alexclaber

[quote name='Davemarks' post='15357' date='Jun 10 2007, 11:46 PM']Can't believe I forgot to mention this - the term 'one drop' actually refers to the fact that there is one kick drum played in each bar. That would be the kick which falls each time on beat 3.[/quote] Now that is interesting as I'd been led to believe it referred to the lack of bass note on beat 1. Your explanation makes much more sense! Alex

[quote name='Spikyhedgehog' post='18478' date='Jun 15 2007, 06:32 PM']But I quickly realised that the top two drivers had significantly smaller voice coils, and I clicked that they were neo drivers.[/quote] That's the magnet you're looking at, the voice coil is inside that and is the same diameter on both. [quote name='Spikyhedgehog' post='18478' date='Jun 15 2007, 06:32 PM']Anyone like to comment? [/quote] Just googled them and found the specs: [url="http://www.cadaudio.dk/12pz32.htm"]http://www.cadaudio.dk/12pz32.htm[/url] [url="http://www.cadaudio.dk/12hpl76.htm"]http://www.cadaudio.dk/12hpl76.htm[/url] When I looked at these I was concerned because Qts, Fs and sensitivity are quite far apart though Vas is pretty close. The frequency response plots are not drastically different thought the PZ32s have quite a bit less HF extension due to the greater Mms and Le. On the bottom I expected to see quite a difference but on sticking them into WinISD Pro it appears the differences in various parameters almost cancel each other out. I think you got lucky there! Very good speakers - shame the cab's a bit of a bodge but I wouldn't bother changing them if I were you, not at the cost of B&C replacement woofers. If you were to do all HPL76 expect less bottom, more upper midrange. Nothing you can't change with EQ though. If you're interested in saving some weight, maybe build an Omni 10 and stick a pair of the neo speakers in that. It's all very well using neo magnets but it's pretty futile if the cab's a typical unbraced thick ply design. Alex

[quote name='tempo' post='18064' date='Jun 15 2007, 10:07 AM']Another question(s) though, I already have a Hartke 2.5XL cab, would this work ok with the B2, or is its higher efficiency going to nullify the benefits of the Acme? Can the B2 handle small/med gigs w/o pa support (my band has just vox & guitar in the pa).[/quote] The Hartke cabs are pretty insensitive themselves so I think you'll find only a marginal difference in output with the same input voltage, and the Acmes can handle so much more power that you can just balance the gain to get equal output. Interesting that you already have one of the few other cabs on the market with a midrange driver - you'll find the Acme goes higher and lower with smoother mids (though if your bass growls then the cab will growl too) and fuller bottom. I'm confident that a Low-B2 as a standalone can play louder than a 2.5XL - even if it's marginally behind on midrange sensitivity the greater sensitivity below 100Hz precludes the usual need for bass boost thus levelling the playing field and then you have a load of extra power handling to play with. One Low-B2 can keep up with (and somewhat drown out) most drummers but two are needed to handle the loudest animals. I still prefer to take two cabs to gigs because we're usually sharing backline and you never know how loud the other drummers will be but my rig is really cruising in our band, even with the drummer's big kit with 26" kick and all. What's your band like, what kind of vibe is going on? Alex

If I were you I'd buy used old Peavey heads (quite low power ones too) and I'd build a whole load of Bill Fitzmaurice Omni 10 cabs with Eminence Beta 10 woofers. Peaveys just run and run, and matching very low powered heads (relatively - I mean definitely under 300W) with modern high power speakers and sensitive cabs means you're unlikely to suffer frequent damage, if at all. By building your own cabs you can save a ton of money, and I suspect also develop a sideline in building and selling these to impressed bassists that have rehearsed at the studio. You could do the same with the PA system too. Alex

[quote name='Spikeh' post='17461' date='Jun 14 2007, 11:17 AM']I'm going to be using it sparingly, as a boost during solos / middle sections...[/quote] A strange suggestion but have you considered a boost pedal instead? Alex

[quote name='Spikeh' post='17496' date='Jun 14 2007, 11:42 AM']I base a lot of my compressor opinion on this article[/quote] Only one man's opinions and I certainly don't agree with all of them. Compression is a very personal thing. Alex

Can I offer a fourth option? A high impedance output buffer will cause your tone to be more degraded as it runs through all your effects cabling and your run to the amp so although you want the fuzz to see a high impedance source you want the rest of your pedals or your amp to see a low impedance source. Therefore I'd recommend a simple box with a high impedance buffered input, a high impedance buffered FX output, a high impedance buffered FX return and a low impedance buffered output to drive the run through your other pedals and to your amp. No LED, no footswitch, no battery, just a 9V in. The fuzz should go in the FX loop and the rest of your effects after the low impedance output (though if you wanted to you could put some between the bass and high impedance input). By not footswitching it you won't end up with tonal oddites as you gain or lose highs or level as buffering is added or taken away. You don't need an LED because it's always on. And by running on a 9V supply instead of a battery you can use better sounding opamps (whose current draw would preclude battery power). Alex

