Tip Me Over The Edge - Henriksen The Bud Six

[rpjazzguitar]

One thing that still puzzles me about the Bud is this.

By all accounts, it's good for voice as well as guitar. And, there are reports that the sound is PA-like. Seems to me that these reports are consistent. If it wasn't PA-like would it be good for voice?

The Blu is different from the Bud in the center frequencies of the 5 band EQ. In the Blu the EQ bands are tighter and don't go as high - maybe because it's not optimized for voice. My impression from what I've read is that the Bud and Blu sound about the same when the EQ pots are all at noon.

This leaves me with a question about comparing the Bud/Blu to a powered speaker with multiband EQ (either contained in the speaker or as an outboard device). I haven't seen anybody post that comparison. But, with a unit like the Bose S1 weighing 14.4 lbs, having the capability of being much louder and costing around $600 less, why not check it out as a possible alternative?

[Woody Sound]

This leaves me with a question about comparing the Bud/Blu to a powered speaker with multiband EQ (either contained in the speaker or as an outboard device). I haven't seen anybody post that comparison. But, with a unit like the Bose S1 weighing 14.4 lbs, having the capability of being much louder and costing around $600 less, why not check it out as a possible alternative?

Well, depending on your pref's, you'd probably have to carry a couple of pedals with the Bose. If you wanted a little more EQ control, some reverb, etc.

"Not that there's anything wrong with that."

[rpjazzguitar]

Well, depending on your pref's, you'd probably have to carry a couple of pedals with the Bose. If you wanted a little more EQ control, some reverb, etc.

"Not that there's anything wrong with that."

There are a lot of small powered speakers. I mentioned the Bose S1 because I've used it. It has reverb. It has two band EQ and a bunch of presets -- but I agree that many players will prefer outboard reverb.

The Everse 8 has 7 band EQ plus parametric EQ, but didn't sound as good, IMO.

I've heard good sound from a small Alto. Not sure which one.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I've heard good sound from a small Alto. Not sure which one.

The 1000W (RMS continuous power) Alto TS4XX series is amazing. They all have an integral 3 channel mixer (one of which is Bluetooth only, IIRC) The 408 (8") is $300, the 410 (10") is $350, and the 412 (12" and an extra 250W) is $400. The 408 is 17 x 10 x 10 and 20 lbs, while the 412 is 24 x 14 x 14 and weighs 30 lbs. If I were going to buy a powered speaker or two for gigging, it'd be one 12 or a pair of 8s (depending on whether the big one fits in my trunk). If you have two, they link wirelessly for stereo.

If I need live sound reinforcement, I'm still using my ancient Samson 8x2 mixer and Alesis RA100 in a small portable rack case, now driving a pair of Toobs. The electronics are getting long in the tooth, but they still sound great. If the mixer or the amp should happen to fail, I'll go to Alto. I always carry a small class D head as a spare, but so far I've never needed it. For jazz, I run my guitar through the same rig and use an SM58 for vocals.

[rpjazzguitar]

The 1000W (RMS continuous power) Alto TS4XX series is amazing. They all have an integral 3 channel mixer (one of which is Bluetooth only, IIRC) The 408 (8") is $300, the 410 (10") is $350, and the 412 (12" and an extra 250W) is $400. The 408 is 17 x 10 x 10 and 20 lbs, while the 412 is 24 x 14 x 14 and weighs 30 lbs. If I were going to buy a powered speaker or two for gigging, it'd be one 12 or a pair of 8s (depending on whether the big one fits in my trunk). If you have two, they link wirelessly for stereo.

If I need live sound reinforcement, I'm still using my ancient Samson 8x2 mixer and Alesis RA100 in a small portable rack case, now driving a pair of Toobs. The electronics are getting long in the tooth, but they still sound great. If the mixer or the amp should happen to fail, I'll go to Alto. I always carry a small class D head as a spare, but so far I've never needed it. For jazz, I run my guitar through the same rig and use an SM58 for vocals.

Do I understand correctly that you can get your sound going archtop>mixer>amp>toobs? Same signal path for both guitar and vocals?

Might you know if the lineout from the Little Jazz will drive the TS408 adequately?

Thanks in advance.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Do I understand correctly that you can get your sound going archtop>mixer>amp>toobs? Same signal path for both guitar and vocals?

Might you know if the lineout from the Little Jazz will drive the TS408 adequately?

Yes - I’ve been playing my archtop through this rig for years (with various other speakers before Toobs came along) when I also need a mic. On duo gigs with bass where performance space was tight, I used to put the rack case on top of my Boogie Thiele 12” cab and run both instruments through it using only one channel. The bass was a bit more solid than it is through Toobs. A pair of Metros is a bit thin for a 5 string bass, but with a good power amp they sound great for archtop and are fine with a 4 string bass added in small venues. The Alesis is a very conservative 50W RMS per channel from 20-20kHz, and it really sounds excellent - clean, full, and musical even without “tube warmth”. In fact, it’s very similar in character to the BAM200 through guitar & bass cabs.

Back when even a “small” bass amp was pretty big, using one amp for bass and guitar freed up valuable space in restaurants etc. But most bass players now have a small rig, eg my regular bass buddy uses a little Phil Jones amp - so space is rarely a problem these days. And I do fine on most gigs with my mixer into the BAM200 driving one or two Toob Metros (BG+ and/or FR II). I have a cheap 150W powered 8”, but the mixer / BAM / Metro FR II combo is louder and sounds better - I use it on our Whole Foods gigs, and that’s a big open space with a very high ceiling. But there I play the guitar through my Blu or the Quilter OD202 through the 10” BlockDock.

