LukeFRC

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1406066017' post='2508090'] My PA guy says no In his opinion the core sound of a PA cab won't sound that nice with a bass running straight into it. He said you could use a sub cab to get some of the core fundamentals but the decent ones start to get pretty expensive, at which point you might as well buy a bass specific combo. He's been selling PA gear professionally for many years and also works with a couple of quality bass amplification brands as well. I would definitely trust his judgement on stuff. I think his summary was that if it worked really well to buy a powered PA cab as a bass monitor then loads of people would be doing it [/quote] fair enough - plan B then - or plan C......

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1406038450' post='2507746'] My requirement is for a lightweight cab suitable for dub reggae, so I do not need much treble or upper midrange. I currently use a small cab loaded with an Eminence 3015LF, which sounds good but it doesn't go as low as the new ACME 15" cab. It would sound better in a larger box, but I don't want to do that. Stevie suggested replacing the driver with a [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]3012LF, which would be better suited to the smaller box dimensions and sound deeper than the 3015LF.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Would anyone else here care to comment on this idea, before I take the plunge?[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Specifically, what differences in tone and volume should I expect and is it a worthwhile modification, considering the work and cost?[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Apologies for the derailment.[/font][/color] [/quote] ACME 15"? typo I would think? Question - and not being fecicious - why not buy an ACME?

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1406025916' post='2507555'] I have actually used a pair of PA speakers to gig with once and they sounded greatp. To be fair they were Trace Elliot cabs (from the short period when Trace went into PA) and each one had a 15" and a 10" mounted concentrically so there was quite a lot air moving Are you planning on using a PA cab for front of house or just as a stage monitor with the main PA running FoH? We have a local PA guru who also knows a lot about bass gear so I've asked his opinion for you [/quote] most gigs I've ever played have been via the pa, and one of the places I play we all have our own in ears so while a nice preamp helps I'm not sure I need to spend loads on a poweramp/head and cab. Strikes me a powered pa speaker with a response -3dB at 40-50hz or so will have a good enough low end response , have dsp built in and be designed to be flatter through the freq range and be able to use for other things other than bass

[quote name='Bassmonkey' timestamp='1405983644' post='2507324'] Rock Factory in Castleford has a lot of used stuff. Worth a look . Andy [/quote] [quote name='molan' timestamp='1405984149' post='2507326'] There's often a lot on eBay. Biggest problem with so much used PA gear is that it's often trashed by the time it's sold. Not as many sound engineers with major PA GAS compared to bass players - they jus use stuff until it breaks [/quote] thanks guys! Yeah I've realised that Barrie! I'm half tempted to replace most my current rig with a active PA speaker. Smaller, lighter, DSP equipped and compared to the cost of new bass stuff not stupid priced. (btw as someone who works in a specialist bass shop and has had a LOT of gear... any thoughts on my idea/plan)

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1405979350' post='2507282'] Changing driver parameters isn't like playing checkers, it's like playing 3 dimensional chess. [/quote] what a quote!

[quote name='funkle' timestamp='1405976609' post='2507229'] Phil, thanks for your considered response. Think we can end the thread derail here! [/quote] But the thing that I was wondering...... nah Funkle's right - lets hear more about this 1x12

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' timestamp='1405973202' post='2507160'] Hi everyone! The plan for this has changed slightly.... It's not just the bass that is going on tour! It's us!! The two of us will be planning a trip (in a camper van) around the UK visting jam nights. gigs, guitar shops, even visiting you personally if you like!! This way you get to try more instruments and chat with us personally whilst having a brew or a beer! The dates and destinations still need to be worked out but we're really looking forward to it!! See you all soon! Cheers Chris [/quote] living near I need to come visit you when you're about! Got strings in at the moment? For everyone else - Alpher strings.... really really nice - fairly low tension round core, just a nice balanced tone - and having had them sat on my bass for ages they last too Replaced my previous faves of DR Fatbeams.

funkle - I'm not sure what you're asking- can you make up for speaker inefficiency with higher Xmax and more power? ..... you used ACME for years - surely you'll have an idea more than most!

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1405951839' post='2506847'] And I was worried about going off topic! [/quote] sorry! Though I do find the discussion interesting - it's good to understand the hows and whys of how things work. Also makes it easier to understand bass gear and the cab you're designing in relation to other gear (PA world mainly where they publish data) and other bass cabs.