[quote name='jacko' post='17545' date='Jun 14 2007, 12:44 PM']Mine [attachment=680:amp4.JPG] Korg DTR2000 tuner Eden Navigator pre-amp Vent QSC PLX2402 In the rear i've mounted an ART Isolation Transformer outboard of the DI to avoid any phantom power spikes coming from the desk.[/quote] Nice! A brief heads-up regarding vented blanking panels in racks - if you're unlucky you can end up with circular air flow, with the warm air from the amp exhaust going round and through the vented panel and back into the intake, and this feedback loop continuing until the amp overheats. I doubt you'll ever have a problem but if you do then you know what to do about it. Alex

[quote name='NJW' post='17491' date='Jun 14 2007, 11:37 AM']eh-pee-FAW-knee, with stress on the Faw. I believe this is the correct pronunciation according to the company themselves?[/quote] Exactly - it's an Italian name, like Bergantino - stress on the penultimate syllable. Is Aguilar pronounced the Spanish way or anglicised? And Alembic is a.LEM-bik, I believe. How do you say Skjold? Alex

[quote name='redroque' post='17423' date='Jun 14 2007, 10:48 AM']always pick up the interesting ones late! Re drums and coherent kit sound. I can recommend the current Sound on Sound for a good article on this - in very brief - use the over heads first and then bring up the close mikes to support them as required. Don't over pan.[/quote] I shall check that out! I bought an issue about recording bass recently - though I don't know why I bothered as I've pretty much nailed getting my sound down on tape, it's the drums that are the battle. The problem I'd had with spaced overheads was that even with the close mics all the way down as soon as you got a reasonable width of panning the two images diverged so you'd hear the hihat in two places, the snare in two, etc. The X-Y approach seems far more coherent. [quote name='redroque' post='17423' date='Jun 14 2007, 10:48 AM']You can get an online sub for SOS instead of the mag - cheaper and gives you access to thier considerable database of reviews and more importantly, how to's. Not an SOS contributor - just a subscriber! It does increase any GAS problems tho'. But hell, your'e recording now so you can just throw money away for the next x many years. The Tascam is just the start...... max[/quote] My flatmate at Uni had a subscription so I've had about 4 years of it, plus I read a lot of the older articles when they're released online. Such an awesome magazine but it does promote terrible GAS! I used to record on a Tascam 424 MkII which worked surprisingly well for tracking a band and then we'd overdub vocals and master on the computer. I do like tape compression but reel to reel is just so expensive. I bought a Fostex MR-8HD last year which was cool (too stingy to buy the 2488) for tracking and then I did all the overdubs on the computer. With this definitive incarnation of The Reluctant I relented, sold the Fostex and bought the 2488. So pleased I did, it's an incredible piece of kit - 24 bit sound really makes a difference. Between Bill and I we have quite a lot of mics and I have a neat little TFPro preamp with a friendly optical compressor which works great for vocals. I'd like a good outboard compressor like the FMR RNC but I shall persevere with the ones in the 2488 - I'm thinking I can always bounce individual tracks back and forth with very subtle compression to build up greater compression whilst maintaining transparency (like the RNC does). Just listening to the mixes on the hi-fi whilst doing some admin - feeling quite positive. Particularly pleased with the width of the groove on Funeral Song Pt.1 - anyone else liking the drum fill before the final verse? Alex

