Double Bass Series 4 from Acoustic Image

[Jazzdogg]

I received my Clarus Series 4 today and I've done just a brief A/B between it and my Clarus+ Series III. I'm using my Rob Allen semi-acoustic with mag pickup and my Acme B-112 Full Range cabinet. I'm playing at low to moderate volumes at home. <SNIP>.

Sorry to awaken an older thread. I'm a doubler who's curious about the possibility of using a Clarus+ two-channel to push a pair of Acme B-112 cabs (a Full Range and a Flatwound) on electric gigs, and one B-112 Full Range for DB gigs.

Do the Clarus+ and Acme B-112 seem compatible with respect to available power and volume? Do you think the Clarus+ would have enough clean power to drive a pair of Acme B-112 cabs on a loud gig?

 

[JxBass]

If you're speaking of the Clarus+ Series III, IMO absolutely. Depending on whether you're using 8 or 4 ohm cabs, pushing them with 800 or 1000 watts should do the trick. Having owned the Genz Benz Streamliner 900 and Shuttle 9.0 (still have), I see no tradeoff in power and I personally prefer the tone of the Clarus over the Genz Benz (though I think they're both really great).

If you're speaking of the new 2-channel Series 4 Clarus, I still think that 650w would fit the bill.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Thanks!

 

[longfinger]

New videos that just came out in the last 2 weeks...


intro..
Invalid Link Removed

from there one can check out part 1, 2, 3, 4

This part 4 is nice..
AIpart4.m4v - YouTube

 

[tornadobass]

Very helpful and detailed demos!

 

[shwashwa]

i have a series 3 ten2. i notice that i frequently get unwanted distortion from it. does anyone else notice this?

 

[Bob Gollihur]

i have a series 3 ten2. i notice that i frequently get unwanted distortion from it. does anyone else notice this?

I'd turn down the input source and/or the channel volume knob; that's typically where distortion occurs, the amp's preamp is overdriven. The other case can be if the signal is overly bass heavy and one hits the amp's maximum capabilities.

 

[shwashwa]

I'd turn down the input source and/or the channel volume knob; that's typically where distortion occurs, the amp's preamp is overdriven. The other case can be if the signal is overly bass heavy and one hits the amp's maximum capabilities.

i dont think im overdriving with the channel volume knob. i do use a preamp in front, the Radial pz pre. i use the exact same preamp with the walter woods and my swr baby blue with no problem. i take the output from one and go directly to the other to compare without making any changes...

 

[Bob Gollihur]

i dont think im overdriving with the channel volume knob. i do use a preamp in front, the Radial pz pre. i use the exact same preamp with the walter woods and my swr baby blue with no problem. i take the output from one and go directly to the other to compare without making any changes...

The only way to know for certain is to try. The AI heads have a pretty hot preamp (the newest heads have a pad pushbutton built into them), so I'd suggest lowering input volumes to see if it makes a difference. I know for a fact that one of my active five string ebasses will overdrive a Clarus front end if I do not reduce its output.

 

[tornadobass]

I noticed a little bit of farting with my Series 3 Contra at higher volumes. Since then, I've kept the HPF engaged and set at a low frequency. The problem went away without any noticeable loss of low end. Maybe give that a try, too.

 

[shwashwa]

ill give it a shot although i normally keep the high pass filter on on the radial unit before it goes into the AI, and i keept the AI eq flat

 

[Pat Harris]

Just saw the post about overdriving the SIII heads. I didn't have that issue with my SIII, but I have found that my NS bass can totally overdrive the S4 preamp if I'm running the volume on my bass wide open. That's sort of a drag, but at least it's an easy fix. I was able to adjust the trim pots within the instrument preamp, and now it's running cleanly again.

I have noticed a difference in the tone and volume between the SIII and S4 amps. I have to push the S4 a bit harder on the loud gigs to get the same output as the SIII (input gain at 12:00, master set to 1:00 or 2:00) and I don't feel like there is as much "heft" to the S4 amp. That said, it's a great sounding amp at medium to low volume gigs with an upright bass, but it really isn't serving me like I need it to on the louder electric bass gigs even when running it at 4 ohms.

 

[tedw]

I recently bought Acoustic Image Ten2 (Series 4) just for fun and to compare it to my Contra-Ex cabinet. I bought the Ten2 from Gollihur music (very professional).

The Ten2 still has the excellent classic Acoustic Image sound but a lot more of it and it is more focused than the Contra-Ex. Pairing it with the Contra-Ex works very well also. Both sound great with my Clarus and Rob Allen basses.

