Jack 12 Review

[GrowlerBox]

Hi all -- I'm new to the site, and not a builder, but have recently received a Jack 12 built by Harley here in NZ; well-known (at least digitally) to you here I imagine. I thought you might be interested in a brief review of the cabinet I posted on our local Bassplayer NZ forum; Bill has been known to post there from time to time.

Anyhow, rather than make you go to the trouble of following a link, I'll reproduce it below. The pictures referred to were taken by Harley -- if he reads this, he may wish to post them here as well ...


Took delivery on Monday evening of a brand spanking new BFM Jack 12 built (and delivered!) by our very own Harley. There are some pictures in the Custom Shop forum of the build and finished product. I had it out at its first gig last night (Meow in Wellington), and thought this would be a good time to provide some early impressions.

First, the build quality is outstanding. -- dare I say even better than the Jack Harley kindly lent me while was making this one. The joins are nicely routed and smooth, solid as sh*t, and the bare metal grille is very cool. The Duratex coating is evenly applied and nice and thick -- I know this because I've already managed to ding one edge and it didn't go through to wood. And unlike carpet, it doesn't quickly take on the appearance of one's pets (sorry about any strays left attached to the loaner, Harley!). The plastic corner protectors are much more practical than metal and add to the utilitarian look of the box. The back plate has 2 speakon connectors and is recessed sufficiently that the 3-way toggle (full-on, off, half-on) for the piezos does not protrude.

I love the sound of this thing. I had absolutely no complaints about the tone from the loaner (as I've mentioned here before), but this is somehow fuller still, with a better bass end, and keeps the very articulate mid-range and crisp highs. My EUB makes quite high demands of a cabinet -- the long scale, combination piezo and magnetic pickups and the 18V pre-amp produce big fundamental tones. This cabinet has the high-end driver (Eminence 3012HO) and some new design tweaks instituted by BFM since the first one was built, and I'm far from expert enough to tell which aspects of the improved low-end response are the result of which changes, but whatever it is, I'm impressed. Harley has done about 2-thirds of the driver break in (thanks again), and assures me that it will continue to improve as it's used. I honestly don't know how, but I'm looking forward to finding out. I like having half the piezos switched in -- just a little more forgiving of technique glitches than the full array!

A number of commentators (especially on Talkbass) have complained about the need to EQ the Jacks, which frankly I've never understood -- why complain when a bass cabinet actually has sufficient clarity that you can tell which frequencies are coming through? I suspect the difficulty lies in the fact that small changes in the EQ dial positions produce immediately noticeable changes in the tone. Even in the less than ideal room last night, changes of only one "notch" (or even less) were required to even things out. My Warwick 211 (with the same Markbass head) needs turns of 60-90 degrees before much changes, which makes it really easy to EQ (i.e. don't bother)!

Anyhow -- enough rambling. Bottom line -- a fascinating and effective design, well put together, for significantly less money than the boutique cabs with which it competes. Even less if you have the time, equipment, and spare fingers to put it together yourself. As I've said before, Harley's very easy to get along with, does what he says he'll do when he says he'll do it (or before), and is generous with his time and kit. Cheers.

[Harley]

[GrowlerBox]

I'm just home from a gig -- short set, pretty big crowd. I was asked by the manager whether I wouldn't mind just plugging my Steinberger EUB into the rig that was already on stage, an EA iAMP 500 with what looked like an EA 112 (?Wizzy), and from there into the PA. I'd dragged my stuff in, but what the hell, a chance to try another rig.

I won't be doing that again. I honestly couldn't tell you what I sounded like, I could barely hear myself. The EA amps get a lotta love and I'm sure they deserve it, but I just felt flat -- no volume, no dynamics, no warmth, nada. I couldn't get into it, completely the opposite feeling I had at the last gig with my F1 through the Jack. Fortunately, it appears that the FOH got it right for the crowd, and they believed we were into it, so all good. Also, management wants us back for a bigger (better paid) gig, so perhaps compliance pays sometimes.

Anyhow, perhaps not a fair comparison, but another cabinet trashed by Ol' Jack!

[Robby Hoinsky]

great review, what kind of music are ya'll playing?
The off/1/2/full switch is a pretty good idea too, gives you the option to use as a pa if needed. what 1/2 do they cut off?

Robby

[Frederic Gelinas]

great review, what kind of music are ya'll playing?
The off/1/2/full switch is a pretty good idea too, gives you the option to use as a pa if needed. what 1/2 do they cut off?
Robby

Don't know what Harley did, but I suppose it's the bottom ones. That's what I'd do.

