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jb90

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Posts posted by jb90

  1. 3 minutes ago, Steve Browning said:

    Personally, I think it's been explained that all is being sought is the experience of other users. You might want, also, to consider the journey that Dave has been on, to arrive at Handbox's door. 

     

    It appears that Leszek is being very helpful, and that's good customer service. Certainly better than suggesting a customer lacks skill and/or knowledge.

    He wrote about "lack of knowledge" because many bass players boost gain and left volume on very low levels. You can't get sound with tube amp set like that and you always get "farting" instead a good overdrive. With tube amp your gain is your volume knob and volume knob is your "overdrive level" if that make sense.  

  2. 1 hour ago, Steve Browning said:

     

    But hold on here. You're the customer. You have paid out and are unhappy. It's good that you are getting the service you expect but I see no issue at all with seeking the input of other users, with more experience of the amp.

     

    I can't imagine there is any reputational damage at this stage.

    And that's what I'm talking about. You must know the whole case to comment about it. And posts like this wouldn't appear if you just write support first. If support fail then feel free to write everything about it wherever you want. But, imo, it's easier to ask support first, because it can be a really easy problem to solve, than write tons of posts about your disappointment. That's the thing. And I hope that make sense. 

    On a more personal note... You have probably 2 options. You setup your amp wrong. There's something wrong with tubes because sounds comes from amp so it's work (at least to some extent). I think that both are easy to solve. And if not Leszek always give you 2 options: refund or exchange for a new one. That's how he approach to all the clients. You are not alone with your issue. 

    And again, it's not about "no talk about gear issues" but "ask me first and when all fails and you will be dissapointed about my help or approach then feel free to write about it". 

    • Like 2
  3. Hi all! Leszek asked me to write here his request for all present and future owners of Handbox gear.

    When you turn on the amplifier for the first time and you have problems or have any questions about your existing gear, please write directly to Leszek. Preferably via facebook. Leszek is always available to help and tries to answer every message as quickly as possible. However, when he sees that you write about problems, that are most often related to lack of skills or knowledge than real factory defects on the forum first, he's a bit "annoyed" because people reading the Handbox thread may think that his products are nothing more than faulty and poor quality. And, as most of you know, Leszek will never allow himself to sell defective equipment to customers and he cares about his reputation a lot. So before you write about your issues on the forum, write directly to Leszek first  so users reading this thread won't read mostly about technical problems, but rather discussion about the sound, pros and cons of his amps and your opinions and suggestions  Thank you for your understanding. 

    • Thanks 2
  4. I don't wanna sound harsh or rude but... If you have big amp don't be surprise that it doesn't sound good when you just set your volume and especially gain on very low levels. Those amps must be cranked up to show what they can. "Neighbour friendly" volumes are good for small amps like some 50w combo, cause... you must cranked them up anyway to hear any sound from the speaker lol but not with stage animals like R400 and especially WB100. :)

    • Like 1
  5. On 28/07/2022 at 17:25, dmccombe7 said:

    I'm guessing the internal time consuming changes were seperate boards for things possibly being combined to one main pre-amp board and then a power board. Possibly using interconnecting plugs etc rather than soldered connections between boards.

    That's just my own thoughts and opinion and not from HB.

    As for the Contour thing being more popular in US i'm not sure i'd agree as the US amps i've had didn't have a contour knob that i can recall. (Ampeg, Mesa, Genz) The GK 1001Rbii might have had a contour but cant remember.

    Dave

     

     

    On 28/07/2022 at 17:31, Muzz said:

    Well, the Genzlers have a contour, but that's as well as sweepable mids...everything else I've had from the US has had mids...I think Leszek might be a touch off-piste there...

     

    I think that Leszek wrote here about the bass tone which is used in most modern American and English music today. Not so many British bass players play with scoop sound whereas Americans like that modern, scoop sound more which, I guess, suits better in ex. gospel or R&B thing which is mainly an "American music" right now. Of course there are a lot of exceptions in that case too but generally it may sounds like that. I think that Leszek definitely didn't mean anything by that. ;)

  6. This is 120w of full all-tube power guys ;) I think that it's enough to play every reasonable gig you can imagine with that amp without any problems ;) As I remember Leszek said me once, that to achieve size and weight of a typical WB100 as you know it right now he can't make more watts than about 120-150. When you wanna more watts then amp must be heavier and bigger than 120w version. And I guess many of today bass players, who wants as lightest and smallest amp as possible, would not accept "another SVT kind-of-size and weight tube amp" so I think that Leszek just found a sweet-spot between weight/size and power. Anything more or less would be a "compromise" in those aspects.

