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Double Bass New Acoustic Image 'DOUBLESHOT'

#461
After a lot of thinking, I went ahead and got the Clarus Sl-2 and Doubleshot combo. I just got today and will be putting it through the gig/rehearsal test starting Thursday. First off will be a rehearsal with a metal influenced jazz band, followed by a gig with an 8 piece New Orleans style band, and finally a gig with a pretty raucous free jazz band. I did fiddle around with it in my room today and so far it sounds super nice. The clarity is amazing. I mainly use an Ischell contact mic now and while it sounds a bit colored through an old GK combo and Markbass combo I have (gotta offload one of those soon), it sounds much more like a microphone through the Clarus/Doubleshot combo. I was able to crank the Ischell pretty high before feedback started. The Realist I do have on my bass sounds pretty microphonic and much more musical through this setup I might have some more use for it actually. Pizz and arco are to die for, both for more standard techniques and extended techniques. @damonsmith this definitely seems like a great step up from the Upshot, having that very PA like sound but being able to handle some higher volume settings. Might be something to look into when more used ones pop up.

I tried my P Bass through it too and it doesn't sound too bad. Could use a little more oomph, but I'm thinking of getting a pre-amp to cover that since I don't do a lot of electric bass gigs. It was able to handle the Boss OC2 sub-octave trick with flying colors though. Overall I'm very excited to put this setup through the test later this week, but I already think it's a keeper.
 
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#463
I ordered my DoubleShot yesterday, and it should deliver tomorrow. Took kind of a leap of faith in selling my Genzler 12 to fund the purchase. I'll be using the DS for ALL of my amplified playing (upright, electric and acoustic bass guitar), replacing both the Genzler and my old downfiring Contra series II (for now, will be using my AI Focus head -- eventually the FOURPLUS Clarus SL-2). Portability absolutely is a consideration - loved the sound of the Genzler, but the schlep was getting to be a drag (and I'm no spring chicken), and it was really too much speaker for most of the small venues and stages I play.

My Plan B was to downsize to a Genzler 10" and replace the Contra with an Upshot for upright schleps. But for only $200 and 3 pounds more than the Upshot, plus all the reviews here saying how substantial this thing is, figured I could not go wrong with the Doubleshot as my sole speaker. Maybe a preamp for the Jazz bass, as suggested by Sean.

Hopefully the gamble pays off! Will post my findings after my gigs this weekend.
 
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#465
Yeah, I am thinking about what I need to do as they get cheaper, I may need one of those or second Upshot )since I already have one) to really disperse the sound.

Sean Riddle said:
After a lot of thinking, I went ahead and got the Clarus Sl-2 and Doubleshot combo. I just got today and will be putting it through the gig/rehearsal test starting Thursday. First off will be a rehearsal with a metal influenced jazz band, followed by a gig with an 8 piece New Orleans style band, and finally a gig with a pretty raucous free jazz band. I did fiddle around with it in my room today and so far it sounds super nice. The clarity is amazing. I mainly use an Ischell contact mic now and while it sounds a bit colored through an old GK combo and Markbass combo I have (gotta offload one of those soon), it sounds much more like a microphone through the Clarus/Doubleshot combo. I was able to crank the Ischell pretty high before feedback started. The Realist I do have on my bass sounds pretty microphonic and much more musical through this setup I might have some more use for it actually. Pizz and arco are to die for, both for more standard techniques and extended techniques. @damonsmith this definitely seems like a great step up from the Upshot, having that very PA like sound but being able to handle some higher volume settings. Might be something to look into when more used ones pop up.

I tried my P Bass through it too and it doesn't sound too bad. Could use a little more oomph, but I'm thinking of getting a pre-amp to cover that since I don't do a lot of electric bass gigs. It was able to handle the Boss OC2 sub-octave trick with flying colors though. Overall I'm very excited to put this setup through the test later this week, but I already think it's a keeper.
Click to expand...
 
