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#457
Yeah, it borders on "Scary Stories To Tell In the Dark for your Amp" I tried it once and put it back it's holder at the bottom of the cabinet.

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where this just looks like a cute little ampbot.
 
#459
Very scary indeed. That’s not my amp. I have the original aluminum rod with a indented metal o-ring that snaps and locks into a chrome bolt on the cabinet. Still, I’d never use it the caster dolly is more than adequate. That’s what’s great about the Double Shot no elevator needed.
 

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