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Double Bass WW Ultra or AI Focus 2R?

#25
svenbass said:
Oh man, this is going to be a huge pain in the ass for me. :(

You should make your spare available for rent ... I'll be your first customer :D:D
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I'm only communicating my experience. I don't know that to be true for everyone. You may have a different experience. It's been several years now and things could be different. You also may have a different issue that is quicker to solve.

Call him first before you assume it will suck.
 
#27
douglas81 said:
The WW would cost me around $3200, the AI would cost me around $1900, so there's a $1300 price difference. Let's assume I can afford both of them.
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If you are serious about being able to afford both, I'd strongly recommend buying one of each on the used market.

Both models show up on TB classifieds pretty regularly.

Live with them for six months and turn one over if you find you aren't using it/liking it.
 
#28
Uncletoad said:
Well, that was an informal "Tom Bowlus coming to my shop to pick up some stuff, hey check out what's in my car" thing. We'll do some kind of cab shootout for DB in Bass Gear Mag before to long.

The proto of the 2x8 was great sounding. Didn't trump the VL208 for me though. Might give the Mline Wizzy 12 a run for it's money though. The Wizz 10 stands on it's own as the best sounding stupidly small and light DB cab I've seen yet. Can't get to loud with it or get much room shake but for polite society gigs it's the shizz.
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Good times... good times...

It's always fun to come hang with Phil and take over his shop for a while. :D

As for the NM-208, we will feature a sneak peak at this cab in issue #2 of Bass Gear Magazine, but I can tell you all that it is a reality, and we will see this cab in the EA lineup! :cool:

Tom.
 
#29
In the end, I decided the Walter Woods was too much money. I have been known to spend silly money on esoteric gear before, but, this time I managed to hold back.

I'm still interested in the AI Focus II, but...

...I ended up going for something entirely different. The Schertler PUB 280 powered cab. I was able to get a good second hand deal on a Dyn-B pickup and preamp, so I thought I'd go for that and couple it with the Schertler cab. I also bought an AMT SP25 (again, second hand), but I envisage that being used mainly for sound guys who want may want an alternative source to put through the PA. Might also try the AMT SP25 directly into the PUB 280, though I won't have any EQ, so it might be slightly problematic.

In the end, I decided blending two different sources for my own backline rig was just taking it a bit far. Over the next few weeks and months I'll live with this rig and see how it goes.

If anyone's interested, I'll record the AMT and Dyn-B on my bass so people can hear the difference.

Thanks again for all your help!

Douglas.
 
#30
douglas81 said:
...I ended up going for something entirely different. The Schertler PUB 280 powered cab. I was able to get a good second hand deal on a Dyn-B pickup and preamp, so I thought I'd go for that and couple it with the Schertler cab. I also bought an AMT SP25 (again, second hand), but I envisage that being used mainly for sound guys who want may want an alternative source to put through the PA. Might also try the AMT SP25 directly into the PUB 280, though I won't have any EQ, so it might be slightly problematic.
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Doug,
Well, if you are going to use the Dyna-B then the Schertler Pub was designed specifically to match that pickup, so I don't think you can go wrong. Using the Pre A II into the PUB should be the ideal match. Adding the input from the AMT however could be a pretty interesting challenge. Let us know how it works out.

Ric

douglas81 said:
If anyone's interested, I'll record the AMT and Dyn-B on my bass so people can hear the difference.

Thanks again for all your help!

Douglas.
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#31
A footnote. My Focus stopped working before my last gig so I sent it off for repair.

Had to run home and get my Woods to do that gig. Plugged my new/old bass for the first time into the Woods right at the gig, no external preamp or anything. No EQ no phase switch, no high pass filter. Immediate great sound. Very nice. Worked great all night.

Go figure.
 
#32
douglas81 said:
...I ended up going for something entirely different. The Schertler PUB 280 powered cab. I was able to get a good second hand deal on a Dyn-B pickup and preamp, so I thought I'd go for that and couple it with the Schertler cab. I also bought an AMT SP25 (again, second hand), but I envisage that being used mainly for sound guys who want may want an alternative source to put through the PA. Might also try the AMT SP25 directly into the PUB 280, though I won't have any EQ, so it might be slightly problematic.
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Maybe you were already aware, but that's the same setup Rufus Reid used for a while, perhaps still does. I mean the DYN-B and AMT part. Don't know about the PUB part, although he did endorse it too somewhere I think. In fact that may be the rig you can see in his Evolving Bassist DVD, w/ an added SWR cab I think. But I'm pulling all that from memory ...

