Longshot - Acoustic Image Clarus vs Ampeg Micro-VR

[jallenbass]

I already have the AI Clarus but I'm curious about how the Micro-VR sounds in comparison. I'm 2.5 hours from any music store that would have one. I suspect that I'll just have to buy the Micro-VR from MF so that I can return it if it's not what I'm looking for.

[JimmyM]

It sounds like a mini SVT. Won't do full on distortion like the tube stuff and the knobs don't line up precisely with the SVT, but it will get a nice head of grunt behind it. My go-to amp for day to day work these days.

Can't tell you about the Clarus. It was years ago when I tried one and I totally forget what it sounds like now.

[rllefebv]

I don't have a Micro VR, but I have played around with one (several actually) at GC. I settled on a PF500 over the Micro VR, but could have been happy with any of the small Ampegs that I tried (Micro VR, PF350, PF500)... I do have, and have gigged, a Clarus for several years...

Two different animals altogether... The Ampegs will give you quite a bit more tonal flexibility right out of the gate... There's a lot of tone in those knobs, very easy to dial in a good sound for electric bass. Jimmy's right in that you can get some good 'girth' to the tone. Very tubey sounding for a SS head. Works well for both upright and electric. I love my PF500, (sorry, I know you're asking about the Micro VR), and if I absolutely had to choose, I'd take it over the AI...

However, I don't have to choose One of the best things that I love about the AI is it's transparency. Very subtle tone controls, more useful for tweaking than shaping, but that's what it is all about with the AI... I feel that for upright, it is the most natural sounding head out there... I use it with a Shen SB100 w/ a Realist p'up and get a nice tone with everything set at 12 o'clock. The notch filter is first rate for cutting feedback... It is also my primary backup amp (self-contained, quick setup, plenty of power, great DI)... Passable with an electric bass plugged straight in, but even better using a Sansamp into the effects loop. I've doubled a few times this way with no complaints...

Bottom line for me would be answering the question "What are the majority of my calls for?"... If I was playing a ton of upright gigs, I'd probably go AI. After all, that's what it is designed to do... The vast majority of my gigs are electric, so the PF500 would edge out in this case... Tonally, it is fairly close to the Micro VR, with just a few more options in the midrange (and more watts)... Hope this helps...

-robert

[jallenbass]

Very helpful and you've confirmed my suspicions.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by rllefebv

Bottom line for me would be answering the question "What are the majority of my calls for?"... If I was playing a ton of upright gigs, I'd probably go AI. After all, that's what it is designed to do...

There seems to be some sort of stigma around Ampegs being used for upright except with rockabilly dudes. And even some of them have a stigma about it. Nekroman even said once on Doublebasschat.com, "Upright players still use Ampeg?" Brilliant player that Nekroman, but I had to set him straight, to which I'm sure he doesn't give a rat's ass

I love Ampeg for upright. The B-15 was designed around upright. The slaps come out oh so smooth with a tweeterless cab, and you can actually run Ampegs clean That said, I can't knock a solid state head and a tweetered cab, though some folks do run the tweeters too hot and overdo it on the string noise. Also, while I do love my Micro VR head, I like the extra versatility that the EQ on the PF500 gives you.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Also, while I do love my Micro VR head, I like the extra versatility that the EQ on the PF500 gives you.

Jimmy, you're making this more difficult for me.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

Jimmy, you're making this more difficult for me.

Don't get me started on the SVT 7 Pro then Take a PF500 and give it 500 more watts and a tube preamp that kills...best hybrid head I think I've ever played, and the only 1000w amp I've ever considered buying.

OTOH, the Micro VR does every gig I need it to so I'm sticking with it!

[rllefebv]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

There seems to be some sort of stigma around Ampegs being used for upright except with rockabilly dudes...

I don't see where I'm stigmatizing the Ampeg's use with upright... In my original post, I said that the PF500 works well with the upright (as does my V4)... However, it does 'color' the tone more than the AI... Not a bad thing at all, but not always desirable.

Bottom line is that either amp will work well for a doubler, and I could happily gig everything on my calendar with either one. The OP was asking for a comparison between two, IMO, fairly different types of amps each designed with a predominantly different focus. I happen to have both brands (just not the specific model) and offered an opinion on their different strengths...

Don't get me wrong... I'm a big fan of the Ampeg micro-heads that I've played. I've had my PF500 for two months now and the honeymoon has worn off a bit... Yeah, I like it with the upright, just not as much as I like the AI with the upright... On a gig with my roots-rock band, no matter what bass I'm playing, the PF500 will get the call over the AI everytime. On a singer-songwriter date, not so much...

-robert

[JimmyM]

Certainly wasn't saying it was you personally giving the Ampegs upright stigma...just a general consensus I've noticed.

[jallenbass]

Would the noise of the fan in the Micro-VR be a problem if you where recording with the cab mic'ed? I had read that the PFs have quieter fans.

[JimmyM]

Not at all, IMHO. I'm not the least bit bothered by the fan in the Micro VR. But I guess some are, so you can just keep the head away from the cab and problem solved.