Dood

Hey everyone! Well... coffee in hand, I enjoy a quick mid morning surf to satisfy my geeky techno bass passion. As some may know, I'm fascinated by progression in the design and concepts of bass gear, so it filled me with a certain amount of nerdy joy to stumble over yet another company excercising it's marketing forearm with a foray into the active cabinet market. Well, it seems they have been doing it for a lot longer than other companies.. lol.. maybe I just hadn't spotted them! Seems they haven't had a mention on BC yet.. so here goes! ISP Technologies are offering a number of active bass, PA and guitar cabinet solutions that seem to me (at least with the Bass and PA department) like a really good idea. [url="http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=144&Itemid=99"]http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?o...4&Itemid=99[/url] Exhibit A: [quote]Extreme performance 18 inch woofer and dual 8 inch midranges; 1000 watt RMS into a single cabinet, and 1000 watt RMS total when a second, passive, cabinet is added. Line array topology; The bass cabinet to die for![/quote] here: [url="http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43&Itemid=99"]http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?o...3&Itemid=99[/url] [quote]LF Driver: 1 x 18 inch, large excursion, 1100 watt rms. HF Drivers: 2 x 8 inch, high sensitivity, 250 watt rms total. Sensitivity: 98 dB @ 100 Hz, 102 dB @ 1KHz (1 Watt at 1 meter). SPL: 128 dB at 1 meter, long term. 132 dB at 1 meter, peak. Frequency Range: 29 Hz to 5 KHz (-10 dB). Freq. Response: 39 Hz to 4 KHz (+- 3 dB). Amplifier Power: 1000 W rms, high current DCAT, fan cooled. Power Required: 5 Amps x 120 VAC typical, 10 Amps max. Construction: Baltic Birch Plywood, extensively braced. Finish: Rubberized Polyurethane. Dimensions: 30” W x 21.25” H x 24” D (without casters). Weight: Active - 130 Lbs[/quote] A point of interest, the almost 'world famous' Tom Bowlus (Hi Tom!) wrote a review for Guitar World that also appears on the site: [url="http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=214:guitar-world-magazine-vector-review&catid=55:featured-2009&Itemid=83"]http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?o...9&Itemid=83[/url] Anyone who has read Tom's blog will know that he has a massive amount of experience with gear..and writes a damn good review! - I'd love to spend a day in his garage! [url="http://bowlusblog.blogspot.com/"]http://bowlusblog.blogspot.com/[/url] I was also pretty excited to see a range of PA gear, including active cabinets [url="http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148&Itemid=4"]http://www.isptechnologies.com/index.php?o...48&Itemid=4[/url] Not suggesting that the 'head and passive cabinet' bass combination will ever be superceded, but with modelling and digital technologies being discussed on the board more often, I wonder what future technology will hold for us as musicians.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='472425' date='Apr 25 2009, 10:43 PM']I've thought about it but I don't think it would motivate him that much. Jon's not in the game to make money, I think. He's in it to earn a living but to enjoy what he does. If he was in it for the money, he could have become a furniture maker instead and earned loads more. I'm meeting up with Chris Celinder next week when he stops off in London and he's in pretty much that same position (although his operation was larger than Jon's at one point). Being essentially a one person operation, whatever time Jon spends talking on the phone or to people who drop in unannounced, chasing suppliers or doing the accounts, the less time there is to spend on the luthiery. Rob helps but doesn't get involved in any of the tricky custom stuff, so a long wait is inevitable for the custom work. Plus the more I harrass him about my stuff, the less time he has to spend on other people's instruments and there have been some like MacDaddy who have been waiting longer than me. At least I've managed to play my instrument! In project management there's always a trade off between time vs cost vs quality. You can have two at the expense of one, basically. Jon's definitely about quality and value for money so its inevitable that things are going to take longer if he has to figure out new ways of doing stuff without charging by the hour for his time. I think it might be like this for most one person operations that are successful regardless of how much they charge.[/quote] I just like to say, excellent post. The wait for a custom instrument is totally worth it and I have utmost respect for Jon.

Absolutely fantastic clips!!!! If I were looking to purchase a bass, this is exactly the kinda comparisons I'd like to see and hear! - I can really see the merits of BassChat having these kinda videos available in some kind of review section. WoT, thank you for recording them.. I love the Maple 73.. Sounds lovely mate!

