Quote:
Originally Posted by steelhead2  what i'm saying is=any old school SS head/cab rigs worth chasing or would i be better off buying the `new versions'?,hey!,,2-3 features on the old school Acoustic heads make me take notice!
the Kustoms look way KEWEL but i don't know if they can deliver?
xhasing 2 styles of amps here one the tinyest possible(for practice with Hphones) the other an old school head/cab for actually playing VENUES
the rest don't matter  |
I'm in the minority re Acoustic and some of the other now highly acclaimed amps from that era.
But, I played these things when they were new, on gigs, on tours year round. I did not like the sound of the Acoustic folded horn rig. I used it because it was loud and I had to compete with 2 guitarists with Marshall or equivalent stacks in large concert venues. Then we got offered an endorsement deal and the guitarists opted for Acoustic and I had to go along. Those were in the days before the sound systems were capable of handling the instruments through the FOH so I couldn't just plug into the board to be heard. I had to do it all from my stage amp.
As far as Acoustic goes, in my opinion--Tone-they didn't have it. Harsh, mid heavy and unpleasant distortion. Volume-the loudest amps around at that time. You couldn't fault them for not being able to be heard. I can't fault Acoustic for trying hard either. They did really care about their product and must have lost a fortune in their first couple years just taking care of warranty work. The first runs weren't all that reliable. Not all their fault. They was an enormous demand for their amps and they were working round the clock trying to make enough to even supply their first endorsers, much less stock stores.
For sound I much preferred the sound of Sunn and some of the other rigs around. But they just weren't as practical. And in those days, like now, the audience didn't care much about sound. They wanted it loud.
The new American made stuff looks like it will also be powerful and possibly sound better than the originals. The Chinese made Acoustic stuff in stores now is budget gear. Nothing wrong with that-there are a lot of big companies making budget gear.
If you must have that "vintage" look then the new USA made Acoustics will probably be right up your alley.
The new Kustom I've tried didn't impress me at all and they don't seem as good as the originals which weren't all that fantastic for sound quality either.
But there sure is a big market for all this "vintage" gear in young players who have only heard about these amps and never had to put up with them when playing for a living. The bass gear magazines have played a large part in creating this interest.
I know what I say goes against the grain of many and infuriates some of the younger guys but that's my opinion and the opinion of many of the guys I played with at that time. I really like the modern gear that's out now where I can get sound and volume and even carry it myself. I love my GK rigs and Mesa Walkabout Scout and wish they had been available back in the 60s.
