I have access to two first generation Acoustic 150s (one is my gigging amp, the other is our vocal amp) and both of them are chugging along strong. The one we use for vocals could use some routine work (as one would expect for a 38 year old amp) but it's definitely functional.
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Acoustic USA News
- Thread starter ZiggyDude
- Start date
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Yeah, having two Acoustic brands seems kind of like an idea concocted in a Stanford MBA marketing seminar, perhaps called "Transparent Branding Bifurcation for Virtual Revenue Enhancement." 
Well, I'm glad the toxic (non-gas inducing) hype has almost cleared, and even gladder the GC/ACC/GPC Board meeting (with food fight) seems to have mostly adjourned.
I smell law diplomas and money everywhere, but feel uninformed, and well, almost naked. :scowl:
BTW, while I am sure it is totally unimportant, except in silly technical and musical terms, can someone please explain to me why there has basically been no mention, by the powerful, of the 301?
This is going badly, IMHO.
Well, I'm glad the toxic (non-gas inducing) hype has almost cleared, and even gladder the GC/ACC/GPC Board meeting (with food fight) seems to have mostly adjourned.
I smell law diplomas and money everywhere, but feel uninformed, and well, almost naked. :scowl:
BTW, while I am sure it is totally unimportant, except in silly technical and musical terms, can someone please explain to me why there has basically been no mention, by the powerful, of the 301?
This is going badly, IMHO.
Given that the currently tentative line-up appears to include a reissue of the 361 and a mini-361 (the folded 1x15), I would definitely expect a 301 and possibly a mini-301 to be in the works. After all, IIRC the big difference between the original 361 and 301 was the presence of an internal power amp.BTW, while I am sure it is totally unimportant, except in silly technical and musical terms, can someone please explain to me why there has basically been no mention, by the powerful, of the 301?
This is going badly, IMHO.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Exactly, and a small pile of gold and a bigger head/backache.
Conversation with self: powered box = cost + (more) weight + complexity
Q: Why would any serious working player want a heavier self-powered 301, AKA a 361? Three hypothetical answers:
A1: Nostalgia? Yeah, unless that ain't what it used to be.
A2: They don't, but surely the absence of the 301 is a logical profit maximizer from the board.
A3: Perhaps it is a mystery--an inner corporate cult secret?
It is surprising that the one thing that really made ACC bass amp innovation significant, THE cab, is missing. IMHO, the real glory of all the products ACC once sold was the folded horn, the 301.
OK, set me straight. Everyone but me got a 361 instead of a 301, because the built-in amp and pre were so much better than anything out there in ~1971, right? No? NO.
Excuse me, but wasn't it the cab that really mattered? There were lots of good 200 watt heads in ~1971, but very few good cabinets.I am sorry to be so scabrously sarcastic, but this is so deeply amazing to me. 99% of all cabs, high or low end (Pace Bergantino), are unpowered for good reasons that any bassist knows. It seems to me that USA-non-"ACC" and PRC-non-"ACC" are controlled by those who have little clue about the bass world, apart from the (commerical) low end and some pseudo-high end nostalgia trip. They do know how to milk a brand, though, uh sorta.
How sad. I wonder if the engineer(s) of the 301 cab are still alive, and what they might have to say about where the heart of ACC bass amplification innovation lies buried.
It's just my opinion but Yawn.
30 years out of the business and this is what they come up with? Seriously?
Could they take a look at Markbass, Tecamp, Genz Benz, Gallien Krueger, Warwick, many others, and get the hint that not everyone want's to buy their grandfather's amp?
Well maybe they'll get a small nitch market.
HEHE...Well, between you and me, Whippersnapper....I'm your Granddad....
Now, I love my Markbass stuff, no doubt....won't be getting rid of it anytime soon....but I WILL be checking out the new Acoustic stuff, as well.....that is if I don't keel over from a stroke or heart attack any time soon.....
That surprises me about the reliability issues. Except for the 360's tendency to shake the cabinet mounted power amps to bits, my experience with the 370 and 400 series amps I owned was always very good.
I beat the crap out of my 370 head and 301 cab and it never failed me in the 5 to 8 years I used it and that was at mostly outdoor gigs at high volumes. I also had an early (I think it was a 150 series) guitar amp with a 610 cab that I slaved off of the 370 to add some highs. I just turned the bass on the guitar head all the way down and ran the highs way up. Sometimes it blew speakers, but Acoustic always replaced them with no hassle. Even after they asked why I was blowing speakers and I told them what I was doing, they still replaced them. Later on I had a 400 series head with If I remember right was a 408 cab. It was a soild rig for the year or two I used it.
That was back in the "dino" days before x-overs and bi-amp rigs. We did whatever we needed to do.
Back then, the thought of ever using a 410 cab for bass
............ LOL
You know, that is a great point........"back in the day" (seems like yesterday to me!)...the thought of a bass speaker LESS than 15" was absolutely unheard of....my how times change...
As to the "unreliability issues" of the heads....again, I must respectfully disagree....as a general rule, they held up as well, if not better, than any of their counterparts out there - many are still going strong today...
OK, for you youngins that never actually used a 360 or 370, please read on. Sorry but this will have to be wordy as we have to use the "way back" machine and travel back to a time
long
long
long
ago ......................................
First some history.
Early on Fender had their Bassman model with 4 ten inch speakers which time has shown to be a great guitar amp but only a so-so bass amp. Then came Fender Showman amps with one or two 15's that were better but still not perfect. Ampeg made the now famous Portaflex series of bass amps that created the famous Motown sound. Two hundred watt 8-12 guitar stacks became the norm for large scale concert use and bass amp designers worked hard to keep up.
SUNN and Ampeg launch the next generation of bass amps. The SUNN 2000S was listed as 120 watts. Many believe these amps were putting out more than that. The 2000s pushing SUNN's JBL loaded and ported 2-15 cabinets were one of the best available bass amps at the time. Ampeg had their 300 watt all tube SVT pushing an 8-10 and was also right at the top of the list for high power bass amps. Marshall got into the act with the 200 watt Major series. All these amps were great amps and are to this day some of the most respected and sought after amps. However,due to their front loaded designs they still lacked the ability to project to the far end of the huge concert halls that many groups were performing in.
Enter the newcomer from Van Nuys, California. The Acoustic Control Corporation. They were sharp guys and saw the huge hole in the bass amp market. They were able to design a bass cabinet that could fill large concert halls with bass in abundance. The cabs were folded horn W-bin cabinets that used the new 18 inch speaker from Cerwin Vega. The cabinets would start to unload 20 or 30 feet away and just gained volume the farther they went. The first big rig from Acoustic was the 361 series, the amp made famous by Led Zepplin, Jaco, and others. These cabinets were so good at what they did that usually just two could fill a large hall with just minimal PA support. Four cabinets with the 360 head was 800 watts of huge bass power and projection. The word got out and soon the 361 was being used by pro players everywhere.
Acoustic Control not wanting to sit back and enjoy their success with the 360, released the second gereration of their monster rigs. These were the Acoustic 371 series. Rumor was that Acoustic was having higher than normal failure rates on the 360 heads and powered cabinets due to vibration. Acoustic applied major changes in the 371 series. They went to a more conventional head with standard tone controls, brite switch and a nice 5 band graphic EC. Power was all in the head with ratings of roughly 230 watts with a single cabinet (4 ohm) and 365 watts with two cabs (2 ohm). Big RCA 2n3055 output transistors powered these heads. Two cabs were the max with this rig. They coupled the new head with the new 301 cabinet, which for all intents and purposes is the 361 cabinet but without the power amp built in. These were very powerful rigs. The 301 cabinets carried warning stickers on the back of the cabinet stating the cabinet could exceed 120 DB within 10 feet of the enclosure. I can attest from using these cabs over the years that you don't want to be sticking your ears anywhere near one of these cabinets!
