Seeing the limits of my Acoustic B100. Please read before you buy one.

TUEP · #1 07-01-2011, 02:57 AM

First of all it is a great work horse amp. Probably one of the loudest 100 watt bass amps I have ever got to use. In fact you really have to push it hard before the clip light comes on. The down side of this amp IMO is when you need to adjust the shape of your tone at higher volumes. It seems to bark a bit here and there, and maybe its because of the cheap economy speaker in it.

I often wonder what it would sound like with a Eminence 15 or a Peavey Black Widow 15.

Still at medium hi to high volumes regardless of what is done with the EQ it tends to bark. So if you crank heavy lows it will sound like barky lows. Heavy hi's will sound like barky hi's. I wonder if the 200 watt version's extra overhead would allow more diverse EQing at higher levels?

Also it sounds passable in the 4x10. It will push a 4x10 and its own 15, but I suggest a modeler, Sansamp, or the cheaper Sansamp knock off the Behringer BDI21.

Anyway if your looking at one of these, you might want to try the 200 watt version. Probably what I would have done looking back now.

**JxBass** · #2 07-01-2011, 04:36 AM

I would say this is true for many 100w amps in a band setting at moderate to high volume.

LAPetrarca · #3 07-01-2011, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JxBass

I would say this is true for many 100w amps in a band setting at moderate to high volume.

That's pretty much been my experience as well.

TUEP · #4 07-01-2011, 07:09 PM

Well, yes and no. I would say my old Ampeg B100R held the EQ much tighter at higher volume, and my old Laney 100 watt Linebacker head seemed to have pretty decent head room at moderate to higher levels.

**JxBass** · #5 07-01-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUEP

Well, yes and no. I would say my old Ampeg B100R held the EQ much tighter at higher volume, and my old Laney 100 watt Linebacker head seemed to have pretty decent head room at moderate to higher levels.

Haven't played the Laney but good point on the B100R.

SurferJoe46 · #6 07-01-2011, 07:25 PM

100 Watts? You playing in the bathroom or what? I would NEVER consider playing out - even for a funeral - with less than 500 Watts for anyone or with anything smaller.

There's always the volume knob to take it down.

100 Watts? Seriously? Playing in a band?

Sheeeeeeesh. That's like going bear hunting with a stick. A short stick.

One thing you've gotta consider (besides extremely low power) is that the Acoustic line is decidedly old school and therefor it won't reproduce sirens, silent dog whistles, or bird calls.

You're going to lose that headroom fast if you keep the bass EQ turned up too far on this design. I've never had the same troubles as you with any Acoustic gear, but then again I'm not playing a 100 Watt whisper box either.

.

TUEP · #7 07-01-2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

100 Watts? You playing in the bathroom or what? I would NEVER consider playing out - even for a funeral - with less than 500 Watts for anyone or with anything smaller.

There's always the volume knob to take it down.

100 Watts? Seriously? Playing in a band?

Sheeeeeeesh. That's like going bear hunting with a stick. A short stick.

One thing you've gotta consider (besides extremely low power) is that the Acoustic line is decidedly old school and therefor it won't reproduce sirens, silent dog whistles, or bird calls.

You're going to lose that headroom fast if you keep the bass EQ turned up too far on this design. I've never had the same troubles as you with any Acoustic gear, but then again I'm not playing a 100 Watt whisper box either.

.

Needless to say at most of the clubs around here all you need is a mic'ed combo. I do have a Ampeg SVT-350 on a 4x10. Many have said its to loud for some of the places I have played. I live in a area with plenty of clubs and about 1 million people total. So its not like I am out in the boonies. So far I have not had a need for anything more than 300 watts.

This amp I mainly use for practice though.

SurferJoe46 · #8 07-01-2011, 09:16 PM

Whew! I was hoping you weren't trying to fill a stadium with 100 Watts or something like a cow pasture like I have to do a few times in the summer.

spiltcoil · #9 07-01-2011, 10:06 PM

100 watts walk that fine line between usefull and useless for me. Usefull in some guitar/drum brush trios or practice...useless for everything else. Could never understand the practicality of anything between 75 to 350 watts. Must be marketing.

seanm · #10 07-01-2011, 11:32 PM

100W combos are great for practice. They tend to be cheap (used) and work well. I had two of them at one time in different basements. Wouldn't use them at a gig though... I have more powerful and lighter rigs for that.

TUEP · #11 07-02-2011, 02:22 AM

Yeah, I guess I am just comparing and contrasting this to others I have had. I remember my first 100 watt combo. It was a Crate BX-100, and I upgraded to the BFX-100. Oooooooo...LOL

I remember those things being gain sensitive, and a bit flimsy sounding. LOL

So the Acoustic would blow those amps away IMHO! Yet, compared to my old 100 watt Laney Head and my old Ampeg B100R

(I miss it so). I can say the Acoustic doesn't have the overhead.

