| Author | Message | ||
| Earl Schreyer (eschreyer2)
Junior Username: eschreyer2 Post Number: 13 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hi All, Has anyone else tried the Acme Low B cabs. I just wanted to tell you all that I have one, and I really like it very much. I bought the 2x10 B2(2x10", 5", horn) because I was looking for a small cab that packed a major punch. Let me tell you, this cab is awesome for it's size. The sound is excellent as well (real hi-fi type). Let me know if you guys have checked these out yet, and tell me what you think. http://www.acmebass.com/ Thanks, Earl | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 118 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hi Earl, Yea, we've discussed them a lot. Check out the thread Eden vs SWR (input request)under this Miscellaneous listing (or type ACME in the search engine). I have a Low B-2 and a Low B-1, currently. Will most likely buy one more of each. What are you driving yours with? Coming to you from "sunny Silver Spring", MD Stoney | ||
| Earl Schreyer (eschreyer2)
Junior Username: eschreyer2 Post Number: 14 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hey Stoney, Glad to hear you discovered these cabs also, what do you think? I guess you must like them if your considering more. I was thinking of getting one more low b2, I just need to sell my monster 8x10 (Ampeg) before I can justify it. I use a crown powerbase1 power amp and a Trace Elliot GP12XV (Tube, rare) preamp. I'm from Maryland too! My parents live in Potomac. Did the snow melt yet? Talk to you soon, Earl | ||
| Michael Delacerda (dela217)
Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 98 Registered: 6-2002 |
Just curious guys, anyone compare the Acme 2X10 to the Bag End 2x10? I love my Bag End, but I have been hearing sooo much about the Acme, I would like to know how it compares. I hear of folks comparing their 2x10 Acme boxes to that of cabinets with 18 inch drivers in them. Any truth to the bottom end these Acme's produce? Talk to me. | ||
| Earl Schreyer (eschreyer2)
Junior Username: eschreyer2 Post Number: 16 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hi Michael, I haven’t tried the Bag End, so I wouldn’t be able to comment on a comparison. However, I can tell you the low end is incredible for a cabinet this size. The low-mids, mids, and highs are great too. I’ve played through a lot of stuff in my day (usual suspects), but this is just my favorite. As you know, everybody has his or her own thing, so you’ll have to see if it works for you. Let’s see what Stoney has to say, but I’m sold, these are my cabinets from now on. -Earl | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 121 Registered: 7-2002 |
Michael, I'm afraid I cannot offer you a comparison to Bag End either. Earl. I saw your post regarding Chuck Levin. You and I had our custom jobs done around the same time. Bet you dealt with Todd or Paul. Re: Acme Low B-2. I really like it although I haven't had it out much. Currently I'm playing just about everything BUT bass with a local band. However, I can certainly attest to the fact that the response to lower frequencies is thunderous and I DON'T play a 5-string. Sometimes I tune down to a D and I'm blown away by what I'm hearing but mostly what the audience is feeling. That little box really puts out some sound. I'm using an Alembic F-1X, a Stewart World 1.2 (700w @ 8ohms, 1200@ 4ohms)and I use my Trace Elliot as a pre-amp because I really like the tones I get from it. However I've had to go from the "tuner out" to the Stewart because the "TE" DI is pre-EQ. Low B-1. I bought one of these recently and decided to drive it with an Euphonic Audio iAmp350. Unfortunately, I have recently discovered that the woffer was bad in the Low B-1. Andy fixed it and it should be home soon. However, I also sent back the iAmp 350 and worked out a deal for the iAmp 800. The Euphonic Audio guys enlightened me a bit regarding the "sensitivity" of the Low B-1 (rated at 90) the Low B-2's are rated at (I think) 98. So the EA guy told me that their 350amp wouldn't have enogh power to make the Low B-1 work properly. Naturally he suggested I buy a few EA's at around 1,000 each (uuuhhh no thanks for now) But, now that I'm a little more educated, and hopefully you are too, things will work out better with my Low B-1. I'm considering using a small stack of two of these for my keyboards. My only criticism of the Low B-2 is that I can't seem to get the "edgy" - "ripping" sound out of it. At least not YET. I'm still in the "R&D" stage with the sound so my comment may be way off base. Earl, most of the snow is gone with the exception of the large piles Montgomery County left in the middle of intersections! We're expecting more on Monday. Stoney | ||
| David Burgess (dnburgess)
Junior Username: dnburgess Post Number: 13 Registered: 1-2003 |
