NOAD (new-old-amps-day)

[johnk_10]

just started cleaning up a few old acoustic control corp pieces today. i got the two 408 (4x15) cabs a little over a week ago, recently purchased a 220 head, and friday my 370 head arrived. this tuesday, a 320 should be delivered.

i used to gig with a 320/408 from '81-'83 (previously had 370/301 and 360/301 rigs), but the 320/408 was my fave of them all. i was listening to some old (early 80's) live nightclub recordings of my tone last week, while i was using the 320 and just got the bug to get another one.

i gotta say, the 408 cab sounds ridiculously good, especially outdoors (with either the 220 or the 370 head), and can get super loud, fat and punchy. i've found that outdoors most cabs can sound a little small and distorted sounding since there's no boundaries to reflect off of, but a 408 doesn't fit into that category. i was playing my bass out in my driveway and, standing about 6 feet back from the cab, i could literally feel our concrete driveway slightly vibrating. pretty incredible considering my '77 220 head is only 160 watts @ 2ohms. it's easily as loud as any of my modern 500 watt heads, and when you push it into distortion, it gets grindy like a tube amp, as opposed to the usual (ugly) sound of a SS amp clipping.

enough talk, here some pics......now i gotta just find a way to haul one of 'em to my next gig since it's definitely not going to fit in my car!). BTW, one of these 4x15 408 cabs even makes my ampeg 810 look (and sound) kinda small.

 

[colcifer]

Sweet! Can you post that recording for us?

 

[rodl2005]

Gee John, ya don't believe in doing anything just halfway do ya? ;-p

 

[MOTORHEADBANGER]

Ladies and Gentlemen, the true sound of thunder.

 

[johnk_10]

Gee John, ya don't believe in doing anything just halfway do ya? ;-p

i guess not.

...................................................but it sure is fun.

 

[B-string]

Sometimes....I think........I hate you??

 

[paganjack]

As always, John, that stuff looks AMAZING!

 

[johnk_10]

well, in this day and age of great sounding and powerful featherweight micro heads and cabs, (at my old age), i thought that i would never get another behemoth of a rig like this again, but i gotta say, there is something definitely really special about these old monsters, and i've yet to hear anything that can come close to it's fullness and punch.
impractical? yes, but it really is something to experience again...... it confirms my belief that they actually got it right years ago.

 

[Korladis]

Sometimes the impractical rigs are just way more awesome.

 

[DeathFromBelow]

My God... It's full of stars!

 

[Buster Brown]

I've said this many times - and I stand by it to this day - the Acoustic 370 is, IMO, the finest SS amp that was produced "back in the day".

I carry one as a back and every now and again, I play it live and I can find absolutely nothing but good things to say for this 40 year old amp. Sounds like a million bucks!

Great looking rigs you have there!!!

 

[johnk_10]

I've said this many times - and I stand by it to this day - the Acoustic 370 is, IMO, the finest SS amp that was produced "back in the day".

I carry one as a back and every now and again, I play it live and I can find absolutely nothing but good things to say for this 40 year old amp. Sounds like a million bucks!

Great looking rigs you have there!!!

thanks! yeah, i've always loved 370's too (and still do). i also find the 320 to be just as good, and maybe even a little bit better.

 

[Buster Brown]

Oh...and BTW....I'm not sure how the heck you keep your rigs looking so damn good, but hats off to you!!!

I had to retolex my 370 and add new corners, but she looks new now!!

again, great looking rigs!!! The micro stuff (obviously) has it's place today, but nothing beats the look (and sound) of the old "big dogs"!!!

Have a good one!

 

[beebassdude]

john - im getting a 408 on saturday and wanted to replace the speakers in it. what in your opinion is my best bet for 4 killer 15 inch drivers? i started a thread as well if youd like to respond in there. thanks dude!

 

[johnk_10]

if the original speakers work fine, i'd leave them in it since they sound awesome stock, but IMO, an eminence CB15 would work well. IMO, a delta 15A would probably be another option.

and IMO, four jbl k140's would be the ultimate.

 

[KramerBassFan]

Any reason why you are buying a ton of ACC stuff?

 

[Lazarus.Bird]

Holy smokes do those look clean and awesome. Did you mostly buy them that way or did you have to do some restoration work?

 

[johnk_10]

i had been looking for a 408 cab for over a year and basically had to wait until one was available locally since they're too big and expensive to ship for most people. i only wanted one 408, but these two 408's came delivered from the same guy for a ridiculously low price, and the deal included the 220 head. i bought a 320 head since i used have a couple of them and regret selling the last one that i had, plus that's the head that came origianlly paired with a 408. and i've always the loved 370's that i've owned in the past.

i'll probably end up selling the 220 and one of the 408's since they take up so much room, but right now i'm digging having all of the ACC pieces.

 

[johnk_10]

Holy smokes do those look clean and awesome. Did you mostly buy them that way or did you have to do some restoration work?

on the cabs, i just cleaned them up. on the 220 head, it was covered with carpet, so i stripped it, sanded its plywood box, retolexed it and installed new corners, feet and the white strip on the bottom front of the cab.
the 370 head is the way that i got it, but i had to repair one pot (midrange) and then cleaned it up.

 

[skullservant]

Those cabs look great. Great finds!