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Acoustic 126, yay or nay?

I've stumbled upon the opportunity to pick up an Acoustic 126 combo with a 15" speaker for $75. Stock and functional, just a lil rough lookin around the edges. After using the almighty power of the search function and Google, I still find myself finding very little about these amps. Does anyone have experience with these that they'd be willing to share? Thanks for viewing :)
 
I owned a 136, also a 1 x 15" combo amp with the "horn loaded" cabinet. I actually gigged with it a time or two and it sounded fine.

Mine was broken when I got it, but it was a super simple (and obvious) fix, one of the electrolytic caps was literally popped open. Replaced the blown one and a few others and it worked great. From what I read on the internet, the 136 wasn't necessarily a 'bass amp' but really more of a general purpose amp that could be used for bass/keys/guitar or even vocals. I ended up selling mine because I was accumulating too much equipment and had a baby on the way. :( I wish I still had it.

If I had a chance to get another one for $75, I WOULD.
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I have one that I bought in 1981. It was officially used, but it dates to 1981 so it may have been a demo. It has needed a little attention here and there over time, but not very much, considering how long I have had it. I think it's rated at 125 watts or so, but I never know what that means relative to sound pressure. It is loud enough for everything I have ever needed it to do. I wouldn't count on it for an outdoor gig, for example, but for a bar gig, it's powerful enough. The only controls I use much are the volume knob and eq.

I would describe the sound that comes out as more like an Acoustic 370 than a 360 or 320. It can be a little grindy or raspy. If you like a bit of grind, it can certainly do that and do it well with bass. It can be clean at higher frequencies. I don't like the way it sounds with a guitar, but it isn't intended to be a guitar amp. I does work reasonably well with vocals and keys as long as you don't overdrive it. Then it doesn't sound so good.

I wouldn't sell mine for less than $200, just as a point of reference. I don't think it's worth any more than that, but no less, either. It isn't too hard to move if it has castors. As far as I know, the factory installed castors. It's heavy, but its shape makes it easier to move than if the cabinet was deeper or shorter. Mine is more or less permanently at a practice space, and I don't move it. At this point, I don't gig with it and probably wouldn't. Not because it isn't capable, but because I have other amps that I prefer for gigs - namely other Acoustic amps.

Whether it's a good amp for you or not will depend a bit on what you intend to do with it. For $75, it's pretty hard to go wrong if it works.
 
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I used to have a 136 years ago. My first decent bass amp. Did NOT sound good with guitar :D Sounded good with bass or keys, though back then I didn't appreciate it as much as I might now. But yeah, I'd hit a working 126 for $75.
 
My 2 cents: After 2 yrs of playing the acoustic 126 live I have to say it was one of my best bass investments. I play mostly Pbass (Soul, Blues, Soft Rock). It easily holds up with medium loud drummer, sax, guitar and hammond organ. In fact it’s loud as hell – I NEVER played louder than cca 25%! FOH guys love it! I am sending the "preamp out" signal to FOH (by TS –> XLR reduction, it doesn’t break the signal path). Las week after gig sound technician apreciated that "he didn’t touch the bass sound at all" – it was perfect "as is". The only thing to consider is the size (smal clubs) and the weight – it’s "two man" beast (on stairs). But the sound is definitely wort it!
 
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