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Double Bass upshot combo?
- Thread starter H Wags
- Start date
Nothing's perfect. It's a tool to do a job. I use an upshot for most of my gigs, and like it a lot. Weight is very important to me since I live in NYC. Most gigs I pair it with a tcbam200, small, light, and cheap. If the gig is worth it I add a tone Dexter. This setup can handle most jazz situations. The nice thing about this kind of modular approach is that you can mix and match. I've got a Doubleshot and a Clarus too for bigger gigs or when I'm driving. The essence of AI speakers is a spread out omnidirectional enveloping kind of sound. Some folks hate that and that may be where the bad reviews come from.
I would think the Upshot would be perfect for your situation, I'd ignore the review and try it out for myself. Since there's no information in your profile, it's hard to recommend anything. One internet retailer I know offers trial periods on Acoustic Image products.
(When you say "combo", it's still a separate head & upfiring speaker, correct? They don't make an acutal upshot COMBO, combo, do they? (like, one unit with an integrated head)? I'm asking).
I love my upshot. I have two cabs (two, separate upfiring 10"s), and bring one cab for small gigs, and two cabs to compete with louder drummmers / larger rooms.
PRO: sound and weight is friggin' amazing for what it is. Legit backpack-portable.
CON: It IS a tiny bit "fiddle-y" to have to set up the separate head & cab... the bracket is kind of weird, so I don't use it... there's a lot of bending over involved. So just plopping down a GenzBenz shuttle or something like that (an actual integrated combo) and plugging in IS easier... BUT, it's the price you pay for portability.
If they ever made an ACTUAL combo of the upshot (egg shaped with head facing upwards, no need to connect speaker cable), that would be great.
But sound wise? It's a lot of sound in ultralite package.
(and my upright loves that CL head. very little knob turning to make an upright sound great. Built in HPF, etc...)
I love my upshot. I have two cabs (two, separate upfiring 10"s), and bring one cab for small gigs, and two cabs to compete with louder drummmers / larger rooms.
PRO: sound and weight is friggin' amazing for what it is. Legit backpack-portable.
CON: It IS a tiny bit "fiddle-y" to have to set up the separate head & cab... the bracket is kind of weird, so I don't use it... there's a lot of bending over involved. So just plopping down a GenzBenz shuttle or something like that (an actual integrated combo) and plugging in IS easier... BUT, it's the price you pay for portability.
If they ever made an ACTUAL combo of the upshot (egg shaped with head facing upwards, no need to connect speaker cable), that would be great.
But sound wise? It's a lot of sound in ultralite package.
(and my upright loves that CL head. very little knob turning to make an upright sound great. Built in HPF, etc...)
I have used one for a few years and I really love it. What someone could say is bad is that you can't just drop it on the floor and use the same amp setting as your last gig You have to take a few minutes to check out how it works in each new room. It tends to need a bit more highs than you think - a bit more highs coming up to you is going to sound pretty warm in the room. I've used it with success in some pretty big rooms.
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I have been using it with the old Clarus that is too big for the bracket, I got a new tiny Clarus. I don't have the bracket yet, I plan to get it soon. I assume that for local shows I can keep it attached, right? Just pick it up by the handle and put it in the car?
Yes, but it's best if you have a padded bag for it. Since Mooradian closed their doors, AI no longer sells bags instead suggesting particular drum bags as "good fits" for the combos. I wouldn't leave the "combo" assembled and toss it in the back of the car without a bag the way I would a true combo.
AI shows the full size Clarus series IV as fitting on the bracket and sell that as a a combo option. Looks like using the bracket works as a bit of a reflector to aim some of the sound forward.
Because of the way the Shot cabs are fabricated, anything that's not truly cylindrical wouldn't work.
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Damon, depending how long ago you got the Upshot, you may need an older style bracket that's not sold anymore. If you have a big Phillips head screw above the speakon connector, that's the older style. I was able to reach out directly to AI and they had it to me in a few days.
I picked up one of these (not this brand):
Aviom Products | Accessories: MT-1a Mic Stand Mount
And put some Velcro on it. I mount it on a kick drum mic stand (transporting) or regular mic stand (studio).
That is a cool solution.
I used whatever I had lying around:
Raises it up high enough that the speakons will fit, and the whole contraption folds flat and fits in the backpack.
Breaks down fast AND it doesn't have the added weight of the cast iron base my mic stand does. Very nice!
I really do like my Upshot cab. I use a Quilter amp (formerly BB800, lately Interbass45) in front of it. As noted, it all fits easily into the backpack with stand, extension cord, multiple cables, and toolkit.
