garnermike

I starting this SpaceStation thread back in June 2014. Nice to see it still occasionally fielding questions, getting reactions, etc. I have recently gone in a new direction to assist with the low frequency sound output when using the v.3, and it's working out very well. Thought I'd share. I purchased a Turbosound IP300. See at http://www.musictribe.com/Categories/Turbosound/Loudspeaker-Systems/Portable/iP300/p/P0CCH It's available at most music outlets for $399. It's only 26 lbs, so it's easy on my 70-year-old back. 600 watts, two channels, with surprisingly big low end. What's neat is that you can run a stereo keyboard's left and right out-channels into the IP300's two channels first, and then cable them both over to the two v.3 inputs. OR, if you're short on set-up time (or lazy), you can run your keyboard to the v.3 first and simply connect it up to the IP300 via a cable from the v.3's sub out. There is slightly better stereo effect by running things the first way I describe, but only a very discerning ear can really tell.

Garnermike here. I began this incredibly long SSv3 thread back in June 2014. I don't follow it very religiously anymore, but a few posts I read recently prompt me to offer these comments: -I use the SSv3 about half as often as I used to. Totally depends on the venue. If the room is one big open space or outside, I don't use it. Instead, I'll use two PA speakers (one for each kb channel). If the room is smaller with partitions/turns, I'll use the SSv3 connected (via the sub out) to either a 12" PA speaker or a 12" kb amp. Like most folks on this thread, I do this to capture/throw frequencies lower than the SSv3 can handle and to have the kb's sound seemingly "turn corners.". -I never use the SSv3 alone. My band requires the keys to project solid lows. -I have used the SSv3 with the side speaker (1) facing me; (2) facing away from me; (3) facing up to the ceiling; and (4) facing down onto a hard floor. I realize it's all "to each, his own," but I don't hear any substantive differences among any of these set-ups. And, as far as I can determine, the audience in various areas of my venues can't either. -I'd love to own the newer bigger version of Aspen's brainchild (such that hauling and connecting two amps would not be necessary), but 64 lbs and $1100 make the bigger unit a no-go for me. -Have used balanced and unbalanced cables in using/connecting the SSv3, and just cannot detect any advantage to using one type over the other. -the one clear advantage I hear in using the SSv3 over other amp set-ups is being able to project a keen high-frequency tone/voice that other amps can't deliver. Playing a lot of reggae and rockabilly, one of the SK1 patches that I created and use a lot is a harpsichord or 12-string guitar "extra voice" layered over a B3 organ voice. The SSv3 does a superior job in projecting a sharp, cutting, stringy guitar-like sound in that layered-on voice.

I am with you 100%. I have never regretted buying my v.3 (nor did I regret buying the v.2 years before that). I've used either a v.2 or v.3 since 2010 in over 600 gigs, and on the two occasions I couldn't use it during that time, was totally disappointed in my sound. The only keyboardist I personally knew who didn't like it and returned it, was one who felt it didn't provide clarity on the low-end frequencies, and I think didn't want to run a second amp to address that.

Hey, Dave. If you go back to the original post that started this thread (Page #1, June 2014), you see that it was mine. I haven't been on KC for a long time (long story). Anyway, I just saw that you had to ban Aspen. That's too bad. But rules are rules. Just wanted to reinforce your comment that Aspen is "easy to find." He certainly is, and I have always found him accessible via direct email and phone calls. Thanks for moderating this site, and also for contributing to this humungous SpaceStation thread! Garnermike

Well we just got this upgrade kit going recently so I guess we've sold maybe 5 total MK2 upgrade kits so far. I think they have all been the full C kit w/ 3 main drivers replaced and the 2 L-pads....everyone seemed very happy. But this is really for the DIY crowd, it's not for everybody. Also not something I am doing as a "business model", so I am not really "pushing it". It's just available to those who have an interest in modernizing their CPS amp with our new custom made drivers without having to buy a new SS3. Also, I believe it is my personal responsibility to support a former Groove Tubes or current Aspen Pittman Designs customer as long as I draw breath, and no matter how long ago they purchased my design. To your question of "how many" MK2 amps, I am really not sure. Unfortunately, all my production journals went to Fender when I sold GT back in '08. I recall we did 2 or 3 runs of 100 amps, then one last run up to 200. So, maybe 500 tops. That last run went to Fender and mostly arrived after the sale. Since they had no plans to continue with the Spacestation, these were blown out below cost...I think many here may have bought them as low as $200 in that close out sale. So, spending another $200 to upgrade these older MK2 amps to a SS3 component level is actually not a bad deal in the end. Of course that bad ending for the MK2 put a marketing challenge on me when I reintroduced the v.3, even 7 years later. But because of my single US dealer partner business model and no marketing expense (I am APD's only employee, and we do not advertise!), that keeps the street price much lower and gives a better value to the customer. The good news is; the new Spacestation is doing VERY well. It is one of the best selling KB ever at Sweetwater (my only dealer outlet in the US, other than our website), and I am happy to report that we've made far more SS3 amps already in just these 12 months since it's release by many times than we ever sold MK2 amps. Then also as you have witnessed, this mega thread here recently passing the "Million Views" threshold with 100s of positive gig reports from my early adopters here (THANK YOU ALL!) is really unprecedented for any amp, much less a keyboard amp! Without today's web based forums like this, and my extremely cool dealer partners like Chuck Surack over at Sweetwater here in the US, and Hans Thomann from Thomann Music Haus in Germany who supplies all of Europe direct, and at comparable prices to our US MAP, this CPS "little big" amp would never have been. So I am am more than happy, and very grateful this Christmas season. Many thanks again to all my SS3 user and dealer partners! I appreciated your post on this, Aspen, for two reasons. First, I started this SS3 thread back in June of 2014, and it's nice to see that it has become one of the longest threads ever. Second, I based that post (and many of my other thread posts) on my good experiences with a MKII. I bought that MKII from Sweetwater for a discount price of $299 around Thanksgiving of 2011 (the last run of MKIIs sold?). As for the SS3 I bought, it's now over 100 gigs old. Nary a single complaint from me, and lots of compliments from listeners. I always use it with either a Motion Sound K-12 kb amp (100w, 12 inch woofer), or a Fender Rumble 100 combo bass amp (100w, 12 inch woofer) linked via the subwoof jack---just to get a little more lower end. All good!