Concert PA's got more efficient and groups were able to mic and go direct with the bass to fill large halls. It was the end of the road for the Acoustic Control 360 and 370 series monster bass rigs. Acoustic knew this too well and made changes to the new 400 series to give a more full range stage tone with 15's being the norm for speakers. It might have been too little too late.
Bassist's were starting to apply bi-amp systems with preamps, crossovers, and stereo power amps combined with cabinets to get full range tone at concert volumes. DI outputs were added to power amps and preamps and the bassist could now go direct.
You no longer needed those powerful 18's because now a PA could fill a hall with ease. That my friends is why the 370's were dropped from the Acoustic line. IMHO
The 370 with two 301 cabinets was the setup that served me as my main stage rig for many years. The tone was LOUD, powerful, and solid with the two 301 bottoms. This is the truth, ask anyone who ever played through one. This amp will rattle your teeth at 50 feet away! I mean real chest thumping bass!
Don't get me wrong I love 10's now for bass, but find me a rig with 10's that will bust your family jewels at 50 feet away. Ain't gonna happen. I can stand 30 feet away from my current rig, a Genz Benz GBE1200 pushing an Ampeg 410HLF and an Ashdown ABM414T and it's loud and I can hear it but you really can't "feel" it. A 301 at 30 feet when driven at high volume pushes air that you can actually feel. Plus at 30 feet the 301 is just starting to unload. It gets louder further away.
I can tell you from over 35 years experience that in today's scene a 371 rig is total overkill and lacking in the tone that we as players have become to expect as the norm. Sure the 301 cabinet has tone, but it's a brutal low and low mid tone that was designed for one thing. Loud volume. My experience with the 301 over the years has taught me that it's a cabinet you can't finesse. It was designed to be played full out and sounds best that way.
If Acoustic is smart which I believe they are. They should be aiming at a newer more conventional line with 10's, 15's and possibly 12's as that's the norm these days. I mean they would want to sell product wouldn't they? There's no use for a folded horn type cabinet for stage use in the club or concert scene today (again my opinion). Even the most basic club PA these days has subs that will easily handle the bass direct so why do you need or want a 15 or 18 w box?
I could see Acoustic doing a vintage reissue of the 360 for those players who are into the vintage vibe, but who else would want to buy one? I mean you can get a modeling pedal that gets close to the 360 tone for way less bucks.
Just my .02. Feel free to flame or agree. Everybody has an opinion and we all can relate here.
long
long
long
ago ......................................
First some history.
Early on Fender had their Bassman model with 4 ten inch speakers which time has shown to be a great guitar amp but only a so-so bass amp. Then came Fender Showman amps with one or two 15's that were better but still not perfect. Ampeg made the now famous Portaflex series of bass amps that created the famous Motown sound. Two hundred watt 8-12 guitar stacks became the norm for large scale concert use and bass amp designers worked hard to keep up.
SUNN and Ampeg launch the next generation of bass amps. The SUNN 2000S was listed as 120 watts. Many believe these amps were putting out more than that. The 2000s pushing SUNN's JBL loaded and ported 2-15 cabinets were one of the best available bass amps at the time. Ampeg had their 300 watt all tube SVT pushing an 8-10 and was also right at the top of the list for high power bass amps. Marshall got into the act with the 200 watt Major series. All these amps were great amps and are to this day some of the most respected and sought after amps. However,due to their front loaded designs they still lacked the ability to project to the far end of the huge concert halls that many groups were performing in.
