New AER Basscube II

[Brad Johnson]

Probably the biggest downside is that no matter how good it is, I probably won't see one in a store. If I can't try it first, I definitely won't shell out $3-4k on a combo. Too many other ways to get "close enough".

Chuck's is an AER dealer. Last time I was there they had a Basic Performer, maybe they have the BCII now. If you try them, make sure you turn them up.

 

[vin*tone]

For 4k I'd expect it to drive me to the gig and make me coffee.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Choose option 47e-2.

 

[Bassflute]

$400.00!!! Your friend is either rich or a crook! The retail on that thing is about $3,000.00! I owned and played one for about two years. LOVED the sound, and versatility, and it had the most PRESENCE of any bass amp I've ever owned without ever sounding boxy or honky. Incredible thing. My main complaints on it:

1) Dynamic range. With 4x60 watt amps, it doesn't really have the dynamic range of a 240 watt amp as the numbers would imply; it has the dynamic range of a 60 watt amp. VERY compressed and controlled sound, which is great most of the time, but there's NO getting away from that.

2) Can't REALLY get the treble down on the thing. There is SO much presence, all the time, the treble control doesn't really affect the top end in a complete way. You can have the treble all the way OFF and there is still a lot of 10K+ stuff going on. I think they sound have maybe gone with just 2 whizzy speakers and two conventional, rather that 4.

3) Fretless sound was not great, IMHO.

4) Not great for effects. Anything plugged into the effect loop had very bad phasing/comb filtering issues because of the proximity of the 4 speakers, I guess. Chorusing sounded horrid, as did a Lexicon reverb unit (very high end) plugged in, which sounded horrid. Even plugging straight into the channel, there was phasing stuff going on, never really heard that in ANY other amp. This things for playing clean ONLY, which is does extraordinarily well.

It has AMAZING slap sound, and fretted sound, and string bass/acoustic bass sound, and you can plug a mike in and pretty much ANYTHING sounds great through that.

That being said, the BassCube II is in a whole 'nother league...seriously. Incredible dynamics, warm, rich detailed sound, have not tried effects through it but would imagine it would be good. So small, smaller than the Bassic Performer, believe it or not, and deeper, louder, crisper, brighter, EVERYTHING sounds better. I really want to try this thing at a gig...trying to make that happen.

Stay tuned.

Cheers,
Cameron

I almost feel guilty about the deal I got on my Basic Performer.


$400 from a really good friend. Mint condition.

That's not a really big bass, the combo really is that small.

I've been gigging it for a couple of years now and have found no shortcomings. Handles my fives and sixes with ease. Sets up quick and is usually capable of going louder than I need. But the thing that kills me is the sound quality. It's just a beautiful full range sound in a physically small (but not light) package. It's a 4x8 combo, two diagonally on the front, two firing into an internal box, separate amps for each full range driver. I use it for any gigs I do, carries the day in small to medium clubs, big stages it's great as an onstage monitor. Sits perfectly in every mix I've used it in. Surprises the heck out of most people when they first hear it, especially sound reinforcement types. A couple of friends have bought them after hearing mine live. No hype, all they had to do was listen.


I don't have any connection to AER other than being an extremely satisfied owner. I'd love to check out a Basscube II and see what other magic they've come up with. I don't really sweat the price (and not because I'm flush with cash), I have gear that's worth way more than I paid for it that I could "cash in" if it really impressed me enough. That MO has worked out well for me for years. And I can drive a small sportscar to just about any of my gigs.

 

[Brad Johnson]

$400.00!!! Your friend is either rich or a crook! The retail on that thing is about $3,000.00! I owned and played one for about two years. LOVED the sound, and versatility, and it had the most PRESENCE of any bass amp I've ever owned without ever sounding boxy or honky. Incredible thing. My main complaints on it:

My friend is neither... he's just a good friend. He bought it at Atomic Music for $700 after I told him what it was. I've hooked him up on gear too.

1) Dynamic range. With 4x60 watt amps, it doesn't really have the dynamic range of a 240 watt amp as the numbers would imply; it has the dynamic range of a 60 watt amp. VERY compressed and controlled sound, which is great most of the time, but there's NO getting away from that.

