Jack 10s for small PA

[wcriley]

My Jack10s got their first real workout last night while the band (drums, bass and acoustic guitar) tried out new songs.

We were set up facing each other in my basement with the jacks on poles at head level, aimed at us. Voices and acoustic guitar were fully in the system with a bit of kick drum and bass guitar reinforcement to replicate a typical performance application. The EQ (15 band graphic) was down about 5 or 6 dB at 400, down 2 or 3 dB at 630, and up 1 or 2 at 1000…set by ear and probably placement/room-specific.

How clear and natural are Jack 10s? The singer thought he was too low in the mix during the first song…until he realized that he WAS hearing the system, but was mistaking it for the natural sound of his voice!

I ran the system pretty hot. (I was standing about 6 feet away from the drums and had trouble hearing them at times.) Even at that level in a poor acoustical environment there was never any feedback.

The only negative comment from the other band members was that our old “full range” stage monitors will sound like crap in comparison. (I’m giving some thought to building a second pair of Jacks to serve double duty as either stage monitors in typical situations or additional FOH in louder situations.)

I’m not ready to give up my dedicated bass guitar cabs just yet. At this point I’m happiest with letting my bass rig carry the bulk of the load and using the Jacks for a little added volume. That might change as the 2510s loosen up.

These cabs suit my current needs perfectly. I’m trading away some bottom end in exchange portability, but I’ve never used anything that comes close to the cost/size/sound/efficiency ratio of these little critters.

[Zack Brock]

Thank you for your review.

Have you considered Wedgehorn 10's for your wedges? Very similar response and sound to the Jack 10's.

If you don't want to go that route, SpeakerHardware.com sells some nifty kickback legs (Leland's Legs) that can tilt them back like monitors in a pinch.

[wcriley]

Another pair of Jack10s would be more versatile than WH10s. (FOH, stage monitors, or bass rig)
I figure I could tilt the Jacks with blocks of wood, the same way I do now with my bass guitar cab and current monitors (which are actually full-range boxes designed for FOH).

How much tilt do you get with the legs Leland sells?

[Zack Brock]

Another pair of Jack10s would be more versatile than WH10s. (FOH, stage monitors, or bass rig)
I figure I could tilt the Jacks with blocks of wood, the same way I do now with my bass guitar cab and current monitors (which are actually full-range boxes designed for FOH).

How much tilt do you get with the legs Leland sells?

Not to be contrary or argumentative, but the Wedgehorn 10's have that same versatility. They can be used as FOH, stage monitors or as a bass rig as well.

Jack 10's are a great all around cab, primarily intended for PA use whereas Wedgehorns are primarily intended for monitor wedge use but are also a great all around cab. Take your pick. It is great to have choices!

Here are Leland's Legs: http://www.speakerhardware.com/folding_ ... 570900.php

They are almost 6" tall when extended.

By the way, do you have pics of your Jack 10's that you can share?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Not to be contrary or argumentative, but the Wedgehorn 10's have that same versatility. They can be used as FOH, stage monitors or as a bass rig as well.

They're also larger and heavier than J10s. I don't recommend them unless you must have major low frequency output from your monitors, where you'd otherwise be using 1x15 commercial wedges. That eliminates about 90% of bar band gigs IMO.

[wcriley]

They're also larger and heavier than J10s. I don't recommend them unless you must have major low frequency output from your monitors, where you'd otherwise be using 1x15 commercial wedges. That eliminates about 90% of bar band gigs IMO.

Precisely my thinking. J10s would be easier on my old back...and probaly a lot easier to build.
There are times when my bass guitar is in the monitors so that the other guys can hear me.
But pitch definition is all that matters those situations, not tone quality.

Zack Brock: thanks for the info on the length of Lelands legs. I might buy a few and install them on my current bass cabs and monitors. Would be classier looking than the 2x4s I'm using.

[SeisTres]

They're also larger and heavier than J10s. I don't recommend them unless you must have major low frequency output from your monitors, where you'd otherwise be using 1x15 commercial wedges. That eliminates about 90% of bar band gigs IMO.

Precisely my thinking. J10s would be easier on my old back...and probaly a lot easier to build.
There are times when my bass guitar is in the monitors so that the other guys can hear me.
But pitch definition is all that matters those situations, not tone quality.

Zack Brock: thanks for the info on the length of Lelands legs. I might buy a few and install them on my current bass cabs and monitors. Would be classier looking than the 2x4s I'm using.

Why not build the wedge8 with the beta8 and the round piezos and then build two more jacks. I would omit the high pass and just leave the low pass for the woofer since (as you pointed out) you do not need good tone for monitoring, just to hear yourself and everyone there. It's slightly smaller than the jacks, has the build in angles, give you exactly what you need from a monitor, it will be really cheap to build, AND you can use all four jacks for PA and still have the monitor for ya'll.

But if the jacks work better, then it's all good

[wcriley]

Last Friday I gigged the Jack10s for the 1st time.
Small room and inadequate space for the band. The two jacks were set up behind us and served as both FOH and monitors. 2 voices, an acousctic giutar and 6-string bass guitar through them.

There were quite a few musicians who came to hear the band. I received MANY inquiries from them about the cabs. (Because they look so unique without grills?)
One bass player was amazed at how good my bass sounded without subs.
Another musician compared them favorably to his $3,300 cabs. (He didn't mention the brand.)
No one could believe I only had $600 invested in the pair.
Everyone in the room, especially my band, thought they sounded great.

Needless to say, I spent a lot of time during breaks writing down "Billfitzmaurice.com" for people!

Here's the pic I promised of the completed cabs:



And here's proof that I've gigged with them: