My new lightweight rig.

[Mr.T]

One month and 53 replies on from my original post asking about lightweight cabs, I have my new rig sorted.... BassChat style!!!!

I have bought an Ashdown ABM 2 x 10T with a 'superfly' conversion from EzBass (Cheers Chris... Great guy to deal with).
and
Tomorrow I am picking up an Eden WT800 amp from Rasta.

So.... Am I going to be a happy bunny, or what?

[MB1]

[quote name='Mr.T' post='345813' date='Dec 4 2008, 07:03 PM']One month and 53 replies on from my original post asking about lightweight cabs, I have my new rig sorted.... BassChat style!!!!

I have bought an Ashdown ABM 2 x 10T with a 'superfly' conversion from EzBass (Cheers Chris... Great guy to deal with).
and
Tomorrow I am picking up an Eden WT800 amp from Rasta.

So.... Am I going to be a happy bunny, or what?

[/quote]

MB1.
Superfly Conversion???

[JakeBrownBass]

[quote name='MB1' post='345839' date='Dec 4 2008, 07:32 PM']MB1.
Superfly Conversion???[/quote]

My guess is adding ashdown neo speakers to the ABM cabs?

Jake

[Mr.T]

[quote name='MB1' post='345839' date='Dec 4 2008, 07:32 PM']MB1.
Superfly Conversion???[/quote]

Lightweight 'Ashdown' drivers, the cab can be easily picked up with one hand... The cab is now rated at 500W.

[Mr.T]

[quote name='redstriper' post='345992' date='Dec 4 2008, 11:40 PM']Nice one - how does the cab sound compared to the old trace?

The Eden has a great reputation and tons of power - I'm feeling a bit jealous now [/quote]

I have only run the cab at home so far, but could crank up my smx250 'all the way up' with no distortion.
The tone of the Ashdown cab seems to be pretty similar to my Trace 2 x 10.

I can't wait to try it all out 'in anger'.

The Eden might be a bit over the top, but my thinking was I can always get a lightweight 12 or 15 to put under the 2 x 10.... and make some serious noise!

Edited December 5, 2008 by Mr.T

[Raslee]

[quote name='redstriper' post='346973' date='Dec 6 2008, 01:56 AM']No such thing [/quote]
Glad the Edens gone to a good home, i miss it already, but alas a new era....like you guys with your old Traces as ol' faithful the Eden was mine - great head.

As for over the top 'well some would say' (in a Top Gear Clarkson voice style) why have a cheap middle eastern motor if you haven't tried an old Classic...lol, on that note i prefer my £700 90's Toyota Celica convertible over my £4K Renault Scenic from 2 years ago-and more bloody reliable, shame the same can't be said for my camper

Crap analogies i know Enjoy the Eden

[Mr.T]

[quote name='Rasta' post='347019' date='Dec 6 2008, 08:25 AM']Glad the Edens gone to a good home, i miss it already........... Enjoy the Eden[/quote]

It has and I will...Thanks... The Eden will be loved and cared for....


Any suggestions on a 12" or 15" bottom cab that I can add to my new rig?
Must be....

Light (20kg or less).
Deep and moody sounding (I can blend both cabs to taste using the Eden, which is a rather nice feature)
Less than £200 (I have spent rather a lot of cash this week... for a poor Cornish lad)
Preferably 8 ohms to keep it simple.

[Mr.T]

[quote name='redstriper' post='348009' date='Dec 7 2008, 06:13 PM']The Ashdown mag 115 deep is just 20 kg and in your price range.
Used ones usually go for under £100 on ebay and there was one on this forum recently for £80 - check out the for sale section.
The sound is deep, moody and reasonably loud for a single 15, although I replaced the speaker in mine with a kappalite 3015 LF for extra depth and volume.
I think there might be a newer model which weighs more, so make sure it's the earlier lightweight one.[/quote]

Hi Redstriper,

First off...
Thanks for your suggestions regarding my 'rig'... I am well chuffed with the 2 x 10 and the Eden.
The only problem I have now is that I ran the Eden through my new 2 x 10 with my old 1 x 15 Trace underneath it and well, to put it bluntly it sounded ****ing awesome!
So I really will just have to buy a lighter 15 incher.
I am not saying the 2 x10 didn't sound good on it's own, it does.
But... Paired with the 1 x 15 and some serious power from the Eden, it all just came alive!
And... soooo much volume I could knock our drummer off her stool and make our guitarists ears bleed. (Should I wish to do so).
At the same time being as clear as a bell, it made my old Trace rig sound 'muddy'.

So...
The Mag115 is the one to go for, not the ABM (For lightness).
I will take your advice and load it with a Kappalite as you have been 'spot on' so far!

Hi Rasta,
All I can say is "Your Markbass must be pretty darn good, to make you want to sell that Eden!".

[alexclaber]

[quote name='redstriper' post='348083' date='Dec 7 2008, 08:04 PM']Try it with the original blueline speaker before buying a replacement, it's not a bad driver at all and I only changed mine for the extra volume when using it on it's own. You might find it's fine as it is alongside the 2 x 10.[/quote]

I agree. Although the 3015 will go a lot louder on its own than the Blueline, if you're using it in conjunction with your 2x10" then your 2x10" will run out of power handling before you get to the point where you need the extra power handling of the better 15".

Alex

[Raslee]

[quote name='Mr.T' post='348072' date='Dec 7 2008, 07:49 PM']Hi Rasta,
All I can say is "Your Markbass must be pretty darn good, to make you want to sell that Eden!".[/quote]

Glad your liking it mate. Yeah the Eden opens up a whole new world to your sound. The Markbass is also a great sound, particularly for my own personal sound. Couldn't really justify keeping the two heads and for me the Markbass just had the edge with portability, sound and i must admit i'm a sucker for the yellow speakers too! But it was close as the Eden is beautiful too....infact it shares some similarities to the Markbass in that when i used the eden i never touched the Eq hardly ever, just used the magical enhance knob-and on the markbass i just use the vintage speaker emulator knob and i have funk to dub in one knob......crazy but great.