#466
I've only heard the cabinet with Double Bass during the International String Bass Convention this year held at Indiana University. They were using it in a mid sized lecture room, and their concert hall. With Double Bass

It put out an amazing amount of sound across what's essentially a symphonic concert hall. I would say that it's not going to compete volume wise, on Electric Bass, with say a Bergantino 2x10 or perhaps even with a GK 2x10.

Acoustic Image isn't after all a Electric Bass focused company, so their going for different things than GK is. Just my take.
 
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#467
basss said:
@Mike Goodbar Curious how it works out on louder electric gigs. I'd still like to hear how this compares to a 'conventional' (say Fender or GK) 1x12 or 2x10 (much bigger cabs).
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is my main concern at this point. My guess is that there will be enough volume for the rooms I play, but maybe miss the "punch" of a forward-facing cab? About a third of my playing is on electric, and usually in low-volume situations, so not an issue at this point. I bought the Genzler when I moved to Charlotte thinking I might play in some bigger rooms, but so far that has not materialized ;)
 
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#468
IMG_0540.JPG
Took my new DoubleShot out for its inaugural gig last night, pairing it with my AI Focus 2R Series III. Jazz trio plus vocalist in a good-sized hall (120 person capacity), playing my Hofner 3/4 upright with Gage Lifeline. I was not disappointed, to say the least! The keyboardist and drummer both gave unsolicited compliments on my sound (I had not told them I was using a new cab), and the couple of musicians in the audience told me the sound was warm and articulate, with no trouble hearing me. Even with the vocal/keyboard PA speaker aimed right at my head, I was able to hear the DS no problem.

What impressed me was that during rehearsal, my bandmates asked me for more volume. Even after turning it up quite a bit, the integrity of the tone stayed true with no EQ adjustment. With other speakers, I'd have to adjust the tone or hi-pass filter as volume increased, but not with the DoubleShot.

Will use it for an electric bass gig with weekend. Will be curious to hear how it hangs!
 
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#470
Mike Goodbar said:
View attachment 3709196 Took my new DoubleShot out for its inaugural gig last night, pairing it with my AI Focus 2R Series III. Jazz trio plus vocalist in a good-sized hall (120 person capacity), playing my Hofner 3/4 upright with Gage Lifeline. I was not disappointed, to say the least! The keyboardist and drummer both gave unsolicited compliments on my sound (I had not told them I was using a new cab), and the couple of musicians in the audience told me the sound was warm and articulate, with no trouble hearing me. Even with the vocal/keyboard PA speaker aimed right at my head, I was able to hear the DS no problem.

What impressed me was that during rehearsal, my bandmates asked me for more volume. Even after turning it up quite a bit, the integrity of the tone stayed true with no EQ adjustment. With other speakers, I'd have to adjust the tone or hi-pass filter as volume increased, but not with the DoubleShot.

Will use it for an electric bass gig with weekend. Will be curious to hear how it hangs!
Click to expand...
That picture makes that combo look like it could be a pretty hot set-up! :)
 
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#471
I would make a separate thread for this, but i think many people who regularly check on this thread might have an answer for me:

Anyone know of a good bag (presumable a tom-tom bag) that could fit the Doubleshot AND a series iii clarus at the same time? I'm thinking I'd just put the clarus on one of the speaker faces for schlepping so i could have everything in one bag. the alternative would be to just strap the clarus bag to the outside of another tom bag. any thoughts?
 
#472
So far I’m digging it! Just got back from an outdoors gig with a New Orleans style jazz band and it handled the gig with flying colors. Did the first 2 sets with just with my Ischell and kept the volume low, but damn did it carry. The last set I used my old Realist Lifeline due to the last set being louder and boy did it do the trick. Big full bass sound that filled the whole courtyard. Looking forward to testing it out some more this week before I make my final call on it.

Edit: One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s making me consider trying out a different placement for my Ischell. The place it’s currently on my bass better suited both the Markbass combo and GK combo I have, but through the Clarus head it sounds a bit boomy and feedbacks around 10 o’clock. Still works well at lower volumes, but I’m gonna experiment with it this week.
 