[quote name='SammyDamacy' post='467595' date='Apr 20 2009, 04:17 PM']Wow, cheers guys for all the advice! And as for the question am I using an active bass, yes A Status Kingbass and a Spector, the two loudest most powerful basses I have EVER come across. Hence why I'd like a pretty good compressor, and these two just seem to attack any compressor I've found! And I would prefer rack I think.....no real fiddling about and it's out the way! Cheers kids![/quote] For a Tapper / Slapper, the most versatile compressor that I have ever used is the [b]TC Electronic C300 [/b]and its XLR version the C400. As opposed to most compressors, it features program specific compression in the form of Full, and Multiband Spectral. It is one of the very few compressors on the market to feature parallel compression and is truly transparent in sound. What makes this compressor so versatile is it's program dial set up. You turn the dial to the type of music / instrument that you are playing and it configures the compressor for optimal settings. For example, you'd never used the same compression for a kick drum that you would for horns. All you then do is set up the threshold, make up gain and Ratio. (Oh and you have the parallel mix in there too). I find that this is the only compressor that eliminates noise artifacts right up to heavy compression.. something that really annoyed me about other compressors. My second recommendation would indeed be the EBS Multicomp... but I found it could deal with anything below a low B as well as I'd hoped. I still use my C300. I rate TC Electronic gear very highly.

"The problem with the POD for a lot of people is the manual." - It needs to be read and understood. I really have seen so many users of 'modelling' kit get it so wrong and end up with the 'headroom-less moosh' that I believe is being discussed above. As Ped suggests, you need to understand how the kit works properly before you start faffing around with ya earphones on, wondering why it sounds aweful through ya 'normal' bass stack.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='469246' date='Apr 22 2009, 07:43 AM']I'm sure if you play a correctly set-up POD through something like this: [url="http://www.meyersound.com/products/concertseries/mts-4a/"]http://www.meyersound.com/products/concertseries/mts-4a/[/url] it'll sound almost indistinguishable from what it's modelling. However I don't think it'll FEEL the same to the player - the way it responds will not be the same. But to amplify a POD to high SPL generally requires a much more expensive rig than one which provides its own colouration. If you always have a great PA and great monitors I can certainly see the appeal! Alex[/quote] [quote]Meyer Sound's patented MTS-4A is a self-powered, four-way loudspeaker system uniquely capable of producing very high sound levels across the full audio range, including lower fundamentals and sub-harmonics. Powerful, yet relatively compact at 17 cubic ft., the MTS-4A offers an integrated solution for many applications — often eliminating the need for subwoofers and associated electronics.[/quote] nurse!!!! ....nuuuuuuuurse!!!! I need changing!! - That is ...well!! a dream come true I think! - I'm hoping that Forge's active cabinet stands up to what they suggest it can do. I know that I will be using IEMs eventually and therefore the POD is perfect.. but should I need monitoring support, I would defintely look to use something like this instead of a head / cab combination. [url="http://forgebass.com/products.html"]http://forgebass.com/products.html[/url] AX2105

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='465400' date='Apr 17 2009, 07:19 PM'].... was thinking of just replacing the superfly with a poweramp? Is there anything to stop me just using a poweramp? Seems a cheap way to get what I want??[/quote] Nothing stopping you at all and a great idea. I run my X3 into my MarkBass F1. It's crystal clear tone suits adding modelling and I too run the EQ pretty much flat. I think it's a cheap way to get access to a massive amount of nice amp tones. You may never wanna buy a different head again!

[quote name='sk8' post='469375' date='Apr 22 2009, 10:38 AM']the VT has enough juice. I've used it in the effects return of my shuttle so the vt was the pre and i was just using the suttles poweramp. It could give me a really cheap rig [/quote] Well, there ya go then! - Great idea.. and is pretty much guaranteed to sound great.

[quote name='sk8' post='469343' date='Apr 22 2009, 10:17 AM']thanks for the replies. I wondered whether it was thomann own brand. Fro a £120 its got to be worth a punt really. thinking i could use my VT Bass as the pre straight into this[/quote] As long as your pedal has enough output gain to drive the poweramp, you'll be fine. Some power amps require a 'line level' input signal and pretty much all pedals, unless designed otherwise, run at 'instrument level'. Thats not to say it wont work.. you'll defintely hear your signal, no problem. You justy need to make sure you have enough signal going in to the power amp to achieve a suitable output level. I've used a sansamp BDDI straight into a power amp before and that was fine.. it also featured a switch for boosting to a line level output. See if you can find out the 'input sensitivity' of the power amp. That will give us some indication of whether or not it will accept an instrument level signal to drive it to full power.

I looked at the spec and expected, being as TC are pretty much a leader in technology, that they would have gone for a more powerful output stage. I mean, my F1 is smaller.. I'm not sure if it is *the* smallest head out at the moment.. but it chucks out 500W RMS and.. well, the F1 can be bought online far cheaper.

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tamp_d2800.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tamp_d2800.htm[/url] Now that's a flippin good price!!!!

I believe T.Amp is Thomann's own 'brand'. The gear gets good reviews and sometimes get lumped in the same pigeon hole as Behringer and Phonic. Though I have nothing to substantiate those views myself. The large diaphragm studio microphones by T.Amp are very good though!

