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Bellyheart wrote:Anyone know of any loud amps that don't have 2 channels and 8 knobs and five switches? Minimal minimal minimal. That acoustic 150 is appealing to me, but wondering if anything else exist in the style of the volume - tone - gain amplifiers, but not 5 watts.

I just got a 150, and it's pretty great. It's the guitar version, so it does have 9 knobs. But it is simple! You have two volumes, two trebles, and two basses. Then you got a reverb knob, and a speed and intensity. So they're all there for a reason.



It's pretty damn loud for being <120 watts. I had a 600 watt Peavey before, and I think the Acoustic is only slightly quieter. However, the Acoustic does get dirty from about noon onward. But I think that's good.

Everything about the amp is great, though. It's super fat sounding.

I played a version that had no reverb or tremolo so it was just the volume bass treble on two channels...think it was for bass. Loved it sooo much. That's what made me decide to explore solid state again. How much was it?

I played a Frontman 2x12 today and that was even doing it. I also played this at Sam Ash today

I want so bad. Two channels - volume, tone and a master tremolo with speed and intensity. 2x12, 50watts It was pretty muffled, but I liked it alot.

Yeah, the one without the "effects" are the bass versions. I'm pretty sure that's the only difference between most Acoustic models.

I feel like I kind of overpaid. I bought the head and matching cab for $375. But I REALLY wanted it. So, worth it to me I guess.

And solid state rules when companies actually make them right. I'm sick of tubes.


Another amp you may want to check out is the Roland GA120. You can get them for dirt cheap (I think GC used has a few). I've never played one, but this guy makes it sound very nice:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuJ9vB9aeH4[/youtube]

Overpaid is in the eye of the beholder. $375 for a mojo-oozing gig-worthy rig is a deal, from my point of view.

That's a steal to me...I've seen the head going for that much. I want. Good job.

Yeah, I'd totally pay that much for that.

Ha ha, thanks guys.

Now go find yourself one, Bellyheart!

I can only find 'em on ebay as pickup only. One day someone will sell it...around here.

Bellyheart wrote:Ye but even if ya have a head putting out 15 watts and and 200 watt speaker, it won't be real loud, just clear...or am I wrong? If not, I got a whole nother thing coming.

Kiiiiinda. A lot of times speakers that can handle more power are less sensitive. Their wattage ratings don't actually relate to how loud they are.

Example, my Traynor Darkhorse through its 1x12 is every bit as loud (maybe louder) than my Acoustic 150 through an Avatar 4x10. And the Acoustic isn't really much quieter than when I was using a 500 watt head through the same cab.

ALAS, through the same cab 100 watts will be about twice as loud as 10, but if your speakers are 3dB less sensitive, you may as well have cut the power of your amp in half. But, of course, it's all more complicated than that. Companies rate their amps differently, speakers aren't perfect, cabinet design can affect volume, etc.


My point is really just find a cool amp and cab, and don't worry quite so much about wattage. Your probably good for most anything at like 50.

Anywho... I got my 150 for $100 bucks, so suck it.

Damn you...give!

Ampeg. A V4. Or an Ampeg Gemini combo. Or a B-25.

The V4b does have two volume controls/channels...and one a 3 band EQ with ACTIVE mids (and a 3 way mid frequency selector and a bright switch and a useless 'ultra low' switch), but it's huge clean loud and amazing, huge low end. V4/V2s add reverb to that and a 3-way gain switch instead of the 'ultra low.'

B-25 And Geminis are somewhat simpler, but typically have two 3-knob (volume, treble, bass) channels...and the B-25 have a weird speaker output cable/thing.

I had a vintage Super Reverb, well tuned and I was in love for years; considered it 'my amp' and am still happy to play one (or just about anything blackface fender).

But when I got the V4b and fixed it up, tweaked the tone stack....well, I've sold the vintage Fender, no looking back. It does help that I can fix up amps myself and don't mind the rare/out of production tube issue, because - I never though I'd say it - but that Ampeg's tone is a whole step above the Super Reverb, to me. Big-boned, loud & clean, all-tube.

You can find modified pa amps that are simple, tube, and good sounding on e-bay pretty cheap.


Skip Simmons is well known for doing these conversions.

http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com/amps.html

at mars amps

http://www.atmarsamps.com/products/index.html

at mars specialist

Thanks for putting this back on topic...these rule. People keep suggesting two channels and three bands and all kinds of shit. It is simple, but I want less than that people. I do appreciate the help though. Thanks so much for even responding. Just realize that most amps are three band and volume gain...and another channel of the same thing.

dorfmeister wrote:You can find modified pa amps that are simple, tube, and good sounding on e-bay pretty cheap.


Skip Simmons is well known for doing these conversions.

http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com/amps.html

If you do a search for Bogen or Carlson in the guitar amp category on e-bay you will get a fair number of these modified pa amps coming up....usually they are pretty simple and tube. Masco is another fairly common brand.

http://instruments.shop.ebay.com/i.html ... m270.l1313

http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=c ... itleDesc=1