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Double Bass Wizzy M-line 12 vs. VL-208, single cab heft?

#41
RShew said:
Not to get off topic but...since we are talking about schlepping rigs. How do you guys haul the M-line 12? I have both the 12 and wizzy 10. I find my lazy self gravitating towards the wizzy 10 as the haul is SO nice. The M-line is awkward as a 1-trip-to-the-car cab...unless you guys have a tip to carrying it? Anybody use a soft case for the M-Line?
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I use a hand truck too. Transformed my life, but at a push you can carry the cab with one hand (and an amp in a shoulder bag) - its not particularly heavy. I avoid the one-hander due to tendonitis in my elbows, but it is quite do-able.
 
#44
Uncletoad said:
Tom didn't show. Turned out he was supposed to be in Toledo rather than Columbus. Small geographical error.

Soon enough we'll get to it.
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Gah, my shame is now doubled, and tossed back in my face yet again... :(

;) :p :D

Ya, that was a bummer. I was looking forward to a quality hang at the Fretshop. :hmm:

Tom.
 
#49
robgrow said:
Since I own a VL-208 and a Wizzy M, I took them both to a recent doubling gig. Although it was overkill (either box would have done the job just fine by itself), the sound was excellent, and the two cabs worked very well together.
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Did ya notice if one was putting out more sound than the other?
 
#51
robgrow said:
Since I own a VL-208 and a Wizzy M, I took them both to a recent doubling gig. Although it was overkill (either box would have done the job just fine by itself), the sound was excellent, and the two cabs worked very well together.
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Thanks - for the gig report. Since you've described the EA pair as overkill on your recent gig, I infer that you may not have been driving either cabinet particularly hard. I'd be curious to hear how they perform together during a LOUD (slab) gig.

My concern is that because of the disparity between their power handling abilities, the Wizzy might succumb to damage while the VL208 was just crusing along during a loud gig; that's what happened when I tried to pair my VL208 with my Dr. Bass 1580, the VL208 began to complain vehemently while the 1580 was cruising along effortlessly.
 
#53
Jazzdogg said:
Thanks - for the gig report. Since you've described the EA pair as overkill on your recent gig, I infer that you may not have been driving either cabinet particularly hard. I'd be curious to hear how they perform together during a LOUD (slab) gig.

My concern is that because of the disparity between their power handling abilities, the Wizzy might succumb to damage while the VL208 was just crusing along during a loud gig; that's what happened when I tried to pair my VL208 with my Dr. Bass 1580, the VL208 began to complain vehemently while the 1580 was cruising along effortlessly.
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Loud is kind of subjective I suppose. For most situations, one VL-208 or one Wizzy M plays about as loud as I ever need these days. One of the advantages of using two cabinets though is not having to push either one to their limits.

I have tested the power handling capabilities of my Wizzy M many times using it with a Walter Woods amp (rated 450W @ 4 ohms) or a Markbass LMII (rated 500W @ 4 ohms) playing bass guitar with a loud (to me) classic R&B band. Even in large rooms, the Wizzy M has always acquitted itself admirably with never any distortion or complaints. (Speaker cabinet power ratings are for continous power handling capability. Since we aren't playing noise or sine waves, most speakers can actually handle considerably more power than their ratings indicate.)

Incidentally, I had some problems with my VL-208 a while back. I was hearing some strange distortion and once it even cutout entirely. It turned out to be related to the internal wiring, which is relatively complex. Corrosion had developed between all the wires and their crimp-on connectors. I replaced them all with soldered-on connectors, and it was like getting a new VL-208. That cabinet can make a lot of sound when it's working right.
 
#54
Jazzdogg said:
My concern is that because of the disparity between their power handling abilities, the Wizzy might succumb to damage while the VL208 was just crusing along during a loud gig; that's what happened when I tried to pair my VL208 with my Dr. Bass 1580, the VL208 began to complain vehemently while the 1580 was cruising along effortlessly.
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I will try a version of this next weekend--4-ohm Wizzy M 12 with an 8 ohm Dr. Bass 115 (with the upgraded Kappalite). It will be more than I need for this particular gig, but I'm interested to see what happens (as compared to using two different Wizzies, the original 12 and the M-line, which was a wonderful combination).
 
#59
I'm happy to report that the VL208 & Wizzy 12M worked and played well together last night, despite their differences in age, complexion*, impedance, sensitivity, and gender (to my ears, the VL208 is the one with the cojones!). I was a little worried that driving two small boxes with my iAmp800 at this outdoor venue might not work as well as my default rig (Dr. Bass 2460 and 1580 driven by a Carvin B1500), and although the EA MROD didn't have comparable headroom, effortless low frequency extension, or sheer volume, they aquitted themselves quite nicely, thank you. :)

I also tried something new - I moved my rig to mid-stage-left where it was several feet closer to the audience; the VL208 was on bottom facing upstage and toward the front-line band members; the Wizzy was stacked on top, and turned 90-degrees cross-stage as my monitor and as a bass side-fill for the three of us downstage. The result was better on-stage coverage at a lower overall volume level, and the bass was more present on the dance floor without me turning up my volume level. No power alley effects, comb filtering, or other bad news was observed or reported.

From my position on stage, I was able to enjoy the LF output produced by both cabs, and with the Wizzy's kickstand aiming its output toward my noggin, I could hear myself clearly and at a lower volume than with my default rig pummeling me from behind. At last night's outdoor gig, this arrangement worked very well for us; so well, that I'm tempted to liquidate my default rig. :D

* For my purposes, the tolex duds worn by Ms. Wizzy comprise a far better cabinet covering than the rat fur coveralls worn by Mr. VL, but my Dr. Bass cabinets have convinced me of the superiority of "truck-bed liner." If I'm as happy with the EA MROD after honeymoon as I am now, I'll probably have both cabinets professionally coated.
 

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