• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

new acoustic bass head

#101
Besides, the Kustom Deep End 200 seems to be selling for $299 and the Acoustic B200H is selling for $249. I'd be more upset if I went with the Kustom...

It happens a lot in the MI field. Heck, the Shuttle 6, GK MB2-500, and MarkBass F1 all share the same power amp section. The difference is in the preamp boards on each.

My guess is that the preamp sections are different between the Kustom and the Acoustic.
 
#102
Just curious,

Does the Kustom DE200 come with the same a 3 year warrenty as Acoustics and does someone as widespread and convenient as GC (Starbuck's of musical instrument stores) offer to swap out Kustom units with current or readily available stock, should anything go wrong? :confused::D

Play On!:bassist:

Bassmore
 
#104
CAUTION: Post below contains unsubstantiated mental mythologizing.

Maybe that's why I was unable -- and will probably NEVER be able -- to find a Kustom KBA115c combo to A/B with the Acoustic B200 at Guitar Center while I was in shopping mode.

Well, if there is gear-selection "censorship" going in, at least it's in our favor price wise!
 
#105
sevenorchids said:
My guess is that the preamp sections are different between the Kustom and the Acoustic.
Click to expand...
I would think they are more similar than not. The identical EQ sections probably means the EQ IC is the same, plus the Notch controls have nearly identical specs. I wouldn't be surprised if the two designs are nearly identical, power and pre.

Having said that however, I agree that it detracts nothing from the Acoustic products standing on their own merits as designs that are affordable and obviously work very well. :bassist:
 
#106
The picture someone posted earlier of the 2 together did make them look pretty much identical, I'd be interested to see a similar comparison of the insides of both next to each other, wouldn't surprise me if there were very few or no differences.

Lowbrow said:
red%20beans.jpg
Click to expand...

Kidney beans?! They're like healthy and stuff, wouldn't get THEM in a British chip shop! :p
 
#111
They aren't really personal preferences per se, the aluminium face will make it more durable, and the rack mounting will make it more flexible. You might prefer them without, but they definitely make it a "better" amp in a sense. You might prefer the sound of a beaten up £100 Squier Jazz over a boutique 3k Lakland or something, but you could say for certain that the Lakland is "better" on alot of levels.
 
#112
SwamiRob said:
They aren't really personal preferences per se, the aluminium face will make it more durable, and the rack mounting will make it more flexible. You might prefer them without, but they definitely make it a "better" amp in a sense. You might prefer the sound of a beaten up £100 Squier Jazz over a boutique 3k Lakland or something, but you could say for certain that the Lakland is "better" on alot of levels.
Click to expand...

Disagree, but understand what you are saying. I was drawn to the Acoustic head because of its "vintage" looks but bought it for its price and sound. Another rack mountable head isn't what I was looking for, so that flexibility didn't make it "better", to me. As it is, it looks a lot like the Acoustic 370 sitting next to me, just smaller. That's what I was looking for. The Deep End just doesn't register the same with me, visually. It's probably a good head, just not "better" for my purposes. That's why choices are great.

Haven't heard the DE200 vs. the B200H. I still think that the preamp's will be voiced differently, but don't know for sure. Don't care either, but that's another story...
 
#114
sevenorchids said:
Besides, the Kustom Deep End 200 seems to be selling for $299 and the Acoustic B200H is selling for $249. I'd be more upset if I went with the Kustom...

It happens a lot in the MI field. Heck, the Shuttle 6, GK MB2-500, and MarkBass F1 all share the same power amp section. The difference is in the preamp boards on each.

My guess is that the preamp sections are different between the Kustom and the Acoustic.
Click to expand...

You could be right, but the frequencies on each EQ knob are identical; it would certainly make sense for GC to buy a bunch of amp "guts" from the folks at Kustom and have a seperate factory pack them in their own, "Acoustic" style head boxes. Interesting. I have way more respect for Kustom's design department now!
 
#116
seamonkey said:
Well in that case - If I were to buy one of these, the Kustom does look like it's worth 15% more.
Click to expand...

And, if those things are important to you, you should buy the Kustom. I certainly won't try and talk you out of it.

I thought about about the term "better" last night. Some tout the versatility (fact that it can be racked) of the Kustom head as making it somewhat "better" than the Acoustic. But, what if I didn't want that? Versatile doesn't inherently mean "better". An SUV is more versatile than a coupe, but that doesn't inherently make it a "better" choice. It all depends on the application needed for the tool. A screwdriver is inherently more versatile than a hammer but, when I need to pound in a nail, the screwdriver might work fine but the hammer is the better choice.

If rack mounting is in your plans, by all means the Kustom is "better", FOR YOU. Me, not so much. Same with the other differences between the two...

Gotta love having choices...the fact that my choice is $50 cheaper makes it even better, TO ME. :)
 
#117
Sorry. IMO, all I mentioned, except being rack mountable make it a better amp, FOR THE PRICE.
As said vefore, the Al plate will make it more durable (aluminium is harder, stiffer, etc. than plastic). Chrome knobs also add reliability (I've heard of falling knobs in the Acoustic). And if I remember correctly, the transformator and cooler fan in the DE is of higher quality..
But obviously, all is matter of taste.
 
#118
seamonkey said:
On twist on this is I knew GC just couldn't design and build their own amps.
Click to expand...

Is this the end of the world? All of the design elements in a straightforward bass amp can be found in the public domain, or are provided by component manufacturers.

I do wonder if GC will change OEM on the fly. Future Acoustics could be yet another builder. House brands tend to do this over time.
Click to expand...

Name brands do this too.
 
#119
fdeck said:
Is this the end of the world? All of the design elements in a straightforward bass amp can be found in the public domain, or are provided by component manufacturers.[/quite]

And these are using chip-amps so the whole power amp board may be fully based on the chip manufacturers reference design.

The preamp is signed by the engineer so it must be somewhat original.

Name brands do this too.
Click to expand...

And no doubt it will be done more. Reinforced by people buying by "Name" and "familiarity" than really looking at the product and specs.
Click to expand...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back