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Acoustic B1000HD

#21
bdplaid said:
Birthday coming up (Big One) and the family treated me to a new amp; I chose this Acoustic B1000HD, partly because it was on sale and partly because I was curious.

You know what? I like it. A lot. It sounds really good through my Subway 115 (beefy, tight and growly, and with the graphic I can dial out a lot of the tweeter). But it's not perfect...

I agree with Ed Friedland; the fan is loud, and ill-placed. Makes me think the amp started it's design as a helicopter.

The blue LEDS on the front are positively blinding. The amp would probably have 2000 watts if not for those.

Initially, the amp made a weird sound at a weird time - a static-y, crackly sort of sound akin to a bad pot, but only as a note would trail off. Only did it when the graphic EQ was active. I have played with all the knobs and buttons and let the thing burn in all evening, and for the moment has stopped. I'll keep an eye on it.

But I wanted to ask - anyone else player this amp, and what do you think, particularly about reliability?
Click to expand...

I so wanted to go GC Acoustic class D but both the 300 and 1000 heads cracked crackled and made more unexplainable extraneous noises and the 2-10 neo cab is too heavy so I paid a lot more $ and bought Bergantino forte' head and HDN 1-12 cab which offers Plenty of power and clarity and a 1 hand lift cab that fits anywhere in a car and No unwanted noises at all

I so wanted to go GC Acoustic because my first gen GC rigs are excellent Never an issue Plenty of power tons of tone for lowest $$$ But new GC AC heads have quality issues and lighter cabs are available

I'm older with bass players back and hernia repair so lighter is a must and Bergantino works better for me now

However I want you to have what works best for you

My standard recommendation is : disregard our opinions; use your ears and wallet and proudly report back to us what you decide on

Good luck and enjoy!
 
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#27
I bought the 1000 back in September 2017, and was impressed enough to buy the 600 as a rehearsal amp. Most of my gigs lately have been on upright, and all my electric gigs have me running through the house. Well the 1000 has held up well on the gigs, and my upright sounds amazing. The 600 WAS a great rehearsal amp, but a month or so ago my High Dollar 12" extension speaker started "scruffing" a bit on heavy downbeats and kicks, so I figured it was time to get the speaker re-coned...after all, "she's no spring chicken." Turns out, unbeknownst to me...it was the audio chip in the 600 HD. I found out when I decided to take the 600 on a gig rather than the 1000. Frickin' Dead Ass Paperweight on stage. Snap crackle pop Rice Crispiest, through the speaker, and NO OTHER SOUND. Fortunately my keyboardist had a back up amp, And I still had my emergency DI Box.
My 1000 still sounds amazing, but the trust factor has now been violated. GC Stood behind the 3 year warranty thank goodness, but I had the receipt for the 600 and can't find it for the 1000. So...to trade or not to trade the 1000. Regardless, I will be picking up a quilter, but what if the 1000 becomes the backup and dies.......Shame that it sounds so good....like really really good. Better for my upright than a super hyped Phil Jones I used to own. Besides, I need it to sound good on electric as well. Maybe Quilter with a Traynor SB Backup?
 
#28
Two years later: two weeks ago, my beloved Acoustic 1000w rat amp had been stolen. It's probably the only one in existence that's been modded with a green Neutrik Combo Speakon jack. I dimmed the button LEDs and some letters in the logo from behind, leaving the word "cut", and I pulled all of the graphic slider LEDs out. They would dazzle after-images into my vision on dark stages. I'm sensitive like that, I guess.
GREAT AMP.

I bought the amp cheap as a dusty and dirty GC demo, so there were problems I had to fix by disassembling it to spray out dirty pots, sliders, and button contacts. I won't miss the crackle the dirty controls had before I cleaned them. Lovely amp.

Great amp, I miss it.
SOUNDS VERY GOOD, tons of REAL, honest POWER and tonal VERSATILITY.
 