[quote name='tombboy' post='434817' date='Mar 14 2009, 08:28 PM']I'll be buggered if I can find that forum....... so I looked here on the off chance!!! [/quote] Hmmm... March 14th.... errr.. not a good day for typing I feel.!

[quote name='Hamster' post='464506' date='Apr 16 2009, 10:31 PM']I think a few people here have tried that cab, and again - good reports.[/quote] Big thumbs up here too! - Oh.. and I realise this is going even further away from what you are looking for, but the 6x12 by Tech is nothing short of incredible!

Ahhh!! Very Nice!!! I really like the Hellborg gear and was impressed at the sounds coming out of the cabs! I've had the pleasure of getting a personal gear demo from Jonas .. Who better to show you round the abilities of this gear than the man himself. I think we may have gotten in trouble for cranking it up some ;o)

[quote name='escholl' post='441633' date='Mar 22 2009, 01:16 PM']Surely those are designed for sound reinforcement applications, and not individual instrument amplifiers? Still, if you ever feel the need to run about 25 4x10 cabs, and finally let the guitarists know what it feels like to always be drowned out, that'll be your amp. ^_^[/quote] Yep, they make fantastic PA amplifiers, especially as you can rack them up in a reasonably small space. My Powersoft was a mere 1Kw per side.. and I did notice the benefit of having so much headroom available, especially as I use low tunings that need more power to be heard cleanly.

[quote name='0175westwood29' post='460803' date='Apr 12 2009, 09:33 PM']sadly to big to fit in my car. granted the ampeg is gonna be a tight squeeze.[/quote] Hi, I was just passing this thread and thought I'd drop in! I have gone the same route as your plan. I used to use two Tech Soundsystem 4x10's in a stereo configuration, but decided for backline monitoring purposes one big cab was all that I needed for the new band. (We could even be using IEMs on tour anyway, so might not even need that!) Anyway, back to the point... I chose the Epifani UL-610 after hearing the 310 and 410 at a BassBash prior to purchasing. I love the low extension and power handling of this cab, coupled with it's ridiculous ease of maneuverability. Granted, they *can* be a bit on the costly side.. but they make up for it in many ways. Have a try.. see what you think. Weighs about 36Kg or something. An Ampeg 810 weighs around 88Kg. [url="http://www.epifani.com/products/concert610.php"]http://www.epifani.com/products/concert610.php[/url] [quote]UL-610 When you need to move air you have to have speakers -and the more the better! The UL-610 was a custom design made exclusively for bass legends Daryl Jones (Rolling Stones) and Christian McBride but we were so impressed with the results that the UL-610 has now become part of our standard production line. This monster is equipped with six 250 watt Epifani 10" drivers that handle an astonishing 1500 watts (RMS) of power. Utilizing two separate isolation chambers, the UL-610 delivers unsurpassed clarity and accuracy even at high decibel levels. •Speaker: 6 x 250w RMS Cast Aluminum Frame •100w RMS Tweeter •Freq Response: 40hz - 16khz •Power Rating: 1500w RMS (3750w Peak) •4 Ohms •Suggested Wattage: 400w - 2000w •Sensitivity: 104db SPL @ 1w 1m •Recessed Handles •Dimensions: 42" H x 23" W x 18.25" D •82 lbs.[/quote]

Ha ha ha!!!! Love the control names! Good stuff! - I would love to try more of the MB gear.. but last time, I really didnt get on with the cabs. Maybe it was the room, maybe the gear I was using them with? I think they could get another gop.. just to be sure!

[quote name='wizbat' post='439806' date='Mar 19 2009, 11:07 PM']I,m still stunned at being an endorsee,, I love the basses, jons a star and I,m walking round with a silly grin all the time!!. I don,t want to give away the cost in case the taxman is watching tho suffice to say I did get a discount for buying in bulk!! [/quote] Hey Paul!! Thanks for your PM, good to chat! - Well! What a beautiful pair of basses! Welcome to the Shuker family! - I think I'm still smilin' too! I really can not think of a single reason why I'd be going with anyone else to build my basses. I am so chuffed with both my 7 and 6 string Shukers. I guess you'll need to post in the Shuker mega thread too eh! ;o) - Fantastic basses there. I've enjoyed reading up about them. [quote name='wizbat' post='440019' date='Mar 20 2009, 10:19 AM']They are strung F# B E A D G so it,s quite easy to adjust from the five string basses I,ve been using til now. They have a wonderful Growl on the lower strings.[/quote] I love having that F# string and found no real issues with getting used to 'going lower' either.. and as you say, it sounds great!

Well, didn't have any great weather to get those pictures done I'm afraid... I'll get them up as soon as I have a free moment and the sun peeps out.