Two Jack 110 by anchakaudioworks.com

[PolecatJR]

I attempted to build my own Jack 110 last summer. Didn't really nail it. Didn't have the tools, feel for it or the time. Plus to be honest I'm a bit paranoid about my fingers and losing them. So I contacted Ron at anchakaudioworks.com and had him build me two Jack 110s.

One of the gigs I do is Disneyland on the Tomorrowland stage. It's the stage that uses an elevator to come up. I am usually using an Ampeg 610 and try out several different amps including a MarkBass LK 2, Ashdown MK500, Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12.0 and an old 1 1/2 space Demeter VTBP-201DBL bass pre with QSC PLX 1804. Mostly I use the Genz Benz. However, last week I bought out the two Jack 110s and the Demeter and QSC rig. Sounded really good. Thick, punchy and warm. First time I've really pushed the little cabinets and it was more than loud enough. I only used one side of the amp at a 4ohm load. That can be a loud stage depending on the band I'm with. The Antix, who I was with last Friday, is not too loud but the Jacks were more than enough to give me the presence I needed for that stage.

I'll be testing the Jacks out on a wedding this weekend and then a pretty loud bar gig next. Probably still go with the Demeter rig or maybe the Genz Benz. I didn't really care for the Markbass or Ashdown sound out of these cabs as much. Might just take more eq to dial those amps into a tone I like out of the Jacks.

I also had Ron put in a Top Hat into both the cabs so I can use them for a small PA if needed.

So I wanted to just give Ron over at anchakaudioworks.com a little praise here as well. If you would rather have someone build a cab for you, Ron is a good guy to go with. He may not always get back to you right away because he is usually working his butt off in the shop. But he always gets back within a day or two tops. Easy to work with and I thought gave me a good price. I recommend calling him.

Thanks,
JR
Update: Fixed the link. Try this one.
http://www.jamesrubel.com/bill-fitzmaur ... -speakers/

[mustang guy]

That is a dead link to the image. Here is a link to anachak's Jack build pics:

http://www.anchakaudioworks.com/FinishedCabs.html

[PolecatJR]

I used them on a wedding gig last night with a 7 piece band. I was a little too close to the rig. I like to be further away. I am still taken back by how loud I thought they were. I asked the singers in front if they thought I was too loud and they said no. Wish I could get out front a bit more. Disney is about the best place for that. Using them there again on Oct. 8th and hope to try out some video. However, things don't always sound so good there. That gig isn't so much about that as it is about acting silly to entertain little kids.

[bzb]

Pretty cool stuff. I'd love to do Disney gigs, but I just can't bring myself to be the cheeseball entertainer.

I'm always amazed at the engineering that goes into Disney's big productions. The delay system is insanity to me... how you can walk anywhere while the parades are going on, and you don't hear echo effects, and the different sections are all playing the accurate bits of the music based on the characters going by...

The most impressive system to me is the one they setup for the Osborne Family Christmas attraction at Hollywood Studios. It's jaw dropping still, and I've seen it a half dozen times.

What kind of entertainment do you do at Tomorrowland? Seems... "Yesterdayland" that a bassist would be on a Tomorrowland stage

[PolecatJR]

I get asked about Disney a lot because it does have a certain allure to it if you haven't done it before. I'll give a basic run down before I go back to the Jacks...

It is completely cheesy but also maybe my last stab at the "big rock show." I ain't getting any younger and probably only got a short time left there so I do a fair amount of cheese. I don't care about the cheese factor so much anymore if the band had got good players/entertainers. No other gig I have is like it. It is still fun to leap around like a jackass and hey, I'm getting paid to honk around. No gig lasts forever so I'll do it until they ask me to leave.

The bands that seem to do better there usually have at least one performer who is over the top theatrically. Musical theater people are well received because they end up being so dramatic. Management loves that. Most of the other musicians hate it. However, I can't tell you how many times I've heard from management to, "Be more animated!" Also, after every show several people write up reports on the evening. They evaluate the band as part of the report every time we play. How entertaining we were. Crowd interaction, dress, singing and playing ability, attitude, etc. We are also at the mercy of the sound techs there, which can go south fast. However, they get reported on too. It is very corporate and trippy to work for. Pay is better than bars and the sets are 30-30-40- dinner break -40-30. Easy although I have to be there at 5:00 and first set it 7:00. Longish day.

Some sound techs are great there. Those mostly get put on the bigger shows. We only get them at Tomorrowland when they are available.

You are correct... Tomorrowland is also yesterdayland at this point. Been talk about re-doing it completely. Takes a while for that to happen. I will probably lose my gig when it goes down. Oh well.

I play in one band called "Tomasina." Mainly a girl singer doing lots of guy tunes. One male guitar sings a fair amount too. That band plays the most heavy rock stuff I've ever seen allowed on that stage. Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Zeppelin, Kiss, the Who, etc. Some "skip and wave stuff" Pop stuff as well. Blondie, Gaga, Heart, Black-eye-peas, etc. The only reason that band is there is because of the girl lead singer. She is pretty interesting to watch.

Other two bands are owned by one agent and are pretty much the same band. The Antix and Stellar. They do more Pop stuff and both come loaded with 2 female singers. Gaga, Katy Perry, BEP, Blondie, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, etc. More new stuff than the other band. Everyone sings a song a set in those bands.

The interesting thing about Disney is you'd think they might supply a good backline being that they are a big company and sponsor supported. Not true. The drums are decent with the most active sponsor of Yamaha. The Aviom in ear monitor system is nice when it works. The guitar amps are old solid state Fender twins. The bass stuff is a hodgepodge of old crap. One old SWR head that I don't even know what it is. A SWR 1x15" and a SWR 2x10" that both distort so quickly they are worthless. They also have an older Hartke 4x10" but not the aluminum cones. And an old Gallien Krueger 410 that doesn't work very well.

I always bring my own gear hence my interest in the BFM speakers and something with a bit smaller footprint if possible. I've been searching for something easier to move but still deliver a sound that carried punch further out. I haven't ever gotten behind the 1x12" sound so I didn't go for Jack 112s. Too middy and I've sold off all 12s I've ever bought. Like the sound of 10s for some reason. I wanted something that was still good for small weddings too but not so big as to scare folks. So hence the Jack 110s.

Another note at Disney is that I rely a lot on the in ear monitors since I can't hear anything once I'm on the other side of the stage. It is very easy to lose the drums once I'm far away. Using in ears I can stay locked in and also I run click and tracks in there as well as vocals. Just a touch of all those to keep me intact.

[on1sony]

http://www.anchakaudioworks.com
is RON still around? Looking to get some speakers made in southern california.

[Bas Gooiker]

http://www.anchakaudioworks.com
is RON still around? Looking to get some speakers made in southern california.

I don't remember him posting on the forum lately. He is also not on the authorised builders page.

Ian Westwood (Speakeressentials.com) in Apple Valley is the autorised builder for California.

[LelandCrooks]

Ron has retired from cabs. His other biz took off doing custom motorcycle machining.