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Acoustic is BACK!!!!
- Thread starter mini455
- Start date
I've always thought the Acoustic line was one of the best looking amps ever. I've never owned one, I've maybe only seen one in real life once so far. I love that blue, it so Smurfy!
I saw these at guitar center the other day. I don't know about the sound, but the look sure captures the look of the "acoustic" amps of the 70s. IMO that is not a good thing, I always thought "acoustic" brand amps were hideous.
I have to kinda agree here. These were not very "sexy" looking amps but there is something very purposeful and straight to the point about their design. The new stuff is nicely understated and should visually compliment a modern stage quite nicely. As for the sound of the old Acoustic amps, they are in a league all to themselves!
You can follow a disscusion we're having about the new line here;
http://unofficialacousticcontrolcorpmessageboard.yuku.com/
WIth the new line, I think alot of players will be surprised at what their money gets them. This may the rare case of a person actually getting MORE than their money's worth.
Taken from the description of the B115:
"The B115 features a rock-solid, tuned and ported design with heavy internal bracing, caster sockets and professional spring-loaded touring handles with rubber grips."
Whereas the description of the 410 makes it a point to mention the sealed cab design. I'd assume the port is on the back since it's not visible from the front, maybe with a similar design to something like an ampeg ba-115 (borrowed one for a rehearsal once and it had a circular port on the rear). I haven't had a chance to look at the back of one of these Acoustic cabs yet, so the description might be mistaken too, that's not impossible. I know there were some misprints in the first version of the instruction manuals where they mistakenly refer to the B200 combo as a "practice amp", when that was obviously just left over from the B20 manual. Who knows.
Starting up a new company is a pain in the butt and takes longer than any one wants. Even the mighty Russ Allee might need a year to get a design to the first prototype stage. And we're talking the preamp and amp in the 360. Then, setting up manufacturing...whew! Even if you had all the money in the world...things take time. Though, if you do have a few million lying around doing nothing, call George! And there are less and less manufacturers in the US. However, once the machines start rolling...
GC has rights to the name, but distribution is non-exclusive...they will likely be among the dealers though.
I've been a CPA for going on 30 yrs so I'm not clueless about setting up a new company. But there must have been a lot more problems than they had thought if the amps were 3 months away 3 yrs ago and still aren't ready. Did Russ have this much trouble setting up the original company?
Does anyone know the materials of the new Acoustic cabs?
I'm scared that they could possibly be MDF or Particleboard for the price that they are..
I'm scared that they could possibly be MDF or Particleboard for the price that they are..
Now you're beyond me. I only know them for about 3 years. But I know a lot of existing bass amp companies that show a new model and take 1-2 years to deliver it.
I'm really interested in the B200. Is there any chance I'll be able to find one of these in Canada?
i'm definitely getting the head, it looks like quite a bargain, and obviously (being an acoustic) sounds great.
I'm pretty sure Russ Allee didn't set up the original Acoustic company. He did do the design of the amps though. They had another designer too I believe. I had one of the first run of folded horn bass amps before they hit the music stores and used to hang out at the Acoustic factory. They did have a lot of start up problems back then too. It's quite a leap from building a prototype model to a reliable model to be sold in volume in music stores. Training a work force (I remember seeing a dozen or more women all sitting at long tables wiring up parts into the circuit boards), finding reliable parts suppliers, speakers blowing up in the first runs and on and on. And then getting it to the stores in large quantities and still making a profit.
Dude, that's a MAJOR score from the dump! Pretty fair chance that the speakers are Emminence if they are originals. Many of the bass amp speakers were Emminence with square magnets but I don't know if the square magnets crossed over to the PA speakers.
I know they would LIKE to get it to retail in the vicinity of what the top of line BIG amp models sell for from other well known bass companies like Ashdown, Eden, Ampeg, SWR or something like maybe a Thunderfunk on a big Accugroove on the boutique side...but this is a pure USA effort - so that needs to be factored in if you are comparing a non-USA product. AND...to do justice to the original, there are costly details. For example, the knobs are machined aluminum - also USA made. Weight will be similar or a bit less than what the original weighed - eventhough the new unit is twice the power and contains a few other neat features. All this is subject to change...but after years of effort, the data seems to point this way. Yes, there will be a smaller powered cabinet for when you don't need a folded 18!
More good news - Some of the original people from Acoustic are responsible for the new products! They had some very original ideas and good engineering. This is good for all of us.
My engineer that specializes in audio LOVES the performance of the new amps. He says that the 20 watt unit is one of the best M.I. amps he has every seen and went out and bought 2 of them!
My engineer that specializes in audio LOVES the performance of the new amps. He says that the 20 watt unit is one of the best M.I. amps he has every seen and went out and bought 2 of them!
I'm sure its not easy but as I said 3 yrs ago I was told it was only 3 months from being available. Who knows how long prior to that they started. I'm just wondering if 5-6 yrs (my guess) is par for getting an amp out to market. Business experience tells me no but I don't have direct knowledge of the amp building business. It doesn't strike me as the kind of business with the profit margins that would warrent 6 yrs or so of start up cost.
I'm not criticizing but my professional background simply has me curious.
Pricing of the unit is going to be very interesting. In fact the whole thing from a business model is fascinating. Who is the target buyer and how much are they willing to spend on it.
I'd really like to hear from the young guys here (who weren't around during the 60-70's) about whether the reproduction of the Acoustics would be of interest to them?
Pedro...I know that Bass Gear magazine WILL be getting one of the first units to do an extensive review - the first anywhere. We'll definitely do the 'back story' and get the answers to your questions. Many of the 'come backs' of famous brands were in name only. Not Acoustic USA - they are about as much of a 'real deal' as you can get from a 40 year product revival.
