NEW Acoustic 360/361

[JimmyM]

Aaaarghh! Please at least tell me this was after business hours, yes?

Ya, Saturday and Sunday.

 

[zon6c-f]

George Grexa President of Acoustic U S A .. a k a 'VETCHKING'...and I speak on phone and via emails ocassionally. If you call him..he will talk..Leave a message and HE WILL CALL YOU AND TALK..AND TALK.. That's how he does business..talks/ tells legendary and epic stories, in hopes of direct sales.

He and GC have a toxic relationship..all over the name and color scheme of a product. Currently, Acoustic U S A is not making any guitar amps, unlike GC Acoustic.

He recently told me he is banned from posting on TB because he has a distant nephew who posted favorably of Acoustiuc U S A iand nnocently on TB, after a product demonstration. This was perceived as a coy commercial posting by mods who discerned by his nephews last name last name..their relationship, THUS banned George 'for life' . Banned over misunderstanding...That's his side of the story and he has always played straight with me.


I too have been in question as to whether I need to change my TB status , to ENDORSER, but I have never asked for, received nor earned ANY sort of compensation..not even a T--Shirt.. for my postive remarks on TB for any products I enjoy using.

I speak freely, regarding my G C Acoustic purchases too, which IS WHERE icame into question. My love for my 2 G C Acoustic rigs may be 'blasphemy' to some, but I love 'em both..my vintage ACC 370 and G C . I have no actual experience in seeing or hearing a new Acoustic
U S A rig. Sometimes I include a non-endorser disclaimer in some of my posts t oavoid any conflict with mods..I respect and enjoy my priviledge to post on TB.

User/ Endorser band, Blackberry Smoke plays Atlanta very soon..but I can only afford so many shows.... Just saw some metal/ goth acts recently ..lucky to see any more shows before 2014. Fingers crossed for Bonamossa at our FOX...I digress..


I have come very close to needing to change my status and ....If I can ever buy a NEW Acoustic USA rig, then I will go into side sales..but doubt it will EVER happen.

Anyhow..that's why we don't hear from George. He does post on 'unofficial' acc site.. Not a fraction of traffic there as here..but it's pretty much an Acoustic entusiasts site..period. And yes other brands are discussed ....without flames...Generally much more civil than TB. Not even spelling/ grammer/ syntax nazis.

 

[BurningSkies]

That wasn't George's only playing frisky with TB rules. I didn't even hear about that one, but yeah, he was already on the radar with the mods and TB community.

 

[zon6c-f]

It was the only TB story he tells me... There's always the truth and then there's THE WHOLE TRUTH...

Frankly, I think George is a great guy.

However, sometimes I M H O ...he is his own worst enemy, regarding his passon for his products. He loves it sooooooo much until he 'loves it to death'. But he doesn't listen to me.

If he would hire..if he could afford to hire.. a dedicated promotions person and get out f his own way, he would serve himself better.. but it's his baby.. and his way or the highway...

Some time back, I saw a young guy who posted 2 vintage ACC 361 videos on youtube. If he would hire the same guy to demo his new Acoustic USA 361 and 361 m..he couldn't make and sell them fast enough, even with current pricing.

As for now.. lucky to sell one here and there at best, mostly because of pricing, which he justifys by Vetchking/ mathematics: average wage and cost of vintage ACC then, versus average wages today ..adjusted for inflation...equals same as NEW AC USA costs today @ allegedly $5,000 per unit .

 

[BurningSkies]

It was the only TB story he tells me... There's always the truth and then there's THE WHOLE TRUTH...

Frankly, I think George is a great guy.

However, sometimes I M H O ...he is his own worst enemy, regarding his passon for his products. He loves it sooooooo much until he 'loves it to death'. But he doesn't listen to me.

If he would hire..if he could afford to hire.. a dedicated promotions person and get out f his own way, he would serve himself better.. but it's his baby.. and his way or the highway...