In the DVD he has the AMT in an interesting spot, on the E string side, about like 5-6 inches below the bridge, just to the outside of the bass bar.
 
#33
douglas81 said:
In the end, I decided blending two different sources for my own backline rig was just taking it a bit far.
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Maybe so. But I convinced myself (again) last night that adding a mic to my pickup thru my amp is well worth it for me. That’s where the AI Focus 2R shines in my book. Big band rehearsal. We had to change rooms due to a scheduling conflict at the last minute and move all our stuff. First set, p/u only. Struggled to get a pleasing sound. Second set, added the mic, instantly more depth, warmth, wood, 3-D.

We did Mingus' version of Moanin', not the Bobby Timmons / Art Blakey version. Now that was very, very cool. :cool:

Your new set up sounds very, very cool too. Congrats.
 
#34
Uncletoad said:
A footnote. My Focus stopped working before my last gig so I sent it off for repair.

Had to run home and get my Woods to do that gig. Plugged my new/old bass for the first time into the Woods right at the gig, no external preamp or anything. No EQ no phase switch, no high pass filter. Immediate great sound. Very nice. Worked great all night.

Go figure.
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I get the same results w/ my old mid-eighties WW 2ch. green light (the MI-225, I think).

Even though it doesn't have the convenient bells & whistles or wattage of my Focus, IMO it has the best sounding pre amps of any amp that I've owned or tried. Even w/o the hi wattage of newer models, w/ my 4ohm EA M-line it puts out enough spl for just about any gig I do. Especially w/ BG.

That said, I do end up using the Focus more often of its convenience, even lighter weight, headroom and great sound. If I use a mic I usually send that signal thru the house system to avoid any feedback issues, but if you like it thru your rig it is great for that too.

It's a hard package to beat.

Bri
 
#36
IMHO, if you need 2 channels (caveat below), phantom power & filters (in one box), AI is a damn good option. Just know you're sacrificing sound for convenience. If you want the most open, airy, pleasing, sound for URB, it's WW. A Focus is half as "open". Unless you've tried a Woods, I don't know if you'll ever know what "open" means, except in a studio with a good condenser. The Woods comes closer to that sound than anything I've tried.

Thoughts on blending sources. I never could get a good blend using 2 sources to my Focus. I don't blame the Focus. It's still a great head.
But, 2 channels summed to mono to a mono speaker? I gave up. Switched to a WW stereo head. Happy now.
 
#37
Got the Schertler PUB 280 today - wow! Sounds really, really excellent. I've tried a number of different things through it and it sounds great. Unfortunately, I'm still not wild about the sound of the Dyn-B or the SP25B, even through this cab. If anything, it highlights how unsuitable (for my purposes) they are. I tried playing the DI'd sounds I posted here - http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=474545 - and the Schoeps excels. It really *is* my bass, but louder. Wonderful.

I even tried playing a solo sax recording through the cab (a very dry recording I made a while ago) and, when you play it back through this cab at realistic volumes, it very nearly sounds like a real saxophone is in the room. The PUB 280 is a giant step up from the ordinary, that's for sure.

In summary, this little powered cab is phenomenal. I was slightly concerned it would be bass shy, but, on the contrary, the bass is full and delicious sounding. Yum.
 
#39
I am currently using an Englehart w/ Fishman BP100 & Realist blended through a AI Coda. It has been working great for the past ten years. I am wanting to step it up in sound. I was thinking about purchasing a AI Focus 2R to use with a 2X10 Bag End for bigger gigs. Anyone have any idea if these two would pair up nicely in sound?

Bigz
 
#40
Biggy B said:
I am currently using an Englehart w/ Fishman BP100 & Realist blended through a AI Coda. It has been working great for the past ten years. I am wanting to step it up in sound. I was thinking about purchasing a AI Focus 2R to use with a 2X10 Bag End for bigger gigs. Anyone have any idea if these two would pair up nicely in sound?

Bigz
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I'd be happy to sell you my Focus;)...Do you own the BE cab yet or is it a consideration?
 

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