Author Topic: I got G.A.S.: Cool New Acoustic Amp (Read 311 times)

lbpesq · « **on:** June 15, 2007, 10:39:28 PM »

I've read a bunch of you talking about the Phil Jones Briefcase and thought it sounded cool. Then I saw an ad for the AAD by Phil Jones Cub AG-100 acoustic guitar amp. This thing is 12" tall, 6"wide, weighs 11 lbs. and puts out 100 very clean watts! Comes with a good quality padded shoulder bag. It's amazing. Not quite an AER, but damn close, and for less than half the price! It could easily handle a restaurant or small bar gig. Anything bigger, use it as a monitor and take the DI out to the P.A. I'm impressed. Bill, tgo

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2007, 10:42:48 PM »

(Message edited by davehouck on June 16, 2007)

kimberly · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2007, 11:02:45 AM »

Hi Bill.

Very nice. I entertained the idea of a Phil Jones, but opted to go in other directions and am still 'stuck to the wall outlet'. Perhaps one of these days I'll go with the independence and portability of a PJ, but not anytime soon. I just traded my Aguilar SC500 2-12 combo for a Epifani UL500 1-12 combo yesterday at Bass Northwest. Much improved with a weight loss of 47 lbs, though still not in the 'league/weight class' of the PJ's. Nice score (yours and mine, if I do say so myself).

Regards,

Kimberly

811952 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2007, 11:16:03 AM »

My brother built a pair of very similar amps/cabs a few years ago for his jazz gigs. His are 300 watts apiece, and the two tens per cab are plenty. His design goal was being able to carry one in each hand, arms extended, without them dragging the ground. They sound good too.

kmh364 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2007, 10:49:02 AM »

Bill,

What's it selling for?

I'm looking at a similar portable combo to preserve the acoustic sound of my Guild Artist Award and Heritage Golden Eagle arch-tops like the Acoustic Image Corus, Contra or Coda R:

http://www.acousticimg.com/index2.html

I understand they're also very good for electric or upright bass as well as keys.

I'm also looking at the Raezor's Edge combo's, which use Acoustic Image amp heads captured in one of their own cabs (with different driver configurations):

http://jhalemusic.com/pages/raezersEdge.html

Hard to beat something you can put in a bag and sling it over your shoulder!

dnburgess · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2007, 03:05:19 PM »

Kevin

The AI speakers are three way systems that aim to create a relatively flat frequency response over a wide range. The RE speakers are not as hifi - but do sound great with a lot of guitars.

AI is used by a lot of double bassists.

If you want an accurate system for use with a wide range of instruments, Contra/Coda R is the way to go.

The Corus trades off some bottom end for more presence. So if the system is mainly for geetar, Corus or RE may sound more musical.

lbpesq · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2007, 03:55:08 PM »

Most places are selling them for $535. I got mine from Music Emporium in Boston for $495. You can find dealers (there aren't many) through the manufacturer's web site - just google AAD by Phil Jones cub. Not bad when you consider the AER goes for around $1300. I don't know how well this would work for acoustic bass - I think the 5 speakers may not be big enough. I've had the opportunity to play around with this a little more. Fiddling with the 3-band eq, you can really dial in a good natural acoustic sound. The 100 watts is somewhat misleading. This isn't anywhere near as loud as my 60 watt Boogie Mark IIC+. The watts (solid state, so never as loud as the equivalent in tube amplification) are used to make this thing clean, not loud. For a solo or duet in a small bar or restaurant, it could hold it's own. For any use with a band, it will need to be run through another amp or the P.A. I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect with a pedal or two (Tech 21 Guitar sans amp for example), this could be a fine small practice/jam set up.

Bill, tgo

terryc · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2007, 01:28:08 AM »

Anyone tried the Roland Bass Cube amp, I bought it a year ago and totally pleased with it, great for small venues and it has a balanced DI with pre & post selection too. I usually go through the PA anyway as we play large clubs and use it as my personal monitor.
It has a decent Eq section and some effects as well.

kmh364 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2007, 05:23:47 AM »

Thanks guys.