Enter the newcomer from Van Nuys, California. The Acoustic Control Corporation. They were sharp guys and saw the huge hole in the bass amp market. They were able to design a bass cabinet that could fill large concert halls with bass in abundance. The cabs were folded horn W-bin cabinets that used the new 18 inch speaker from Cerwin Vega. The cabinets would start to unload 20 or 30 feet away and just gained volume the farther they went. The first big rig from Acoustic was the 361 series, the amp made famous by Led Zepplin, Jaco, and others. These cabinets were so good at what they did that usually just two could fill a large hall with just minimal PA support. Four cabinets with the 360 head was 800 watts of huge bass power and projection. The word got out and soon the 361 was being used by pro players everywhere.
Acoustic Control not wanting to sit back and enjoy their success with the 360, released the second gereration of their monster rigs. These were the Acoustic 371 series. Rumor was that Acoustic was having higher than normal failure rates on the 360 heads and powered cabinets due to vibration. Acoustic applied major changes in the 371 series. They went to a more conventional head with standard tone controls, brite switch and a nice 5 band graphic EC. Power was all in the head with ratings of roughly 230 watts with a single cabinet (4 ohm) and 365 watts with two cabs (2 ohm). Big RCA 2n3055 output transistors powered these heads. Two cabs were the max with this rig. They coupled the new head with the new 301 cabinet, which for all intents and purposes is the 361 cabinet but without the power amp built in. These were very powerful rigs. The 301 cabinets carried warning stickers on the back of the cabinet stating the cabinet could exceed 120 DB within 10 feet of the enclosure. I can attest from using these cabs over the years that you don't want to be sticking your ears anywhere near one of these cabinets!
Concert PA's got more efficient and groups were able to mic and go direct with the bass to fill large halls. It was the end of the road for the Acoustic Control 360 and 370 series monster bass rigs. Acoustic knew this too well and made changes to the new 400 series to give a more full range stage tone with 15's being the norm for speakers. It might have been too little too late.
Bassist's were starting to apply bi-amp systems with preamps, crossovers, and stereo power amps combined with cabinets to get full range tone at concert volumes. DI outputs were added to power amps and preamps and the bassist could now go direct.
You no longer needed those powerful 18's because now a PA could fill a hall with ease. That my friends is why the 370's were dropped from the Acoustic line. IMHO
The 370 with two 301 cabinets was the setup that served me as my main stage rig for many years. The tone was LOUD, powerful, and solid with the two 301 bottoms. This is the truth, ask anyone who ever played through one. This amp will rattle your teeth at 50 feet away! I mean real chest thumping bass!
Don't get me wrong I love 10's now for bass, but find me a rig with 10's that will bust your family jewels at 50 feet away. Ain't gonna happen. I can stand 30 feet away from my current rig, a Genz Benz GBE1200 pushing an Ampeg 410HLF and an Ashdown ABM414T and it's loud and I can hear it but you really can't "feel" it. A 301 at 30 feet when driven at high volume pushes air that you can actually feel. Plus at 30 feet the 301 is just starting to unload. It gets louder further away.
I can tell you from over 35 years experience that in today's scene a 371 rig is total overkill and lacking in the tone that we as players have become to expect as the norm. Sure the 301 cabinet has tone, but it's a brutal low and low mid tone that was designed for one thing. Loud volume. My experience with the 301 over the years has taught me that it's a cabinet you can't finesse. It was designed to be played full out and sounds best that way.
If Acoustic is smart which I believe they are. They should be aiming at a newer more conventional line with 10's, 15's and possibly 12's as that's the norm these days. I mean they would want to sell product wouldn't they? There's no use for a folded horn type cabinet for stage use in the club or concert scene today (again my opinion). Even the most basic club PA these days has subs that will easily handle the bass direct so why do you need or want a 15 or 18 w box?
I could see Acoustic doing a vintage reissue of the 360 for those players who are into the vintage vibe, but who else would want to buy one? I mean you can get a modeling pedal that gets close to the 360 tone for way less bucks.
Just my .02. Feel free to flame or agree. Everybody has an opinion and we all can relate here.
If you ever had problems with reliability - it may have been a used unit that someone else did bad to. That - or a later Wagner Group unit. The old stuff was guaranteed for life.
