Acoustic B450

Axel15810 · #1 11-29-2011, 04:23 AM

Hi all. I'm an intermediate level bass player, I've been playing for a few years and am doing my first major upgrade, starting with a new amp. I'm looking for some advice. Right now I'm playing a Yamaha RBX 170 through a Thunderbird BX108 amp (terrible choice for a starter amp in hindsight). I also use a Zoom b2.1u for effects. I'm going to start jamming with some friends soon and I need to up my wattage.

At first I really liked the acoustic b200 but after seeing that the b450 is only $50 more on musician's friend and music123 right now I'm definitely leaning towards the b450. I've done a lot of research about this amp and I'm liking what I've seen. I've done a search on talkbass and have read all relevant posts but I have one more question.

How does this thing sound with effects? I really like to use distortion and other effects in my playing. Is the brand just acoustic or is this an amp made for only a clean sound? My friends and I will be playing heavy metal/ hard rock. Also any other advice on upgrading my gear would be really helpful. Thanks!

I really wish I could just go and play this thing at a store but I live in WV and theres no major music stores anywhere near me

I've also looked at the GK MB amps but weight isn't a huge issue for me and it looks like you get more with the acoustics for the price.

oldcatfish · #2 11-29-2011, 07:24 AM

I haven't played the B450 head, but I play the B200 combo a couple of times a month at a church that I play at. The Acoustic name is just the brand---if anything, the amp has a difficult time getting perfectly clean...it has a natural sounding overdrive. It sounds very good as a hard rock type of amp. With enough tweaking of the amp's generous EQ, you can get a very good tone on it's own. Personally, I set all of the eq controls to 12:00, and use my Zoom B2 with the ampeg, sansamp, or tube-pre models with a 50/50 blend--I think that it sounds even better, and gives me several switchable tones.

The Acoustic is a good amp, but don't underestimate GK. They have a great tone too, just very different. Have you looked into the GK 700RB amps? They would also be a great choice. There are a lot of good amps available that would work well with your Zoom. Also, you might consider going the power amp to cab thing--using your Zoom as the primary sound.

Not trying to steer you away from Acoustic, but just trying to give options.

Ibanez Bassist · #3 11-29-2011, 07:48 AM

I personally think the Acoustic line is some great stuff, I use a B200 with a Behringer V-Amp Pro Mod. and I create some pretty interesting sounds, I know the Behringer Mod. is a cheap piece but the options it gives me for what I paid I think is pretty cool, anyway keeping everything in sort of a neutral position on the amp and using the Behringer works for me, I actually use it with my other amps as well..

**Old Joe** · #4 11-29-2011, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

...The Acoustic name is just the brand---if anything, the amp has a difficult time getting perfectly clean...it has a natural sounding overdrive. It sounds very good as a hard rock type of amp. With enough tweaking of the amp's generous EQ, you can get a very good tone on it's own....

I agree. I love this amp. But for using effects I'd rather have a really clean (some would say sterile) sounding amp.

The B450 can get a great sound on its own.

Axel15810 · #5 11-29-2011, 03:39 PM

Thanks for the advice all. I'm definitely am not look past GK's stuff but with the acoustic b450 offering 450 watts for just $350 it is tough to pass up! I am wondering if I'll regret the weight in the future though. I am definitely not settled on it, I'm going to continue to research.

I really would consider getting a separate head and speaker but I really don't know much about them or how to incorporate my zoom with them. I've always used combos.

oldcatfish · #6 11-29-2011, 06:22 PM

You incorporate effects into a head, just like a combo. The only difference between the head and combo, is that you plug a speaker cable (not a standard instrument cable) from the speaker output of the head, then into a speaker of your choice.

That combo will be pretty heavy. If you get a heavy combo (or a heavy cab), get a hand truck/dolly to move it around. Or at least put casters on it.

Axel15810 · #7 12-01-2011, 08:57 PM

I've looked at the acoustic b200 as well. According to acoustic's website it weighs 23 pounds -

:: Acoustic - the pro's tone since 1967 ::

but from other posts I've read it weighs 75 pounds, and I contacted guitar center and they told me it weighs 75 as well. Are their 2 different models or something? Could someone who knows about this amp clarify?

EDIT: Just noticed acoustic's website says the b100 weighs half of what the b200 does, so I'm assuming b200's listed weight has to be a typo...amazed nobody has caught it.

flam · #8 12-01-2011, 09:21 PM

I had a b450 for some time, that I played through with a rbx170. The amp had a great tone that I loved, and plenty of volume for most things. Sounded fine with effects, too. Definitely not a clean amp though, it was rather growly, which I liked, personally. The weight was not fun though.

Axel15810 · #9 12-02-2011, 12:03 AM

The weight is really what is concerning the more I think about it. I've really changed my mind about it the past few days. I really like the EQ features of the acoustics, and I like that it will work well with rock/metal...which is what I'll be playing. But the more I think about it, both the b450 and b200 are just too big and heavy. I'm thinking now of going with GK's MB112. It's small but 200watts should be fine for jamming with friends and some small gigs in the future. I'm going to do some more research...the amp is so small I want to make sure it won't fart out the low notes. I've read some reviews that the 12 inch speaker doesn't handle loud rock/metal well

Axel15810 · #10 12-05-2011, 08:12 PM

After about a week of research and reading reviews of just about every combo in my price range, I pulled the trigger tonight on a GK MB115

I got it for $360 and free shipping. 200 watts is enough for my situation and for only $60 more I took it over the Acoustic b200 because of the weight and looks. Really it was only $40 more since I would have had to buy casters for the acoustic. Can't wait to get it!