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Double Bass Phil Jones bass cub vs. Acoustic Image

#3
I used Acoustic Image heads for many years with a variety of speakers and still own a Focus2 head with an EA Wizzy 10 as my backup amp. My main amp is a PJB Super Flightcase but I recently bought a Bass Cub for those smaller gigs where the Flightcase is overkill. My university also has an older AI combo that I play through in rehearsals sometimes.

Each amp has it's own vibe and color, but both are very good. The first thing to strike me by comparison is that the PJB Cub is only really suited to giving a little support for a DB in places where you could almost play acoustically. It'll go louder than that but with only two little 5" drivers it doesn't move much air (which is kind of the point). If you wanted a PJB combo that wasn't very big but could handle a lot more situations, you might want to try the BG-150 with 4 speakers.

The Acoustic Image stuff, OTOH, is very powerful, and the combos now have 2 10" drivers, one forward and one down facing. Rick tells me that they have some sort of control on the down-firing driver now that wasn't there before. At any rate, 2x10" is a lot of surface area and a different sound. I highly recommend that you manage to plug into them before buying as neither is cheap, but both are excellent amps - just different sounding.
 
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#4
Chris Fitzgerald said:
The Acoustic Image stuff, OTOH, is very powerful, and the combos now have 2 10" drivers, one forward and one down facing. Rick tells me that they have some sort of control on the down-firing driver now that wasn't there before.
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Just to help clarify the models:
They still make the single-driver models (Contra, Coda) and the newer 2x10 you mention is called the Ten2.

The Contra is the recently re-released entry level model, which cuts some of the "extras" and gets the price down considerably. The Coda has expanded features like a removable head, more wattage, built-in effects, a two channel option... etc.

On the Ten2, the control for the down-firing driver is a sort of post-power-amp (passive) filter that helps tame the boominess you might get if you were playing on a hollow plywood stage or other resonant floor; it cuts some of the muddy frequencies to tighten up the sound when you're playing in an imperfect sonic environment.
 
#6
For the price, I was underwhelmed with the PJ Bass Cub. It would be a great/expensive practice amp, or it may work in a "nearly acoustic" setting.

I had the Contra for three years, loved it, bought the Ten2, loved it even more. The price difference between the AI Ten2 and the PJ Bass Cub is pretty big, but I think all of the AI gear is worth every penny and it holds its value.
 
#7
After watching the AI vids, I sort of got from it that the Coda was good for DB and the Ten2 was better if you needed a lot more volume or if you planned on doubling. So, the decision was schlep factor vs. volume.

In the vids, the Ten2 sounded a little boomy (could have been several variables causing it).

Any insight as to how/why you chose the Ten2?
 
#9
Chris Fitzgerald said:
I bought mine for the latter use, and it's perfect for that.
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As did I. I've ended up using it with a folk trio (using a Warwick Alien fretless) with two acoustic guitars, and with my EUB in a 37 piece theatre pit. For those situations (that are still basically acoustic), it works great.
 
#10
How "nearly acoustic" is the Bass cub?

I have been using a Mackie SRM 150 at gigs like that. It's small, it fits on a mic stand, and it's just loud enough for that kind of gig. I assume the Phil Jones would be a better fit for bass, having two speakers and roughly the same power output.

Crowded Wine bar, 25-50 people talking and eating dinner. Would it cut that?
 
#11
PB+J said:
Crowded Wine bar, 25-50 people talking and eating dinner. Would it cut that?
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I used it in a loud bar, 100-150 people. People in the back heard me over the vocals (that were run through the PA). Had the master at around 2pm and the input at noon; EQ had the bass boosted a little.

It's an efficient little beast.
 
#12
I've been using an AI Clarus 2R with a Bergantino AE112 cab for about 5 years now - 80 or so gigs per year - and I couldn't be happier with this rig. I use it mainly for stage sound reinforcement and use the amps DI to run into FOH though it's plenty loud for most club gigs. Tone is wonderful and of all the amps I've owned over the last 40 years, this is the most versatile, reliable and accurate amp I've ever used.
 
#15
Just as a reinforcement of an earlier point, I played a gig last night with the CUB in one of those "almost don't need an amp" rooms, and it was the best amplified sound I think I've ever gotten. I couldn't even tell it was on until I turned it off and noticed the drop in volume and presence. It's not a powerhouse amp by any means, but it sure is convenient and easy to schlep/setup/dial in (like all of the PJB stuff I've tried so far, flat is the best EQ setting) and play.
 
#16
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Just as a reinforcement of an earlier point, I played a gig last night with the CUB in one of those "almost don't need an amp" rooms, and it was the best amplified sound I think I've ever gotten. I couldn't even tell it was on until I turned it off and noticed the drop in volume and presence. It's not a powerhouse amp by any means, but it sure is convenient and easy to schlep/setup/dial in (like all of the PJB stuff I've tried so far, flat is the best EQ setting) and play.
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Wow, at 13 lbs. it's probably the smallest thing out there. I'll have to see if I can try one out. That would be ideal for the duo gigs, casuals, etc. I have a QSC K8 that's double the weight, but can handle higher volumes, it requires the Headway EDB-1 as a pre amp. so it's louder but not as portable.

Ric
 
#17
Ric Vice said:
Wow, at 13 lbs. it's probably the smallest thing out there. I'll have to see if I can try one out. That would be ideal for the duo gigs, casuals, etc.
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I'm going to be in St. Louis for a family funeral later this summer. If you have such a gig while I'm there, you'd be welcome to borrow it. PM me if interested.
 
#18
Ric Vice said:
Wow, at 13 lbs. it's probably the smallest thing out there. I'll have to see if I can try one out. That would be ideal for the duo gigs, casuals, etc. I have a QSC K8 that's double the weight, but can handle higher volumes, it requires the Headway EDB-1 as a pre amp. so it's louder but not as portable.

Ric
Click to expand...

A composite Crazy8 and Clarus head comes pretty close to that weight and probably provide a ton more volume.
 
#20
It should be--it costs more than twice as much!

I have an AI clarus head that I use with a couple different cabs-it's really great. But I play a lot with a gypsy jazz band, two acoustic guitars, and whenever I had a bass amp on the floor we had enormous feedback problems. I've taken to putting a powered PA monitor on a stand behind me--I can hear myself perfectly and the guitars don't get driven to feedback, and I don't get weird floor/stage woofs.

For small gigs I use a Mackie SRM 150, which is just as single five inch speaker. It's good for hearing my intonation, and it can add some top end clarity, but that's it. I's also been kind of flaky, sometimes developing annoying rattles and buzzes. So I'm thinking the bass cub would be a better choice if I could get it off the floor. Hmm...
 

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