Do people not like Acoustic amps.

[charliefreak]

Acoustic was a pretty standard brand back in its day. It was used by the Doors and a lot of other rock bands in that era. It was shut down and resurrected 30+ years later as a GC house brand. A lot of people use these ampsbutfind them to have a lot of overtones in the mid-range, which is something most companies simply tune out of the cabinets, or actually tune to make it work. You'll notice that sometimes it's tough to hear half steps for this reason. The cabs just eat up so much of the tone that it's hardly worth it to me.

I think you'll be happier in the long run getting something a little smaller that sounds nicer. The majority of venues you play with either mic the amp or take the signal direct to FOH. You'll need more consistent tone or things could get muddy.

 

[B-string]

Acoustic USA has to pay to use the name and styling from Bain Capital (GC.MF) but actually was started by employees of the former Acoustic Control Corp.
It all gets confusing

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks JimmyM, can always count on you for an honest answer.

You sure can!

 

[garmenteros]

I have yet to play on one that sounds anywhere near as good as anything made by Eden or Ampeg.

That being said, I know they did a reissue of the JPJ era 360/361 ones recently. I'd love to try one, but man that price tag is brutal! 5k list.

I've tried the budget stuff at guitar center and didn't like it one bit. I own a couple of the vintage real deal acoustics and love them. If I had the cash to burn I'd have the new reissue.

 

[Jazz_bass2664]

The old stuff is awesome in my opinion. I use them for almost every gig. With the old acoustic amps, you really have to understand how they sit in the mix, you may hate your tone up close but in the band it's absolute gold! The new stuff is just kinda run of the mill. I prefer my GK rig if I'm looking for modern tone. Much better quality for not a whole lot more money. If you want acoustic, look for the old gear. Most of it can be had fairly cheap

 

[pica]

If you want acoustic, look for the old gear. Most of it can be had fairly cheap

How do I tell the old gear from the new gear?

 

[TheRealKong]

In the end of the 1970's I purchased a chinese copy of a Acoustic B 200. I owned a Marshall 118''-cab, a real big cab. The sound was poor, maybe noz enough power for this monster of a cab.

Short time later I gave a way the Marshall-cab and got me a copy of the peavey 215''-cab, set up with Elektrovoice-woofers. The sound was great - but...

Short time later I purchased a GallienKrueger 400 MB. now I had the sound I was looking for in that days.

Some weeks ago I had a gig in Munich, Germany, and the backline was on stage. I was looking astonished, because there stood two 361 cabs and one 360 preamps. The sound was great! I loved it from the start.

If this backline only would be a bit smaller... I am so happy with my lightweight but loud and massive sounding Tecamp L 810....

 

[Kmonk]

GC bought the name but the amps are not anywhere near as good as they were in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

 

[Bufalo]

I picked up a B115 Neo cab for a song a couple years ago and it's been a pleasant find. I've played some of even lower-end stuff and the really cheap combos; none of those were of any worth, but that Neo cab is great. Lotsa volume, not much weight, compact, good sound overall.

 

[B-string]

How do I tell the old gear from the new gear?

The old gear will say "Acoustic Control Corp." on the back.

 

[two fingers]

Ya, that's it in a nutshell. Decent OK stuff, but unspectacular. I prefer spectacular, personally

Pretty much sums it up.

 

[merc50]

I bought one online and it it was all scratched up and messed up from shipping and poor packing when I got it. It was loud but it just sounded horrid and I sent it back the same day I got it. I appreciate the no hassle return to MF but that was one of the biggest wastes of my time ever in messing with bass stuff. Loud fans, a buzz the MF guy could hear over the phone, and a horrid tone. I messed with it for hours and I cannot find much good to say about it. Maybe mine was just that trashed from the shipping...I ordered a GK at that point and was much happier. Sorry to be a wet blanket.

 

[Buster Brown]

How do I tell the old gear from the new gear?

Well, the "new" gear starts at about $5,000


The GC gear? Not so much.....


But seriously folks......

The "old" gear was built by ACC (Acoustic Control Corporation) in California. The "new" gear is built by (honestly I don't know) in China.

Acoustic USA is built in PA by George Grexa - Again the new 360/361 tops out at about $5,000

 

[Duckwater]

The Acoustic 360 is one of the best sounding amps I've ever heard

 

[Jazz_bass2664]

Totally agreed! The 320/408 and the 406, 106 and 402 cabs are also killer

 

[Buster Brown]

I STILL cart a 40 year old 370 with me in the truck. Use it for a backup and play it occasionally - that bad boy STILL kicks serious hind-quarter!!!

 

[jblmusic1994]

I have the Acoustic B200 combo. I seem to only be able to get good tones at low volumes. I can't get a decent sound when playing live with a drummer. It gets distorted and grumpy. I also have my friend's B200 non-combo. It seems to act even worse at high volumes.. Dunno. Could be a user error.

 

[Duckwater]

I have the Acoustic B200 combo. I seem to only be able to get good tones at low volumes. I can't get a decent sound when playing live with a drummer. It gets distorted and grumpy. I also have my friend's B200 non-combo. It seems to act even worse at high volumes.. Dunno. Could be a user error.

Nope, my B100 starts to fart when the volume knob goes past 5. Turning the master volume all the way up and keeping the gain low helps, but it only really sounds good at low volumes. I hate that notch filter as well, but it can be used to dial out some of the fartiness.

 

[Lonesomedave]

Ya, that's it in a nutshell. Decent OK stuff, but unspectacular. I prefer spectacular, personally

Jimmy....

you know i love you, and respect your opinion, but i have got to get my 2 cents worth in....i have followed this thread, and i also respect those who do not like the new generation of acoustic stuff, but here goes

first, let me say that i do not play bass....my son does, and relies on me to get him his rig

we originally bought the acoustic B450 w/ a B410 extension cab as the best combination of price and quality we could get.....bought it, used it, loved it....loved the sound

we have since added a Fender Superbassman/Ampeg Heritage 410 HLF to his arsenal.

we run it all....using a Universal Audio 610 as a preamp and a Radial JD-7 with Jensen Transformers, we run both the FSB and the Acoustic B450

what I did, I removed the acoustic amp section from the combo amp B450, and using boards cut to dimension, made it into a head, and using that, my son powers the B410 at 8 ohms (we put up the old acoustic case with it's two 10 inch speakers....we don't need it)

this combination yields about 275 watts for the acoustic and 300 watts for the FSB. using these two 410 cabs as, in effect, one 810.

the sound is fantastic....more than enough power from the amps (and power handling from the cabs) that he never farts out

love the sound, and i don't begrudge anything about the acoustic.

we bought it for both sound (that is, sonic) and financial reasons, but have kept it purely because of it's sonic contribution....i am very happy with it.

 

[FreeBassJunky]

They're good enough for Rudy Sarzo!