Some time back, I saw a young guy who posted 2 vintage ACC 361 videos on youtube. If he would hire the same guy to demo his new Acoustic USA 361 and 361 m..he couldn't make and sell them fast enough, even with current pricing.

As for now.. lucky to sell one here and there at best, mostly because of pricing, which he justifys by Vetchking/ mathematics: average wage and cost of vintage ACC then, versus average wages today ..adjusted for inflation...equals same as NEW AC USA costs today @ allegedly $5,000 per unit .

Beyond the obvious problems of his personal 'promotional style'. There are a number of other difficulties with public perception. His brand is muddled vintage reissue v. new amp/technology, 3 way identity issues: Vintage v. GC brand v. Acoustic USA...

 

[BurningSkies]

PS. In this day and age, "Call, leave a message and we'll return your call with a sales pitch" is about the lamest possible way to do anything.

Baby Jesus invented the internet so I don't have to call someone to get info (over a period of days).

 

[CL400Peavey]

PS. In this day and age, "Call, leave a message and we'll return your call with a sales pitch" is about the lamest possible way to do anything.

Baby Jesus invented the internet so I don't have to call someone to get info (over a period of days).

E V E R Y O N E K N O W S A L G O R E I N V E N T E D T H E I N T E R N E T . . .

 

[zon6c-f]

I don't see any confusion with new Kustom vs vintage T-N-R Kustom or any other vintage VS new brands.

i agree there is stil obviously ..a great deal of confusion. from reading TB posts. Some people still can't differentiate between vintage, NEW USA and GC Acoustic..all 3 carry same name badge and color scheme..but none are the same entity.

Do people get Chrsysler/ Maseratti or Rolls/ BMW confused??..Vintgage Sunn vs Fender/Sunn?? ..same parent company...

ONLY when you DON'T READ.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I don't see any confusion with new Kustom vs vintage T-N-R Kustom or any other vintage VS new brands.

i agree there is stil obviously ..a great deal of confusion. from reading TB posts. Some people still can't differentiate between vintage, NEW USA and GC Acoustic..all 3 carry same name badge and color scheme..but none are the same entity.

Do people get Chrsysler/ Maseratti or Rolls/ BMW confused??..Vintgage Sunn vs Fender/Sunn?? ..same parent company... ONLY when you DON'T READ.

No. They use different company logos... Funny concept there. If you differentiate your brand on the lowest level, you nix a lot of that confusion.

 

[BurningSkies]

I don't see any confusion with new Kustom vs vintage T-N-R Kustom or any other vintage VS new brands.

i agree there is stil obviously ..a great deal of confusion. from reading TB posts. Some people still can't differentiate between vintage, NEW USA and GC Acoustic..all 3 carry same name badge and color scheme..but none are the same entity.

Do people get Chrsysler/ Maseratti or Rolls/ BMW confused??..Vintgage Sunn vs Fender/Sunn?? ..same parent company...

ONLY when you DON'T READ.

Let's see. Lets use the same name, the same colors and logo style, roughly the same physical design aesthetic and see why there's confusion. While we're at it. let's put out a couple models that trade on the vintage name, build and tone, with extremely similar look yet is a completely different amp. We should try to sell it using the reputation of that vintage piece, although its not the same thing.

Then lets make the phone our primary medium of advertisement. But you have to leave a message and we'll get back to you.

Your examples also make no sense whatsoever.

 

[Jim Carr]

I received (and deleted) unsolicited email from Mr. Grexa's business. Don't really mind that so much, but it does seem a bit improper, as the only contact we had was my two or three posts to his TB threads.

