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Double Bass New EA VL208?

#122
Bob Gollihur said:
Coincidentally, I spoke with Larry this morning. The "final" drivers arrived last week, the "final" cabinet should arrive this week. Once it's all together EA has to make the decision whether to go forward, and about production levels, pricing, etc.

Getting closer!
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The plan is to have that 208 at the Music Player Live event in NYC this week. I then plan on taking it home for a test drive :D

John told me that the engineer that he works with at Eminence really felt that he got these drivers right. This is the 3rd set of drivers to be tested.

Mike
 
#128
T-Bal said:
This could be the ideal cab that DBers are waiting for, but that is such a small portion of the overall market. Will it be worth it to EA?
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My 2cents: there are BG's that sound best with a pure hi-fi rig too. While vintage style BG's may work better with more colored rigs, it seems to me that there are more and more hi-end hi-fi BG's with extensive on-board preamps. This type of BG is an excellent candidate for hi-fi cabs. Add the portability of this new EA and it could have a wider market.

I thought that the AI Contra was spectacular sounding with an upper model Warwick BG - to my ears more satisfyling than it was with my DB. Likewise, LDS sells lots of cabs to BG players with little variation over their more DB models...
 
#129
macmrkt said:
My 2cents: there are BG's that sound best with a pure hi-fi rig too. While vintage style BG's may work better with more colored rigs, it seems to me that there are more and more hi-end hi-fi BG's with extensive on-board preamps. This type of BG is an excellent candidate for hi-fi cabs. Add the portability of this new EA and it could have a wider market.

I thought that the AI Contra was spectacular sounding with an upper model Warwick BG - to my ears more satisfyling than it was with my DB. Likewise, LDS sells lots of cabs to BG players with little variation over their more DB models...
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more... when I first bought a pair of the old VL series EA cabs, and that was before I was a dealer, it was for bass guitar. I'll never go back to "signature sound" cabs. My current electric gig rig is an iAMP 800 and pair of VL-208 cabs; prior to that I played a pair of VL-210B. I love the sound of my bass guitar and would rather hear its voice than the sound of a cabinet. Midrange is a good thing.

Disclaimer: I sell EA gear.
 
#130
macmrkt said:
My 2cents: there are BG's that sound best with a pure hi-fi rig too. While vintage style BG's may work better with more colored rigs, it seems to me that there are more and more hi-end hi-fi BG's with extensive on-board preamps. This type of BG is an excellent candidate for hi-fi cabs. Add the portability of this new EA and it could have a wider market.
Click to expand...
I would counter that more and more bass guitars are being made with extended range.... 8" drivers, especially neo ones, simply will not reproduce a low B string as well as larger ones. The 8's are like magic for reproducing DB, but I see no reason for a large number of BG players to choose the NM-208 over something like a NL-210 (except for the weight/size differences which will probably be relatively minor).

I just have a hard time believing that the market can even handle longterm production of these cabinets. If/when they come out, it might be wise to move quickly.
 
#131
Tbeers said:
I would counter that more and more bass guitars are being made with extended range.... 8" drivers, especially neo ones, simply will not reproduce a low B string as well as larger ones. The 8's are like magic for reproducing DB, but I see no reason for a large number of BG players to choose the NM-208 over something like a NL-210 (except for the weight/size differences which will probably be relatively minor).

I just have a hard time believing that the market can even handle longterm production of these cabinets. If/when they come out, it might be wise to move quickly.
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True. But keep in mind deep bass comes from either a large surface driver moving a small distance or a small surface driver moving a large distance. Since we want portability too, you'll have to produce bass and lower midrange from the same drivers. That being the case, I'll take the small/long excursion variety anytime as they'll be more accurate over a wide range of frequencies.

In the real world, I have a 3x8 that's wonderful with a 5 string EUB. If the NM208 comes in under 30lbs as planned, I'd take one for small rooms and take a pair for 5 string / medium room use. My 3x8 is 50lbs and clumsy...
 
#133
Tbeers said:
I would counter that more and more bass guitars are being made with extended range.... 8" drivers, especially neo ones, simply will not reproduce a low B string as well as larger ones. The 8's are like magic for reproducing DB, but I see no reason for a large number of BG players to choose the NM-208 over something like a NL-210 (except for the weight/size differences which will probably be relatively minor).

I just have a hard time believing that the market can even handle longterm production of these cabinets. If/when they come out, it might be wise to move quickly.
Click to expand...

Don't sell 8's short when it comes to reproducing an electric bass guitar, even a low B. I prefer two VL-208's to two NL-210's with my 5-string electrics, and let me tell you, three VL-208's can keep up with just about any other "big rig" I've put together. Oh, and four is the shiznit, but going from two to three was the "eureka moment" for me. :D
 
#134
I spoke with John today. The new NM-208 is ready and WILL be at Music Player live. He is going to take some digital pics and send them to me tonight. The engineer ar eminence is so happy with the driver that he wants a nm-208 for himself and his son (both bass players). I'll see if I can get the weight of the cab

Mike
 
#136
I've personally owned just about every 2X8 cabinet that's been built for bass. First there was the SWR Baby Blue Extension 2X8's and a horn, the Flite Sound 2X8 two aluminum 8's and a horn, and now I'm getting a LDS 2x8.

I own two electric basses a Fender Precision and a Lakland 55-94. I played them into Ken new LDS 3x8 that's on a earlier post. The B String sounds great on that cabinet. IMHO I think it's more about how you voice the cabinet , than what drivers are inside. I will stay that having the extra 8" B&C NEO really gives you a fuller sound. I don't notice the extra weight so much on this cabinet either.

Ric
 
#137
Mike Dimin said:
I spoke with John today. The new NM-208 is ready and WILL be at Music Player live. He is going to take some digital pics and send them to me tonight. The engineer ar eminence is so happy with the driver that he wants a nm-208 for himself and his son (both bass players). I'll see if I can get the weight of the cab

Mike
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Mike - does that mean it's a go for production? If so, when do you think they'll hit the dealers? Thanks as always...
 
#138
I play my Lakland Jo5 through a VL-110/208 combo and the B sounds sweet; low-phat and tight. If I only need one cab, I prefer to bring the 110. I haven't had a chance to try multiple 208s, but would guess its nice. Just a "wonder if", but wouldn't a NM110 be pretty schweet to pair with the 208? But might not be needed if two 208s do the same thing, as (All Hail) Bob G. and Tombowlus says; but might appeal more to full-time BGers as a short-stack. :)
 
#140
LDS also is working with Eminence on some improved custom Neo 8's as a lower cost option to the absolutely wonderful (but expensive) B&C 8" Neo's that they are using now. Early feedback, from what I understand, has been great.
 

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