David,

I have an old Fender Silverface Twin I use for clean stuff, but I'm looking to keep that acoustic jazzbox sound, not the rolled-off neck pickup thru a std. full range combo guitar amp sound that everybody associates with jazz guitar.

Both solid carved wood (maple/spruce) archtops are 17W x 3D (the Guild is slightly larger) and both use floating pickguard-mounted single-coil passive pick-ups. The Guild is a '78, so it utilizes one of the last of the Holy Grail D-Armond jazz pick-up.The GE is fitted with a custom-wound Lindy-Fralin floater that my luthier developed with Lindy specifically for this guitar/wood combo...it's very close to the D'Armond in most areas and superior in others.

While I am normally a tube amp guy, the AI combo is very tempting because it offers clean hi-power coupled with a hi-fi driver complement and extremely compact size/low weight. CA. $1400USD isn't a bad price either for something billed as top-shelf pro equipment.

Since I don't have access to a nearby AI dealer, is the Corus the best solution for me, or is the more full-range Coda R better? Is it worth getting the extension cab sound-wise, as opposed to saving the extra money and not having to carry two shoulder bags?

FWIW, I have the disposable income to afford some of the finest gear available, so cost really isn't much of an issue. In this case, while the thought of something extremely portable like the Corus/Coda R is very desirable, It wouldn't be worth it to me if I was compromising sound quality in any significant way to get said portability.

Cheers,

Kevin

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2007, 07:21:55 AM »

Kevin:

If you're prepared to spend that kind of $ and you want the best in acoustic amps and portability, you should really check out the AER line. The best, hands down.

Bill, tgo

kmh364 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2007, 05:12:06 AM »

My guitar guy says as long as it's a solid-state amp. As a Luthier par excellance and an accomplished pro jazzer he says my beloved tubes will result in excessive feedback with an acoustic archtop. Yes, I realize feedback is inevitable with a solid carved spruce-topped jazzbox with a floating P/U after a certain volume level...I mean more than usual. He has a pro client who just bought an AI Corus and used in on a jazz orchestra gig and loved it.

Who here has an AER and/or AI set-up that plays jazz on an archtop? Inquiring minds wanna know.

pace · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2007, 05:24:32 PM »

Kev~ have you checked out any Polytones?!?

Bill~ thanks for the review!!!!!

kmh364 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2007, 05:09:58 AM »

Polytones are good, just not hi-fi enough. My guy's still got his (mini-brute) and uses it for lessons (when someone has an electric)...we both play unamplified as the acoustic jazzboxes are plenty loud for that purpose.

bkbass · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2007, 09:26:17 AM »

Hey kmh364, Rudy's has AER'S on the second and third floors. Pastori music has A.I. AND your friend in Edison has A.I. One of the guitarist's I play with has a es-175 with a raezer's edge 1x12 with A.I. head. Soundwise I could take it or leave it. Try listening to a Swart 12 combo. I'm most impressed with the overall sound of this amp. I've heard it with a switchmaster and a es-175 also with a LP and strat. Although more for an electric it does an incredible job with the jazz box. Very warm and smooth sounding.

kmh364 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2007, 06:06:48 PM »

Hey Barry!

Long time no hear.

Yeah, I blocked out Myron (Melvin?) @ NJG&BC. I really am not thrilled about dealing with him at all. I think I'd rather buy sight-unseen over the net from someone I like versus buying anything from him in the flesh.

As far as the amps, I appreciate your take.

Just bear in mind that the ES-175 is a plywood guitar (so's the Switchmaster, if I'm not mistaken) with holes cut in the top for humbucker placement. Steve Howe not-withstanding, and no disrespect to your guitarist intended, maybe the fault in the AI/Raezer's Edge sound is rooted in the guitar, not the rig?

Also, I'm looking to try and preserve as much acoustic sound of the Jazzbox's as possible. I can get a great traditional, warm electric jazz sound out of my Fender Twin, even with a strat or LP, but the feedback is excessive with the solid wood and floater combo and it loses a bunch of the acoustic quality of the guitars (i.e., you have to roll the treble and mids off significantly).