[GrowlerBox]

great review, what kind of music are ya'll playing?
The off/1/2/full switch is a pretty good idea too, gives you the option to use as a pa if needed. what 1/2 do they cut off?

Robby

Thanks

One of the guys describes our music as "suburban sadcore" ( ), but probably alt-country comes closest -- me and 2 acoustic guitars, but we are looking to have semi-regular "guests" on various instruments. We only do our own stuff, so I can't provide any specific examples you'd know.

It appears (from listening to the hiss from the amp) that the top half of the piezo array is switched out. I'm looking at various options for a tiltback stand, so I'm not sure how much difference it makes. Of course, it just occurred to me that it's only the top half because I have the cabinet that way up -- aside from the way the spring-loaded handle points, there's nothing to differentiate top from bottom. The "feet" are the corner protectors. Any opinions before I flip the sucker on its "head"?

[Harley]

Don't know what Harley did, but I suppose it's the bottom ones. .

Centre postion - all piezos off
Right position - 8 piezos working
Left position - all 16 piezos working.

[GrowlerBox]

Don't know what Harley did, but I suppose it's the bottom ones. .

Centre postion - all piezos off
Right position - 8 piezos working
Left position - all 16 piezos working.

Hey Harley!

Can you confirm that it's the bottom 8 piezos working with the switch in the right position? I have it the same way up as you have in the photograph.

Have a good Christmas, and hope the weather's better in AKL than WLG!

Cheers

[Harley]

Can you confirm that it's the bottom 8 piezos working with the switch in the right position?

Good grief, I can't remember which 1/2 was wired as "the half". I never gave it a thought as to whether I should have the bottom or top operating as "the half".

The handle direction was just how I screwed it on at the time.

So you'll have to play it to find out. The way the cabinet is constructed, if you require the "bottom ones" to be the 'the half" and the handle is facing the wrong way - turn the handle around

If you want the handle on the other side....that's another matter

[Mikey]

It appears (from listening to the hiss from the amp) that the top half of the piezo array is switched out ... Any opinions before I flip the sucker on its "head"?

Instead of switching half of the piezos off, try leaving them all on and adjusting down the highs a bit on your EQ to compensate. You'll be able to get about the same sound (as with only half the piezos), but less of that danged hiss.

[GrowlerBox]

Good grief, I can't remember which 1/2 was wired as "the half". I never gave it a thought as to whether I should have the bottom or top operating as "the half".

The handle direction was just how I screwed it on at the time.

So you'll have to play it to find out. The way the cabinet is constructed, if you require the "bottom ones" to be the 'the half" and the handle is facing the wrong way - turn the handle around

If you want the handle on the other side....that's another matter

That's cool -- it hadn't even occurred to me that it might be an issue until it was raised here . While I suppose the frequencies handled by the piezos are the "most" directional ones, if the cabinet's raised or tipped back, I can't see the few inches involved making much difference.

For Mikey -- as to the hiss, it's not a problem, it merely allowed me to determine which piezos were operating. Thanks for the thought, though.

To the believers amongst you, have a good Christmas. To my fellow atheists, have a day and enjoy the quiet. Or maybe fill it with something!

[SeisTres]

To the believers amongst you, have a good Christmas. To my fellow atheists, have a day and enjoy the quiet. Or maybe fill it with something!

Might be an atheist (agnostic, really) but I'll be damned if I don't celebrate christmas. The little lights, the tree, the gifts, the decorations, the music, the food, and the family gatherings are WAY too much fun to pass up. Christmas FTW!

So for anyone that doesn't celebrate it, I guess you can just call it something else and still join the celebrations

Happy holidays everyone!

[LelandCrooks]

Happy Saturnalia!! Merry Solstice! Too many too mention.

Merry Christmas!!!

[Bruce Weldy]

she emphatically says "Santa's not real. My Mommy and Daddy give me all my presents cause they love me!"

She also got into an argument with a 10 year old cousin about whether Santa was real or not. Twas quite funny.

Liar!!!!! Santa is to real! Isn't he? sniff....sniff.....WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

[BrentEvans]

she emphatically says "Santa's not real. My Mommy and Daddy give me all my presents cause they love me!"

She also got into an argument with a 10 year old cousin about whether Santa was real or not. Twas quite funny.

Liar!!!!! Santa is to real! Isn't he? sniff....sniff.....WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

That's exactly the conversation I had with my parents and the one I want to avoid.