My SK1 was purchased in July 2011, and it now has over 400 gigs on it. Once, in 2013 (at about 200 gigs), a screw fell out of the bottom. I fortunately found it and screwed it back in. I also noticed that quite a few of the screws on the SK1 were not tight. So every 6 months or so, I tighten them all up.

I just never got ground hum from my SS2 or SS3. Now, my Motion Sound amps are a different story!

And I spent about $15 in Velcro, presentation board, and chair leg pads and did this: https://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2684211/Re_Head_s_up_SpaceStation_keyb#Post2684211 Over 350 gigs (with the SS2 and SS3), NO DIAL DAMAGE. And my vehicle is crammed every gig. Yes, it doesn't protect the other surfaces of the SS3, but I don't care about that.

DanL: I have used that little amp stand, but found that regardless of whether the SS is laid horizontally or vertically on it, the bars of the stand tend to get in the way of making easy dial adjustments. I have use this one... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/gator-combo-amp-stand?rNtt=gator amp stand&index=3 ...which is OK but doesn't give you a very forward facing "lean" before it destabilizes. It does fold very flat and is light however. I have also used this one.... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/musicians-gear-deluxe-amp-stand ...but it really disallows positioning the SS vertically, and it's just a bigger stand all around.. I am now using this one..... http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RS7500?adpos=1o3&creative=55281441601&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CMK6g4aS0cYCFZKRHwodQ4UJVQ and prefer it. Accommodates using the SS vertically or on its side; gets the amp about 8 inches off the floor; folds very compactly; is lightweight; and is relatively cheap ($29).

"The sound, footprint & weight of the SS just makes it a no brainer to me. Sk1 + SS = ~55lbs of pure playing pleasure. I feel very mobile these days, toss them in the car at a moments notice & roll." Doug, this has been my very same thinking for going on 5 years now, first using the SSv.2 and now the SSv.3 with my SK1. At 65 years old and with a bad back, I find this gear tandem to be a gig-saver. That the SS has reduced lugging size and weight while IMPROVING my SK1's sound is a pure win-win.

Hardware: LOL. It looks like half the venues/stages we play on, and the gear set-up ("crawling over each other")very similar to ours too. Love having the SS in these settings, as it helps to reduce my own footprint.

Short of a band member who complains about being in the line of fire from the side speaker, there's no difference (that I can detect) in using the SS with the side speaker facing up, facing down, or in its normal side-throwing position. Yes, a hard floor helps if it's facing down, and low-ceiling hurts if it's facing up.

Yes, I agree. I had/used a Traynor K1, and then, later, two K1s, which I linked in Traynor's proprietary stereo mode. Even though I owned a SSv.2 at the time, I was still looking to see if the K1s could give me true stereo definition. They couldn't and didn't. The SSv.2 out-did them in stereo effect. I sold them both, returning to using the SSv.2 exclusively. I later tried the Motion Sound Stereo 500sn, but it too didn't measure up in stereo effect to the SS (even though the 500sn had so-called stereo-expander capability). I returned that 500sn, and upgraded to the SSv.3, which is much improved over the v.2....

By now, steady readers of this >100-page novel know that I am an unabashed true-believer in Aspen's technology. But I just had to post that I am still in after-glow--yes, even after several hundred gigs using either the v.2 or v.3--from yesterday's gig experience. Average sized venue, with 3' riser wood stage, high ceiling and FOH sound support and techie provided. I always keep my set-up for these sorts of gigs/venues consistent and simply. Cables from my SK1 into the v.3 then sub-out to my support amp (Promethean P3115 bass combo) then DI out of the back of that to FOH. Call me crazy but I prefer putting the v.3 on one side of me and the bass amp to the other side, both of them set about 4 feet behind me. I just like the way both my ears get engaged. I also asked the techie to put the keys in my monitor with the EQ at middling amounts for high and mid frequencies, and tad more for low frequency. I thought I was sounding really good and was smiling all night long. After the gig, the sound guy says to me "I am not sure what you were doing, what your gear is about, or even exactly what we were running through to the house system, but just gotta tell you that I haven't had keys, especially Leslie-less organ sounds, sound that full or project that clearly ever before." Then he asked me to walk him through my gear and connections.

As I have said before, based on using either the SS v.2 or v.3 at hundreds of gigs now, it takes a bit of a "leap of faith" if you are going to like and appreciate the SSv.3. When you are sitting at your keys and sending sound through the v.3, you can't really hear what the audience in the room is hearing/experiencing. But I do know (believe) from all the audience and musician feedback I've ever gotten, and also from having others play my keys while I walked around venue confines, that the audience's audio experience is better, fuller and more embracing with the v.3.