I just bought 2 Acme B1s - the low end is easily better than my old 15" EV t-line. Andy at Acme advised me that a QSC PLX1202 (325 wpc @ 4 ohms 20Hz-20kHz) would be plenty for the B1s (but not enough for B2s). Stoneys comment re the iAmp350 has me worried though. Has anyone else had experience driving the B1s - let me know quickly whether I need to change my power amp order. | ||
| Wally Malone (wally_malone)
Junior Username: wally_malone Post Number: 18 Registered: 7-2002 |
I've come to love the sound of Accugroove cabinets. I sold my Eden 410XLT and 210XLT to buy the three-way 112 made by Accugroove. It has a twelve, a six and two tweeters. I'm hearing tones that I have never experienced with any other cabs. I used it in combination with my Eden Metro, a GK800RB and with a Merlin amp that I had borrowed to try. The Merlin was absolutely the best. I used it with a casuals band with six pieces that played at a fairly loud volume and the 112 Accugroove sounded great. Everyone in the band that night said it was the best tone I ever had. FYI, the bass I was using was my six-string Orion. Wally | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 90 Registered: 7-2002 |
Another fan of the Acme cabs here...very sweet sounding. I own the Low B4 and the Low B2...and have another Low B2 on the way. These cabs do produce monstrous, clean bottom end, sweet and clean mids and highs...Love 'em!! Mikey | ||
| Michael Paskel (Mikey) (pookeymp)
Member Username: pookeymp Post Number: 91 Registered: 7-2002 |
(Message edited by pookeymp on March 10, 2003) | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 123 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Dave, The iAmp350 only pushes about 225 at 8ohms and 175 at 4ohms for each cabinet(that's where you get the 350 watts). Andy did tell me that the 225 would ge good enough for the B-1 and that 175/cab at 4ohms would be enough to run two but the EA folks said, "not likely". You're probably OK with the 350 for your B1.(geeeezzz let's hope so it is, after all, only one 10" speaker) | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 124 Registered: 7-2002 |
OOPS////Dave, I missread your post. 325 at FOUR ohms gives you, what, about 200 watts at 8 ohms? Unless you're buying a 4ohm B-1, I don't think that's enough. Can you run your amp in bridged mono and get it down to 4 ohms (using two 8ohm B-1's) That may do it. | ||
| David Burgess (dnburgess)
Junior Username: dnburgess Post Number: 14 Registered: 1-2003 |
My B1s are 4ohm models so will get 325 watts each from the PLX1202. So should be ok - I'll report back once I've got the amp. I think the iAmp 350 would be great with a single B1, assuming you can get the full 350 watts into a single 4ohm speaker - (I am thinking about it for an ultraportable setup) - but would be marginal driving 2 B1s. Another small amp that gets good wraps is the Mesa Walkabout. I tried it (though not with an Alembic) in a store and it sounded nicer than much bigger SWR units. | ||
| Joey Wilson (bigredbass)
Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 60 Registered: 9-2002 |
It's amazing that two 'trends' I've seen forming in other places are materialising here: FIRST, that the ACME products are the real deal, SECOND, while the old EUPHONIC transmission-line cabs are sorely missed, their amps can indeed be very quirky and less than stone-reliable, including some very mixed signals as far as customer support. It would also seem that there are very few dedicated bass heads with enough steam to push the ACMEs. I'd also consider that by their nature that they are exceptionally transparent cabinets; introducing the distortion of a bass head vs. a power amp would be a question of taste. I've heard a guy here locally that stacks FOUR B-1s in a line array, and they sound great. I've long agreed with EAW that three-ways are just superior to two-way cabinets. | ||
| David Burgess (dnburgess)
Junior Username: dnburgess Post Number: 15 Registered: 1-2003 |
Hmmm..four B1s - thats 1400 watts of amplification needed into 4 ohms. Once upon a time that would have been a lot... | ||
| Earl Schreyer (eschreyer2)
Junior Username: eschreyer2 Post Number: 19 Registered: 3-2003 |
Hi Guys, Yes it is true that the Acme's don't have the sensitivity that some other cabs do (not as loud for the same volume setting) and they do like a lot of power. However, with that said, it’s been my experience that I can still get a killer tone without spending a fortune on megawatts. I bought the 4 ohm version. I use a modest crown powerbase1 that is only about 250watts per side, or 500watts bridged mono in the 4 ohm load. For practice or small gigs, I just run one side at 250watts and it’s plenty. Granted I have to turn my preamp (Trace Elliot GP12xV) output level up to about 4-5, but not enough to overdrive and distort the power amp. If I bridge mono, I’m usually down around 2-3 on the output level. As a matter of fact, my stage volume would have been too much if I turned up more. Maybe it’s my combination of preamp and power amp, but it works fine for me. I’m even considering buying one more B-2 and driving each with one side of the powerbase1. Twice the fun, I’ll cut through anything. A potential problem is that if you have to crank up you preamp output level too high, you may either distort the output of your preamp, or the level may be too hot for your power amp and again, may result in distortion. The Acme is very clean (and so is your Alembic)so distortion will not sound good!! The four B-1’s seems pretty cool, I like a unique rig. -Earl | ||