I don't get that with mine. Sounds great as a stage monitor. The only time I get a compressed sound is using the internal compressor (which I don't use). I'm usually using a Brubaker five or six and all of my basses are set fairly hot as far as output. Maybe that's what's making the difference. Just did a lunchtime gig with no PA support with very good results. Got to heat it up a bit. On that gig I ran my Mike Pope Designs Mitre Box into the effect return.

2) Can't REALLY get the treble down on the thing. There is SO much presence, all the time, the treble control doesn't really affect the top end in a complete way. You can have the treble all the way OFF and there is still a lot of 10K+ stuff going on. I think they sound have maybe gone with just 2 whizzy speakers and two conventional, rather that 4.

Never had an issue with this either. I usually use the second channel and set the EQ flat.

3) Fretless sound was not great, IMHO.

Three for three so far. My fretlesses sound great through mine. Very full and warm yet articulate, especially when I slap.

4) Not great for effects. Anything plugged into the effect loop had very bad phasing/comb filtering issues because of the proximity of the 4 speakers, I guess. Chorusing sounded horrid, as did a Lexicon reverb unit (very high end) plugged in, which sounded horrid. Even plugging straight into the channel, there was phasing stuff going on, never really heard that in ANY other amp. This things for playing clean ONLY, which is does extraordinarily well.

Starting to wonder if we're talking about the same amp. I use a Boss GT-10B multieffects unit and have had contractors request I use it in the future based off the stage sound they heard through my AER.

It has AMAZING slap sound, and fretted sound, and string bass/acoustic bass sound, and you can plug a mike in and pretty much ANYTHING sounds great through that.

Finally! Agreed. Haven't tried a mic yet but every bass I've played through it has a very big and natural character to it. Most people are shocked at what my little black box is putting out live.

That being said, the BassCube II is in a whole 'nother league...seriously. Incredible dynamics, warm, rich detailed sound, have not tried effects through it but would imagine it would be good. So small, smaller than the Bassic Performer, believe it or not, and deeper, louder, crisper, brighter, EVERYTHING sounds better. I really want to try this thing at a gig...trying to make that happen.

Stay tuned.

Cheers,
Cameron

Haven't come across one yet.

 

[starKee]

Hello tbassers,
I sold one of my bc2 to my buddy and thinking about pairing the one I have,with AER sub 360D,it's a self powerd 12''woofer with 360 watt D-class amp,what u think about it?Will this work together,what I could expect from this combo,I know what subs do with PA systems,car or home hi-fi,
but never was thinking about it like optional extension for instrument amplification
Lots of questions:How it will affect the overall volume of this combination in contrast with just solo BC2?

I expect the improve in bass frequencies(tighter,louder and cleaner,deeper sounding-thats what for subs are?),but what will happen with complete sound volume&sound wise?

Thanx in advance,for your inputs,if some one would chime in,you all know,its a bit expensive adventure to try out with some doubts(cca. 1800 EUR),but it's an AER product so I'm not afraid of quality or efficiency

 

[starKee]

bump for my q....sorry but I want to buy this sub today or tomorrow so pardon me please that I'm a bit hurry on your opinions,thx a lot Peter.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I haven't tried it, thought about doing the same with my Basic Performer. I would expect it to sound louder, deeper and overall just plain better. It would allow the setup to work in a larger/louder environment more easily, letting the combo work even less than on it's own.

I found a great deal on a powered AER sub ($600 US) but ultimately I would've ended up with more than 100 lb. between the two pieces (combo and sub) and realisticly I wasn't going to carry that around very often no matter how good it sounded.

If I needed a stationery setup I would've done it in a heartbeat in my case. In yours, 1800 EUR is a lot of money for a powered sub. But it's AER and that's the cost to play.

 

[starKee]

Thanks for your replay BJ,so I'm sure it couldn't sound bad because who of us know AER products,we understand that there is almost impossible to step wrong way,

So yes I bought it...

When I was playing via 2 BassCubes2,it was huge,but very often
too loud,almost stupidly and clean as...you know AER BassCube2,so I'm expecting from this combination BassCube2 + AER Sub 360D,not so clean loud sound,but somewhat fatter and meatier,little bit less louder,but still more than enough powerful
AER's clean-hi-fi,loud fat wonder...
I'll let you inform when sub will be delivered to me,if this combo met my expectations.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Thanks for your replay BJ,so I'm sure it couldn't sound bad because who of us know AER products,we understand that there is almost impossible to step wrong way,

So yes I bought it...