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#473
nogbert said:
I would make a separate thread for this, but i think many people who regularly check on this thread might have an answer for me:

Anyone know of a good bag (presumable a tom-tom bag) that could fit the Doubleshot AND a series iii clarus at the same time? I'm thinking I'd just put the clarus on one of the speaker faces for schlepping so i could have everything in one bag. the alternative would be to just strap the clarus bag to the outside of another tom bag. any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Right now, I'm using a RoadRunner 11" x 13" tom case. My amp is the Focus Series III, which I believe is the same dimensions as your Clarus. I pack it as you described, with the amp in its bag sitting on the speaker face.
IMG_0544.JPG
IMG_0544.JPG
IMG_0545.JPG
IMG_0545.JPG
 
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#474
Mike Goodbar said:
Right now, I'm using a RoadRunner 11" x 13" tom case. My amp is the Focus Series III, which I believe is the same dimensions as your Clarus. I pack is as you described, with the amp in its bag sitting on the speaker face. Will post a pic when I get a chance.
Click to expand...
One thing to be wary of when packing the speaker/amp together like this - I found that the grill covers on the speakers bend easily and the weight can easily dent them.
 
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#476
Sean Riddle said:
Has anyone tried pairing the Doubleshot with the Upshot?
Click to expand...

I tried that briefly at home, but came to the conclusion that it didn't work, for me, somehow the two Speakers didn't seem to mix/match well, for my specific need (halfacoustic shortscale with flats), that was with them placed nearby each other, within a Radius of max. 1,5 meters or so..
Compared directly the Doubleshot seems to be going both deeper and higher and has a (much) fuller Bottom,
to lay down the Fundament.. and more Volume of course..
The Upshot seemed to be a bit "sweeter" in the Mid Frequencies to me..
compared to that, the Doubleshot seems to be missing a little bit of these..
overall i prefer the DS for giving me a more usable "Bass"-Sound, but thats with Electric, not Doublebass, and in often louder situations..
I used two Upshots, prior to getting the Doubleshot,
compared to the DS that was like having one US, only louder, missing the extended deepths and highs of the DS.
Compared to other Speakers (i got) in bigger Cabinets, the DS is still missing some deep low end, the bigger Cabinets sounding "bigger".. as they are..
But overall i really like the Sound of the DS, for my need/use, and, of course, the transportability..
I found that using an Amp with more Power, like the Focus, helps to make it sound "bigger".. if one is looking for that..
("My Experience"..)
 
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#478
bherman said:
One thing to be wary of when packing the speaker/amp together like this - I found that the grill covers on the speakers bend easily and the weight can easily dent them.
Click to expand...
if im not mistaken, the new grill design(that my cabinet has) is more rigid/non-convex grill, so i dont think it will be as easy to deform. nevertheless, i will likely put it on its side when in this configuration to avoid any grill damage. thanks for the warning
 
#480
Sean Riddle said:
So far I’m digging it! Just got back from an outdoors gig with a New Orleans style jazz band and it handled the gig with flying colors. Did the first 2 sets with just with my Ischell and kept the volume low, but damn did it carry. The last set I used my old Realist Lifeline due to the last set being louder and boy did it do the trick. Big full bass sound that filled the whole courtyard. Looking forward to testing it out some more this week before I make my final call on it.

Edit: One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s making me consider trying out a different placement for my Ischell. The place it’s currently on my bass better suited both the Markbass combo and GK combo I have, but through the Clarus head it sounds a bit boomy and feedbacks around 10 o’clock. Still works well at lower volumes, but I’m gonna experiment with it this week.
Click to expand...
Just watched some videos from this gig and god for an outdoor gig I can actually be heard clearly for once. My sound was present but not too quite or loud and definitely was heard and felt. I just had the Doubleshot on the stage on my left and a bit behind me, with both 10's facing the side. It's a keeper. I may sometime down the line get a cabinet more voiced towards electric bass, but for now this seems to be the optimal rig for me when amplifying my double bass.
 
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