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Official Fender ACB Club

#81
Cory rich40 said:
I myself don't understand his definition of muddy. He claims he hates mids on a bass and they should be turned completely off. He has said that they cause distortion when turned up high and cause an even muddier sound. I guess he thinks bass should sound deep and low. So I give up.
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I don't know about any of that. Sounds as though you need to talk to the guy about what it is he wants to hear from his bass player. I've played my 2010 MM stingray Classic through this amp and have been satisfied. Think Smooth Operator tone. My guitarist said something so cool about the new amp and my P-Bass that I will repeat it here. "It feels like I can reach out and shake hands with your tone" he said. I thought that was the greatest compliment and I completely agree with him. Tubes have that thing. The upper notes of my bass have a heft and ring true like I have not had before. Other amps kind of lose something going up the 12th fret on the G and D strings that this tube amp just shines. Think the bass break in Chicago's song Beginnings. Even the D800 into the Genzler 210 loses oomph when I go there. I'm rambling now so, Ill just say, stick to your sound and let the guitar player know he'll need to work with you, your set up and all until it gels. Or not, Da hell do I know! :woot:
 
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#82
Hot Rats said:
I don't know about any of that. Sounds as though you need to talk to the guy about what it is he wants to hear from his bass player. I've played my 2010 MM stingray Classic through this amp and have been satisfied. Think Smooth Operator tone. My guitarist said something so cool about the new amp and my P-Bass that I will repeat it here. "It feels like I can reach out and shake hands with your tone" he said. I thought that was the greatest compliment and I completely agree with him. Tubes have that thing. The upper notes of my bass have a heft and ring true like I have not had before. Other amps kind of lose something going up the 12th fret on the G and D strings that this tube amp just shines. Think the bass break in Chicago's song Beginnings. Even the D800 into the Genzler 210 loses oomph when I go there. I'm rambling now so, Ill just say, stick to your sound and let the guitar player know he'll need to work with you, your set up and all until it gels. Or not, Da hell do I know! :woot:
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I'll admit the Adam Clayton amp sounds better than my fender bassman 800 amp, and that amp sounds pretty good. I think he might need to play with his eq too instead of just my eq
 
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#86
Cory rich40 said:
Yes the rumble actually had a sound we both liked. My ampeg SVT has a sound we both love!! The ACB50 has a sound only I seem to love. Others have said it was midrangey though
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If i face same situation and i love the ACB50 myself, i will keep the ACB50 for band or self home practice use. For show, just let the SVT do the job.
 
#87
Cory rich40 said:
So my guitar player wants a deep and low sound. I can gather that much. Do any of you guys think this amp is capable of doing that on its own? Or is it just simply too midrangey?
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My guitarist: You need a deep and low sound, you're too muddy.

Me: Ok

Also me: turns around and boosts the high mids
 
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#88
I think you could continue to work to dial it in. Maybe A/B things at home instead of practice till you feel like you have what you're looking for then try it again. You have a reference to sit side by side. You might try Channel 2 also (I thought you said you had been using Channel 1) boosting the bass and keeping the treble low. What are you settings for Channel 1 that you thought had the right amount of low end?
 
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#89
Bass frequencies of interest...

60Hz - 120Hz = Low Fundamental

200Hz - 300Hz = Mud lives at this address..CUT IT!

400Hz - 800Hz = Mids/Upper Mids..boost for PUNCH.

1-1.3Khz - 2.5Khz = Upper Mids/Hi...Bite/Edge.

3Khz - 5 Khz = Hi/Harmonics...end of useful Bass EQ.

Above the frequency range is fret noise, hiss & static. Low-Pass Filter can make a difference, but no tweeter or turn it off should do well for many applications.

Below is the area you start thinking about that Hi-Pass Filter to chop off the energy drag on the amp, abuse of your speaker mechanics and rumble. If ya don't have one, get one...you'll be glad you did!

I've started negotiations to become an ACB50 owner!
Adam-Clayton-ACB-50-Bass-Amplifier-1200x800.jpg

:drool:...(I think I'll have them cook the tubes and re-box it!)
 