    • Like 3
  7. 1 hour ago, Bill Fitzmaurice said:

    Neither of those are 200 watt, so I suspect those in the video are B102 or BP102. The magnet in the video also looks too large for the frame to be a twelve. It's true that one doesn't need a 32Hz F3 for low B, no more than does anyone need a 41Hz F3 for low E. But low B is still more demanding than low E, so I'd want at least 6mm xmax for low B use. 6mm xmax is usually going to cost more, but my philosophy is buy once, cry once.

    I compared Beta12A speakers with those B102 and BP102 and the speakers looks like Beta's. This black outer part of the speaker looks like on Beta's not like in B or BP speakers. I know that probably -3db for 55-60hz for 5 string and -3db for 75-80hz will be enough (or even -6db I guess) but I still don't know if this cab can handle it. Or at least can handle without lost important low end frequencies which will be necessary to get good low end from my basses. If Beta's will be bad choice I will definitely buy other similar speakers with better specs but which one will be better? What should I looking for? I need to know answers for those questions to be sure I know what should I looking for. Thanks.   image.png.84b065482d686b95bbf55b0925c453f9.png

  8. 2 hours ago, Phil Starr said:

    Can you clarify the speakers in the video aren't the Beta 12A's but the BP122's which are at least designed specifically for bass. Are you retrofitting the Beta's?

     

    These are entry level speakers but I'm a little more optimistic about them, they are the sort of drivers fitted in a lot of mid priced gear, nothing special but not awful either and they have a very enhanced top end so will give you a lively sound a lot of people like. The cab looks to be around 100l which is very much on the small side to get the best low end out of them but that does improve power handling. Even so a high pass filter would help a lot. You are going to get a bit of a rise in the 100Hz region which will give them a bit of a thump and smiley faced eq built in. Again this is common in a lot of mid-range gear. I think personally there is a lot of nonsense about the 'is it good for low B' question. Most of the fundamental is filtered out simply because of the positioning of the pickups right down the bottom end of the strings which means if the speaker isn't overloaded across the frequency range it shouldn't be overwhelmed at low B, not to mention that not many songs have you play a continuous low B or even anything below E. Unless you are going to use a 500W amp absolutely cranked with lot's of bass boost I think you'll find it will be OK. The cab is going to have a strong sound of it's own though so give it a good listen before buying.

     

    Lot's of love for Poland over here at the moment btw. 

     

    Eminence Cab designs

    I don't know about this particular video but I know that Eminence Beta12A are speakers in this cab. I compare them with other Eminence speakers and their round part of the speakers looks like Beta speakers. 
    Why I should use HPF on this cab? 
    I have 400w hybrid amp. I can't hear it unfortunately. I ask those questions because I read on facebook group that those speakers and this cab can be somewhat weak chain in my signal path because of those speakers freq response and size of the cab. And I don't wanna get cab which is not good for bass. Of course I don't need subbass on the scene or during rehearsals because it's just a mud and nothing else but I want to have all usable low end in my gear and if this cab don't meet my expectations with it then maybe I should looking for something else? But which one? People say that specs don't play but definitely you can't cheat physics and acoustics so those parameters can tell a lot about gear. I have had AMpeg 410HLF and I know that I don't wanna have so much subs, scooped mids, and so harsh treble like 410HLF has. And I need smaller cab for sure. I had GK NEO 2x12 and that was nice cab but probably a little bit too much modern to my taste? Since then I knew that 2x12 will be a sweetspot between great sound and reasonable wight and size. I had 15' Ampeg and Taurus amps and 15' is probably not what I like. Kind of muddy sound. Nice lows, harsh treble and mids. Lot of muddy mids.

  9. 4 hours ago, Bill Fitzmaurice said:

    For -3dB at 40Hz would require an internal box volume of 300 liters, exclusive of the space taken up by the port and the drivers. You don't necessarily have to go that low, a 50Hz F3 from a net box volume of 200 liters would suffice. But with less than 200 liters the low end would fall off rapidly. There's also the matter of the 4.4mm driver xmax. That's adequate for the most part with a low E, but not with a low B.

    I find out from HandBox site that this cab have 50-16k freq response. I don't know how much +/- db's here or there but that's what info on the site says. Could you tell me about xmax value? What does it mean for bass speaker?

  10. 12 minutes ago, Bill Fitzmaurice said:

    That's ported. Measuring frequency response is done with software, like HolmImpulse, and a USB measurement mic. The Beta 12 is an entry level driver, so whether it's adequate for your needs only you can say.

