Author Topic: The big rig (Read 2319 times)

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #45 on:** March 19, 2014, 02:27:33 PM »

Well said, Keith.

To paraphrase: use the correct tool for the task.

Back to the first post in the thread - what I like about slawie's rig is modularity. It's a big rig that can be made smaller if the situation requires it.

slawie · « **Reply #46 on:** March 19, 2014, 03:30:43 PM »

Willie,
Did you mistype 12000 watts
I certainly hope so because that's more
headroom than Pharrell Williams' hat!
slawie

willie · « **Reply #47 on:** March 19, 2014, 08:48:13 PM »

No I didn't type it wrong. My main rack has 12000 watts. I have over 16000 watts if I add the other racks. 15000 is from 4 Crown power amps. The main rack is my favorite and can handle gig. The system is modular and can be configured multiple ways. I have 7 different per amps but prefer an Alembic F-1X. It's a shame people assume the high wattage I strictly for volume. The high power and multiple sized drivers is all about tone. And yes it can get loud. But whatever volume its played at it sounds great. I know a lot of people like their low powered rigs and that's fine with me. But I'll take my system. Has to be heard to be appreciated. And I didn't mean to start an argument. The thread said big rig. Mine is big so I posted a some pictures. I never implied everyone had to like it or would have to play through it. Although if they got to I don't think they wouldn't like the way it sounds. It reproduces the full range of the human ear. My Alembic basses sound incredible through it. And I didn't just throw stuff together. I study sound reproduction and bass amplification. I've been developing this system for 35 years. I was determined to have a bass rig worthy of playing Alembic basses through. And I succeeded. AndII'll never damage a driver by clipping an amplifier. It's a shame though. I thought because of the people on this site that someone might actually appreciate it. I know I like to play through it and that's what matters to me. If you play a 35 inch scale alembic bass through this rig and a 2-10 combo amp the difference is significant. To each his own.

sonicus · « **Reply #48 on:** March 19, 2014, 09:34:33 PM »

Hello Willie , ___Nice Rig . It was hard to see the model number of the Crown Amps , but they look like Crown Macro Tech 9000i . Is that correct ? Here are the Specs ;

Buy it here , I like these guys ___http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/578162-REG/Crown_Audio_MA9000I_MA_9000i_Professional_Stereo_Power.html

(Message edited by sonicus on March 19, 2014)

sonicus · « **Reply #49 on:** March 19, 2014, 09:42:44 PM »

http://www.crownaudio.com/media/pdf/amps/140863.pdf

Crown Macro Tech 9000i

edwin · « **Reply #50 on:** March 19, 2014, 10:42:26 PM »

Willie, you'll get no complaint from me. My only question is where do you gig so I can hear this?

I agree that headroom improves tone. Even with tubes. I don't need the volume of a rig that big (nor can I afford the roadies), but I like playing without clipping, so I try to make sure my power amp has sufficient capabilities in that regard. For fun, I just picked up a Peavey IPR 3000. I know, I was skeptical, too, but for $275 and at under 8 lbs, I had to give it a shot. Bridged mono into my fEARful 15.6.1, it sounds great and doesn't get anywhere near clipping (F2B front end). The heaviest thing in my rack is now the DS-5R.

slawie · « **Reply #51 on:** March 20, 2014, 12:49:50 AM »

Willie,
Apologies if my post was hurtful or negative towards you in any way. My intention was not to be snippity or disrespectful.
It was purely a vehicle for a one liner.

Back to your rig. I would love to hear it! I do not think I could even imagine the fullness of the sound reproduction of your rig. It must be listened to in a live situation to be appreciated. What size venues do you play? I believe that individual rooms would play havoc on your sound with reflections and phase cancellations etc.
Can you write something more about it because quite frankly I am pretty much inspired.

slawie

terryc · « **Reply #52 on:** March 20, 2014, 07:05:01 AM »

So are all you guys playing massive clubs, stadiums and trying to be heard on the moon??
I gave all that big stuff up ages ago and although my 'big rig' is an Ashdown EVO 300 combo with a 15 extension cab, I hardly use it and I am considering selling it for some Mark Bass gear as I only play in small bars. Currently for these types of gig I have a Roland Bass Cube with an extension speaker..a micro rig!
You all must have roadies, fork lift trucks or steel spines to lug all that around.

willie · « **Reply #53 on:** March 20, 2014, 07:47:08 AM »

