Maybe you're not getting clean power or have some sort of electrical interference.
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The Acoustic Club
- Thread starter The Owl
- Start date
Maybe you're not getting clean power or have some sort of electrical interference.
This may sound kinda odd, but have you/can you try powering the amp thru a computer uninterruptable power supply (basically a big battery - the UPS is plugged into the wall, and the comp. system is plugged into that)? A quick 'n dirty possible way to test for off-spec power...
It sounds like for some reason you are getting something electronically induced into the amp.
Typical causes are:
Dimmer switch on the same circuit, this is a big one.
Cheap electronic motor on the same circuit (fish tank, fan, whatever)
Flourescent lights in the room
Since it increases with the Gain, that indicates that it is probably being induced into the preamp circuit and being magnified by the Gain control.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, it does not sound like the unit. something in the power or environment may be causing the issue.
You just have to keep checking it out, try a different circuit in the house, different room, or just unplug or turn stuff off until you find the culprit.
Not very scientific, but hope it helps.
Acoustics are the only amps I was ever able to really get exited about playing thru (used to be the only professional quality amp I could afford, back when they were just 'klunky 70's junk'). I don't know why, just something about how they make the bass sound...it's my sound, no matter what bass I play. My first one was a 370 that refused to die no matter what I did to it. I'm sure it's still out there somewhere. This is my 120 on top of my friend Luke's old Peavey 2x15. It's a cheap rig of doom...and it looks mighty classy!!! I also have a 126 (the combo version of this amp with one 15 in it). Not the most powerful of the line, but way loud enough for me, power boost, and the most simple, useful EQ ever! The guys that designed these amps really knew what they were doing. When you play on an Acoustic, you are playing electric bass!
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It sounds like for some reason you are getting something electronically induced into the amp.
Typical causes are:
Dimmer switch on the same circuit, this is a big one.
Cheap electronic motor on the same circuit (fish tank, fan, whatever)
Flourescent lights in the room
Since it increases with the Gain, that indicates that it is probably being induced into the preamp circuit and being magnified by the Gain control.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, it does not sound like the unit. something in the power or environment may be causing the issue.
You just have to keep checking it out, try a different circuit in the house, different room, or just unplug or turn stuff off until you find the culprit.
Not very scientific, but hope it helps.
Yup, I just got an email from Roy at Acoustic Amplification and he seems to think it's the same thing. I'll figure out what's causing it; I'm just glad it's not a problem with the head itself.
I currently own a 1st Generation Acoustic 150. It's a great amp. I've always thoughts of it as a poor man's Twin Reverb (in a head form...), though I used it for bass for a year or two as well. It gets loud and (IMO) has a great dirty characteristic to it. I spent a lot of time trying to find a good OD tone with pedals for bass and found that just cranking my Acoustic 150 was where it was at.
An absolutly fantastic amp. Guitar and bass will do equally well through this amp. I've recorded some of the most amazing guitar sounds with this amp. People dont beleive me when I tell them it's a solid state amp creating the wall of doom tone. Bas through these can sound buttery and a good volume or crunchy when cranked. The vibrato is magic and the reverb, when used sparingly is tonefull with great vibe. Buy two of these, run one clean and the other dirty and you will know why this company is held in such high esteem with "those in the know".
So you think its worth the $150? lol, sounds like a great amp head. Should be great for my first real amp setup. Looking for something to use for small gigs and practice too. Was also debating the new acoustic b100 combo. Any comparisons? Suggestions? Thanks.
For $150, don't let the 110W (or 125W depending on generation) get you down. It's a LOUD rating. Granted, I pushed mine into dirty territory, but I ran my 150 into an Avatar 410 in a power trio with a heavy-handed drummer and got great results.
Get it! I'd think the vintage heads would only go up in value. If you ever sell, you should be able to at least get back what you payed for it.
The 150B does not have the tremolo and reverb circuit that the 150 has.
Basically on the 150 you have two channels. One is clean and the other is clean + trem and reverb. On the 150B you have two identical channels.
I have an old 150 that my Dad used to use for keys with a 6x10 and that my band used for synth. Never knew it was multipurpose though! I'll have to try it out on bass.
Sorry for bothering you guys so much, but what would that sound like the tre/reverb channel? i mean I am getting into playing some classic rock/ metal i guess, a lot of thin lizzy, anthrax, GnR, maiden, queen, sabbath, deep purple. Would one truly be more fit for the type of music I am playing or would it really not make that much of a difference? thanks again and sorry guys.
You'll probably be pleasantly surprised, HOWEVER...don't run bass through that 6x10 cabinet! Assuming you're talking about the original Acoustic 6x10 cabinet that was paired with the 150 head (the 104), those cabinets were designed for guitar, not bass, and running bass through one at any volume could shred the speakers.
