Thunderchild hits the streets; online comments

Duke · « **on:** 2 Oct 2010, 05:41 am »

My first "Thunderchild" bass cab reached its new owner today, and he started a thread on a bass guitar forum and posted some comments and a few pics. Note in particular his comments about the crossover, and absence of characteristic horn sound:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=699355

And thus my little company steps into a new era, one in which I get to be vicariously involved in the creation of live music. This is very exciting to me.

While Thunderchild uses a less expensive compression driver than my home audio speakers, the general crossover topology and approach is similar. I think my background in high-end home audio is my secret weapon.

By the way, I can install a set of home audio type input terminals on the back, in case anyone wants a pair of chunky stand-mount speakers that they can also gig with!

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Oct 2010, 06:55 am »

Congratulations, Duke!

If I were a bass player I'd be all over this - as it is I forwarded the info to a couple of very good bassists I know.

It's nice to think that competent design practices are being used in "pro" gear. I don't think this is always the case.

Duke · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Oct 2010, 04:28 pm »

Thank you very much, Russell!

Yeah for years I've been hearing people say that "musicians don't care about sound quality", or "musicians don't care about speakers". I think they care more about their instrument, but most who play amplified instruments have never heard their instrument sound really good because of the prosound speakers they've been exposed to. Interestingly a lot of bass players say the best they've ever sounded was through a really good PA system, and what I'm trying to do is basically market a little bitty PA speaker that has been tailored to bass guitar.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Oct 2010, 04:39 pm »

Yes - my experience is that they think they don't care about sound quality until they have the opportunity to hear themselves through something better and then hear all the subtle tonal nuances that were missing. I don't know of any musicians who don't care about how they sound; they just don't realize how big a part the speaker and cabinet (and amp) play in this.

Passinwind · « **Reply #4 on:** 3 Oct 2010, 05:01 pm »

Congratulations on getting your first bass cab to market Duke! I really look forward to hearing the well considered refinements you've added to the prototype I played through a few months ago.

jtwrace · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Oct 2010, 05:56 pm »

As a bass player, very nice! I wish I was good enough to deserve one though.

Brett · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Oct 2010, 12:55 am »

Looks sweet Duke, and I bet it sounds great. It's something very like what I'd be using myself if I were still playing, but maybe with a 15 or two (actively) crossed in under it.

All the best for success with this.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Oct 2010, 03:45 am »

Good luck Duke....

I like photos.....

....

Duke · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Oct 2010, 08:05 pm »

There's a Youtube clip up, and the sound quality is good enough to convey what the cab sounds like:

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/a/u/0/WAsfEmsTX4M

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Oct 2010, 08:16 pm »

Quote from: Duke on 4 Oct 2010, 08:05 pm

There's a Youtube clip up, and the sound quality is good enough to convey what the cab sounds like:

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/a/u/0/WAsfEmsTX4M

Nice tone Duke !!

Duke · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Oct 2010, 09:14 pm »

Thank you, Chris!

Here's another:

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/a/u/0/0WOhxSFoiB4

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Oct 2010, 09:25 pm »

What's nice about it....good tone, and compact size.

The roadie's will love you....

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Oct 2010, 05:57 am »

Duke,

Is there a specific page you could link to where I could send the three people I know who have expressed interest in these speakers?

Do you have a recommendation for a head of appropriate power and quality?

thanks, Russell

Duke · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Oct 2010, 08:23 am »

Hi Russell,

I don't have much up on my website yet. For specs and pricing and such, see the bottom of the first post in this thread:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=80644.0

Then there are two threads on TalkBass:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=699355

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9828979#post9828979

And three YouTube video clips:

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/a/u/0/WAsfEmsTX4M

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/a/u/0/0WOhxSFoiB4

http://www.youtube.com/Kjungbass#p/a/u/1/o57LsHioB4c

Finally, they can call or e-mail me. 208-852-2610, and audiokinesis at yahoo dot com.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 06:00 pm »

Thanks, Duke, I have forwarded a link to this thread to some interested friends.
Do you have any comments on outstanding heads that would do justice to this cabinet?

Passinwind · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Nov 2010, 04:25 pm »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 24 Oct 2010, 05:57 am

Duke,

Is there a specific page you could link to where I could send the three people I know who have expressed interest in these speakers?

Do you have a recommendation for a head of appropriate power and quality?

We had another Talkbass get-together yesterday, in the Columbia Gorge area this time. Lee Barker http://www.barkerbass.com/ brought along his brand new Thunderchild cab and we tried quite a few amps with it. The Acoustic Image Clarus was probably my favorite of the bunch, as far as the commercially available ones. Very warm and organic sounding, and also quite powerful at 4 ohms and very small and light. The even tinier new Gallien-Krueger Class D heads seem to be a very nice match as well. If cost is no object, the Tec Amp Puma, Hevos, or Walter Woods amps would all be strong contenders, IMHO.

Duke's little cab has now generated over 21,000 hits at Talkbass. Very impressive!

jtwrace · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Nov 2010, 04:35 pm »

Quote from: Passinwind on 15 Nov 2010, 04:25 pm

Dukes little cab has now generated over 21,000 hits at Talkbass. Very impressive!

I hope that Duke has sold a bunch more of these. He's a great guy in audio.

alan m. kafton · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Nov 2010, 07:12 pm »

Dukester....you deserve all the success in the world. This product may just be the breakthrough you need. You are the "tonemeister".

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Nov 2010, 07:28 pm »

Thanks for the tips, Charlie. Given budget constraints, the Gallien-Krueger MB500 is where we'll be looking first.

Duke · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Mar 2011, 12:02 am »

Couple of updates...

Thunderchild is now manufactured using Italian Poplar plywood, which reduces the weight to 31 pounds.

Recently added to the lineup is a new "acoustic-friendly" version featuring a rear-firing tweeter that complements the front-firing horn. The tonal balance is similar all around the cab, but the SPL is loudest out in front. This feature bumps the weight back up a bit, to 33 pounds. Introductory price is for adding on the rear-firing tweeter is $120 extra.

Here are some online comments by my first acoustic-friendly customer.