Double Bass New Acoustic Image 'DOUBLESHOT'

[Fran Diaz]

The Doubleshot is only 3 lbs heavier and lists for only $100 more. That could make it a very tempting one size fits all cab! It's double the size of the Upshot, though, if you absolutely need the smallest cab possible.

Size is not a big factor for me (between the two)...tone, ease to hear myself (great with the Upshot, not so good with the Coda I used before that) are the most important points...might get a second upshot or sell the one I have and get the Doubleshot.

 

[bassically_eli]

Interesting questtion. The Double Bass benifits from Lower Midrange while the Electric likes Upper Midrange. The higher frequencies tend to beam rather than spread, so if you put the tweeter on the sides it would get fired into the band and posstbly feed back I believe Ric said the drivers are full range.

The AI website lists the response for the Doubleshot as 40hz - 16khz. There's no way the 10s go that high, so there is definitely more high end extension coming from the front speaker, which, like you said, will beam. That's an interesting point about feedback. I don't tend to think of high frequencies as being a feedback problem, but that's just my personal experience and likely has a lot to do with my particular setup. I rarely even play loud enough to warrant more than a little HPF to prevent feedback. Every once in while a flip the phase switch on my fdeck.

I hope I don't sound like a naysayer. Considering normal cabs don't have anything firing to the sides, the Doubleshot definitely brings something new to the mix (well, new to AI, Audiokinesis has a done this for a while now, and perhaps others). Considering the tiny size, the miniscule weight (15 pounds for 2x10"+5+crossover is damn impressive), and really, quite reasonable cost, it's quite the engineering feat.

 

[logdrum]

The AI website lists the response for the Doubleshot as 40hz - 16khz. There's no way the 10s go that high, so there is definitely more high end extension coming from .

It also has another speaker besides those 10's. AI tend to be true on their specs. You can always test this. Spectrum analyzers and frequency sweep generators are free. All you need is a good mic, a good interface and even DAWs like Audigy are free.

 

[roccobass]

I know what you mean. I don't know if it helps but I would like to tell you that, in my case, justifying fourth amp was easier than justifying third one...

LOL.. I'm glad somebody beat to it. I have 4 now. It's that cabs that are starting to multiply. This Doubleshot looks very efficient.

 

[roccobass]

except raising the speaker on a road case is like putting it on a hollow stage, a giant passive subwoofer. Any word on pointing the little speaker straight up yet?

There must something wrong with my ears. I get a much better direct sound RAISING my cabs off the ground. I lose definition on the floor. Case in point. I used my Upshot with Clarus and tried it both up on a crate and down on the floor. The crate setting was nice and punchy. It sounded more like a subwoofer on the floor. I had nice low-end for days, but the mids and highs were not as defined. As an extension speaker on the floor with my Corus R up on crate, then it balances. Very curious about the D-shot. Oh well, if it works for Ron Carter, it's good enough for me.

 

[rickwolff]

THE 'ACID TEST' LARGE OUTDOOR GIG

Last night I played outdoors at a venue where I have always used my 30 pound GK Neo 112. Last night I decided to go 'all-in' and just bring the Doubleshot.

Everyone was in the PA (vocal, piano, trumpet) except bass and drums. Our 'sound guy' walked all around, even to the very back and reported he could hear the bass clearly everywhere and it sounded great and sat well in the mix.

As far as the band hearing it, I actually moved it away from the pianist a little bit as he said it was louder than he wanted. When I put it where it it seen in the picture below everyone was happy. I oriented it with the 10's front and back so the 5" was aiming right up at me. I could hear my bass very clearly with plenty of mid and high info which is so critical for intonation (at least for me).

The pianist told me that a guitarist he works with has order two of them. I expect our pianist is next.

Gotta tell ya, my old back sure prefers carrying a little 15 pound 'hat-box' to lugging a larger, heavier bass cab.

I have also attached a link to a little video clip I did at home comparing the Doubleshot to my MAS 16. It's no secret that I love my little 16 for my more intimate, drummerless gigs, but no way it could have kept up with the outdoor venue last night with a fairly loud, amplified band.

 

[jmlee]

So many factors at play, but to my ears I'd give it to the DoubleShot.

And I love that drum kit.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

THE 'ACID TEST' LARGE OUTDOOR GIG

Last night I played outdoors at a venue where I have always used my 30 pound GK Neo 112. Last night I decided to go 'all-in' and just bring the Doubleshot.

Everyone was in the PA (vocal, piano, trumpet) except bass and drums. Our 'sound guy' walked all around, even to the very back and reported he could hear the bass clearly everywhere and it sounded great and sat well in the mix.

As far as the band hearing it, I actually moved it away from the pianist a little bit as he said it was louder than he wanted. When I put it where it it seen in the picture below everyone was happy. I oriented it with the 10's front and back so the 5" was aiming right up at me. I could hear my bass very clearly with plenty of mid and high info which is so critical for intonation (at least for me).