When I was playing via 2 BassCubes2,it was huge,but very often
too loud,almost stupidly and clean as...you know AER BassCube2,so I'm expecting from this combination BassCube2 + AER Sub 360D,not so clean loud sound,but somewhat fatter and meatier,little bit less louder,but still more than enough powerful
AER's clean-hi-fi,loud fat wonder...
I'll let you inform when sub will be delivered to me,if this combo met my expectations.

Cool. I hope it works out. Still wish I'd bought the powered sub I looked at, even if it wasn't practical.

 

[Bassflute]

Cool. I hope it works out. Still wish I'd bought the powered sub I looked at, even if it wasn't practical.

and it sounded awful, and I got weird phase cancelling issues again. Something weird with the phase coherency in that thing, eps since effects worked so poorly in it. Lexicon reverb sounded awful, etc. Great amp except for that. And no, I don't think one of the drivers was out of phase; there was no shortage of bottom end.

I did also hear a really nice AER PA system once - man! Incredible sound.

And I don't know what the powered sub could add to the Basscube II; it's pretty much got all that bottom end in spades already. But it would possible help with projection, I guess, but then the tweeter would be outmatched.

Cheers,
Cameron

 

[Dan Knowlton]

I thought that channel was the one with just a little volume (meh!) and the other one had the rest...

You're just jealous because your amp doesn't have volumeh.

 

[Bassmanbob]

Any reason why the Basscube II is NOT on the AER website?

I saw the Amp One at Bass Central a month ago and was blown away at the quality and how much sound came from this little combo.

I play through an Eden Metro combo (210 with the amp) with the Eden XLT-410 extension cab. So it's like a 610 configuration. I play a bunch of out door gigs, so I need the volume that at least a 410 can provide.

On the other hand, I'd love to bring smaller, more portable gear to a gig. And I'd like to purchase a smaller car.

What configuration of AER equipment would be comparable to an Eden Metro with the 410 extension underneath? Any idea?

 

[audiorep2]

I recently bought an AER Amp One to replace a worn out Gallien MB150E III. Much more natural tone. Makes my Ampeg Baby Bass come alive. Sounds great with regular 4 string bass guitars as well.

 

[tombowlus]

I recently bought an AER Amp One to replace a worn out Gallien MB150E III. Much more natural tone. Makes my Ampeg Baby Bass come alive. Sounds great with regular 4 string bass guitars as well.

+1 I bought Hugh McDonald's amp one, and man, I love that little bugger! I was really impressed with the amp three, as well. Here's a Link Removed

 

[Bassmanbob]

+1 I bought Hugh McDonald's amp one, and man, I love that little bugger! I was really impressed with the amp three, as well. Here's a Link Removed

Questions:
1. Are there extension cabs for the amp three?
2. Are there outputs for extension cabs for the amp three?
3. Is there enough power to handle extension cabs if it is possible?

Thanks, in advance.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Cool. I hope it works out. Still wish I'd bought the powered sub I looked at, even if it wasn't practical.

I recently picked up a Kustom KXB500 head (love it) and emailed several local friends about it. That lead one of them to check out other items in Kustom's line and he came a cross a 200w powered sub for just under $200. He matched it up with his Basic Performer and is extremely pleased with the results.

 

[tombowlus]

Questions:
1. Are there extension cabs for the amp three?
2. Are there outputs for extension cabs for the amp three?
3. Is there enough power to handle extension cabs if it is possible?

Thanks, in advance.

No extension cabs or output for any of the amp one, amp two or amp three combos. They are loud as heck for their size, but of course have their limits.

 

[audiorep2]

Any reason why the Basscube II is NOT on the AER website?

I saw the Amp One at Bass Central a month ago and was blown away at the quality and how much sound came from this little combo.

I play through an Eden Metro combo (210 with the amp) with the Eden XLT-410 extension cab. So it's like a 610 configuration. I play a bunch of out door gigs, so I need the volume that at least a 410 can provide.

On the other hand, I'd love to bring smaller, more portable gear to a gig. And I'd like to purchase a smaller car.

What configuration of AER equipment would be comparable to an Eden Metro with the 410 extension underneath? Any idea?

The Bass Cube is not on the current AER price list. Only Amp One/Two/Three.

 

[gwangi]

The Bass Cube is not on the current AER price list. Only Amp One/Two/Three.

Actually if you look under the section that says acoustic line the BassCube ll info is there under a PDF file:

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