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The Acoustic Club

#3,661
The 450 & 470 were different animals from most other musical instrument amplifiers of the time. According to Russ A., they were designed by Ed Miller who had worked previously at Sherwood and audiophile hi-fi amp maker SAE. He had a unique output design that created a different response and sound character. I've always considered them to have the most tube-like sound of any SS amps I've ever heard.

OTOH, the 220 sounds much more like other Acoustic amps to me... My 220 sounds almost identical to my 370 and 270 amps and very similar to my 320 & 330.
 
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#3,662
JacklegBass said:
The 450 & 470 were different animals from most other musical instrument amplifiers of the time. According to Russ A., they were designed by Ed Miller who had worked previously at Sherwood and audiophile hi-fi amp maker SAE. He had a unique output design that created a different response and sound character. I've always considered them to have the most tube-like sound of any SS amps I've ever heard.

OTOH, the 220 sounds much more like other Acoustic amps to me... My 220 sounds almost identical to my 370 and 270 amps and very similar to my 320 & 330.
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That's good to know. I've been gassing for a 370 head, but if there isn't a great difference in tone, I'll stick with my 220.
It's in great shape, and is plenty loud enough.
 
#3,663
The main differences are that the 220 and 370 have different EQ slider frequencies and you can bypass the 220's EQ section with a footswitch for a slightly cleaner sound. I don't push mine that hard, so I can't speak to their character when they start to overdrive -- but I doubt it would be much different.
 
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#3,664
JacklegBass said:
The main differences are that the 220 and 370 have different EQ slider frequencies and you can bypass the 220's EQ section with a footswitch for a slightly cleaner sound. I don't push mine that hard, so I can't speak to their character when they start to overdrive -- but I doubt it would be much different.
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I noticed the different slider frequencies and wondered if they were change to give the amps a more "modern" sound and response. That was when people were switching over to round wounds, slapping was getting really popular and that scooped mid range thing was coming in. But thats just an assumption on my part. I thought the 370 would give me a more vintage sound, but I trust your take on tone.:thumbsup:
 
#3,665
@JacklegBass 's avatar isn't helping anything out either. Love this ACC stuff!

Man that 450 and cab would look great with the rest of the bunch. Anybody know what model number that 612 is?
IMG_0212.JPG
 
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#3,669
10cc said:
Oh you want the full Monty
View attachment 2787733
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Oh, My, Goodness! That is insane! Loving the tuck and roll on those Kustoms!
You have it all Sir!
The only thing I have to throw into the fray is this: The first ever Eden Bass amp. The VT 40.
Demeter designed tube pre-amp, solid state power amp.
To me it's the only bass amp that compares with ACC.
The sound of this thing is smack dab in-between ACC and Ampeg.

KIMG0712.JPG
 
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#3,670
Syncopation,

I don't like making definitive statements about the sound of amps because it's so subjective and there will always be subtle differences between vintage heads even when comparing two of the same model due to component value variances that drift due to age. IOW, my 220 might sound slightly different than yours. That said, the 220 and 370 are similar enough that either should make you plenty happy. I don't consider either one to have more of a vintage vibe than the other, but YMMV and it all comes down to the condition of the amps.

In the end the decision should probably come down to EQ, assuming you plan to use the onboard EQ. The 370 sounds great with a front loaded 2x15 cabinet, but its five very low-frequency graphic EQ bands is ideal for fine-tuning low end response when using with a 301 folded horn cabinet where higher frequencies are basically wasted. For other cabinets it's more a matter of personal taste, whether you want higher EQ frequencies and the ability to bypass and remove the EQ board from the signal path.

If you like the higher frequency EQ, then another possibility is to look for a 270... it's basically a 370 with EQ bands more similar to the 220.

370 EQ Center Frequencies: 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 Hz
270 EQ Center Frequencies: 80, 160, 320, 640, 1250 Hz
220 EQ Center Frequencies: 70, 125, 350, 820, 2000 Hz
 
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#3,671
JacklegBass,
Where does the noble 120 fit into the voicing landscape? generally speaking.

