Avatar bass cabinets

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:16 pm

Lets poll the forum.

What, (if any), experiences has anyone had with Avatar? Im looking at either the 210 or the 212 bass cab.

http://www.avatarspeakers.com/

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:22 pm

I've played through them a few times. It depends on what you want 'em for. They seemed quite capable for the money. To me they sounded much like Ampeg cabinets. The construction, from what I could tell, seemed good and the tone was average.....nothing great but nothing bad either.

What are you looking for tone wise?

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:46 pm

Sigh...Good question Brian.

I really,,really like the QSC RMX 1450 power amp / Sansamp RBI combination. The QSC is the perfect power plant, small or big, the RBI is exactly what Im looking for tone wise, now Im looking for the "perfect" small cabinet. 15"? 12"s?, 10"s?. I'd just like to here some opinions.

I'm primarily a pick player, but can hold my own
'ala Geddy Lee, I play with a very light touch, all my basses are setup with a very low nut/action, and nickle roundwounds .45 .65 .80 .100

When I played with the band, I did prefer 10's. I liked the punch, clarity and quick response.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:50 pm

I've always went with the middle of the road stuff price wise, hence my heavy use of Carvin. Good equipment though,,IMHO. Excellent for the working bassist on a budget.

But now I feel the need for something a little more "top shelf", but then again, I dont want to overpay for something that really isnt going to impress me.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:03 pm

I have read nothing but great things on the Aguilar GS112 cabinet, and they are not pricey.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:07 pm

I had one Jeff, and am thinking of trying another since I've got an amp I'm really happy with.

12's are a little bit "different". Dont know what it is, but just different.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:15 pm

See, I told you I have read nothing but great things about them!

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:37 pm

Hands down the best sounding cabinets I have played are Acme LowB II's http://www.acmebass.com/ . They put out just what you put in. The low end is staggering. EQ is a must to bring out the mids to cut through the mix in a band setting. The only real downside is that they are inefficient so high power is needed if playing with a loud band. I had a set and returned 'em because I would have needed 1500 watts to get the volume I needed out of 2-2x10's. I'm ordering a new set as soon as my last show is over next month. They aren't too pricey and there is a reasonable trial period. Oh, they are also nice and light which is a plus.

As Jeff said Aguilar makes killer cabinets I played through their 2x10 (I think but it may have been a 2x12) and it had a very solid clean tone. It could get very loud without distorting.

Euphonic Audio makes nice articulate cabs as well. I briefly owned a VL series 2x10. Punchy and clear with great range. It didn't react well to overdrive so it had to go but it was a great cabinet otherwise.

Bergantino cabs are great for loud rock (and other stuff I imagine). Their 6x10 is plenty for just about anything. All their stuff sounds real nice but, along with Epifani gear, just seems somewhat overpriced for what you get compared to SWR, Eden, Mesa, etc.

Sorry for the gear rant but I've currently on the hunt for cabs so I'm been test driving what I can for the last few months. I've settled on the Acmes.....anybody want a good deal on some Mesa Diesel series cabs.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:40 pm

I like to hear gear rant Brian.

I live in a very small town in Ohio, and just dont get a chance to try alot of stuff out. My local Guitar Center is about it.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:01 pm

I'm in a slightly larger Ohio shanty town and there isn't much available around here except for the typical GC stuff either. I have bought and resold some pretty neat stuff trying to find what I want and have also been lucky enough to stumble across other people with some cool gear that I've checked out as well.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:12 pm

Brian, have you ever played at Fat Fish Blue? It is one of the most reverberant places I have played besides the indoor courtyard at The Cleveland Museum Of Art. I used my 1-10 cab with the Ampeg PB250 head and I couldn't get too loud because of the acoustics. The band that went on after us, their bassist was setting up a rig that had some preamp, which I can't recall, into a Stewart World 2.1 going into an Accugroove El Whappo! I can only imaging what he sounded like in that place. Small rigs work very well in a lot of places.

BTW Scott, as you most likely know, I too, live in a slightly bigger Ohio hamlet than you, and most of the quality music stores have all left since both GC and SA rode into town.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 5:20 pm

No Jeff I've never played there. I have played a few places that really overemphasize the bass though. Sometimes I think I could get away with my SWR LA10.

With the demise of my band I'm just overhauling my gear and decided to downsize. I'll be going with two Acme LowB II's and eventually a WW Ultra. That should do it! Those Acmes need some power but they do sound incredible. I'm figured its time for a different approach.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:22 pm

Aguilar +1

Epiphani, nice but-over$$$rated (IMHO),

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:08 am

I got to try out a couple different Aguilars cabs a few years back; the local dealer had the 2x12" as well as a pair of the 1x12" cabs.If you need 2 12s", and want less weight per cab, a pair of the little ones actually sounds every bit as good as the 2x12" cab.Nice stuff they make.Interesting that Aguilar makes their cabs from Mahogany plywood as opposed to Baltic birch, which a lot of other makers use.That detail has to factor into their overall sound somehow.I only know it impressed me a lot.I think at the time I tried them, the 1x12" was selling for around $340.

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:41 am

Here's one nobody has mentioned, Epifani's ultralight series. I'm using one 8ohm UL112 with my Markbass/RBI rack(300watts) and could run a second UL112 for a 4ohm/500watt output. I looked into these because they were raving about them at Talkbass. What really impressed me about these is they do a great job reproducing the B string on my 4004's and they let the tone of your amp get through without coloring it.