So...it's been a busy time for my little 1212.
First off, I've discovered that Jorg's customer service is second to none. I always find that the real test isn't in the purchasing process (anyone will be good to you when they want your $$$), but when theres a 'problem'.
Mine goes a little like this:
I've had my 1212 for a few months now. The first 3 or 4 shows, I definitely was having a hard time getting a 'sound'. I tried different configurations, different EQ set ups, and wasn't getting the response I wanted. I thought maybe I was asking too much from it...I need reggae lows and pretty loud stage volume, but found that any time I boosted the bass on my 400+ above 4, and played with medium stage volume it was reaching the TOF. Everyone was getting theirs loud and clean, and mine wasn't there.
Then...several weeks ago we were playing an outdoor show, that had minimal sound reinforcement, and I had my main vol turned up to 6 and my pre around 4 or so...and one song in, my 1212 sounded like a DC10 landing. I had to play like that for 3 hours. Upon getting home at midnight, I opened up the cab, and checked out the front speaker...no visible damage, the cone still moved, and no scratchy sounding voice coil. Hmmm.
I emailed Jorg after midnight on Friday night. I explained what happened, my amp settings and that there was no visible damage. He emailed me back in less than half an hour. Even though I had volunteered to pay for a new speaker, he told me he'd send me out a replacement FOR FREE right away.
When the speaker came, I installed it (in about 5 minutes), and then it was off to the practice room to try it out. It was a COMPLETELY different cab. It has the lows now, and has 'body' to its sound that wasn't there. I also, for the first time, could 'open it up', turning my amp up, boosting some low end and lettin' loose...and it does sound great. It's obvious to me that by the 'luck of the draw' my first speaker was just flawed from the manufacturer.
Friday night we played one of our regular gigs. I brought my full setup...the 1212, an Avatar SB112 and my 400+, I played my Dingwall 5. I really wanted to see how the 1212 would perform in a club that always has a loud stage volume setting. I set up the 1212 on the bottom, the SB112 on top of it. I played the first set like that...Still tweaking my tone, but definitely plenty of clean volume and lots of lows. I was having a hard time making the rig not sound 'tubby'.
Second set, I unplugged the Avatar (left it in the setup though, 'in case of'). The sound of the 1212 alone was unbelievable. Plenty loud enough, lots of tight, deep, low end, and all of the tubbiness of the first set was gone...and really really clean. After the set, I was talking to the sound guy (who we work with regularly) and he was again telling me how much he likes that rig and how the tone is awesome and I explained that I had only been using the 1212 for the second set. He freaked. He laughingly called me a pile of bad names for pulling one over on him.
I walked out of the show thinking 2 things...
1. This cab is going to be more than enough for almost all the gigs I play.
2. For any other gigs where I need a second cab, ONLY another 1212 will do.
Cheers to Jorg for being a great guy, having excellent service and producing what in my eyes is one of the best products in the world!