    Entry level? So not pro sounding? So maybe I should looking for sth else? I used this calculator https://www.lautsprechershop.de/tools/t_box_vented_hoges_en.htm and it says that ported cab with that speakers should have +/- 3db on 40hz and sealed one +/- 3db on 85hz  so if it's ported then it would be great but I don't know if this particular size of the cab gives that freq response. And I don't know how to check that without any measuring tools. I don't have that but I just wanted to know if there will be great sound and good low end from this cab. I play on 4 string but I will buy 5 string soon and want to have good sound from those low notes too.

  11. Hi could you help me? Could you tell me what kind of cab it is? Ported or sealed? The speakers are Eminence Beta12A. How can I measure frequency response of that kind of speakers in that cabinet size? It's good for 5 string bass, enough low end? Thanks.  

     

  12. 8 minutes ago, wateroftyne said:

    I love it ‘cos it’s flat. My bass sounds like my bass.

     

    7 minutes ago, wateroftyne said:

    I love it ‘cos it’s flat. My bass sounds like my bass.

    Yes indeed! I always don't like to tweak any knobs, eq's, compressors and all that stuff and now I can leave it aloneeverything in the middle and sounds great. Need some bass? I boost bass or cut some highs. Need some highs? just cut some bass or add treble. If you still don't have enough mids in your sound then it's probably is sth with your bass. But you can just cut some bass and treble and have more mids. But it happens so rarely that I can't remember when I must tweak sth in my R400 during gig or rehearsal! 

  13. This amp is so flat sounding that actually you don't need tweak nothing at all. I have the same amp and just set everything flat and turn off every switches and contour off and it sounds great. I use only my onboard eq on bass sometimes. I think that those switches and contour are not necessary at all. Or it would be better to make some contour but with choosing frequency to cut. That would be even more usefull than just cut @1k only by contour knob. But you can always give a feedback to Leszek and maybe he improve his amp to suits better for us? 

  14. Than

    4 hours ago, Jonse said:

    I use the cruztools stagehand. All quality stuff and it's all I need and more to set my P bass up. Small enough that it slips into my gigbag too for on-the-gig adjustments. 

    Think it was about £22 from bass direct. 

    cruztools-stagebox-z-z.jpg

    Thanks for reply. Does this ruler have 1/64's on it or only mm? Does it have hex key for Fender/Musicman bridges? 

  15. For me? Only flats. But you don't like them so probablly I would choose EB Slinky strings. Not too bright and when they start to sound dull they have good hi-mids but overall sound mellow. But for the best results I would choose the best - DR, LaBella, Thomastik - both flats and rounds are the greatest on the market (imo). Just play them for good amount of time and make rounds dull quickly. Especially those cheapier ones like D'Addario or Slinky's dead very quick when you dig them well.

  16. On 01/11/2019 at 12:24, peteb said:

    That's interesting. I'm sure you're right, after all we can use other amp we've ever played through as a reference. 

    I think that you must accustomed to that. I used to use amps with mid knobs too but Handbox is the sound. I always hear myself clean and clear in any situation and bandmates and FOH guys just love my sound too. I think that BASS stands for bass and low mids and TREBLE stands for hi mids and highs. Handbox amps are pretty flat. With good cab you have anything you want. As Michael said if you wanna "scoop" just boost bass and treble accordingly. if you wanna more midrange it's bass and treble down and if you wanna more high mids then more bass down and when you need more low mids then just more treble down and that's all.

    I must tell you a secret ;)

    As far as I talked with Leszek he don't wanna put midrange knobs in his amp to prevent loss in signal chain of the amps but he knows that bass players "complain" that there's no mid knobs on his amps. So he worked on some kind of "mid solution" for players like those "complainers" ;) But it's always a sacrifice. He said to me that it change a sound a little bit but not so much and drastic to lost what he made with present construction. Leszek is very peaky so he hears every little change in signal chain and he is a fan of greatest possible sound but I think (and he said that too) that many players won't hear the change too much. So we must wait a little bit for this "improvement" (which still change sound for "a little bit" worse). But still Bass and Treble option will be available and it's the best option for getting this great quality and clean sound which Handbox have reputation for it. 

    • Like 1
  17. Dear all, If you have any problems with handbox amps, cabs or other gear please feel free to contact immediately with Leszek Brzozowski, the CEO of Handbox via facebook or email.
    FB: https://www.facebook.com/leszek.brzozowski.56
    email: [email protected]

    Leszek reply almost immediately and knows his gear in and out so he can help immediately too. 
    From my own experience (and I cooperate with Leszek sometimes too) most of the "failures" in amps are fuses, resistors and that kind small parts that sometimes just fail and it could happen. It's just a gear. But repair is almost always simple and can be done by you.. Of course if you know what to do. Most of the time  just remove failure part and put on new or solder new resistor or whatever. But first what you should do is inform Leszek about your failures.  Nobody on this forum can help you better with your Handbox gear than Handbox staff. :)The quality of Leszek's gear is impeccable and if something fail it could be only a small part which was just weak from start from the factory. And sometimes you can't predicted if the part is ok or not if you don't use it in the amp. I hope that make sense. :) Good luck! 

