"Acoustic Image" Focus & Clarus heads
BW
I'm (still) curious about this amp series (mostly Focus line). Size,
weight and power seem to be a dream, and it's supposed to be a very
transparent sound. I also heard that at the beginning of their
production, they had some over-heating issues, and when I went to try
(an early) one in a store, the floor model didn't work! High level
store, so I doubt that was the problem. This was all some time ago. I'd
like to ask for an update.
My question is this: would some of you with experience with this
product line write us a quick review? Has yours overheated (how's the
reliability in general, I suppose)? Would you buy it again? Anyother
similar heads out there that you would consider next time around
instead (Euphonic Audio? W. Woods? Other?)
Thanks for your time!
BW
Ken Lloyd
were addressed with prompt and free repairs where necessary.
I've had absolutely no problem with my Clarus 2R. It's my main amp. For
most of my gigs and rehearsals (using either electric or upright) I use the
Clarus and a Euphonic Audio Wizzy 12. It gets pretty loud for a portable rig
and projects really well into every room. But when I really want lots of
variation in tone control, I use a Fishman DI/preamp into the Clarus.
You've probably read that other companies are starting to provide
high-wattage, hi-fi, lightweight heads. One of the anticipated heads of
this type is from Euphonic Audio, which makes great stuff for bassists.
My Clarus C2R has been problem free and a delight to own. For smaller rooms
I've even used the mic input on the C2R instead of lugging around a PA.
YMMV
"BW" <barryb...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1165709553.4...@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com...
Derek Tearne
> Friends,
> I'm (still) curious about this amp series (mostly Focus line). Size,
> weight and power seem to be a dream, and it's supposed to be a very
> transparent sound. I also heard that at the beginning of their
> production, they had some over-heating issues, and when I went to try
> (an early) one in a store, the floor model didn't work!
No overheating issues with mine. Compared to my GK-MB 150 which would
crap out every time I tried to gig with it and was never succesfully
repaired.
AI are now into the third or even fourth version of the amps, so any
overheating issues will have been sorted out.
The amp runs incredibly cool, so I'm astonished it could overheat under
any circumstances.
--- Derek
--
Derek Tearne - de...@url.co.nz
Many Hands - Trans Cultural Music from Aotearoa/New Zealand
http://www.manyhands.co.nz/
BW
now. And Derek, I'm surprised to hear of your problems with your GK
MB150E head. I've owned one for 12 or 13 years now, it's my main head
when I don't need astounding volume, still use it in pits for shows,
and it only crapped out on me once at a very loud outdoor gig. A minute
later it was back on. Sorry you had issues. What kinds of cabs do you
pair with your AI?
BW
Derek Tearne
> Thanks, guys. Based on your reports, the AI is the frontrunner right
> now. And Derek, I'm surprised to hear of your problems with your GK
> MB150E head. I've owned one for 12 or 13 years now, it's my main head
> when I don't need astounding volume, still use it in pits for shows,
> and it only crapped out on me once at a very loud outdoor gig. A minute
> later it was back on.
Well, I think there was a bad batch, as a friend who bought one at the
same time had similar issues, whereas I know people who own older and
newer ones that don't. In fact, the person who's been borrowing it
doesn't have problems with mine - perhaps it didn't like my playing
style.
> What kinds of cabs do you pair with your AI?
I use an old SWR Workingman's 2x10 - which I stand on edge - and put the
AI on the top to make a mini-stack. With the combo tilted slighty back
this also means that some sound is directed towards my ears rather than
the back of my knees.
Lane Baldwin
As another poster pointed out, the overheating issue seems to have been
limited to a single batch of units, and the company rectified the matter
very quickly. This kind of thing can happen to even the best companies. As
far as I know, AI is like most other companies, in that their circuit boards
are done by a subcontractor. Some companies even have the boards "stuffed"
with parts by a sub... but I don't know if AI does that. The point being
that it's entirely possible to not detect an issue with either the board
itself, or the parts. So, if you fall victim to a bad run of boards (or
parts), it's all about taking care of it as soon as possible.