[quote name='Delberthot' post='17300' date='Jun 14 2007, 12:24 AM']I have heard that they are grossly inneficient but never personally tried them out[/quote] I think grossly inefficient is going a bit far! The Low-B2 is 93dB sensitivity (B1 90dB, B4 96dB). The greatest sensitivity you'll get from a smoothly tuned 2x10" is ~97dB, though if you tune a big hump into the response you can get greater sensitivity in the high-bass at the detriment to lower bass. All those numbers you see companies like Eden, SWR etc quoting are bs, plain and simple. Because the Acmes have essentially flat response they do not help your sound cut or punch through the mix with added midrange - but if you put a punchy sound into them it comes out unsullied - so they're not as obviously loud as other cabs. [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='17326' date='Jun 14 2007, 06:33 AM']I've heard the same, but it doesn't it potentially mean you can pump into them double their power rating? Best to talk to Acme direct on that.[/quote] The limiting factor in terms of cab power handling is not the thermal power rating (350W on a B2 vs 500W for some 2x10"s) but is how far the speakers can move without distortion (known as Xmax). Typical bass guitar woofers have an Xmax of ~4mm. The Acme woofers have an Xmax of ~8mm. If you double the Xmax you quadruple the power handling, which gives you another 6dB of output. In reality Acmes can handle about 300W RMS per woofer without distortion right down to 30Hz, whilst typical bass guitar woofers can handle about 75W RMS per woofer down to 45Hz. Acmes simply don't sound like typical a 10" bass guitar speakers, they sound full and even from low to high, essentially nothing missing. They don't have the usual hump that lives somewhere between the mid-bass and low-mids followed by a roll-off below 100Hz and plummeting response below 50Hz, instead they stay full down to just above 40Hz where response gradually drops to 30Hz and then plummets. [quote name='tempo' post='5511' date='May 24 2007, 12:20 AM']I know of only one uk user (alexclaber) who uses these, would appreciate some info from anybody about the cost of importing etc. I have done my own calcs based on the few imports from 'states[/quote] I can't remember how much mine cost but I do recall having to pay about 25% on top of purchase and shipping costs in import duties. But they're an incredible bargain - bear in mind that if they were being sold through retailers they'd be twice the price due to the usual 100% mark-up. They aren't a 'cheaper' option, they just cost less. Consider that when the Series I was launched there was no boutique cab market so selling through retailers wasn't an option as no shop would stock a bass cab that cost that much. And with the incredibly weak dollar they work out extremely good value even after import costs. [quote name='tempo' post='5511' date='May 24 2007, 12:20 AM']also how they might do in the "real world" with a 7, tuned low F# up. (I know the maker recomends low B as a limit). [/quote] They were originally designed for the low B, as that's their tuning frequency. I'd recommend using 30Hz filtering with them (either built into your amp or with a simple filter in the FX loop) as output and power handling drops below there. The good thing about the low F# on a bass guitar is there is very little fundamental content due to the shortness of the scale length compared to the wavelength so even if you had a cab that ran flat to 20Hz you'd barely notice its presence. Bear in mind the number of ERB players using AccuGroove cabs which are tuned higher and have far less output below 40Hz (even the Whappo Grande) and you'll see that none of these players are hearing (or missing) their lowest note fundamentals. Andy Lewis really knows his stuff and although these speakers are great at the lows, it's the midrange and highs I love - the crossovers are excellent, really well designed and phase accurate and provide seamless integration of the woofers, mid and tweeter. You can use them as studio monitors, they're that accurate. And the build quality is second to none. I could write more but honestly they are extremely well designed cabs at insanely good prices. Alex

Darkstars AND an Audere! Nothing looking like a Gibson will have ever been so mud free! Alex

See, it's done it to the thread title too! It should read, The letterB, with a space of course.

Could someone please stop every instance of the letterB when used alone turning into the word be? So far my attempts to write Plan be, be string, low be and be&C have been foiled! Alex

[quote name='ped' post='17063' date='Jun 13 2007, 05:18 PM']What made you choose 36"? I have a 36er myself and find it no different to play, but I am sure it contributes to the huge piano like sound.[/quote] Tension! Every 5-string I've ever played has felt far too floppy on the low-be and too many sound like the low-be is from a different instrument. I spent some time messing around with numbers and sussed out that adding 2" of scale equates to tuning up a semitone which makes a really positive difference to the tension. Also a 2" longer scale length makes the fret to fret stretch the same as if you played everything a semitone lower, which is pretty negligible - as you no doubt have found. Up 'til now I've used 45-105 strings but getting a low-be to match that kind of tension requires a very heavy gauge. Instead I'm going to drop to 40-55-75-100 with a 130 low-be which gives pretty even tension. And then there's all the tonal benefits for me. The downside of the extra scale length can be reduced sustain on the G (and C if you have it) string but that's not an issue for me as when I'm going high I'm playing chords or arpeggios, not lead parts. Give a bit more space round the pickups for slapping too! Alex

Ped's absolutely right, used hi-fi speakers are a great budget route. I always used to monitor on my hi-fi and have had good results because I know what it sounds like. The active monitors are very convenient because you don't need a separate amp, they are very honest sounding (and can be tweaked to the acoustic space), they go lower and louder (and I've always wanted a pair) and £130 seemed very reasonable to the £200+ you used to have to spend a few years back to get any kind of active monitor let alone good ones! Alex

A giant photo of Bill showing off Icky Thump in our rhythm section tracking domain: Alex

I have been astounded by the Tascam VL-X5 active monitors I bought a few months back. They are improbably good for the money! [url="http://www.tascam.com/Products/vlx5.html"]http://www.tascam.com/Products/vlx5.html[/url] [url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/5628"]http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/fl...product_id/5628[/url] [url="http://forums.frontendaudio.com/index.php?showtopic=312"]http://forums.frontendaudio.com/index.php?showtopic=312[/url] Alex