Dear Non-Seller. Look at the shiytstorm of bad will you've stired up on here. Next time, or such a specialised item like a 7 string bass- just pay your basschat subs and advertise it on here! cheers LukeFRC

[quote name='Bobthedog' timestamp='1405894333' post='2506326'] Can a powerful amp play well quietly and, perhaps a stupid question, would any damage come to the valves through not having the thing turned up? [/quote] yes. that's what the volume control is for. and no, you're not going to damage it.

Which, aside from the church related issue is fascinating when it comes to looking at bass amplification- and probably why I wasn't feeling too short changed in my bottom end playing through a HK dart wedge with a -3db point at about 80Hz ... Slightly OT but for me is an eye opener in terms of the compromises in speaker design

So this weekend's observation - and I don't know where else to put it so I'll stick it here... Played bass at a wedding service this sunday, keys/vox/guitar/bass set up. Well the church we played at has quite a substantial (abet not the newest) PA system set up in it, including big subs.... and quite sensibly in the situation where you get lots of different bass players of different exp used a preamp straight into the desk and then a monitor for the bass player. Worked quite well - nice bass sound. Anyway, as I'm setting down I notice the preamp has a switch on giving me a 12dB high pass filter at 80Hz. And it sounded ok! It made me think about how our rig can/ or can't produce the low end.... and the effect it has.

Following on from a thread earlier this year about using PA gear as a bass rig I'm kinda wanting to pick up a pair of decent active speakers.... Secondhand is nice but where would i go to find that sorta stuff secondhand? PA land seemd to be another world compared to bass land!

I had a '57 - great basses - dig and the maple neck makes it all get a bit grindy great fun

If you're quick there are ways you can often still see the post even after it's been pulled.....

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1405664076' post='2504075'] Our guitars brought a new combo the other week, I swear it weighs more than all my gear put together. [/quote] we used to lug this mental heavy 2x12 Fender Deville combo - two man lift most the time. Played a gig with a bigger band and helped them unload - it was funny how their Fender blues jr. sounded pretty much the same by the time you had mic'ed it and put it via the PA!

I've got a ACG EQ-01 - it takes a while to get your head around, so suggest sticking with it a bit longer. My suggestion... open both filters wide open with the boost (top knob) all the way down. Turn the high end filter wide open and turn the boost all the way down too. That should be the sound of it flat-ish with a bit of treble rolled off, turn up the high end filter to taste - if you find it gets too high middy roll the frequency back till it sounds flat. Play - that should be almost flat sounding.... The trick is to find a good neck tone, and bridge tone - then use the blend to vary the tone while playing live - use the high end filter to add back the top end... then start playing with the boost knobs for a boost in the mids, remember though indented they don't go cut or boost but boost only. they do take a bit of getting used to, and I have a bit of a love hate relationship with mine - it sounds awesome but sometimes would prefer something simpler. Interestingly for me I went from the stock MEC preamp in my streamer to the 2 band glockenklang, to the ACG. I personally would stick a U retro in there rather than a glockenklang but that may be as I seriously didn't get on with the glockenklang at all!

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1405585825' post='2503206'] Fyi - there's also a really good thread on this amp started by Wallbassist on14 Feb. He's bought one and seems to be completely in love with it! [/quote]I think his is a pre and power....

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1404397522' post='2492291'] That's the weight of one cab! we didn't set out to design a lightweight either. X max is rated more conservatively than the Eminence speakers. The 3012LF isn't really suitable as a single driver for bass as it is designed as a woofer in a two way speaker and has no top end. The 3012HO is the one we considered. [b]The Beyma is less than half the price in the UK[/b].[b] At the moment US speakers are fairly pricey over here.[/b] We felt the 3012HO didn't offer any significant advantage over the beyma except for a midrange hump which we thought would sound nice. We'll give details of alternate drivers in the final design. The Beta 12A-2 looks quite promising. Remember we set out to create a 'simple to build' design and i may have said something along the lines of more VW Golf than Lamborghini. [/quote] this is the bit that has been on my mind and thinking about. I was kinda thinking about building something based around a 3012, either a HO equipped Simplexx or a LF equipped Fearful. One of the things that holds me back is that not knowing massively what I'm looking at but looking around I can see that the US stuff is more expensive than the european stuff.

its one of those things where it is a super cool bit of gear - but I do wonder what our EU equivalent would be.