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Double Bass Successor to Acoustic Image?
- Thread starter Neon Scribe
- Start date
I’ve heard through the Talk Bass grapevine that they are loaning local players on of their amps while their Woods amps are being repaired.
Larry @FUCHSAUDIO comes on this thread frequently so he can let us know about that.
Larry @FUCHSAUDIO comes on this thread frequently so he can let us know about that.
That’s what I had hoped for, with the acoustic image Clarus head slipping into a pocket on my bass bag, then just carrying the cabinet in my other hand. Nope….doesn’t quite fit.
I usually end up bringing a music stand and/or a stool anyways so it’s always two trips from the car.
Instead of making a combo which would be a fixed combination of amp and cab, a bracket that can be screwed onto any cab which takes the amp and has a handle above like the Genz Benz Shuttle series might be a nice solution. Of course the bracket only works with amps of a certain width and height, but the user can select the cab before drilling holes into the cab for the bracket.
The only tricky part would be to mount it at the correct place on the cab so that the cab stays horizontal. With long mounting holes from front to back there would be some adjustability.
The only tricky part would be to mount it at the correct place on the cab so that the cab stays horizontal. With long mounting holes from front to back there would be some adjustability.
The history of AI can be read here. While Rick doesn't mention who his supplier of class D modules was, he was an investor in that company.
The first Contra amp came out in 1999.
My series 1 Coda from way back. Wished I went with a Contra because I'm guessing the EQ is voiced for bass, whereas the Coda not very well?
This Coda has way more inputs than you usually see. One XLR mic input with phantom power. Two 1/4" instrument inputs (hi-gain/lo-gain) sharing the channel-2 preamp ... presumably for active and passive instruments. Then each of the two channels has an effects loop with a effects return volume control basically giving you two more inputs. Then there's the auxiliary input with volume control. So all total there are six inputs.
This Coda has way more inputs than you usually see. One XLR mic input with phantom power. Two 1/4" instrument inputs (hi-gain/lo-gain) sharing the channel-2 preamp ... presumably for active and passive instruments. Then each of the two channels has an effects loop with a effects return volume control basically giving you two more inputs. Then there's the auxiliary input with volume control. So all total there are six inputs.
I couldn’t resist giving one a try - I have a Fuchs amp arriving next week, will report back once it arrives. It’s the 700 watt solid state not the tube hybrid.
If there was a combo that had the preamp of a Genzler with the cab the size and fidelity of a powered MAS 16 or 18, that would conquer the market, IMO.
Game. Set. Match.
Game. Set. Match.
There’s a thread about these over in the EB amps and Cabs forum, but most of it is not geared towards DB. I’ve used the amp for a few months now. I never have had the chance to try a WW so I cannot do a comparison. But I love the Fuchs, it’s very clear, clean, and has tons of power and tone for days. It’s not small or light, so its clearly not in the EA or AI camp, but its comparable in size to the Genzler Magellan 800 (perhaps a tad bigger and heavier, but still manageable).
EDIT - this is the thread about the Fuchs amps in case anyone wants to dive in.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/anyone-play-one-of-these-bad-boys-yet.1602085/
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For jobs in a small and quiet venue, I use my Traynor SB106. One thing I like about it is that it can drive an extension speaker (although I haven't needed to add one). I have a Markbass CMD 121 combo and the 12" extension cab that I got so I could use one rig for both bass guitar and double bass. I haven't used the Markbass on a job yet, but trying it out at home it sounded good. I also use a Fishman preamp. Markbass does have a number of double bass players who endorse their product fro what it's worth.
Does anyone know the total number of Acoustic Image amps produced? There seem to always be a few available on the secondhand market, enough that I don't worry about my old high power Focus going bad. I'm amazed that it has been my #1 gigging head for at least 500 shows over the last dozen years and it is still going strong. I've bought & sold plenty of others, but this one is here for the long haul.
I have a Coda+ 560AA that I did use for several years, but has been "in the closet" for at least the last 8 years or longer. I fell away from playing the upright. There's not really much I can find online for sale. Is it safe to assume the price has gone up?
Upton Bass has revealed they are working on a new amp, inspired by the AI amps. Will have a down firing woofer.
From video on Upton's Instagram:
"We’re thrilled to announce the UpTone….our exciting prototype amp currently in development!
Drawing inspiration from the legendary Acoustic Image Contra, the Uptone is our fresh take on this classic design."
I'm a little disappointed that they went with the down firing woofer. Didn't AI ultimately abandon that design altogether (or did they keep the Ten 2 around)? Seems like the Upshot and Double Shot were big improvements to most people.
Why in the world are they still demoing amps with the bass right in front of the mic?! Yes, the bass sounds great, what about the amp?? Upton should know to put a mic on the amp.
Why in the world are they still demoing amps with the bass right in front of the mic?! Yes, the bass sounds great, what about the amp?? Upton should know to put a mic on the amp.
Interesting, in that Rick Jones discontinued the down firing cabinets after the 2018 ISB convention in Bloomington Indiana.
That year he showed the Double Shot for the first time. Soon after they slowly began rolling back the Ten 2 and Contra combos. The Upshot had
paved the way at the ISB convention in 2016 at Ithaca NY. They had given the down firing cabinets their best shot (pun intended) with years of research and development to no avail. IMHO they were to room dependent and finicky. Just my take however. The heads were great, the cabinets not so much.
That year he showed the Double Shot for the first time. Soon after they slowly began rolling back the Ten 2 and Contra combos. The Upshot had
paved the way at the ISB convention in 2016 at Ithaca NY. They had given the down firing cabinets their best shot (pun intended) with years of research and development to no avail. IMHO they were to room dependent and finicky. Just my take however. The heads were great, the cabinets not so much.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
The down firing woofer cabinets are very room dependent. Put one on a hardwood or tile floor and near a wall and the result is as close to MBOL as I’ve gotten. Saturday night I caught the piano player telling the drummer, ‘the bass sounds SO good’. If I’m called for a gig in a large hotel ballroom on carpet? Forget it.
It’s a bit strange. I’ve had a few AI amps and a few GK combos, and several heads and cabinets, but these days it’s either an AI or GK combo depending on the situation.
I compared a Double Shot/Clarus SL to my Contra and thought they both sounded natural and not significantly different, although gigging situations might reveal a winner.
