John Paul Jones and Acoustic 360

[B-string]

I had the 360/361 and giged it (even toured with it) for 6 years. 18" Cerwin Vega in a folded horn with the 300 watt class A amp in the bottom. The part specs were very tight in the power amp, 1% resistors, matched output devices ect. Any trouble with the Acoustic amps were due to sloppy or improper repairs. My amp even got rained on once, dryed it with a hair dryer and did the 4 hour gig after.

 

[chadds]

chadds,

I see you through 150-year old stained glass. And I must say you don't look much like June Cleaver. Nevertheless, I don't recommend that optometrists all start raiding old churches ; }

I think this is witty but I don't get it. "Splain it to me". Oh no a '50s reference.

For the record I was there before they blew that 150 year old stained glass.

P.S. How you doing bruh?

 

[pgk]

Could just check out the big DVD set from a couple years back.

seeing that set was a revelation. i've always been a huge zep fan but those discs knocked me sideways. for one thing they put to rest once and for all the ugly rumour that they were a loose and sloppy band live; everywhere here they are breathlessly, ferociously tight. my fave zep stuff is the 3rd and 5th albums and all the later ones, and the 1st, 2nd and 4th not nearly as much. just my taste. and jpj was the roux that held it all together. The Quiet Colossus, my god what an incredible musician. i agree that most of his live tone would've likely been di in those days, given the complexities of his live setup. any "mic'd" tone that may have leaked thru was likey bleed into other mics. and OH yeah, a freshly tuned up acoustic 360 (or three!) is still nothing to sneeze at, and you can't cop That tone with anything else.

jpj's most recent live setup was monstrous; 2 full stacks of swr 900' heads (16 tens) and two full stacks of marshalls (16 twelves). there was an very in-depth cover story on jpj in Bass Player around the time of Zooma, his first solo album. his rig both live and studio around that time was just mind boggling: 8 and 12 string stereo basses split clean/distorted, bass lap steel, and on and on. if you can find a copy of that record it will damage you, whoa....

 

[Vetchking]

Vetchking Here:
Buster Brown and others are correct.

Nothing and I mean Nothing sounds like the acoustic 360's.

JPJ and Jaco bought their amps. They and all the other greats could have had any amp they wanted.

Pick one up on Ebay or wait for the new ones.

2 months.............. Later

 

[KJung]

Vetchking Here:
Buster Brown and others are correct.

Nothing and I mean Nothing sounds like the acoustic 360's.

JPJ and Jaco bought their amps. They and all the other greats could have had any amp they wanted.

Pick one up on Ebay or wait for the new ones.

2 months.............. Later

No offense, but 'having any amp you wanted' back in the 70's is a VERY different thing compared to what is out there today

 

[Buster Brown]

No offense, but 'having any amp you wanted' back in the 70's is a VERY different thing compared to what is out there today

You know, you are absolutely correct. No doubt about it. I was around "back then" and it is most definitely true. The amp choices "back then" were miniscule compared to the availability of equipment today. No doubt about it.

STILL........

Everytime I power up this 370 - it literally blows my mind. Now, I don't know (and believe me - I have pondered this!) if it is merely the retro aspect of the amp itself, or if it is the FACT that this amp on (3) blows my 4Pro out of the water at (7)..both in terms of sheer volume AND tone.....I honestly don't know. But I am certain of this: I LIKE IT!!

Happy Father's Day to all of us who are Dads!!!!

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

My Classic Rock Band used cover Zeppelin. I played a 65 Jazz, Drummer played Ludwig Vistalite Drums and Guitarist played a Les Paul Custom - we got a great authentic sound. Not saying the 360 would not help - but don't think you absolutely need it to pull off the Tribute.

 

[KPAX]

Actually, maybe not so original - but you have to look outside the amp biz. And interesting you said Big Blue. That's IBM's nickname.
I always thought the old Acoustics had a certain IBM/NASA look to them. They even named them 360, 370 etc.
Coincidence?

IBM 370 computer system (1960's):

I always did like the look of an Acoustic amp. Even like the looks of the new B600/B810 setup. Fit and finish isn't stellar, but they still look nice. The colors were classy and original. Of course Peavey sort of copied the aluminum trim thing, but I always liked the Big Blue... OK so the guys who actually own 360/361 setups, how many cabs can be driven by one preamp head?