     

    • Thanks 1
  18. Order some custom made ones. Much better than all those "factory made" ones. I noticed that companies never complete their heads with appropriate wattage cabs. It's almost always that small cabs ex. 2x10 or 2x12 are 300-400w but heads are 500 and more. You must buy 4x10 or bigger to have headroom for amp wattage. It's strange. Thats why I order Handbox gear. 
    https://www.facebook.com/HandBoxAudio/videos/1288382281171974/

  19. Wow! thanks guys for reply and many useful advices :) Well... I like my sound, but sometimes I wish to change my sounds during songs (most of the time I play 2 main sounds: round, bassy sound for "ballad" kind of things, and more bright and warm for slap/pick and more complex speed playing like rock bands in 80's). I noticed that some warm growl in the mids cuts through very well in many songs. It would be nice to get that from my gear. Also I think that compressor would be good to just set my volume on the same level when I play with fingers and slap. I don't know... I always think that effects should change your sound (chorus, distortion) or just improve it. Then it make sense. But I don't play "Paul Young stuff" or "heavy metal grind" to use it so often IYKWIM ;) Sometimes some synth parts with "synth sounds" could sit better than clean bass guitar signal, but probably it would be better to play on synth bass then than on bass with some effects on. My philosophy is to provide the best sound for my bands/artists I play with. And everything that help me cut more in the mix, get better, even tone or appropriate tone quality is always welcome. :)

  20. On 15/05/2019 at 11:52, bassmayhem said:

    What power amp? Class D? They say "Class A/B power supply", but not a word about the power amp. It looks good anyway. :) 
    What is your opinion about the somewhat unorthodox eq section? Two bands and contour...

    This is a 3x12ax7 preamp and mosfet poweramp. Leszek from Handbox don't make class D amps (although he made one for tests for some Polish bass players - I checked it out and it was absolutely the best class D. And maby even better than many hybrid amps you can get on market like those SWR, Eden's from 90's etc. But of course I never be a fan of class D and never was. And Leszek don't wanna make class D too even if his class D really kickass. But he's not  a class D fan at all and I can't "force" him to change his mind :P Probably in this sad times of class D mania he will earn more money on class D amps than on hybrids and alltubes but he is a real deal and he really cares about his gear and brand). This eq section is very simple. It's a James eq. Cut/Boost Bass and Treble. Contour just cut some freq @1k 0 to -12db - nice when you wanna make bass more "woolly" than "harsh". Here's the answer for your question (look at the pic). As you can see this amp has a lot of mids. Even on flat settings have some bump on mids from about 100-800hz. This is absolutelly not a "smile" eq amp. Of course you can get that with boost bas and treble but in flat and cut bass and treble there's A LOT of mids. Leszek knows that real cut through is in the mid freq and in quality of signa chain of whole amp. That's why he choose James eq than "standard" bass, mid, treble. I asked him once why there's no mid knob and he said that he has too much "unwanted things" in signal chain which makes this amp dull and he want to get the best sounding amp possible so he makes things different. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I really love this gear and as I said, in world of class D the real hybrid or alltube is a gold! :) It's great that there's a company that don't forget hybrid and alltubes. 

     

    hbeq.jpg

    • Like 2
  21. Hi guys. I noticed that many bass players have in their pedalboard some preamps, compressors and whole bunch of effects. I almost never used any effects and I'm very curious one thing.
    Why I need stompbox preamp in pedalboard when I have onboard preamp in my bass and preamp in my amp? Does 3rd preamp in pedalboard is not too much "complication" in signal chain? For what is necessary this stompbox preamp? Is it really necessary? How to setup the sound when you have so much preamps in your signal chain?
    Same with compressors. I have one a couple years ago but it just stopped my articulation and dynamics and nothing more. And many bass players can't live without comp in their pedalboards. Again is it necessary to have one? How to know which pedals I need?  I really want to have the best bass sound I can get but I don't know nothing about effects at all and dont know where to start and what is need in today music and live situation. Maby these question are stupid but I really want to understand the phenomenon of bass pedalboard and pedal preamps especiallly. Thanks.

    • Like 1
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