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Need a Combo

Count Bassie

Count Bassie

Supporting Member
Jun 10, 2006
16,783
64,482
Smithfield, RI
#1
I'm choosing between:

Ampeg HP115;
Acoustic (oldie) 136;
GK 400RB 210;
TC Electronics 115 combo- I forget the model #. Sorry.

All used, from $200- $250.


I'll be playing a single p'up Epiphone thunderbird, an old Hamer Cruisebass, and a Westone Genesis throught it. Opine, anyone?
 
#4
As much as people here frown on TC Electronic amps for their overinflated output ratings, I'd take that one out of the four choices. It's plenty loud, and way lighter than the others in the list. If I never had to move it, I'd take the GK (nice, but very cumbersome to move around.) I haven't played HP115, but I found its 100-watt sibling to be inadequate for rehearsal with a rock band in a small room. I don't have any experience with the Acoustic.
 
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#6
I have owned and/or played extensively through the TC BG205-115 and the Ampeg BA-115. Both were fine amps. The BA115 (older model) was the catalyst for my going all Ampeg a few years back, so I guess that is my answer. Never personally cared for GK and I have no experience at all w/Acoustic...YMMV.
 
#7
Hands down Acoustic 136, assuming it is in good condition. It is heavy and big, but is seriously loud and has a great thumpy sound.

I have owned or gigged at least a dozen and a half combos, the ACC 136 is the ONLY one, besides maybe a Mesa carbine m6 212 combo, that I have any respect for (see Sig.)!
 
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#9
Count Bassie said:
That's a heavy rec.
Click to expand...
If the amp and speaker are 100% good to go, and you can handle the size and weight, I think you will love it. All IMHO, YMMV, etc.

IME, they have casters on them. Weight is around 70 lbs.

Here is a manual: http://www.nilssen.us/files/acoustic-136-manual.pdf

Don't be scared off by the low power rating. I played a lot of gigs all over the Boston area in the mid 70's and the amp never broke a sweat. The music was blues, jump, texas swing type stuff. Not super loud, but we did some large crowed rooms. Later, after I moved to New York for grad school at Queens College, I borrowed another one from my roommate for numerous gigs.

I still want one...hahaha! A couple of years ago, I almost bought @Bob Lee (QSC) 's 136...probably should have!
 
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#10
Jim Carr said:
If the amp and speaker are 100% good to go, and you can handle the size and weight, I think you will love it. All IMHO, YMMV, etc.

IME, they have casters on them. Weight is around 70 lbs.

Here is a manual: http://www.nilssen.us/files/acoustic-136-manual.pdf

Don't be scared off by the low power rating. I played a lot of gigs all over the Boston area in the mid 70's and the amp never broke a sweat. The music was blues, jump, texas swing type stuff. Not super loud, but we did some large crowed rooms. Later, after I moved to New York for grad school at Queens College, I borrowed another one from my roommate for numerous gigs.

I still want one...hahaha! A couple of years ago, I almost bought @Bob Lee (QSC) 's 136...probably should have!
Click to expand...
Well the guy's holding it for me, and I'm about rounded up for the bread, so it's a pretty done deal. Glad to hear such a good report, and I'm going to the gym these says!

Thanks for the input, everybody!
 
#11
So. I went and met the kid with the Acoustic 136 today, gave him his asking price (250) for it.

The first thing I noticed about it was the single, oddly placed handle- one- on one side of the enclosure. There are not two, one per side. Odd, and distinctly not handy. Fine...

Got it home, plugged in. There are Treble and Bass knobs, no mid. I had an old Polytone 212 combo, same thing, was fine. Things have character, and it's very strong here! The sound reminds me of the 370, only simpler. The Acoustic 136 to the 370 is similar to the Trace Elliot GP12SMX to the GP7SM. Similar character, one is more complex than the other. The 136 is a stripped down, not as loud 370. I guess.

The sound is a little raw, not refined. It has a nice plump low end until it's run roughshod over by the simple 2-band eq pushed by A LOT OF VOLUME for a 100-watt combo! I'm going to be using the padded input I think...

There are two identical channels, can't really discern a difference between them. This is curious, but it's taken 60+ years for bass amplification to evolve to its current state, so it's kinda cool really.

I'll know how I did when I take it to a gig or rehearsal, you don't know til you hear it in a mix, really.

I'd almost gone for the locally advertised TE single-15 combo, kinda wish I had, but I stuck to my guns. We'll See! I'll be back...
 
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#14
20170508_192433.jpg
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I'm thinking I may be in the mkt for a replacement 15" driver for my newly acquired 136 combo. Seems to be giving up a nasty artifact when I bend a string or lean into it, at about 1/3rd volume.

I'll get the original reconed too, unless maybe a new one is just a better idea. Anything I should know about the tuning of this cab? I'm betting I can put a pretty wide range of drivers in there and have success.
 
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#15
Count Bassie said:
View attachment 1127766 View attachment 1127767 I'm thinking I may be in the mkt for a replacement 15" driver for my newly acquired 136 combo. Seems to be giving up a nasty artifact when I bend a string or lean into it, at about 1/3rd volume.

I'll get the original reconed too, unless maybe a new one is just a better idea. Anything I should know about the tuning of this cab? I'm betting I can put a pretty wide range of drivers in there and have success.
Click to expand...

Just found this, Link Removed
 
#20
Not sure if the trebble is passive or active filter, the bass is probably active I'd guess. What little I know is about more modern amps and I suck at tubes, although I did get shocked by my Pioneer when I was a teen :D That being said, you might be able to effectively boost the mids by dimming bass and trebble a bit and increasing gain or volume a bit. If the trebble is passive maybe it needs less cut, but you'll know by the sound, so I guess it won't matter.

So if you want to see old gray long hair stand up then turn to a big awesome afro, send it to me to work on and I'll video it.
 
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