Happy playing-job well done!

Edited December 7, 2008 by Rasta

[MacDaddy]

pics?

[bass_ferret]

Glad you enjoying building the new rig. Are you intending to run the rig bi-amp with the crossover on the eden? If you are then you dont need a 15 cab with a tweeter so that can save a knats chuff off the scales and price. Lightweight cabs with just a 15 are thin on the ground - the Dr Bass LF cabs that Robbie is doing spring to mind. Other than that there is Alex's compact, or choice of quite a few 12 inch cabs without tweeters.

[Mr.T]

By lightweight, I mean up to 20kg.
It doesn't need a tweeter, just needs to sound as good as my Trace 1 x 15 but weigh a few pounds less.

I have run with my 2 cabs using the blend control.... didn't really need to use the bi-amp facility.

[Mr.T]

.... I'd be happy with a 12 if it does the job.

[bass_ferret]

Never been a big fan of Ashdown myself. You are also propogating the myth that only 15's go deep, it simply is not true.

If you are intending to use both cabs full range then the usual caveats apply, mixing cabs can give unpredicatble results and you do not always get the sum of the parts. Replacing drivers is also something that should not be done without checking the compatability of the cab and drivers.

But if you are happy with the sound then bollocks to the science.

[bass_ferret]

I tried an ABM rig a few years back and found it D U double L dull. But you may like dull, if dull is not compulsory for reggae and dub. Horses for courses.

My experience is that when I had a Peavey 115BW and 210TX the 210 went much deeper. YMMV.

I would be interested to compare the resulting cab to cabs like the [url="http://www.drbasscabs.com/"]Dr Bass DRB112LF[/url], [url="http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_cabinets_gs112nt.htm"]Aguillar GS112NT [/url]or a [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Bergantino,_Passive_bass_speakers.html"]Bergantino EX112ER[/url].

I find Eden's approach confusing, very light amps and very heavy cabs. I think only their 112XLT comes in under 20KG, and the neo 210 is 49 lbs in english money.

Edited December 9, 2008 by bass_ferret

[Mr.T]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='349506' date='Dec 9 2008, 11:09 AM']I find Eden's approach confusing, very light amps and very heavy cabs.[/quote]

Hi,

Just to clarify....

My rig consists of:
Eden WT800 amp
Ashdown 2 x 10 cab with superfly drivers
Trace 1 x 15 'compact' cab

All I am looking to do is reduce the weight of the 1 x 15 to 20 kilos, without losing any bottom end.
I don't need a 'hi-fi' 1 x 15 as I can blend the out put to my cabs with the Eden amp.

p.s. My Eden amp is as heavy as a truck, but my aim is to be able to load my own gear without putting my back out.
I don't mind how many trips I make to the car, just want to be able to do it on my own!

[bass_ferret]

Dull; Deep; Whats the difference? Like I said - you may like dull.

Thats interesting info on the cabs - thanks for that.

According to Edens website the [url="http://www.eden-electronics.com/products/amps/indiv/wt800c.aspx"]WT800[/url] is 26 lbs, or 12kg in foreign money. Have you got it in one of those cast iron rack cases

[bass_ferret]

Just had a look at the manual on the Eden website, cos I thought the balance might only work in bi-amp mode but it does do L+R as well. Very comprehensive manual. Nice one.

[sk8]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='349634' date='Dec 9 2008, 12:54 PM']Dull; Deep; Whats the difference? Like I said - you may like dull.[/quote]down ferret, down

[Raslee]

Reggae bass is far from 'Dull' - how is dull an expression of bass sound? I'm confused on that one...now earth shattering low resonance that moves ya belly....now that i think is deep, or heavy (which again can be confused with metal heads)....just thought i'd add a bit....maybe your confusing Dull with Dub? - I suppose the opposite is bright and then it could be dull or dark....but hey that's the weather not bass! Irie

[alexclaber]

If the opposite of a 'dull' bass sound is Mark King's then I'm more than happy to have a 'dull' sound!

It sounds like you've got a decent value and more manageable rig sorted. I know I'd have gone for a single lightweight cab that could take advantage of a more powerful head but I would say that wouldn't I?

Alex

[Mr.T]

Hi Bass Ferret,

I agree with your comment... "Horses for courses", and am curious as to what equpment you use and what style/s of music you play in your band?

As you have read the manual for the Eden amp, you can probably now see why I only need a 'deep and moody' 15" cab as I can blend it with the 2 x 10 that I have, which (IMO) benefits from a bit more bottom end.... (With the style I play).

Yes, the Eden is a heavy old brute... but it sounds awesome to my ears!
I haven't gigged it yet and am hoping to find something lighter than a cast-iron rack to transport it in... (lol).

[bass_ferret]

Ampeg SVT-VR - now thats heavy at 88lbs. I would call 26lbs lightweight myself. I play rock and pop covers and I use a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 and 2 NeoX112T cabs. Like this:





Its not dull, but then I like a bright sound; I can hear it better cos my ears are f***ed over 4K.

[Mr.T]

Looking good!....... (And lightweight).

I am sure that it sounds bright, but do you find that it sounds as deep as something a bit more 'Old school'?
(I am curious, as I haven't played a 'modern' rig).
But, I have seen bass players using modern kit that I think sounds 'tinny', like all middle and top with no bottom end.... Which could be because that's how they like to sound.

I am finding that my current set up has soooo much of everything.
(Unfortunately that includes weight).

I would love to be a true lightweight convert, but am yet to be totally convinced.