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#90
Just got an ACB50 "on loan" from my local music shop. Had been sitting in there since March. I played in the shop but you never get a really good idea, you know? I told them I'm practicing with my band on Wednesday and I'd like to see if it can hang. My guitar player plays a cranked vox AC15 and my drummer hits hard af. I've been using an svt7pro with a 410hlf and I haven't been getting along with that cab much. Some gigs I've used my milkman amp which is 350watt class d into an 8ohm 12" rear ported cab like here:


I'll report back on how it hangs with my band.
So far my home office studio impressions are;

holy mids Batman, with my p basses I have to nearly scoop all mid for my taste. In a live setting it might cut really nice though…
The DI is a little noisy, not ampeg tube PF transformer out noisy but still pretty noisy.
I wish the DI had a set level separate from the amp volume but maybe that's because it's a transformer out?
I got pretty great recorded sounds from micing the speaker with a 421.
The amp can get pretty damn loud! I've had an ampeg V4b ri and I could be remembering it different. It's almost as loud but maybe not as clear at that volume but it's not quiet, so I'm optimistic about playing it with my band.
It's got a lot of character! Cool amp for sure. It's not so so heavy, I'd probably use my small mighty cart to move it around Or maybe use casters.
If it works with my band I'll buy It if it doesn't I'll return it.
 
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#91
I had decided NOT to pull the trigger, but now have a smashing deal on an ACB50 and will be getting one as I had originally thought I would. The tubes will be cooked in, the amp gone through and re-boxed. I expect no issues.

I have a few vintage 12AX7 (Sylvania) and 12AT7 (Mullard) tubes to roll and checkout...just for fun! The only negatives I've heard are too much $, not my bag baby and if it were 100 watts maybe. I think this is a winner. Also started looking into a matching sealed 1x15" to go with it being made. :bassist:
 
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#92
Reporting back after my band practice. This amp is so badass. I had volume at about 7 on channel one.
Didn't have a bunch of clean headroom but in a mix the breakup CUTS!
My drummer, singer, and guitar player all said it's a keeper and they all agreed that we'll use PA/FOH support most of time and I can use my big rig when needed for outdoors.
Just for context this is coming from my SVT7 into a 410hlf!
Sure it's got tons of power but man if feel like I'm always messing with the eq on it to find what I'm looking for.
I do have an 810e and that's a lot better sounding but it's a beast.
 
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#93
@map34157

I was just talking to Roger Baer about a sealed 1x15" matching cabinet for the ACB50 amp. He advised some important information regarding considerations that put me back in front of FMIC door.

The speaker in the amp is not at present available and the analytical performance data on the speaker compartment and driver in the ACB50 was not readily available for extension speaker cabinet design specification for fabrication. However, I was advised that it would be mentioned to the product team.

While being a winner, it could be better with a 1x15" sealed matching extension speaker cabinet so that external speaker jack is put to good use! :drool:
 
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#95
Clearly, you can put anything with any other thing and it may work fine, but not exceptionally. But, having a matching, sealed design to compliment the ported cabinet in the ACB50, using the same speaker, will be the preferred method and will yield the best response if made correctly.

In the end, my point is, that the players buying this amp are very likely to be players that would want the max performance of the amp on stage, sound even better and look good doing it all at the same time!
Adam-Clayton-ACB-50-Bass-Amplifier-1200x800.jpg

I'm into the idea of making this the best tube combo!
 
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#96
@PhatBottomBass1 word, I like it man. What would be your ideal price point? I mean a $2200 50watt combo is a stretch for most. Take the amp out of it. How much does this 115 neo with no horn in a matching cab cost?
Ideally would you stack the combo on top of this cab? If so would there be place on top for the combo feet to sit down in. What would it weight? 30lbs? Would you just run the cab beside the combo? Would it have a kick back option?


Just dreaming out loud.
Fender, you listening?
 
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#97
I have to assume that the team put some serious thought into this amp. The cabinet is listed as a "light weight plywood", but I expect the baffle is probably a stiffer material (like the Darkglass cabinets.)

The cabinet in my mind is the same 24.25" wide and very likely the same 23" tall with the same cosmetic appointments. However, I think it would potentially end up being a bit deeper than the 14" that the combo is on the bottom. (It is 13" on the top) I expect 16"-17" deep.

Feet cups would be a nice touch, but was not in my mind necessarily required.

I think some type of side handles would be needed.

Rated the same as the combo with the same speaker.

1/4" & SpeakOn (or combo) connection. The reason is that there are many players with 1/4" to SpeakOn cables. (If SpeakOn to SpeakOn, then those players are going to have to get another cable.)

I don't see anything other than 1x15" sealed cabinet. It is about making this combo the best it can be, not everything it could possibly be...

The Fender Bassman 115 Neo (that has a tweeter) @ Sweetwater is $879 and is 26" W x 20.75" T x 16.25" D.

I think that's probably about right and it comes with casters installed WITH wheels. That could possibly be nice to have a set between the combo and an extension cabinet. Could possibly be a bit less without hardware, horn and material. It would be great to get the set @ $2999.
 
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