Acoustic B100 vs B100MKII?

[AdamK]

Hey there,

So I found a B100 on craigslist for a STEAL ($130). The seller said he was interested in a buying a different amp, and I asked him which ones out of curiosity. He said the new Acoustic B100MKII. Is this a different amp? Is there really a newer one or is that the same thing?

More info on my interest in the B100. It's gonna replace my first amp, a crappy 15W Fender Rumble. It's gonna be my first gigging amp for a few small bands I'm part of. I use a B100 almost everyday and I love it. Will go nice with my Jack Casady w/ flatwounds.

Also, as a side question, what's the best way to get proof that the amp works all well before I take it home? The seller lives an hour away from me, but said he was coming up to my area so I'll want to meet him somewhere to take it.

 

[AdamK]

Bump

 

[Eminor3rd]

The best way is simply to try it out first, which I would recommend doing in ANY deal where there's no warranty protection or you don't have any sort of feedback system to vouch for the seller. If he's willing to stop by your place when he's in your area/you're comfortable with him doing so, that's the most convenient thing. But if not, it's worth it for you to make the drive to him to test it if necessary, IMO.

 

[Existential J]

The best way is simply to try it out first, which I would recommend doing in ANY deal where there's no warranty protection or you don't have any sort of feedback system to vouch for the seller.

+1.

Those Acoustic B100/B100 mkii amps are nice - I had the mark ii (pretty much the same as the B100, with an mp3 input). But definitely plug in and play first. Unless, of course, you have $130 to crumple up and throw in the street.

And if that's the case, throw it in the street in front of MY house

Good luck with your purchase! Those Acoustics are built like a tank and sound great!

 

[yakmastermax]

I had a B100 first gen. It worked well enough for a loud bedroom practice amp but the couple of times I tried to use it with a drummer it distorted at high volume. The MKII stuff is pretty similar to the first generation so there really isn't much of a difference. I sold it for $90. It's biggest weakness was tone. By itself it sounds very transparent and thin. I wasn't even close to being satisfied with how it sounded until I bought a nice Eden Preamp for it.

I bet you'll be happier with the tone out of either of these two local options:

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The LA 15 would be my choice.

 

[AdamK]

I had a B100 first gen. It worked well enough for a loud bedroom practice amp but the couple of times I tried to use it with a drummer it distorted at high volume. The MKII stuff is pretty similar to the first generation so there really isn't much of a difference. I sold it for $90. It's biggest weakness was tone. By itself it sounds very transparent and thin. I wasn't even close to being satisfied with how it sounded until I bought a nice Eden Preamp for it.

I bet you'll be happier with the tone out of either of these two local options:

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The LA 15 would be my choice.

Interesting. I actually think it's got good tone. I love that low sound, quite the opposite of transparent and thin.

The seller said his price is firm, but I think I'll be getting a good deal regardless.

 

[AdamK]

The best way is simply to try it out first, which I would recommend doing in ANY deal where there's no warranty protection or you don't have any sort of feedback system to vouch for the seller. If he's willing to stop by your place when he's in your area/you're comfortable with him doing so, that's the most convenient thing. But if not, it's worth it for you to make the drive to him to test it if necessary, IMO.

Gotcha. Yeah, that seems best, but I don't think my housemates would be good with that... I'll have to think about it.

 

[yakmastermax]

Interesting. I actually think it's got good tone. I love that low sound, quite the opposite of transparent and thin.

The seller said his price is firm, but I think I'll be getting a good deal regardless.

Well, looks like my family member is willing to give me the extra $70 to get a brand new B100MKII.

Acoustic has plenty of fat bottom. The overall tone I find to be thin though, lacking in harmonics and voice.

PLEASE do not buy an Acoustic amp brand new from Guitar Center. Acoustic is GCs cash cow, because of that you're almost guaranteed that you're getting bad value when you buy one.
Believe me I remember 3 years ago when a GC salesman pushed me into buying a brand new B450. I later returned the amp, not a bad product, but not good value new.

 

[AdamK]

Acoustic has plenty of fat bottom. The overall tone I find to be thin though, lacking in harmonics and voice.

PLEASE do not buy an Acoustic amp brand new from Guitar Center. Acoustic is GCs cash cow, because of that you're almost guaranteed that you're getting bad value when you buy one.
Believe me I remember 3 years ago when a GC salesman pushed me into buying a brand new B450. I later returned the amp, not a bad product, but not good value new.

Yeah that's what I've heard about Acoustic and GC. It's certainly overpriced. I deleted my comment about getting the new one, because I'm currently trying to convince my family member to allow them to enter the house. This is frustrating, but we'll see.

 

[yakmastermax]

Now that you've got a new budget here are some more suggestions

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The hartke/peavey frankencombo would be my choice. I'm a firm believer that when you see gear like that you can be rest assured that it was created/owned by a gearhead, someone who takes care of their stuff. Sure it is ugly ass all hell and believe me I hate rat fur too but that is a lot of combo for your money. That Hartke head can do 120 watts at 8 ohms and 200 watts at 4 ohms. what this means is that you can add an extension cabinet, another bass cabinet, to the combo and push more power and more air. I would be very confident with 200 watts and two 12"s. The Hartke will also have a lot more tonal versatility than the B100.

 

[AdamK]

Now that you've got a new budget here are some more suggestions

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The hartke/peavey frankencombo would be my choice. I'm a firm believer that when you see gear like that you can be rest assured that it was created/owned by a gearhead, someone who takes care of their stuff. Sure it is ugly ass all hell and believe me I hate rat fur too but that is a lot of combo for your money. That Hartke head can do 120 watts at 8 ohms and 200 watts at 4 ohms. what this means is that you can add an extension cabinet, another bass cabinet, to the combo and push more power and more air. I would be very confident with 200 watts and two 12"s. The Hartke will also have a lot more tonal versatility than the B100.

Well, not really...

Wow that's an awesome amp. And those things are built to last. They always work. Too far of a drive though.

 

[Eminor3rd]

Yeah that's what I've heard about Acoustic and GC. It's certainly overpriced. I deleted my comment about getting the new one, because I'm currently trying to convince my family member to allow them to enter the house. This is frustrating, but we'll see.

I don't blame people for not wanting a stranger in the house. Why don't you just make the drive up to the other guy's place? An hour away is totally worth it for a major purchase, IMO.

 

[AdamK]

I don't blame people for not wanting a stranger in the house. Why don't you just make the drive up to the other guy's place? An hour away is totally worth it for a major purchase, IMO.

Oh, I certainly agree. I'd be willing to do that, but they don't want me going over there either. I'm going to work this out.

 

[AdamK]

UPDATE: I found a Guitar Center selling the B100 used for the same price ($130). And now I have them shipping it to my local GC for pickup. This worked out well.