My experience so far with the new stuff is that it also has a New sound. The extra clarity and definition.
I will agree that the recessed handles are needed. Ya gotta build them to move them. A good quality spring loaded recessed handle is now the industry norm. The spring loading and soft pad to prevent rattles naturally.
My experience so far with the new stuff is that it also has a New sound. The extra clarity and definition.
I will agree that the recessed handles are needed. Ya gotta build them to move them. A good quality spring loaded recessed handle is now the industry norm. The spring loading and soft pad to prevent rattles naturally.
am very attracted to the "new" vintage sound as well as looks of the 2x10 cab ziggy posted/described...I need a new cabinet which will be powered by my sansamp/qsc plx 1602 rack.
I am not a techhie but would deploying a 2x10 WITH a folded W 15" give you both clarity up close on stage(2x10) and punch/gut shot at a distance(folded w)? Supposing of course you need stage volume beyond the power of a smaller setup(like the popular combos appearing all over nowadays)...
Please don't flame me for my ignorance on this, just a thought...
Mark
I am not a techhie but would deploying a 2x10 WITH a folded W 15" give you both clarity up close on stage(2x10) and punch/gut shot at a distance(folded w)? Supposing of course you need stage volume beyond the power of a smaller setup(like the popular combos appearing all over nowadays)...
Please don't flame me for my ignorance on this, just a thought...
Mark
From what I can tell - the new USA line has something for everyone. The smaller cabs if you are in a PA - the larger if you are not.
The reissue 360 is going to be salty - but the reflex 15 should be affordable as far as upper end stuff goes. And - there is the 2x10, 2x12, 4x10 for the guys in PA.
Personally, both bands I am in I am not in the PA. I don't mind packing pounds. I bring different rigs to different jobs mattering on what I need fill. It ranges from a 6x10, 2x15, or even a 371! The latter is always an indulgence. But I drive a Ranger pickup with a cab to gigs and my old back can still move the stuff. Not the story for everyone I know - but while I can still have the fun I take it.
For the 2x15 lovers - an old 406 wide cab fitted with modern Emininece speakers is what I did. I rehabbed it from ground up. 800 watts RMS. That cab has a throw almost as good as the 301 in medium to large rooms. The reflex (301) gets to go when I am outside or on a tall stage.
And it is true what 60Bass said - that reflex 18 gives a "Feeling" that tells you what bass is truly about. Hell - just tell the soundman to keep his bottoms home
- Ziggy -
The reissue 360 is going to be salty - but the reflex 15 should be affordable as far as upper end stuff goes. And - there is the 2x10, 2x12, 4x10 for the guys in PA.
Personally, both bands I am in I am not in the PA. I don't mind packing pounds. I bring different rigs to different jobs mattering on what I need fill. It ranges from a 6x10, 2x15, or even a 371! The latter is always an indulgence. But I drive a Ranger pickup with a cab to gigs and my old back can still move the stuff. Not the story for everyone I know - but while I can still have the fun I take it.
For the 2x15 lovers - an old 406 wide cab fitted with modern Emininece speakers is what I did. I rehabbed it from ground up. 800 watts RMS. That cab has a throw almost as good as the 301 in medium to large rooms. The reflex (301) gets to go when I am outside or on a tall stage.
And it is true what 60Bass said - that reflex 18 gives a "Feeling" that tells you what bass is truly about. Hell - just tell the soundman to keep his bottoms home
- Ziggy -
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
The flagship Acoustic 1x18 360/301 cabinet was basically a rectangular box measuring 4 feet tall, 2 feet wide, and 1.5 feet deep. Laying on it's side, it JUST fit in the backseat of my 4-door 1970 Dodge Coronet 440--what is now called a "full-sized car," and which got about 16 miles to the gallon and had little in the way of emissions control. It was a different world, kids. Gas was about 40 cents a gallon in New England.