I think you're right about the cocobolo with the sap wood - they fit really well with the macassar ebony and the ash. Alex

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='16959' date='Jun 13 2007, 03:33 PM']Just an update. I have agreed on a new be&C driver. they can ship one out and ill send the Eminence back to them...[/quote] I don't know if you've read the various posts on talkbass about the be&C vs Eminence woofers, but the consensus seems to be that the Eminence woofers sound more like the old ferrite magnet woofers as found in the NYC cabs - thicker bottom, less high midrange. You mentioned that you prefer the sound but not the weight of the NYC 212 so I thought I better point that out sooner rather than later! Also should you need to replace the woofers at any time in the future, the Eminence ones will be less expensive. Alex

[quote name='3V17C' post='16867' date='Jun 13 2007, 01:50 PM']The problem I have is that I just cannot get an kind of volume out of it! I A/Bed it last night against the Trace and with everything flat out it only puts out about half the output of the Trace. Its [i]probably[/i] giggable volume (I am in a LOUD rock band!) but it may mean me having to push my power amp (Ampeg AP3550) alot more than I do with the Trace and I don't want to be struggling with headroom.[/quote] If your power amp has more gain do not be afraid to turn it up. Remember, power output (and thus headroom) and gain (i.e. knob positions) are only very loosely related. If turning up doesn't work then either the preamp or power amp can usually modded for extra output or sensitivity by swapping a few resistors. Alex

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='16955' date='Jun 13 2007, 03:28 PM']Interesting thread Alex - any plans to go down the pro tools route eventually?[/quote] Sadly not, this is a very low budget affair! But I think with a bit of cunning and lateral thinking we should be able to come up with a release quality product, subject to better vocals than some of these somewhat horrific guide tracks... gypsymoth, how did you get a loud enough master without using compression? Alex

Just my bass, nowt else. Alex

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='16866' date='Jun 13 2007, 01:48 PM']Well the new driver has arrived and im not happy. Its a be&C 12/182D-8 if that means anything to anyone. It feels heavier (in fact it is as i weighed it) and i dont understand the connections on it although i can probably figure it out. The older driver was an Eminence driver and i do expect the drivers to match up. I have emailed Enrico about this and he is looking in to it but i have also threatened to send the cab back for a full refund.[/quote] Damn, this is turning into a right nightmare! Epifani recently changed from be&C to Eminence drivers so it looks like you've got one old, one new. Both are good speakers, however they're not at all identical. I would strongly advise against using the cab with mismatched speakers, as they will interact in strange ways within their shared airspace. Good luck reaching a resolution! Alex P.S. I notice that once again a lone letterB is being turned into the word be. V annoying...

Step 3 - Laying down scratch vocals: Full of the joys of spring (or is it summer now) I laid down some very rough vocals that night. Gradually getting the hang of working the 2488, it's quite powerful piece of kit. Did two takes on the first song, one on all the others. Whilst I'm waiting for the guitarist to pick it up have also fiddled a bit with EQ and compression. No luck with sussing out the compression yet whilst with the EQ I've cut out the highs and lows on the snare close mic and cut out the highs and added a LF peak on the kick mic (to try and stop those mics messing with the stereo picture from the overheads). Rolled off some highs on the bass and added a little more bottom. (The EQ is quite nice, LF and HF shelving with variable frequency and plus single wide ranging fully parametric). Also worked out how to do mixdowns and burn to CD, so I've done that, had a listen on the home hi-fi (the monitors are still at Bill's) and ripped it to iTunes so I can upload the tracks. So here's the current state of affairs - bass, drums and scratch vocals, minimal EQ, no compression, some vocal reverb: [url="http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%20Session%20Cuts/01%20Lend%20Us%20A%20Fiver.m4a"]http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%...20A%20Fiver.m4a[/url] [url="http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%20Session%20Cuts/02%20Single%20Mother.m4a"]http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%...le%20Mother.m4a[/url] [url="http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%20Session%20Cuts/03%20Time%20Will%20Tell.m4a"]http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%...Will%20Tell.m4a[/url] [url="http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%20Session%20Cuts/04%20Funeral%20Song%20Pt.1.m4a"]http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%...Song%20Pt.1.m4a[/url] [url="http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%20Session%20Cuts/05%20Funeral%20Song%20Pt.2.m4a"]http://www.thehumanzoo.com/alex/Demo%20EP%...Song%20Pt.2.m4a[/url] Listening back on speakers it's obvious that there are some issues with panning too wide and the kick EQ on some tracks. Vibe ain't bad though. (The tracks are iTunes AAC format, not MP3 btw). Alex