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Official Fender ACB Club
- Thread starter ghunter
- Start date
Fwiw, I've had all sorts of noise issues with mine. First it would crackle a lot everytime I took it out of standby so I changed the preamp tubes: it did the same thing for like one day and then went silent! Things were great for a week and then one day it was just a buzzing, humming mess - even with nothing plugged in! I was about to send it for warranty repair and yet the next time I used it, without moving a single piece of gear, or having anything different about the power or other electrical item nearby or anything, it was perfectly quiet again. And has remained that way for a while now.
Next time it acts up I don't know what I'll do.
Next time it acts up I don't know what I'll do.
When mine went haywire like a hornet's nest, I did take it in for a warranty check. It was one preamp tube. It's been great and silent ever since. The tech said he thought it looked like a pretty solidly built amp and should last for many decades. Factory tubes can be suspect I suppose, and I expect to look into some quality ones if my amp ever starts acting up again. I'll look into taking matbards suggestions..
I'm actually now using the same JJ tubes you are.
But I'll try changing again if I start having issues again.it did get better for me though so yeah, anyone having issues should check/change the tubes.
Hi Erik. I tried one in a bass shop recently and it was perfectly quiet. Unfortunately I then opted to purchase from another shop via on line due to $100 cheaper. Hummed on standby including in D.I. and line out. Not acceptable. Returned and the tech for the shop said it's normal (they only had one so not sure what normal means). Got a refund.
Should not hum. Return the unit not fit for purpose.
I'm not sure now whether to buy one now.
Should not hum. Return the unit not fit for purpose.
I'm not sure now whether to buy one now.
Yes mine is also have a low noise humming, barely noticeable when I'm plugged in.
How are you guys getting along with your ACB 50? Are you giggling with it?
I really love its sound and feel but I've fallen into a punkish band where I'm not sure it's the right amp. Probably half the places we will play would have a backline amp there and want you to use it to save time sound checking and between bands and our practice space has an Ampeg I've been using instead of brining the ACB. I also have the gear for tailoring my own sounds on my pedalboard and then running direct if that's the scenario.
So I've got a $1600 "practice amp" at home that I'm unlikely to use for rehearsals, or gigs, the character of the ACB is such that my presets on my board sound totally different compared to running into an frfr or power amp input on stage so I even find myself playing into a little 8" FRFR speaker in my room so that I can dial in what sounds will be more like at gigs.
I'd like to use it as my always amp but venues don't seem to be set up for bringing our own amps anymore.
What has been your experience?
I really love its sound and feel but I've fallen into a punkish band where I'm not sure it's the right amp. Probably half the places we will play would have a backline amp there and want you to use it to save time sound checking and between bands and our practice space has an Ampeg I've been using instead of brining the ACB. I also have the gear for tailoring my own sounds on my pedalboard and then running direct if that's the scenario.
So I've got a $1600 "practice amp" at home that I'm unlikely to use for rehearsals, or gigs, the character of the ACB is such that my presets on my board sound totally different compared to running into an frfr or power amp input on stage so I even find myself playing into a little 8" FRFR speaker in my room so that I can dial in what sounds will be more like at gigs.
I'd like to use it as my always amp but venues don't seem to be set up for bringing our own amps anymore.
What has been your experience?
Being that nearly all my amps are tube heads (and some old solid state classic Peavey heads), I eagerly tried one of these at Guitar Center.
It was the most "untubey" amp I've ever played.
The little cheap Rumble combo next to it blew it away. And, dare I say it - sounded MUCH more "tubey".
It was the most "untubey" amp I've ever played.
The little cheap Rumble combo next to it blew it away. And, dare I say it - sounded MUCH more "tubey".
I guess you have different ears than the rest of us because that hasn't been our experience in this "club".
Couple of things. I would not want my amp used as a backline (not that you said that). I would not want to use a backline amp instead of my amp. If I couldn't use my amp, I'd rather go direct to house through my pedal board and use in-ears as my monitor.
Totally get this take, and would love to roll that way in the future. In my/my band's case, its not currently doable - most urban gigs only have a small or limited/aged PA for vocals (and keys if you're lucky), and the rest of the band's sound comes from the backline. Love the medium sized rooms where I get to run a great sound direct and just use my rig as monitor.
I'm gigging it with 2 bands, an 80's cover band and an original rock band. Interestingly 2 weeks ago, the cover band was playing an outdoor gig with no PA support so I just put the amp back center between me and the drummer and cranked it. I'd never played it past about 6-7 previously but pushed it to 11 at this gig. Pretty sure the tubes got cooked nicely playing up that high for extended time, by the end of the gig I had to lower the volume a couple of times and there was a much grittier sound than when we started. The rest of the band even brought it up at our next practice.