| David Burgess (dnburgess)
Junior Username: dnburgess Post Number: 21 Registered: 1-2003 |
I have been using 2 Acme B1s with a QSC PLX 1202 and Alembic F1-X for a few weeks now and offer the following comments: 1. The tone is superb. 2. One B1 is great for practice or rehearsal with bands that play at civilised volumes. I have finally achieved the holy grail of a rig that I can move from car to studio in one trip! Bass over my shoulder - electronics in a Gator roller rack and speaker in the other hand! 3. The full rig struggles with a loud band. I have been rehearsing with a three piece with a really loud guitarist (drums have to be mic'd in the rehearsal studio!) - and have been getting some speaker distortion (which kind of suits the music) and occasional amplifier clipping at the required volume levels. So I'm considering getting an Acme B4 and running my amp bridged - 1200 watts into 4 ohms should keep the guitarist at bay. | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 139 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hi All, I returned my iAmp350 and purchased the iAMP800. First of all it made all the difference in the world with my Acmes (lob b1& low b2). I've been playing my Brown Bass through it. I had replaced the original pickups with Fat Boys. Even with the 800 and various pre-amp configs, I still wasn't getting the tone I wanted. So I fired up my Essense...that did it, all my tone was there. I took out the Fat Boys, and re-installed the original picups in the Brown Bass. Tone has been restored. Ordering another Low B-1 today. Regarding the problems with my first low B 1, I sent it back to Andy. Apparently I had a bad woofer, he replaced it with no problem and sent it back. My only complaint is that I'm out 46.00 for shipping. Stoney | ||
| Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 140 Registered: 7-2002 |
(Message edited by stoney on April 02, 2003) | ||
| dannobasso
Junior Username: dannobasso Post Number: 43 Registered: 7-2002 |
I just received my Low B2. Good sound. I set it on top of my Epifani 310 with a F1X and QSC PLX1602. I would only caution you all about high end frequencies. I've blown 2 bulbs due to a signal surge from a recording set up and adjusting the tweeter. This is much better than blowing the tweeter but you have to take the cab front apart and remove a woofer to get to the bulb. Otherwise I'm very happy with it and my back is happy too!. | ||
| stoney
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 146 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Danno... uuuuhhhh, what's a bulb? Is it the fuse? Stoney | ||
| dannobasso
Junior Username: dannobasso Post Number: 45 Registered: 7-2002 |
Yes, yes it is. I thought it odd meself but the wisdom is sound. Instead of using a fuse that might not be on hand or such, an 1156 car tail light bulb was employed. This is not unlike protection systems on PA speakers. If too much juice is going to the horn, the bulb lights up to let you know KNOCK IT OFF! I have that on some JBL cabs I have. But it is not visible in the ACME. But 10 minutes, a screw gun and an 1156 bulb and you are back in business. Also you can get these bulbs just about anywhere in a pinch. So in technical terms, (which I am not well versed in , I use a Mac) bulb = fuse. Better the bulb than a burnt out tweeter! | ||
| stoney
Intermediate Member Username: stoney Post Number: 147 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey thanks. Makes sense. | ||
| davehouck
Junior Username: davehouck Post Number: 40 Registered: 5-2002 |
I read these reviews earlier today. This guy went back to his Eden 210xlt from his Acme B210 because of the efficiency issue; he blew a driver in the Acme. Interesting reading; but he does describe the Acme as the old series. http://www.jeffnet.org/~addicott/gear/acme210.html http://www.jeffnet.org/~addicott/gear/eden210xlt.html I play through a couple of Eden 210xlt's but from time to time I think about trying a B210, I can always stand to have more low end; but I am concerned about the efficiency question. For David Burgess, two suggestions. One, sit down with the guitar player and have a serious heart to heart discussion about volume. Two, go to an ear specialist and order custom earplugs with 25db filters. For people like us that are so serious about tone, its really a shame when you start losing your hearing. |