I currently own a very clean 120 head and a 270 I'm dying to test drive, but is incarcerated at my tech.

My current player/collector gas fascination is the 320/330 head.

I run these into a single rear scoop design 80's Peavey cab loaded with a 300 watt 4 ohm Emenince or my prize 406 wide with original white domes. I've also had great fun using my 126 combo live.

I'm using this vintage stuff for authenticity in a band playing primarily 50's-70's. I'm glad I have that justification because I also love to spend hours 'tinkering' with this stuff at home.
 
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#3,672
10cc said:
@JacklegBass 's avatar isn't helping anything out either. Love this ACC stuff!
Click to expand...


Well this bigger view definitely won't help....

Acoustic_Collection_final_full_1024.jpg


Doesn't include my AMP BH-420 and BH-260 amps, both which are also Russ Allee gems.

Confession... the blue logo strip across the top of one of the model 404 1x15 cabinets is photoshopped until I finish with a replica I'm making.
 
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#3,673
ghostinthemach said:
JacklegBass,
Where does the noble 120 fit into the voicing landscape? generally speaking.
Click to expand...

I don't have a service manual or owners manual for the 120, but based on the front panel I'd wager it has the same preamp and EQ boards as the higher-power 220 and should sound very much like it tonally.


***If anyone has a PDF they'd like to share of the Owners Manual for the 220, Owners Manual for the 120, or Service Manual for the 120, please let me know.
 
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#3,674
The 404 is a great cab. I have one and wish a second. If you want to get really sick you can stack it on a 402 for a 3x15 :)

Speaking of - a second 402 would be nice. I like the 406 wide cabs better for tone. But the 402 is nicely portable and has a great throw.
 
#3,675
ZiggyDude said:
The 404 is a great cab. I have one and wish a second.
Click to expand...

Agreed!

Q: Does your 404 have the original 4 ohm driver?

I've got an original driver in one 404, and the other cab has the more common 8-ohm driver that Acoustic used in its 2x15" cabs. To me, the 8-ohm driver sounds much fuller... I suspect there may be some air leakage and I should re-dope the cloth surround on the 4-ohm driver. Would love to know if that's an original driver that sounds so good to you.
 
#3,677
GreaserMatt said:
I think I'm having problems with my 330 & my 140; the 330 doesn't get loud (like enough for band practice) no matter how high I turn the volume up; the 140 has a channel that fades when I play it; the other channel seems ok though...
Click to expand...


Both could be any number of things, but since you didn't mention smoke, blowing fuses, or heavy distortion then that's a good sign that there's no major problem with either.

There could be any number of things causing the gain problems with your 330. With amps that old I always try exercising all the 1/4" I/O jacks front panel *and* back by briskly/furiously plugging an instrument cord in and out with the amp off. The low-level rear panel jacks on the 320 and 330 can be very touchy in particular as they oxidize with age. Other things to try would be to alternately plug your bass directly into channel A and then B to bypass the combined input jack, or patching a different preamp into the power amp input on the back. If the gain is still too low, a tech may need to open it up and make an adjustment to the power amp board.

The problem with the one channel of the 140 sounds like it's going to require a tech, but if the other channel works fine then that's a very good sign that the power amp section is in good shape.
 
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#3,678
acoustic 136 combo question for you speaker/science guys: the 136 has a single 15" driver, mine has been fitted with an Eminence CA-154, the closest thing in existence to the original driver. At band rehearsal, I'm not being heard sufficiently (well truth is I'm between two drummers, and being sent through a gauntlet of two or more guitars and keys in a smallish room, lol). My question is can the cab's baffle and driver be swapped out (I'm a carpenter) for a new baffle bearing a pair of 10s, instead of the single 15? I'm thinking more air being sent out might make a difference, as well as the coupling effect of two drivers vs one... the large vent at the bottom taken into account, for what it may be worth.

What do I know... so I'm asking. Thanks for your time and wisdom.
 

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