Personally, I think that -- overall -- this industry does better than some
others as far as working bugs out before release. Consider the many recalls
in the auto industry... or the many bugs we have to deal with when it comes
to software. So I wouldn't worry about a single batch of amps, especially in
light of the fact that the company responded quickly to the issue.
As another poster pointed out, there are now other companies (including the
one I now work for) releasing small, ultra-light units. The WTX-260 is not
being shipped to dealers... and I know of several end users that already
have them. We chose to offer a single, full-featured channel in this unit.
To save weight, but still provide top performance, we use an analog
switching amplifier instead of a digital one. Some goes for EA, although
their module is slightly different from the one we're using. One point I'd
like to make about these modules is that the power at 110V in the US is 260W
RMS, 520W Peak. They will achieve 300W RMS in Europe and some other parts of
the world. The coolest thing is that the unit automatically senses local
power and adjusts itself without the need for any changes by the user.
Don't know if any of this helps you, but it's the best I got...
Keep Thumpin', Lane...
Ask not what bass can do for you...Ask what YOU can do for bass.
www.laneonbass.com | www.myspace.com/lanebaldwin
www.deeperblues.com | www.myspace.com/deeperblues
Special Projects Coordinator & Forum Moderator
Eden Electronics -- www.eden-electronics.com
Bob Gollihur
That was a very brief issue, all has been well since. I'm Acoustic
Image's largest dealer and have sold dozens of the Series III heads, as
well as the newest combos, and the reliability has been excellent. They
are a great company to work with, very responsive. Rick jokes that the
production level is somewhat limited because he still feels that he
wants to touch every one before it leaves the premises. It's that
hands-on (literally) approach that keeps the quality high.
I end up pairing a lot of Clarus heads with Euphonic Audio Wizzy
cabinets, they are a great match, as is the Focus with the EA NL210 and
CXL112. I'm also looking forward to EA's two channel Micro 300 head,
they should make their debut in February.
Bob
Bob Gollihur
Gollihur Music - http://www.gollihur.com (also http://www.urbbob.com)
migrating to www.GollihurMusic.com
b...@gollihur.com - 609.624.1470 10-7 Eastern Time
"Life is too short for bad tone."
Philbert
good things you hear about it's sound are true and I've never had a single
issue with mine. It is literally a "black box" - I plug it in and it works
exactly the way I want it to. If I were shopping now, I'd definitely go for
the two channel Focus. And I'd buy it from Bob...
"BW" <barryb...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1165709553.4...@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com...
Bob Ross
probably 15 years prior to that, I was A) breaking my back hauling an
SWR SM-400 around; and B) lusting after a Walter Woods head.
I am no longer doing either A) or B).
Dave Skipper
Hi All
I purchased my Series II Focus 2R from Bob Gollihur about 4 years ago.
I am the one who had the overheating problem with the amp. It happened
the first night I tried it. It was a rock gig - "louder" - I coupled
the amp with an Avatar stack for a 4 Ohm load. Around half way through
the second set, it simply cut out - to my dismay. I was shocked and
embarrassed as I had been bragging about it's power and light weight
combination to all. I got through the gig using the Focus' preamp
section and another power amp.
I had the amp repaired by Rick Jones himself. It worked fine afterward
but I have to say, it cut out on me *again* at a low volume jazz
practice about a year after the first repair. I sent it back to Rick
(admittedly feeling disgruntled) and he said "we'll get it right this
time". His service is great by the way.
I don't know exactly what he did but since then I've been using my amp
as a PA in a low volume jazz setting with the mike input for vocals, and
also in a louder rock setting. I've been happy with its versatility and
I have forgot about its repair issues; however, I do feel that in the
beginning I may have bought a "lemon".
Here is a link to my rock band www.thecritics.biz and you can hear what
my bass sounds like (it's a monitor mix and there are lots of errors as
this band doesn't practice, we gig only.) Anyhow, MIA 22 fret early
90's Jazz bass---Boss ME-50B---Focus 2R---Avatar B210 and B115 cabs.
One other thing to watch out for, don't turn off the amp while you're
still turned up in the PA as the sound of the amp powering down is
greatly amplified. It sounds scary.
Dave Skipper