I used to have a GK Backline 600 combo. It was supposed to be a 200 watt combo. Except the speakers are rated at 125 if memory serves me right. Was a bit disappointed in that.

JimmyM · #12 07-02-2011, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Whew! I was hoping you weren't trying to fill a stadium with 100 Watts or something like a cow pasture like I have to do a few times in the summer.

I've played arenas with a mic'ed B-15, and as large a crowd as 800 in a theater using stage volume only from it. Between the PA system and our lack of tolerance for someone playing too loudly, the B-15's 25w is plenty. Wouldn't bring it to a no-PA outdoor gig, but it's not as quiet as you might think.

SurferJoe46 · #13 07-02-2011, 07:38 AM

Agreed James, IF you are FOH/PA driven - I am running barefoot, NO PA and I need the power. But you already said that, sorta.

I even take at least 450 Watts and as a minimum, a 210 plus a 115 with me for an intimate Cheese & Wine al fresco cafe; all you have to do is keep the Volume low - but you sure get a lot of definition that way from your combos.

will33 · #14 07-02-2011, 07:45 AM

+1

If he's micing or di'ing he only needs to cover the stage which may not be that big in some places. Even for our outdoor summer gigs here I'm finding myself shrinking my bass rig and making improvements to my PA.

will33 · #15 07-02-2011, 07:49 AM

@Surfer

+1 well. No bass in the PA and yeah you need it.

rdwil191 · #16 07-02-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUEP

Anyway if your looking at one of these, you might want to try the 200 watt version. Probably what I would have done looking back now.

yeah, thinking back, the B200 probably would have been the better choice. Like SurferJoe says, you can always turn down. but the 2 bands I play with are more low to med volume & the B100 has held it's own. listening to 2 other bassists play through it, I've found it seems to shine with all eq flat. my new cab (actually bought to use as a stand alone with my 370) seems to really boost the low end, as well...nice & deep. peace.

SurferJoe46 · #17 07-02-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdwil191

yeah, thinking back, the B200 probably would have been the better choice. Like SurferJoe says, you can always turn down. but the 2 bands I play with are more low to med volume & the B100 has held it's own. listening to 2 other bassists play through it, I've found it seems to shine with all eq flat. my new cab (actually bought to use as a stand alone with my 370) seems to really boost the low end, as well...nice & deep. peace.

Just keep the Neo and sell the B-100.

Then get either the B-450/B-200 to match the Neo for size/shape. or at least the B-200H.

I think you'll be yards ahead of where you are now - and with that B-450, you can always turn it down.

I've actually played the B-450 stacked on the B-210Neo cabs - killer!

wcriley · #18 07-02-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

100 Watts? You playing in the bathroom or what? I would NEVER consider playing out - even for a funeral - with less than 500 Watts for anyone or with anything smaller.

There's always the volume knob to take it down.

100 Watts? Seriously? Playing in a band?

Back in the 70s, I played a heck of a lot of gigs with 40/50 watt Fender Bassman heads...and could always be heard.

zon6c-f · #19 07-02-2011, 01:58 PM

I own both a '74 AC 370, as well as [GC] Acoustic B200 Combo. Different beasts; both great in their own respects. Yes, the B200 Combo has plenty of headroom and volume. It's a tiny monster, IMHO.

Hindsight being greater; I believe the 200-B head and separate cabs is better, as you lower the ohmage with additional cabs with the head and raise ohmage on the combo. I was trying to save a few bucks. If money is not an issue, Look into a used AC600 head and separate cabs. GC has lots on their site;substantially less than new. Plenty of bang for the buck.

I considered buying one of the smaller combos, as one has both auxillary sound input and phone jacks, but I'll stay with my Line6 pod and Korg Pandora for that.

SurferJoe46 · #20 07-02-2011, 02:02 PM

I think the physical acoustical laws were still the same then - I played a few Surf venues (The Pavalon, The Rendezvous, The Retail Clerk's Union Hall in Buena Park and others) where we used low power too - but multiples of low powered rigs to get heard.

It wasn't uncommon to use a couple of the old Standel, Marshall, (did we have Conn then? I dunnow) and Kustom setups for each player, (we had no backline in those days) and they were indeed small by today's standards.

I'm quite confident I now have more power in my bedroom than The Beatles had in New York's Shea (my sister and her girlfriend went) and I don't see that as a problem for me.

There's always the Volume control.