So assuming I want a 47 1/2" x 24 1/4" x 18" box (with wheels and handles) weighing, oh say 135 lbs, which should I pick?
1) A cabinet with a built-in power amp sealed in the bottom of the box?
OR
2) A cabinet-only model with which I can use my pre-amps and power amp--and thus my many years of experience selecting gear?
Gee--I wonder? Would I be better off just tossing all that pre/power stuff and dropping the scratch on an Acoustic 361 with an external pre and a built-in power amp--NOT. I know I never ever would. Like most bassists, I pick and choose from a mixed array of pre, power, and cab gear that I have in my kit bag, depending on my MUSICAL needs.
Yet, I might buy a 301-like 1x18 cab. No built-in power amp, thanks. Lighter, and IF POSSIBLE, smaller would be great, though size is much less of an issue than some may think, IMHO. It seems to me that if you can carry a typical 8x10, 6x10, or even 4x10 in a vehicle, a 301-sized cab will fit, and be easier to move than most of those.
I just pray that we are not witnessing the recapitulation of the death of Acoustic Control Corp.
So assuming I want a 47 1/2" x 24 1/4" x 18" box (with wheels and handles) weighing, oh say 135 lbs, which should I pick?
1) A cabinet with a built-in power amp sealed in the bottom of the box?
OR
2) A cabinet-only model with which I can use my pre-amps and power amp--and thus my many years of experience selecting gear?
Gee--I wonder? Would I be better off just tossing all that pre/power stuff and dropping the scratch on an Acoustic 361 with an external pre and a built-in power amp--NOT. I know I never ever would. Like most bassists, I pick and choose from a mixed array of pre, power, and cab gear that I have in my kit bag, depending on my MUSICAL needs.
Yet, I might buy a 301-like 1x18 cab. No built-in power amp, thanks. Lighter, and IF POSSIBLE, smaller would be great, though size is much less of an issue than some may think, IMHO. It seems to me that if you can carry a typical 8x10, 6x10, or even 4x10 in a vehicle, a 301-sized cab will fit, and be easier to move than most of those.
I just pray that we are not witnessing the recapitulation of the death of Acoustic Control Corp.
I had owned my (used) 360/301 for only a few years when the power amp started to go south. Rather than get it repaired I decided to ditch the power amp guts/preamp head but keep the cabinet. I stripped out the power amp, wiring and rear control plate, fabbed and installed a new plate from 1/8" aluminum, drilled and mounted a 1/4" jack and wired it to the internal speaker. I picked up a (newly released at the time) GK 400B head, and used that setup for several more years. That rig could push some air, and had decent highs as well. Sounded big, clear and deep.
Sorry, I was there had one my friend the other. They did not sound the same. It has been said and even by the reissuers that the 360/361 was the sum of it's parts.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Guaranteed for the life of that company. That company is long gone. The old amps lifetime guarantee is worthless now.
And that was the early day's of high powered SS amps, things have come a long way.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,614
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Actually, the 301 cabinet practically loaded itself. Once it was sitting next to either open rear door, it was easily tipped on it's side onto the seat and then slid in. Door closed, done.
There was essentially no lifting to get it in--yes agreed, much easier than a 4x10 like my goliath II, which even with a good hand-truck eventually requires a one man lift of 90+ lbs, though I still do that.
Getting a 301 out was almost as easy. The cabinet was slid out across the seat. When the wheels touched the ground, it could be stood up and rolled away, after a little bit of lift to stand it up from having one end on the ground and the other in the seat.
Hey, I was in my mid-twenties, but I could easily do it now. The hard thing was getting it up 3 flights of stairs at 3:30 am to my 3rd floor Providence, Rhode Island apartment. I stood behind it and hefted it up one step at a time. The recessed handles and wheels were rugged and worked well.
BTW, I never had any success getting a decent tone with one of those Polytone pickups with ANY amp or cab.
Here we go! The long awaited final.
Up to now I have only written about the speaker cabinets. As innovative as they are this is not all of the story.
