Acoustic AB50 Acoustic Bass Combo Amp

cathouse · #1 02-02-2009, 07:05 PM

Anyone have any experience with the Acoustic AB50 Acoustic Bass Combo Amp?

**Jeremy Allen** · #2 02-02-2009, 11:02 PM

I have one. I have to say that it is really a hunk of crap. It sort of sounds OK if all you're using it for is to teach electric bass lessons, with two people plugged into one amp, and it is convenient that you can plug an iPod into the line in jack. But every time I've used it in a live performance or rehearsal, the experience has been terrible. And it's not even that light! (Well, it is, but the way the handle is placed and the speaker is situated make it an awkward thing to carry).

Be warned if you do get one that it doesn't have any gain control, just master volume for each channel, so you're stuck with whatever output level your pickup/bass has. Not really a problem if you're using an active bass guitar, but plug a Realist into it and basically nothing happens. Oh, also, the tweeter is very noisy unless you turn the "high" EQ knob down most of the way.

I admit, I thought "for $199, how can I wrong picking one of these up?" Well, I learned, and it wasn't pretty. The thing that really annoys me is that I can't even get rid of it, because what can you re-sell one for? $75 + $40 shipping? Ugh.

Gearhead43 · #3 02-02-2009, 11:24 PM

Weird.

I have one also, and it's a great little amp, IMO.

I don't have champagne tastes or anything, but mine sounds very good, is more powerful than any solid state 50 watt bass amp I have ever heard.

It has been very useful as a practice amp with both DB and bass guitar even playing with a drummer.

I always use a preamp with my DB, and I put some tape over the tweeter to calm it down (not a tweeter fan myself).

I love the tone of the Acoustic bass amps, nice and warm and fairly transparent for a bass guitar amp.

I use it as a mini-PA for vocals and keyboards also, it's nice to have the dual xlr / 1/4" combo inputs.

For the $120 (on sale) I paid I cannot complain.

funkbass88 · #4 02-02-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Allen

It sort of sounds OK if all you're using it for is to teach electric bass lessons, with two people plugged into one amp, and it is convenient that you can plug an iPod into the line in jack.

haha that's exactly what i use mine for. I'm somewhat fond of it's tone although I'd never use one on a gig.

**Jeremy Allen** · #5 02-03-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkbass88

haha that's exactly what i use mine for. I'm somewhat fond of it's tone although I'd never use one on a gig.

And the teaching thing is actually exactly what I bought mine for.
OK, I'll give the AB50 some props: it amplifies a signal, and it is inexpensive. Both good things. It sounds fine amplifying (jazz) guitar, simple vocals, low volume bass guitar (all without drums), and we use it at my school as the amp people play through during auditions (electric bassists and jazz guitarists, with just piano accompaniment). So it does these things well, especially with the tweeter disabled in some way (I'll have to try the tape thing).

I just don't like it in a live setting. I've tried to use it with a Realist, an Underwood, and a mic. The Underwood actually sounded OK (or at least, it sounded like itself), but that's a pretty simple and poor sound to begin with. I think if you're looking for a small, inexpensive bass amp to use live, the GK Backline 12 blows the AB50 out of the water and is only about $100 more. YMMV, as usual!

cathouse · #6 02-03-2009, 04:02 PM

Thanks. I play upright (rockabilly, blues, country, etc) and was interested because it's supposedly designed for acoustic bass. I'll have to check out the GK too.

**Jeremy Allen** · #7 02-03-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathouse

Thanks. I play upright (rockabilly, blues, country, etc) and was interested because it's supposedly designed for acoustic bass. I'll have to check out the GK too.

Yes, the marketing says it was designed for "acoustic-electric bass." Not sure what they mean by that, but I'm pretty sure they don't mean upright bass.

Not that it can't work for that, as some have found, but I'd think you'd need something a bit more for rockabilly/blues.

mje · #8 05-06-2010, 12:50 PM

I think they mean it's meant for the acoustic-electric bass guitars that look acoustic- but need an amp to actually be heard ;-) Sounds fine with my Azola. (Haven't tried it yet with my UB which is on loan to a friend in from out of town.) Sounds good with acoustic guitar, too.

I found mine at my local store (Music Castle in Berkley, MI) used for $79! What I particularly like about it is that it has two channels, either of which can take a 1/4" or XLR in. It's not super loud but should be fine for acoustic gigs.

Jack Clark · #9 12-11-2010, 01:22 PM

I've never heard of anyone using an Acoustic AB50 with a double bass; it appears from the literature that it was designed for acoustic bass guitars. I use my Acoustic AB50 as a practice amp with my upright guitarrón, which has K&K bass guitar pickups, and with a K&K Pure XLR pre-amp. Sounds great for that use; no problems at all. (I initially thought it had a buzz, but that turned out to be because I had it positioned too close to some furniture.)

As far as the lack of a gain control on the AB50 is concerned, my pre-amp does have a gain control, but the K&K pickups seem so hot that I have to turn the pre-amp gain all the way down anyway. This combo is so loud with my set up that I have no doubt I could use it in a small venue, if I ever got that good.

Others have commented on an air-rushing sound from the cab, but if mine has it, I can't hear it. (Neither can my wife and her ears are 10x better than mine.) From a comparison of photographs, it looks like they may have vented the cab since the earlier models were made--I dunno for sure. The photos in the online manual seem to show a wide, horizontal slot at the front bottom, but it looks like it's filled in, like a plug in an unused switch position on the dashboard of a car. Other photos on their website and current photos at retailers' websites make it look like this slot is wide open, which mine was when I bought it.

I had been concerned that, as a combo expressly made for amplified acoustic bass guitars, it might not reproduce the highs well enough to enjoy using it to play mp3 play-alongs, but I tried it at GC before I bought, and the ride cymbal, chord player, and soloists come through very clearly and cleanly--with my bass added to them.