The pianist told me that a guitarist he works with has order two of them. I expect our pianist is next.

Gotta tell ya, my old back sure prefers carrying a little 15 pound 'hat-box' to lugging a larger, heavier bass cab.

I have also attached a link to a little video clip I did at home comparing the Doubleshot to my MAS 16. It's no secret that I love my little 16 for my more intimate, drummerless gigs, but no way it could have kept up with the outdoor venue last night with a fairly loud, amplified band.

View attachment 3459384

Rick, what is that mic stand rig your amp is mounted on? And what amp is that? That looks like the perfect setup, having the amp right where you can reach it, and then put the cab anywhere you want...

 

[rickwolff]

Rick, what is that mic stand rig your amp is mounted on? And what amp is that? That looks like the perfect setup, having the amp right where you can reach it, and then put the cab anywhere you want...

Here is the mic stand. It actually fits in my gig bag (maybe have to take out one section to make it that short):
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...8bXce76g7TyQNIovGxsEjWLUTYxRtKpxoCvXQQAvD_BwE

Then there is a little angle bracket on top. I can't find a link right now but Gollihur used to carry them. You could ask Mark.

The amp is my GenzBenz Shuttle 6.2. It is held on securely by 3M Dual Lock (Amazon or Home Depot).

I also have my tablet attached to the stand.

 

[Ric Vice]

Then there is a little angle bracket on top. I can't find a link right now but Gollihur used to carry them. You could ask Mark.

Rick,
I think the bracket your talking about is the Rackless, I can't find it on the Gollihur site either.

 

[Adam Booker]

Rick’s white papers at the AI site strongly emphasize the floor interactions as central to their cab designs. I can’t see a pole mount as being consistent with that.

Exactly. However, I have been using a PJ ear box with a Contra and it gets everything I could possibly want for a small-medium sized room with no frontline support.

As for the Double Shot, I played one at ISB and I’m super impressed. Played nice with the Remic, too. If I was actually in the market, it would be close to the top of the list.

 

[rickwolff]

Rick’s white papers at the AI site strongly emphasize the floor interactions as central to their cab designs. I can’t see a pole mount as being consistent with that.

I'll have to talk about this with Rick when I see him later this week.

MY 'REAL-WORLD' EXPERIENCE WITH CAB PLACEMENT, or sub-titled:

Boominess is not a rich bass sound.

I played in a large ballroom last night. We had plenty of FOH and they seemed to really know what they were doing. However, we were on a stage with a wood floor and wood walls behind us and on the sides. Probably shouldn't have surprised me that the bass was very BOOOOOMY. I turned the bass knob down to about 2 and it took out most of the boominess but also TOOK OUT MOST OF THE FAT, RICH BASS TONE. I felt a little bit like Jaco playing a double bass. Definitely not my sound.

After our first break, I grabbed a folding chair (padded seat and backrest) and placed the Doubleshot on that. Then I turned the Bass know back to 12 o:clock and 'Voila', my sound was back.

Important Note: This doesn't just apply to the Doubleshot. I was playing one of my regular venues about a week ago, also a very boomy room with all hard surfaces. My MAS 16 was sounding boomy - not what I expect from that cab. The pianist I was working with (who is a pretty smart guy) suggested I move it out away from the wall. That got rid of 70% of the boominess. On the next break I put it up on a chair (just as I did last night), and the sound was GREAT.

So, my takeaway is this: regardless of the science and the design intent It's more important to let your ears be the judge. For me, boominess is never a good thing, and to get rid of that sometimes you just have to get the cab up off the floor.

 

[jmlee]

I'll have to talk about this with Rick when I see him later this week.

MY 'REAL-WORLD' EXPERIENCE WITH CAB PLACEMENT, or sub-titled:

Boominess is not a rich bass sound.

I played in a large ballroom last night. We had plenty of FOH and they seemed to really know what they were doing. However, we were on a stage with a wood floor and wood walls behind us and on the sides. Probably shouldn't have surprised me that the bass was very BOOOOOMY. I turned the bass knob down to about 2 and it took out most of the boominess but also TOOK OUT MOST OF THE FAT, RICH BASS TONE. I felt a little bit like Jaco playing a double bass. Definitely not my sound.

After our first break, I grabbed a folding chair (padded seat and backrest) and placed the Doubleshot on that. Then I turned the Bass know back to 12 o:clock and 'Voila', my sound was back.

Important Note: This doesn't just apply to the Doubleshot. I was playing one of my regular venues about a week ago, also a very boomy room with all hard surfaces. My MAS 16 was sounding boomy - not what I expect from that cab. The pianist I was working with (who is a pretty smart guy) suggested I move it out away from the wall. That got rid of 70% of the boominess. On the next break I put it up on a chair (just as I did last night), and the sound was GREAT.