The flagship of the new Acoustic USA is a reissue of the famous 360 that was used by Jaco, John Paul Jones, and so many others in its time. The new amp is to retain the classic sound of old but has also been engineered with newer sounds and styles in mind and will deliver. Sadly for me, it was not present at the time I was visiting. The 360 on the East Coast was about half an hour away getting some testing and refinements.
I did get to see some pictures of the preamp section. Russ Allee and company have done it again it seems. I am not an electronics tech but I do think I saw sections that look like discrete circuitry between newer style components. Discrete circuitry! Anyone remember what that was! Everything is cleanly laid out. From the comments of those who are techs this is going to be a great preamp. It is up and running on the prototype 360 units which are self powered cabs. Add more cabs and you add more power.
I know less about the rack mount integrated amp. It is to be about 400 watts into 4 ohms I think. That might be Small in the eyes of many. But vintage Acoustic fans have an expression of Acoustic Watts which is to explain why an old 260 watt vintage Acoustic head is louder than a 1000 watt head today. So considering how loud the old 370 that Russ Allee made so long ago was the 400 watt unit should be good for some serious thump. I hope so to be honest I am used to having the power of the SVT4-Pro behind me. I dont use the 1400 watts for volume more in shaping tone. To have a big ultra low and clean sound you need a big rock to sculpt that tone from. I look forward to a chance to try the new unit.
There are a few other surprises still in the making. I saw a 2x15 with a horn, an ultra light cabinet made of new materials, some 2x10 extension cabinets for the 360 (make it bigger yet!). The extension 2x10 cabs are different than the 2x10 I tested and wrote about earlier. Of interest is an acoustic (like hollow wood) double bass cab, something for you EUB and double bass guys. This is an 8x8. So you get a decent amount of air being pushed without going too large. I was not able to try that one out but did see one in construction.
Things were getting late and I was starting to blur a bit. I had gotten up early and driven many hours to get to Georges office. A yummy lunch, some talk, a couple of hours of trying the cabinets, more talk. I had that same drive home, so it was time to start packing my stuff up and get ready for the trip. To be honest I would have loved to be able to leave my gear and fool around for another day some. There was just too much to absorb. I am really curious what it would be like to use some of the combinations like the 2x12 on top of the 2x10 with the biamp thing. Maybe the extension 2x10 with the folded 15. More combinations as they get dreamed up.
Before going George showed me his own workshop. He has been collecting and restoring vintage Acoustic gear for a long time and in the process acquired quite a few knickknacks. One was an all but mint set of vintage Acoustic PA cabs similar to the 1x15 with a large horn we see on poles with many bands now. Old advertisements, bits of this and that. For those who like to rummage it was a treasure hunters dream.
My understanding is that for every cab I saw there were many more that were tried and tossed away. They are also working on another 1x15 extension cab and Russ is tooling about with a 2x15 cab that I want to line up and try when it is ready.
Once again these were prototypes. With the differences in equipment and styles we all have, different people will have different results. Your actual results may vary, dont try at home unless a trained professional, contents packed and settled during shipping, objects are closer than appear in mirror, yadda-yadaa.
As I mentioned when I started this series of snippets the experience left me on a bit of a personal high. I hope that by sharing it I can give you all a sample of what the trip was like.
Best,
- Ziggy -
Up to now I have only written about the speaker cabinets. As innovative as they are this is not all of the story.
The flagship of the new Acoustic USA is a reissue of the famous 360 that was used by Jaco, John Paul Jones, and so many others in its time. The new amp is to retain the classic sound of old but has also been engineered with newer sounds and styles in mind and will deliver. Sadly for me, it was not present at the time I was visiting. The 360 on the East Coast was about half an hour away getting some testing and refinements.
