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how does acoustic compare to ampeg?

T

TerrorRhythm

Sep 3, 2009
129
0
Long Island
#1
I bought an acoustic stack a few months ago because my old rig had a complete meltdown and I needed something cheap fast.

The price was right and the GC salesperson told me they were basically ampeg guts and some parts even came from the same factory. I haven't been able to verify this.

Anyone know more?
 
#2
A GC sales person would be the last person you should get your information from. Countless number of the times I found myself proven to be right on this, not all of them were good experiences.

That being said, I wouldn't surprised if this is indeed right. Ampeg moved production to overseas recently and there are actually limited number of factories who can take on the job.
 
#3
Acoustic is nice stuff at a good price, but it still ain't Ampeg. I like the sound of some of the stuff Acoustic is making, but even the foreign Ampeg stuff is still Ampeg and it's still way better.
 
#6
GC Acoustic stuff is is currently made by Kustom
But GC can change their mind at any time. That's how house brands work.
In my observation GC seems to be providing a good warranty and service on these. If they sound good to you. and you don't mind the MDF and weight, they look to be a good deal.

"Acoustic USA" yet to be released, looks planned to be made by "Acoustic USA" but business plans being what they are, who knows what will actually happen if/when they ship.. don't hold your breath.
 
#13
My beef with the newer acoustic stuff - I stuck my head in the smaller combos when I checked them out at GC, and every one of them had one frequency range where something was rattling or distorted - making them useless for recording. I've also checked out the new small ampeg combos - I don't love their sound at all. but they at least were fairly even top to bottom with no wierd noise.

I have a 35+ year old all-tube ampeg SB12 that I wouldn't hesitate to take into any session...but they don't make 'em like that anymore.
 
#14
nysbob said:
My beef with the newer acoustic stuff - I stuck my head in the smaller combos when I checked them out at GC, and every one of them had one frequency range where something was rattling or distorted - making them useless for recording. I've also checked out the new small ampeg combos - I don't love their sound at all. but they at least were fairly even top to bottom with no wierd noise.

I have a 35+ year old all-tube ampeg SB12 that I wouldn't hesitate to take into any session...but they don't make 'em like that anymore.
Click to expand...
Funny you mention rattles and fliptops, Bob...with one exception (my Vintage Blue double baffle repro), I spend a good 2-3 days chasing down rattles with any fliptop or extension cab I've bought. Once you get them happening, they're bulletproof, but it always takes a while. Did you have that same deal when you got yours?

Next time I go to GC, I'll have to plug into a couple Acoustic cabs and see if they rattle. I can't remember if they did or not.
 
#18
Dinosaur implies that nobody uses them anymore. I sure see a lot of SVT's on pro stages, so there goes that theory. Acoustic might have been a dinosaur, but I'll reserve judgment until the Acoustic USA line is out for a couple years.

BTW, it took you 3 days to explain a very obvious joke that I only pretended not to get? ;)
 

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