Since then the amp (which I've been happy with the entire time I've owned it) has had more character and is easier to find the edge of breakup on the volume knob.
Here's a set from Saturday at our local 420 festival from the original rock band. We do have PA support here but I've got the ACB at about 7 for stage feel. Note that my extension cab is not plugged in as I forgot my connection cable. Sound is great on these videos, should be a decent help to anyone still trying to hear what this amp sounds like.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3y5mWwz6ljBwwI_DR2z8M59bgtd7CCa&si=gdmWRvX1xhoAavI_
Since then the amp (which I've been happy with the entire time I've owned it) has had more character and is easier to find the edge of breakup on the volume knob.
Here's a set from Saturday at our local 420 festival from the original rock band. We do have PA support here but I've got the ACB at about 7 for stage feel. Note that my extension cab is not plugged in as I forgot my connection cable. Sound is great on these videos, should be a decent help to anyone still trying to hear what this amp sounds like.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3y5mWwz6ljBwwI_DR2z8M59bgtd7CCa&si=gdmWRvX1xhoAavI_
Last edited:
the nasty rumor
Commercial User
- Nov 9, 2008
- 30
- 18
- Disclosures
- no current endorsements, but I do make my living as a music teacher.
I just bought one off of craigslist that had 15 hours of play time and no gigs, with a Tuki for 1400. So, 12 years ago I had a bad accident and now I walk with a cane and I can manhandle it while I wear a backpack gig bag. I also bought casters off of amazon because my local hardware store didn't have a matching set of 4 that fit the hardware (7/16" shaft for those of you who are like, hmm time to order wheels). I got a set of 4 wheels, 2 with brakes, 2 without, 3 inch wheels, and that makes it super easy to move.
Having owned all tube rigs before, this is the most transportable rig I've owned, although to be fair, I've never owned or transported vintage or newer portaflex combos.
So it gets my ADA seal of approval.
Can't wait to try it in rehearsal, and we've got a gig coming up in early may at a dive with not much P.A. to speak of, basically just vocals. So it'll sound like rehearsal, and I'm betting it's gonna sit in the mix perfectly.
Tonally, lots of usable tones from country, rock, funk, reggae, R&B, punk. I've run a Fender JMJ, 66 Hofner 500/1, and a Serek Sacramento with Novak Bisonics and coil taps through it. Flats on all basses, pick and fingers and slap. (I used to play a pair of Lakland 55-94s with rounds during my years with Liquid Soul through a Mesa Bass 400+, A mesa big block 750, and a mesa walkabout scout) I was pretty surprised at the slap tone considering I was using flats and the combo doesn't have a tweeter.
Maybe it's just old age and my changing tastes over the years, or maybe most of the high end sizzle in modern slap players tones isn't what makes slap hit hard. I dunno. I don't super care, as long as your tone moves you to play with inspiration.
But I'm digging this amp 5 days in to owning it.
Another thing to consider... I'm wondering how long Fender will keep it in production before it goes away and becomes a sought after studio amp and collectible. Thoughts?
p.s. this is my first post back after a long hiatus. I got hit on my motorcycle and fell off of a highway in Austin, which if you can manage to not die is a great story to tell if you're doing a kickstarter. So I made an album, went on tour solo, moved to the pacnw and played a lot of pedal steel. Now I'm finding my way back to playing bass, and it's pretty great. If you wanna hear my album, let me know, or it's on all the streaming platforms under my name.
Congrats on, well, all the things mentioned here.
Very glad you're up n running and getting into bass once more.
Providing its got enough volume for yr needs, sounds like it'll be a superb amp for you.
If I didn't have my V4B and Bassman 115s, I'd definitely be an owner too
the nasty rumor
Commercial User
- Nov 9, 2008
- 30
- 18
- Disclosures
- no current endorsements, but I do make my living as a music teacher.
Thank you! We had just opened up for Freedy Johnston's band a month ago, and they backlined the rhythm section for the night. I'd gotten to play through Tom's V4-B and 4x10. He gave me free reign to mess with any of his settings, and i didn't touch a thing. It reminded me how much I love tube tone, and that's when I looked into the V4-B, which got me looking at those newer portaflex amps and cabs. That's when I found the ACB-50, and honestly my first thought was, meh. Doesn't look as cool as any of the Ampegs. Then I started hunting on reverb and ebay and craigslist and found my amp. Had a good chat with the seller who had the PF-50 and the 2x10, which he'd also sold. I went over to his place, and first thought was... it's much deeper than pics lead me to beleieve, and had an understated but elegant look. Then I plugged in, and I think it's gonnna be loud enough. I mean, when I was playing that V4-B, I had to make sure to keep my touch light because it was just raring to go. We didn't get to rehearse this weekend, so I'll hopefully report back in a week.