I did get to see some pictures of the preamp section. Russ Allee and company have done it again it seems. I am not an electronics tech but I do think I saw sections that look like discrete circuitry between newer style components. Discrete circuitry! Anyone remember what that was! Everything is cleanly laid out. From the comments of those who are techs this is going to be a great preamp. It is up and running on the prototype 360 units which are self powered cabs. Add more cabs and you add more power.
I know less about the rack mount integrated amp. It is to be about 400 watts into 4 ohms I think. That might be Small in the eyes of many. But vintage Acoustic fans have an expression of Acoustic Watts which is to explain why an old 260 watt vintage Acoustic head is louder than a 1000 watt head today. So considering how loud the old 370 that Russ Allee made so long ago was the 400 watt unit should be good for some serious thump. I hope so to be honest I am used to having the power of the SVT4-Pro behind me. I dont use the 1400 watts for volume more in shaping tone. To have a big ultra low and clean sound you need a big rock to sculpt that tone from. I look forward to a chance to try the new unit.
There are a few other surprises still in the making. I saw a 2x15 with a horn, an ultra light cabinet made of new materials, some 2x10 extension cabinets for the 360 (make it bigger yet!). The extension 2x10 cabs are different than the 2x10 I tested and wrote about earlier. Of interest is an acoustic (like hollow wood) double bass cab, something for you EUB and double bass guys. This is an 8x8. So you get a decent amount of air being pushed without going too large. I was not able to try that one out but did see one in construction.
Things were getting late and I was starting to blur a bit. I had gotten up early and driven many hours to get to Georges office. A yummy lunch, some talk, a couple of hours of trying the cabinets, more talk. I had that same drive home, so it was time to start packing my stuff up and get ready for the trip. To be honest I would have loved to be able to leave my gear and fool around for another day some. There was just too much to absorb. I am really curious what it would be like to use some of the combinations like the 2x12 on top of the 2x10 with the biamp thing. Maybe the extension 2x10 with the folded 15. More combinations as they get dreamed up.
Before going George showed me his own workshop. He has been collecting and restoring vintage Acoustic gear for a long time and in the process acquired quite a few knickknacks. One was an all but mint set of vintage Acoustic PA cabs similar to the 1x15 with a large horn we see on poles with many bands now. Old advertisements, bits of this and that. For those who like to rummage it was a treasure hunters dream.
My understanding is that for every cab I saw there were many more that were tried and tossed away. They are also working on another 1x15 extension cab and Russ is tooling about with a 2x15 cab that I want to line up and try when it is ready.
Once again these were prototypes. With the differences in equipment and styles we all have, different people will have different results. Your actual results may vary, dont try at home unless a trained professional, contents packed and settled during shipping, objects are closer than appear in mirror, yadda-yadaa.
As I mentioned when I started this series of snippets the experience left me on a bit of a personal high. I hope that by sharing it I can give you all a sample of what the trip was like.
Best,
- Ziggy -
I haven't come across many old Acoustic cabs for sale where I'm at so I'm looking forward to possibly adding a new Acoustic cab to the arsenal for use with my 370.
Hey a "new" Acoustic B200H costs $217.
I assume the B600H is 2x in price but is rated at 600W into 2 ohms (no mention on the Acoustic Amplifier site if the rated output power is stated in RMS, peak or program???).
The B600H could actually exceed the original design of the reissue performance - assuming that someone at Acoustic Amplification nows what the actual ratings are for their product
Please, no comments about "Acoustic" watts and how they sound "louder" than whatever. There is no black magic to this technology - let's talk frequency response, driver sensitivity, feedback design, burst power etc, etc.
I assume the B600H is 2x in price but is rated at 600W into 2 ohms (no mention on the Acoustic Amplifier site if the rated output power is stated in RMS, peak or program???).
The B600H could actually exceed the original design of the reissue performance - assuming that someone at Acoustic Amplification nows what the actual ratings are for their product
Please, no comments about "Acoustic" watts and how they sound "louder" than whatever. There is no black magic to this technology - let's talk frequency response, driver sensitivity, feedback design, burst power etc, etc.