BOB

 

[B-string]

I always did like the look of an Acoustic amp. Even like the looks of the new B600/B810 setup. Fit and finish isn't stellar, but they still look nice. The colors were classy and original. Of course Peavey sort of copied the aluminum trim thing, but I always liked the Big Blue... OK so the guys who actually own 360/361 setups, how many cabs can be driven by one preamp head?

BOB

Sorry Bob missed your question....They said four but I heard signal degridation after three. Or maybe I had lost all hearing by then? That was a long time ago

 

[rbonner]

Sorry Bob missed your question....They said four but I heard signal degridation after three. Or maybe I had lost all hearing by then? That was a long time ago

You bet "B" since JPJ used three that's probably correct. BOB

 

[rbonner]

Actually, maybe not so original - but you have to look outside the amp biz. And interesting you said Big Blue. That's IBM's nickname.
I always thought the old Acoustics had a certain IBM/NASA look to them. They even named them 360, 370 etc.
Coincidence?

Yes I wondered if that would shock a reaction refering to BIG BLUE, and it did. My family's company owned an IBM 360 I forget which model, the largest 360 was a 165 ours was only the main 360 processor, a fabritek 65KB core memory module and 2 disk drive packs and a big line printer.

We also had 4 key punch units and TWO SUPER DOLLYS punching away. They should have been models not Key punch ops.

They wouldn't let me anywhere near it and i'm sure the idiots who ran it are all dead now and I have more processing power in my Blackberry than they ever had during their careers.

Ah those were the days, today .... well I won't go there.

OVER

KPAX are you a computer guy? In the business? If so I will tell you a story off line, she's a beut.

 

[pgk]

No offense, but 'having any amp you wanted' back in the 70's is a VERY different thing compared to what is out there today
__________________

it certainly is a lot different now, and that is Precisely the point my friend. that's why some people buy these 60's and 70's amps. nothing new will get that sound, and for some (like me) that's where we still live, the holy grail, and nothing modern will ever cut it. is a 360/370 my thing? no, not even close. keith ferguson manhandling a beat to **** Pbass with labella flats thru a wound up bf dual showman and a pair of thiele 15's, that's one example of what the ideal bass tone is. To Me. or the clean tone of a B15, sunn 2000s, svt flat back, or blonde showman with a 2-15 jbl d140 cab. different strokes baby....

 

[KPAX]

Haha we're off topic now.
I'm an electrical engineer and develop embedded software but you're way ahead of me on IBM knowlege. I just remember the old IBM stuff from tv when I was a kid and in pictures, etc. I got into playing bass before I got into electronics. Actually, bass/amps/etc got me into electronics, one thing led to another and I was studying engineering in college.
I made the acoustic/IBM connection years ago when talking to my father in law (also an engineer). He was an old hand with the IBM 360's and 370's and when he mentioned what they were called I thought what the heck? 'cause I always thought acoustic amps looked like old computer systems (minus the tape drive).
Anyways, sure - I'd like to hear your (off-line) story.

Actually, maybe not so original - but you have to look outside the amp biz. And interesting you said Big Blue. That's IBM's nickname.
I always thought the old Acoustics had a certain IBM/NASA look to them. They even named them 360, 370 etc.
Coincidence?

Yes I wondered if that would shock a reaction refering to BIG BLUE, and it did. My family's company owned an IBM 360 I forget which model, the largest 360 was a 165 ours was only the main 360 processor, a fabritek 65KB core memory module and 2 disk drive packs and a big line printer.

We also had 4 key punch units and TWO SUPER DOLLYS punching away. They should have been models not Key punch ops.

They wouldn't let me anywhere near it and i'm sure the idiots who ran it are all dead now and I have more processing power in my Blackberry than they ever had during their careers.

Ah those were the days, today .... well I won't go there.

OVER

KPAX are you a computer guy? In the business? If so I will tell you a story off line, she's a beut.

 

[chadds]

No offense, but 'having any amp you wanted' back in the 70's is a VERY different thing compared to what is out there today
__________________

it certainly is a lot different now, and that is Precisely the point my friend. that's why some people buy these 60's and 70's amps. nothing new will get that sound, and for some (like me) that's where we still live, the holy grail, and nothing modern will ever cut it. is a 360/370 my thing? no, not even close. keith ferguson manhandling a beat to **** Pbass with labella flats thru a wound up bf dual showman and a pair of thiele 15's, that's one example of what the ideal bass tone is. To Me. or the clean tone of a B15, sunn 2000s, svt flat back, or blonde showman with a 2-15 jbl d140 cab. different strokes baby....

