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Double Bass Wizzy 10 vs Contra Ex

dar512

dar512

Mar 25, 2005
247
57
72
Chicago, IL
#1
On paper, at least, the Contra Ex cab looks like it goes deeper than the Wizzy. Is it also flatter across it's range? I know it doesn't get the volume that the Wizzy does, but since 90% of the time I'm playing small spaces, that doesn't concern me overly.

Those who have heard both, how would you compare the two?

I'm in a quintet - piano, sax, trumpet, drums, and me. I assume the Contra Ex would be ok for practice in a living room? How about for playing in a small restaurant?

I know people are in love with the Wizzy, but I'm concerned about the bump at the midrange and the lack of low end that folks have mentioned.
 
#2
I've had both the Contra EX (series II) and the Wizzy 12. There's a huge difference in volume between the two cabs (90 db vs 103 db SPL). I usually play a BugBass EUB, but sometimes an American Standard and Rev Solo II pickup. My gigs where one of those two cabs would work are guitar/bass/harmonica, plus vocals...no drums...and usually in a small restaurant.

I'd agree that the Contra EX sounds deeper (and probably smoother), but most of the gigs I do need the headroom and clarity I get from the Clarus/Wizzy combination.

You could probably do your small gigs with the Contra EX. When I tried mine, I thought it was difficult to get the note definition I wanted and the tone seemed a bit honky (not sure if that's the right word). At home, I really liked the tone of my American Standard through the Contra EX.
 
#3
I use the WZ 110 with a Clarus SLR and am very happy with it. I use it for acoustic and EUB, and if I need a little oomph in the lows, I dial it in. I generally don't. I find this combination to be very musical and easy to play.
 
#4
While the Contra EX may sound good in a living room type of environment, the Wizzy 110 sounds great in the real world where things are often less than ideal. Also don't underestimate the huge difference in sensitivity between these two cabs. To get the same volume level as the Wizzy 110 driven with 100 watts, you would need almost 2000 watts with the Contra EX.
 
#5
The only time that I thought that a contra sounded good with bass was with an EB in a piano trio. It sounded really good. Anytime I have heard them with upright they sounded muddy. No definition.

I play through a Wizzy 10 with a Clarus head and no matter what the room is like the bass is always heard articulately.
 
#6
i have both a contra and a wizzy m. i have loved and hated both at different times in different situations. the conta i have is the combo series II i love it for lower volume gigs with the other instruments mic'ed, but seems to get lost in the mix with plugged in guitars/mandolins. the wizzy with my bass is not as warm and does not sound as good to me on lower volume gigs or playing my bass by myself. the peizo thunk that i really dont like is more present thru the wizzy. in the right mix of music i love the wizzy. of course your bass, pickup, playing situation, etc. will determine which you like best. if you can maybe get the contra ex and a wizzy 10, best of both worlds. i would have to agree the contra can sound a bit muddy if the volume gets to high, but in a quieter situation i will take the contra over my wizzy. in a bar situation will lots of crowd chatter i prefer the wizzy.
 
#11
I've had a couple of gigs since I started this thread and sold off some equipment. So if it's worthwhile, I can stretch the budget a bit further.

I play an Eminence upright. It has no acoustic low-end. I had the opportunity to play through a Walter Woods head and Accugroove Tri 112. This sounded very good to me and the Tri is a "hifi" type cab.

I'm thinking maybe the Eminence needs a more "hifi" cab due to it's lack of acoustic lows. I know Bob G. likes the Coda with the Eminence.

So my current thought is maybe a Contra for practice and small spaces and then add in an extension cab (Wizzy 10 or some such) for larger venues.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

We normally practice once a week in one guy's living room and we have gigs about once a month. What I'm looking for is great sound for the gigs, convenience for the practices and, of course, to pay as little as possible to get all that.
 
#12
I found the contra series 2 cab to have a great warm sound played quietly, but as soon as drums were put in the equation, it ran out of steam. Certainly, when I had a wizzy 10 and my contra side by side in my lounge, the contra was the stand out for warmth. But that isn't the real world, and there was no question of the w10 cutting through and being louder, and maybe would sound 'bigger' in a mix than on its own.

I now have an m-line, and it sounds as mighty as the contra sitting on top of a K140 15" extension speaker. I still use the Contra amp, but unbolted it from the cab. Massive volume increase. IMHO the wizzy 10 and the contra ex are chalk and cheese sound-wise, so have a listen before you buy.


I'm sold on the m-line, but then again I haven't had the chance to try out the other high end cabs that folks here rave about.
 
#13
dar512 said:
So my current thought is maybe a Contra for practice and small spaces and then add in an extension cab (Wizzy 10 or some such) for larger venues.

Thoughts? Alternatives?
Click to expand...
This config seems to work well for a number of people. Flexible. Modular and easy to transport. Good sound. But cumulative cost? I haven't added it up.

Not trying to talk you out of the Contra plus extension cab concept. I had a Series I Contra for about 7 years, and my experiences were generally quite similar to those noted above. But I eventually opted for one rig that I feel meets my needs in almost every situation that requires an amp. That includes upright and slab. It's an AI Series III Focus 2R and an M-line cab. It's more than I need for a lot of situations, and not as lightweight, but it's consistent in the way it sounds and in the way I interface with it. (Another s/w engineer here.) Basically I just adjust volume and the freq for the HPF up or down as needed for the room and situation.

Either way, I'm sure these options will all make a good sound.
 
#15
I'm with Steve on this. I own a Focus 2R III, Contra EX, Wizzy 10 and a couple of 12s for stupid loud gigs. The Wizzy leaves the house more than anything else. I've found that with minimal EQing, the Wizzy can be made to sound very similar to the Contra cabinet. Usually, the Wizzy sounds better to me.
 
#16
dar512 said:
Is the m-line the same as the CXL-112?
Click to expand...
Nope. They both feature 12" drivers. But the M-line has a Wizzer cone for mids and highs, coaxial. The CXL has a 1" compression tweeter, also coaxial.

They both utilize transmission lines, but the TLs are different in their design and shape ("L" v. "M").

I have not heard a CXL in person, but there are some good reviews here on it. From what I have read, I think of it as having a very accurate and forward type sound, with a flat PA like response, if not a tad aggresive (in a musical way).

The M-line is also accurate but kind of warm at the same time, with what I think is real nice off-axis dispersion.

Both good. Excellent in fact. Matter of personal preference I think.
 
#18
dar512 said:
Ok. Found it on Bob G.'s site. It always confuses me that Euphonic has a number of products that they don't list on their site.
Click to expand...
Me too. It confuses the business side of me, the part that wants to make money.

If it were me, I'd be using the web to promote new products before they were released.

For an example of a company that really has what I think is an effective and appealing web presence, check out some of the videos and sound clips for Line 6 [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].
 

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