The Alto TS4 mixer / preamp has variable sensitivity inputs that will accommodate signals from mic to line level. I haven’t done it myself, but from the specs a LJ should drive it to full output.

[shekie]

One thing that still puzzles me about the Bud is this.

By all accounts, it's good for voice as well as guitar. And, there are reports that the sound is PA-like. Seems to me that these reports are consistent. If it wasn't PA-like would it be good for voice?

This leaves me with a question about comparing the Bud/Blu to a powered speaker with multiband EQ (either contained in the speaker or as an outboard device). I haven't seen anybody post that comparison. But, with a unit like the Bose S1 weighing 14.4 lbs, having the capability of being much louder and costing around $600 less, why not check it out as a possible alternative?

I've owned the Bose S1 pro and currently own the Bud 6, and there was a short period when I owned both before selling off the Bose. On vocals, I found the Bose to be for lack of a better word, murky in the low mids and bass. The female vocalist in my band who's opinion I greatly value (Berklee School of Music grad) much prefers the sound of the Bud 6 on her vocals and I also much prefer it on mine. The sound is clean and detailed without being strident or harsh. We both use condenser mics at performances and the Bud offers 48v phantom power, the Bose does not (a non issue if there is a mixer in the signal chain that offers phantom power).

On hollow body, again my take on the Bose was a lack of detail and definition in the lower mids and bass. The Henriksen is much more detailed and the bass despite the 6.5" speaker sounds natural and detailed. It does help that we have a dedicated bass player in the band so I'm not looking for the Henriksen to produce prodigious bottom end. Being free of that task seems to result in a crystal clear lower midrange.

I also much prefer the simple to use yet very effective 5-band EQ on the Henriksen and find the reverb adequate on both voice and guitar. The Bose has limited controllability on the unit itself and forces use of their Bose Connect App for any additional sound shaping. I much prefer to reach over and adjust a physical knob at a gig than to have to fish around on an app for the desired adjustment while an audience sits and stares..........

[Ukena]

I have everything I need, although I'm thinking of getting a smaller USB-powered mixer like the Mackie Mobile Mix.

But if I were starting over, I would definitely at least look into the Acus OneForStreet line. This looks promising, with battery operation, and 16 lbs, for $799. There is also the OneForStreet 8, with more inputs. I'm very happy, though, with my 12 lb Bud, and I can't argue with the sound I get from it.

[rpjazzguitar]

I've owned the Bose S1 pro and
I also much prefer the simple to use yet very effective 5-band EQ on the Henriksen and find the reverb adequate on both voice and guitar. The Bose has limited controllability on the unit itself and forces use of their Bose Connect App for any additional sound shaping. I much prefer to reach over and adjust a physical knob at a gig than to have to fish around on an app for the desired adjustment while an audience sits and stares..........

Thank you for this take on the Bose vs Henriksen.

I also found the EQ on the Bose to be lacking. It's two band and the upper band is so high that neither my wife nor I could hear any difference. There are several dozen presets which can be accessed through the app, but they are not documented (I called Bose to find out). They may actually be 36 band EQ settings, but that's based on somebody's post on the Internet. I can't imagine trying to adjust the sound on a gig using these presets via the app. This means that, in effect, there is almost no useful EQ. That's not uncommon for a powered speaker though. It just means you need some outboard gear. I was hoping for greater simplicity. On a few gigs I ended up fiddling with my gear all night for want of more detailed EQ.

As far as the sound goes, I thought the S1 sounded great -- on some of the gigs and not others. I heard two other bands use it. One for voice and one for piano and it sounded good -- and in both cases covered a really large space.

And of course, there's the issue of volume. I didn't have the Blu and the S1 at the same time, but my impression is that the S1 has far more volume available. I had to pin the volume control of the Blu for big band. The S1 covered it easily.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

But if I were starting over, I would definitely at least look into the Acus OneForStreet line. This looks promising, with battery operation, and 16 lbs, for $799. There is also the OneForStreet 8, with more inputs. I'm very happy, though, with my 12 lb Bud, and I can't argue with the sound I get from it.

Being a thrifty old curmudgeon, I tend to stay away from the pretty boutique items that cost twice as much as their specs suggest they should. The Acus OneForStreet 8 is 90W. It sells for $1100 USD in that fine wood cabinet. I have to question the wisdom and value of buying it for gigging, when a 10" 1000W RMS biamped Alto is less than half the cost in a much more roadworthy cabinet. For use with a mic and guitar, a Bud isn't much more expensive than an Acus 8, and I suspect (but admittedly don't know for sure because I haven't heard the two in direct comparison) that it sounds better for jazz guitar and at least as good for voice.

The battery power is the only advantage I can see over the Alto TS4s for those who need it. But if you need battery power, the Alto Busker is about the same power and 1/3 the cost of the Acus 8. Further upscale, you can get a JBL Eon One with battery, a decent mixer, and more output power than the Acus for a bit under half the price. I've never heard an Alto Busker, so I can't compare it to the Acus. I did hear 2 Acus OneForStreet units (probably 8s, from the size) being used by buskers in Bath, England last year and they both sounded very good - just not $1100 worth of good to my ears. And the patina of use was not attractive - they wore every knock and scrape they suffered in life on the streets.

[Ukena]

Thanks for the reality check, nevershould. I said I'd look into it... I never said I'd buy one.

Since I'm in a NYC apartment, small size is almost as important as sound and versatility. There is nothing else I've seen that would induce me to replace my Bud.