The amps are Crown Macro Tech 9000i Touring sound amps. They are made to run line array elements in large concert sound systems and are fully Ethernet capable but I use them for their brute force and high power output. I prefer an F-1X pre-amp. I send the bi-amp outputs into the inputs of an SF-2 running in stereo. The outputs of the SF-2 each go to a separate DBX 160A Compressor. The outputs of the compressors go to each Crown Amp. This way I have full tone control and compression of my lows and highs independently. The amp receiving the lows drives 1X15 cabinets I designed and built with my brother, (who is a master carpenter), that are loaded with Beyma 15G40 15 woofers. The amp receiving the highs drives two Eden 4X10XLT cabinets. I re-configured these cabinets to allow them to perform their job in the system better. I replaced the Eminence 10 woofers with Beyma 10MI100 mid bass drivers. These reproduce mids better than the woofers did and will never have to reproduce the lower frequencies that are handled by the 1X15's.
I also replaced the Foster horns that only went to 14 kh with Beyma CP22 super tweeters that go all the way to 20kh. I made an additional 3 way cabinet for practice that has a separate shelf vnted section in the bottom currently loaded with a JBL E145 which will be replaced with a Beyma 15G40 for increased power handling and a ported section in the top with two Beyma 10MI100 mid bass drivers and a Beyma CP22 super tweeter.
I power this with an Eden WT 800 amp for practice.
But I can easily add it to the full rig if needed. The Crowns have enough power for all the cabinets but I also have two Crown Power Base Three amps I could use in bridged mono to run the other cabinet bi-amped. And I still have 10 speakers to build cabinets for. The Eden 4X10 cabinets be returned to their stock setup and I will design and build my own cabinets for the Beyma Drivers.
But the main system truly has to be heard to be appreciated. It reproduces the tone of an Alembic bass so clearly at any volume. I've never heard anything like it. So clear and accurate and I have the ability to turn it up to meet the volume of the rest of the band with no worries of pushing anything too hard. The sound is so big and clear. It has that concert sound I've tried to get since I was 16.
Thanks everyone for asking about it. I'm very proud of it. Unfortunately I have been recovering from an injury and am not playing in a band right now. I'm looking for one. I just need to find one that isn't intimidated by what I play through. It is tough to explain audio physics to people who don't understand. They think I just want to blow the doors off the place. I just love the sound of it. Quite a feeling to stand in front of it and play through it.
Will

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #54 on:** March 20, 2014, 09:08:20 AM »

Willie, your amp looks super cool. My apologies for my ignorance on the topic. I certainly meant no disrespect, I'm just not a bass player and up until now hadn't heard any really good explanations for the differences. Keith's explanation was great and I really appreciate it.

willie · « **Reply #55 on:** March 20, 2014, 01:20:50 PM »

No Problem. Glad you like it.
And don't feel ignorant or bad.
Most people don't get into amplification engineering to understand it. When I talk to people about they look at me like I'm from outer space.

lembic76450 · « **Reply #56 on:** March 20, 2014, 02:19:31 PM »

Once upon a time, when I was much younger, I did the SVT with 16 10's. That gave way to a rack system with 4 15's. Now, Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 with an Acme Flatwound, just a couple of ounces under 30 pounds. Old knees, Old back...

sonicus · « **Reply #57 on:** March 20, 2014, 02:32:54 PM »

Willie , at how many ohms are you loading the output stages of your Crown 9000i amplifiers ?

Wolf

charles_holmes · « **Reply #58 on:** March 20, 2014, 05:27:54 PM »

Willie,
I gotta stop over some time with my distillate!
I'm digging' your rack man!!!About your injury, did it occur during your fishing trip? Because the fish you catch are incredibly huge! Take care and heal quickly!
Chalie Holmes your Philly connection!

willie · « **Reply #59 on:** March 21, 2014, 09:32:18 AM »

Wolf
The Crown Macro Tech 9000I's are each run in bridged mono. They are each driving two 8 ohm cabinets for a total load impedance of 4 ohms on each amp.
So the amps, in order to protect themselves from delivering too much current to the load use internal limiters that monitor the load the amp sees and adjusts the output accordingly for it. They come with a CD you can download into your computer and run and monitor them from a PC or laptop via an Ethernet cable and adjust and monitor a lot of parameters in the amps. They are actually only putting out 5000 watts each instead of the 6000 they could put out if run in stereo with 4 ohm loads on each channel. So the actual output of the main rack running the 4 cabinets is 10000 watts. I can use different speaker cabinet configurations to get more out of them. But I get a great sound with the rack and 4 cabinets and only have to move 5 pieces of equipment. I have a van specifically for moving my rig. And it is a lot of weight to move. 260 lbs. just in magnets.
And I have had some serious back injuries so I have to hire someone to help me move it. I don't have a steel back but do have enough Titanium in it to build a small airplane.
Charles. Good to hear from you. Thanks for the compliment and concern over the injury. It is not from fishing, although throwing those giant lures 200 feet about 800 times a day doesn't help. Or fighting and reeling in Muskie's over 50lbs. It is just a complication from the neck injury that forced me to give up driving tractor trailers. It is affecting my left shoulder. Hoping it gets better soon. Had to postpone a new custom build due to it until I get better. But I do intend to be up your way fishing soon. I'll just throw some lighter lures and won't try to do the long bomb casts too much.
Would be great to have you stop by. I would like to hear you play your Distillate through this rig and see what you think about it.
Will