[1/15/2008]
After
spending more time with the Speakeasy FlatPack, I’ve got to say
it was a while in coming but THIS is what we’ve (at least me anyway)
have been jonesing for in a lightweight but killer sounding leslie
alternative. At 250 watts, it’s got a ton of headroom for all but the
most seriously damaged rock bands (which is why have the Speakeasy RB3C
with an extra horn box!!!), and with the preamp built in, requires
nothing but an instrument cable in. It doesn’t get any easier than
that, and it is definitely louder than my RB3.
The RB3 has
great low end, but this FlatPack is actually tighter. I
know Steve & Co went to some lengths to tune this small bass box,
and they’ve done a great job. The low end is big, round, and just like
using a sub on your rig, actually does a little magic on the midrange
as well.
The FlatPack
has Speakeasy’s own horn, and while it’s a slight
departure from the round plastic horn, the Speakeasy horn sounds
better. It’s definitely smoother, and while I hate to keep going back
to that “warm and round” phrase, frankly it is.
When I A/B
this with my RB3, the first thing I notice is much more
integrated the highs and lows are. When I went to the single rotor
design with the RB3 for gigging, I never felt like I was missing
anything as far as “that leslie sound”; the low end sits very well in
the mix, and you hear the upper rotor just fine. I’ve gigged with that
for a year and been very happy, so much so that I had sold my 3 leslies
after getting my RB3 as I had sold my full-size van and no longer had a
vehicle that could haul them…gas prices had pissed me off THAT much.
But after getting my RB3C, and playing a lot at home by myself, I of
course fell in love with the dual rotor sound. Because of its size and
power, I only took the RB3C out to a handful of gigs: 1000 watts is a
lot of power, and I save it for either the really loud knucklehead band
I play with, or really cool high-profile shows with big stages. When
switching back and forth between the RB3 and RB3C, I realized there was
a big difference in sound; the dual rotors played a part, but what
really
struck me was the way the horn worked in the RB3. In context it sounded
fine, but sometimes solo at home, I felt that the horn was too fast, or
leaving it on fast was bugging me a little bit. Well, the FlatPack
showed me the answer: the steel Speakeasy Horn actually seems to take
some of the low end burden, or at least sounds that way, because
everything has a deeper smooth quality coming out of it. That horn
design combined with the tuning of the bass cabinet really does a
better job of integrating the total sound and eradicating that boundary
line of “this is coming out of the horn, and that is coming out of the
bottom”. In theory, the RB3 and FlatPack shouldn’t sound that different
from each other, but they do; the FlatPack sound has more in common
with the RB3C than the RB3. I much prefer the sound of the Speakeasy
horn to the traditional leslie plastic horn. (gasp!) As a result, even
the fast tremolo sounds better on the FlatPack. Both my RB3 and
FlatPack
have the same preamp installed, but obviously the horns and power amps
are different. (My RB3 has the 60watt tube amp.) I’m sure that has some
effect, but the bottom line is, I prefer the FlatPack. The whole
package just sounds more “right”, and when A/B’d against my
RB3Convertible, doesn’t sound like a compromise. It just feels easier
to move!
Playing it
as a stand-alone is great: my Electro is full and robust,
even with its notoriously weak output. Plugging my XK1 into it garnered
even better results because of its hotter output, and in my opinion,
much stronger and detailed midrange (where all the magic happens!).
Getting that Jimmy Smith sound is a breeze, and 8888888888 is big and
strong. But when I played the FlatPack with the AMA, that was an eye
opener. Everything had more clarity, especially the upper mids and
highs. It was interesting bouncing back and forth between the AMA and
the preamp. Both sounded great, but it was like the visual equivalent
of cleaning your glasses! I found myself playing for another hour just
comparing registrations with and without the AMA. A lot of fun!
I took it to
a jam party late Saturday nite (no AMA). It’s easier to
move than the RB3 even though it’s 2 pieces instead of one. Obviously
the weight reduction is key; but splitting the box up means you also
have an easier time getting in and out of your vehicle. I have a
mini-SUV and have no problem getting my RB3 (or Convertible) in, but I
lose the view out of my back window and most of my rear side windows.
Using the FlatPack I no longer had obstructed view of any of my
windows. I had my Motif 8, XK1, Speakeasy FlatPack, Yorkville 300K, 2
pedal cases (one with cables) and keyboard stand, and I had total
peripheral vision! I could see out of all my windows! My first car was
a ’75 Maverick, and I couldn’t have gotten any kind of leslie in that
vehicle. I used to cram my Suitcase Rhodes in there; keyboard in the
trunk, and speaker half in the back seat. I could have easily gotten
the FlatPack in the back seat OR the trunk.
Bottom line:
down and dirty, wanna get in and get out? This is the
ultimate gigging organ rig: tons of power, tons of tone, and in a very
lightweight and compact package, one instrument cable in, one connector
cable and plug in the AC cord, and you’re on Go! You’ll be in and out
faster than the singer…well, the guitarist for sure!
T[Tony Orant]