+1 on the Sunn 2000s with 2x15 or 2 2x15 JBL D140s. Oh yeah.
If you turned it up it could lose that clean but yeah holy grail.

That being said, the Berg NV610 is a great original square back Ampeg 8x10. The prototype Berg IP153 with EX153 can do the 2000s thing way louder with no distortion. Well, visual distortion from standing in front of it. Just like the 2000s.

Yes, I was there and gigged that gear.

 

[KJung]

No offense, but 'having any amp you wanted' back in the 70's is a VERY different thing compared to what is out there today
__________________

it certainly is a lot different now, and that is Precisely the point my friend. that's why some people buy these 60's and 70's amps. nothing new will get that sound, and for some (like me) that's where we still live, the holy grail, and nothing modern will ever cut it. is a 360/370 my thing? no, not even close. keith ferguson manhandling a beat to **** Pbass with labella flats thru a wound up bf dual showman and a pair of thiele 15's, that's one example of what the ideal bass tone is. To Me. or the clean tone of a B15, sunn 2000s, svt flat back, or blonde showman with a 2-15 jbl d140 cab. different strokes baby....

Different strokes, as you say. Nothing wrong with that. I agree, that some of this stuff turned down at very low volumes sounds a bit like the newer stuff

IME, the 'clean tone' of a Showman with a pair of 2 x 115 D140 loaded cabs is about as loud as a GKMB150 micro combo! However, if you like distortion (or if you are using it in a studio at low volumes for that wonderful, fat, clean tube tone), I totally understand the love for this stuff. I also get the love for the old tube loaded stuff (far be it from me to diss an SVT or B-15), really. The love for the old solid state stuff TOTALLY eludes me, though. I really just don't get that at all. IMO!

 

[JimmyM]

As much as I agree with you Ken, i.e. the new SS amps blow away the old ones, I can see the appeal of the old Acoustics. It's a sound I really haven't heard duplicated by modern stuff. Even the Acoustic 136 combo I bought when I was 16 has that sound, and I've yet to hear it in any other amp besides Acoustic. AMP and GK came close, but didn't quite hit it IMHO. Plus nobody's ever going to build cabs like the old Acoustic cabs again, probably not even new Acoustic. The only reason I like solid state at all is because the sound has gotten way closer to the sound of tube amps in recent years, which was never Acoustic's thing.

 

[Hawaii Islander]

Different strokes, as you say. Nothing wrong with that. I agree, that some of this stuff turned down at very low volumes sounds a bit like the newer stuff

IME, the 'clean tone' of a Showman with a pair of 2 x 115 D140 loaded cabs is about as loud as a GKMB150 micro combo! However, if you like distortion (or if you are using it in a studio at low volumes for that wonderful, fat, clean tube tone), I totally understand the love for this stuff. I also get the love for the old tube loaded stuff (far be it from me to diss an SVT or B-15), really. The love for the old solid state stuff TOTALLY eludes me, though. I really just don't get that at all. IMO!

It may have to do with the analog circuitry of the older gear versus the digital circuitry of todays gear.

My stint in the US Air Force as a Ground Radio Maintenance Repair Specialist occurred during the late 70's and early eighties and most of my experience was with tube and analog solid state gear. High current analog versus low current solid state (digital) audio gear is still a topic of dicussion in the HiFi audio world. Same could apply to bass amplification.

 

[user362432]

I cannot stand LZ.

Probably, because Plant always sounded like someone was twisting his b@ll$. I tried to watch mentioned DVD (I have it) and after 2 minutes I turned it down.

 

[marmadaddy]

I'd stay far, far away from an original Acoustic 360. The electronics really were unreliable by today's standards. I would never trust one today in a gigging situation. I tried using two different ones in the early 80's. Noisy and unreliable were the only way to describe them.

If the look is absolutely necessary and the budget is there I'd use a dummy Acoustic head with the real amp hidden somewhere.

 

[Wolfehollow]

My cab just caught on fire the other day... but thats for another thread...