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#29
T. Brookins said:
Two years later: two weeks ago, my beloved Acoustic 1000w rat amp had been stolen. It's probably the only one in existence that's been modded with a green Neutrik Combo Speakon jack. I dimmed the button LEDs and some letters in the logo from behind, leaving the word "cut", and I pulled all of the graphic slider LEDs out. They would dazzle after-images into my vision on dark stages. I'm sensitive like that, I guess.
GREAT AMP.

I bought the amp cheap as a dusty and dirty GC demo, so there were problems I had to fix by disassembling it to spray out dirty pots, sliders, and button contacts. I won't miss the crackle the dirty controls had before I cleaned them. Lovely amp.

Great amp, I miss it.
SOUNDS VERY GOOD, tons of REAL, honest POWER and tonal VERSATILITY.
Click to expand...
As you can see by my extended post I loved mine as well. Finally went with a Quilter though, and bought a little 250 water for backup.
 
#30
T. Brookins said:
Two years later: two weeks ago, my beloved Acoustic 1000w rat amp had been stolen. It's probably the only one in existence that's been modded with a green Neutrik Combo Speakon jack. I dimmed the button LEDs and some letters in the logo from behind, leaving the word "cut", and I pulled all of the graphic slider LEDs out. They would dazzle after-images into my vision on dark stages. I'm sensitive like that, I guess.
GREAT AMP.

I bought the amp cheap as a dusty and dirty GC demo, so there were problems I had to fix by disassembling it to spray out dirty pots, sliders, and button contacts. I won't miss the crackle the dirty controls had before I cleaned them. Lovely amp.

Great amp, I miss it.
SOUNDS VERY GOOD, tons of REAL, honest POWER and tonal VERSATILITY.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about that. I like mine too.
How did you dim the space shuttle level LEDs?
 
#33
bdplaid said:
I still have the Acoustic B1000HD and still like it. But...

On a lark I bought one of the new Acoustic Neo 410 cabs GC recently had on sale for 350. It sounded great, but there was apparently so little bracing inside the cab that the top vibrated the amp (nearly) off it. It looked like the old electric football game where the players would move on a vibrating playing field. I sat on top of it while I played with my bass-heavy rock band and felt my eyeballs vibrate. Literally. Still, it sounded great. But knowing that the cab was built for poopiee, I returned it.

I was powering it the the B1000. Not a hiccup from the head. yes the fan is loud, but at band volume you won't hear it. Yes the fan is in a really bad place (top of the head.). But I still have it around for kicks and backup.

Would I stake my rep on it? No. I do think it's a cheap amp. I just like it. If I were to have to pay full freight for it, like $600, I'd put that money toward a better head. For example, the Quilter BB800 is $599. A GK MB800 can be had used for $450 (I just re-bought one).

If you have to have one, wait for a sale.
Click to expand...
I have the B410c hooked to my B600C and i loved the sound of that cab. I preffer it iver the neos. Check them out!
 
#34
I bought an Acoustic B600HD and 410 cabinet in 2019. I have been a backup bass player in two country bands. I play 5-string medal with my son-in-law and 3 grandsons. I play Sundays as a backup bass player at a local resort. Classic Rock. And my main band plays R&B.

The Cab was DOA. When I asked for an RMA, they refunded my money and asked me to dispose of it. When I opened up the cab, everything was in place except the speaker wires. I had some 12 gauge speaker wire in a drawer. When I wired it up it all worked. But after about a six month the speakers began to distort. The speakers were only 120 watts each. It's a wonder they lasted that long. The cab was not worth reloading, so I bought a Peavey Headliner 800 watt 4x10. It has served me well.

As for the B600HD amp, it has never failed to please me. Country, Metal with a 5-string, Classic Rock, and R&B.

Now weight is becoming a factor. I'm thinking about getting a Gallien Krueger Neo IV 2x10. It's have the weight of the Headliner and the tone is amazing. What do you think?
 

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#35
Except that your Headliner 410 is only 400 watts (rms) as well. Be careful or you might damage that one too!
 

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