So, my takeaway is this: regardless of the science and the design intent It's more important to let your ears be the judge. For me, boominess is never a good thing, and to get rid of that sometimes you just have to get the cab up off the floor.

Interesting for sure. On wooden stages and hollow risers, I put my Contra and its Ex on Link Removed platforms, lifting them slightly above stage level and isolating them from the floor. I also often tilt them with the little leg. The Gramma makes a significant difference to getting the boominess under control and getting the naturalness of the sound back. They've been a great boon to me in all sorts of performance situations.

 

[LeonD]

The Gramma is great for getting rid of boominess. Add a HPF and it all goes away. I can’t remember the last time I played without both

 

[statsc]

THE 'ACID TEST' LARGE OUTDOOR GIG

Last night I played outdoors at a venue where I have always used my 30 pound GK Neo 112. Last night I decided to go 'all-in' and just bring the Doubleshot.

Everyone was in the PA (vocal, piano, trumpet) except bass and drums. Our 'sound guy' walked all around, even to the very back and reported he could hear the bass clearly everywhere and it sounded great and sat well in the mix.

As far as the band hearing it, I actually moved it away from the pianist a little bit as he said it was louder than he wanted. When I put it where it it seen in the picture below everyone was happy. I oriented it with the 10's front and back so the 5" was aiming right up at me. I could hear my bass very clearly with plenty of mid and high info which is so critical for intonation (at least for me).

The pianist told me that a guitarist he works with has order two of them. I expect our pianist is next.

Gotta tell ya, my old back sure prefers carrying a little 15 pound 'hat-box' to lugging a larger, heavier bass cab.

I have also attached a link to a little video clip I did at home comparing the Doubleshot to my MAS 16. It's no secret that I love my little 16 for my more intimate, drummerless gigs, but no way it could have kept up with the outdoor venue last night with a fairly loud, amplified band.

View attachment 3459384

MAS 16 has more low end, less midrange. DoubleShot has more mid-range, less low end. Both sound great!

 

[bassically_eli]

I'll have to talk about this with Rick when I see him later this week.

MY 'REAL-WORLD' EXPERIENCE WITH CAB PLACEMENT, or sub-titled:

Boominess is not a rich bass sound.

I played in a large ballroom last night. We had plenty of FOH and they seemed to really know what they were doing. However, we were on a stage with a wood floor and wood walls behind us and on the sides. Probably shouldn't have surprised me that the bass was very BOOOOOMY. I turned the bass knob down to about 2 and it took out most of the boominess but also TOOK OUT MOST OF THE FAT, RICH BASS TONE. I felt a little bit like Jaco playing a double bass. Definitely not my sound.

After our first break, I grabbed a folding chair (padded seat and backrest) and placed the Doubleshot on that. Then I turned the Bass know back to 12 o:clock and 'Voila', my sound was back.

Important Note: This doesn't just apply to the Doubleshot. I was playing one of my regular venues about a week ago, also a very boomy room with all hard surfaces. My MAS 16 was sounding boomy - not what I expect from that cab. The pianist I was working with (who is a pretty smart guy) suggested I move it out away from the wall. That got rid of 70% of the boominess. On the next break I put it up on a chair (just as I did last night), and the sound was GREAT.

So, my takeaway is this: regardless of the science and the design intent It's more important to let your ears be the judge. For me, boominess is never a good thing, and to get rid of that sometimes you just have to get the cab up off the floor.

This makes total sense to me. IIRC, Rick's white papers only account for one surface boundary, but in a small room, you could easily have more than one, if my reasoning is correct, that is.

The Upshot white paper mentions a 3db boost to the frequencies with a wavelength that is greater than the distance to the boundary. 82hz (first overtone of the low E) has a wavelength of 13.7 feet. So imagine putting the speaker in the middle of a 26' wide room (13' to either side), with low ceilings, and a wall right behind the stage. Would we see five times the effect? I'm not exactly sure, but I would expect more than the 3db that we often mention here on TB. This might be a bit of an extreme example, but then again, when you start thinking about the fundamental frequencies and infrasonics, the wavelength gets much longer (e.g., 36.7' for the low B fundamental).

 

[Fran Diaz]

where is the mid driver level switch and how does it work?

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

The amp is my GenzBenz Shuttle 6.2.

Are you happy with the Shuttle/Double shot combination? I have the 6.2 too, thinking about the double shot.

 

[rickwolff]

where is the mid driver level switch and how does it work?

Hi Fran,

It is a push switch which is behind the grill and can be pushed with something thin that will fit through the holes in the grill such as a toothpick, or, as I did at the gig last Friday, the filler from a ballpoint pen.

 

[Fran Diaz]

Hi Fran,

It is a push switch which is behind the grill and can be pushed with something thin that will fit through the holes in the grill such as a toothpick, or, as I did at the gig last Friday, the filler from a ballpoint pen.

Rick, thanks for the detailed info. Your contributions are always very valuable for me. (on account that you have a fantastic sound )