I think the Ten2 is a great speaker and I love the whole Acoustic Image philosophy.

 

[Enri]

Hi folks, is it the contra series 4 more powerful in terms of volume than the contra series 3? Is it a big difference in volume in between the contra and the coda? Thanks

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Hi folks, is it the contra series 4 more powerful in terms of volume than the contra series 3? Is it a big difference in volume in between the contra and the coda? Thanks

Specs have changed over the years; at one time, the Contra had 400w, now it has around 300w. However, that difference is largely academic. The Coda has 650w, and while that means it's more capable, it's still going through the same speaker array -- so the difference between them, when running at full tilt, is still fairly marginal.

Let's be honest: the AI combos have far more fullness, volume, and girth than they have any right to, at 1 foot tall, 1 foot wide, and under 23 lbs. But there are practical limitations to a tiny cabinet with a 1x10" and 1x5".

What the Coda can do considerably better than the Contra, though, is power additional speakers if needed, with more wattage (and enough wattage to spare to run its internal speakers.) And that certainly makes a difference in the larger venues. You can also easily remove the Coda's head and use it completely independently of the combo (as if it were a Clarus amp -- which is is) and use it with much larger speakers if you have a one-off big venue gig that the Coda can't cut it on.

Hope that helps clarify the differences, let me know if you have other questions.

 

[Enri]

Specs have changed over the years; at one time, the Contra had 400w, now it has around 300w. However, that difference is largely academic. The Coda has 650w, and while that means it's more capable, it's still going through the same speaker array -- so the difference between them, when running at full tilt, is still fairly marginal.

Let's be honest: the AI combos have far more fullness, volume, and girth than they have any right to, at 1 foot tall, 1 foot wide, and under 23 lbs. But there are practical limitations to a tiny cabinet with a 1x10" and 1x5".

What the Coda can do considerably better than the Contra, though, is power additional speakers if needed, with more wattage (and enough wattage to spare to run its internal speakers.) And that certainly makes a difference in the larger venues. You can also easily remove the Coda's head and use it completely independently of the combo (as if it were a Clarus amp -- which is is) and use it with much larger speakers if you have a one-off big venue gig that the Coda can't cut it on.

Hope that helps clarify the differences, let me know if you have other questions.

Thank you very much Mark! It really help what you said! I never had and never heard an AI live! Here in England is a rare thing (unfortunately!) So your description is very helpful. I need an amp for my upright, I play a lot with the bow so I need a clean and natural sound. Is there any other possibility apart from the AI? I wonder about the new Gallien Krueger MB110 or 112 if they would sound well with the upright for bowing?

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Thank you very much Mark! It really help what you said! I never had and never heard an AI live! Here in England is a rare thing (unfortunately!) So your description is very helpful. I need an amp for my upright, I play a lot with the bow so I need a clean and natural sound. Is there any other possibility apart from the AI? I wonder about the new Gallien Krueger MB110 or 112 if they would sound well with the upright for bowing?

There are other options; I'm not as familiar with the GK but I'm sure others will chime in.

 

[rake]

Thank you very much Mark! It really help what you said! I never had and never heard an AI live! Here in England is a rare thing (unfortunately!) So your description is very helpful. I need an amp for my upright, I play a lot with the bow so I need a clean and natural sound. Is there any other possibility apart from the AI? I wonder about the new Gallien Krueger MB110 or 112 if they would sound well with the upright for bowing?

I like the GK MB210 a lot for my purposes, but like all their amps it is definitely not "natural". You can get some convincing sounds in the mix - with work - but those are very much voiced for electric.

 

[Enri]

I like the GK MB210 a lot for my purposes, but like all their amps it is definitely not "natural". You can get some convincing sounds in the mix - with work - but those are very much voiced for electric.

Thanks! It helps, I just thought about the mb110 or 112 as I heard they sound much cleaner than the mb150 series... but i guess they will never match the pureness of the AI.

 

[tedw]

I bought an AI Coda Combo from Mark and it's amazing. It can fill a room very nicely by itself or with additional speakers. Of course, that depends on the room and what you're trying to accomplish. Plus, it's very easy to transport. Nice pure sound and the high pass filter is helpful for dealing with boominess.

If the long-distance charges aren't too expensive, you could call Mark and Gollihur Music to toss things around further. (Gollihur Music - Upright Basses, Pickups, Preamps, Amps, and More) (he's the one who responded to your original post). He gives solid and objective advice and I've never felt he was just trying to sell me something.