 

[Gaolee]

I get a kick out of George, but you have to have the time to talk to him, because he's an unreconstructed story teller. I did buy one of the new ones. It didn't come with a talent switch, so I'm still the same mediocre bass player as ever, but I still like it and don't regret spending the money at all. George is a quirky guy, and the marketing plan is odd, so who knows how long it will all last. I would like to see him succeed, partly because he's put so much into it and is so passionate about it. Partly because the amplifier he makes is different from just about anything else available new. I happen to like the way folded horns work, and used vintage Acoustic amps until the new one came along. Eventually, I'll sell the vintage stuff, since I don't use it much any more. The new one seems like you could throw it down a stairwell without doing much more than banging up the tolex, just like the old stuff. I don't want to find out, though. It isn't for everybody, since it is expensive and it is different. If more people actually knew about it and could experiment with it, George would sell more of them. It's a cart and horse thing, though. Why would a shop use floor space if they don't know if it will sell, and how would anybody know it will sell if nobody can play through it and see what it does. I'm not invested in George's company, nor do I get any benefit from talking about his amps, so you can take my opinions for what they are - opinions from some guy who plays bass and bought an amp he likes.

 

[zon6c-f]

Gaolee... [rikfenzon, here aka zon6c-f] I LOVE folded horns for bass.

I like George..unconditionally. I tell him I cannot afford hs new amp..no $$ .no raises in over 7 years... no gigs.. Means NO NEW AMPS @ $5,000. Next time we talk..same thing..and I still like him. I doubt there is anyone in the business as passionate.he just doesn't know how to control his passion.

I am so passionate until I sometimes include a disclaimer as well in some TB posts.

Burningskies..I get it..you don't like George..OK..your choice.

 

[Gaolee]

Folded horns are a different animal. I suppose it is a little like playing a Ric or a Thunerbird. You like it or you don't. Having a new one, even though it is the smaller one, and an old 360/361 is a luxury that I'm enjoying a lot, even though the old one doesn't get used much since the new one got here.

 

[zon6c-f]

I have suggested to George that he offer more variety..Why not do a 're-issue' of the Acoustic 408 cab?? Or...re-introduce the 'Sunn' 118-vh..only under his moniker if patents/ copyrights aren't enfringed...NOPE..Its either new 361 or 361 mini..or not at all.

Frankly, I prefer the old Sunn 118-vh over Acoustic 301..again 'blasphemy' and I would love to go up against a stack..tellthe guitarist to turn down or i will turn up to 3.LOL..

It's his company and run the way he runs it. I don't have the guts to start a music instrument/ amplifier company in this economy..MORE POWER TO HIM. I would love to see him succeed.

cl400 peavey...i would love to talk cabinets over someadult beverages with you some day. Come down I willbuy the first rounds. I would love to hear your ultra-light cab and watch your jaw drop when we fire up my 35 plus year old Sunn horn cab. We will both agree that yours wins on side of weight, however..LOL..

 

[zon6c-f]

CLARITY..I meant I would love to go up against a guitar stack..if I had a 408 cab...then threaten to turn up to 3.

The only thing better than (1) Sunn 118-vh is stacking (2) !

 

[BurningSkies]

lol.

...you haven't heard what his cab can do yet.

 

[CL400Peavey]

cl400 peavey...i would love to talk cabinets over someadult beverages with you some day. Come down I willbuy the first rounds. I would love to hear your ultra-light cab and watch your jaw drop when we fire up my 35 plus year old Sunn horn cab. We will both agree that yours wins on side of weight, however..LOL..

I would love to do a shoot out. If this post is even in the ball park for the 361:

Using the published data (FWIW), the nominal max SPL can be calculated as

Lmax = 103 + 10*log10(400) = 103 + 26 = 129 dB @ 1 m

Assuming 1 dB of power compression (not more; this is a horn loaded system), we're looking at 128 dB.

Then I got you by about 5db. Better bring two of those rigs.

 

[zon6c-f]

HEY SKIES..THAT'S WHAT GEORGE ALWAYS TELLS MEEEEE!! ..LOL.. Tells me I have never even heard my own amp..because I run a Sunn cab...and I STILL LOVE THE GUY..SIGHS..

OK...Now you are on my invite list for drinks some day..adult or otherwise. Our weather here, is either too hot, too wet, too humid or spectacularly beautiful.

 

[CL400Peavey]

lol.

...you haven't heard what his cab can do yet.

+1

I am getting itchy for a 15sub to add to my '66 too.