George Grexa Here: I am the President of the New "acoustic" USA Co. ( LOL, it happened ), I'm actually a 58 year old Record Producer/ drummer. I had a great teacher when I was Nine. Had students at 15. Went to Youngstown State, Then North Texas. Play in 13/4 and 11/4, etc.
Now you know who I am. Anyhow,
The New 360/361 took over 9 years on my part and Mr. Mark Jamieson. The level of work is just stupid. You wouldn't believe the stories.
Now, Tube amps, WHY? Tubes were from the 40's, 50's, 60's. That warm Tone that rich bass sound. Cool. Now 1968, The Acoustic Control Corporation. Changed all that. Period.
Bass players don't need tubes. If you want to believe that crap. Go for it. Carry that 98 pound head around. Cool. Your call. But, If your a real tube guy. You need to replace the tubes every year or so. Try $375.00. ............Oh, you need to re- bias them. Good luck with that.
( I have a dear friend Mr. Ron Marks ( guitar god ) ( Celtic Frost ), Like Heavy. They win. It's in the history books. Ron replaces his tubes every year. Guitar players need tubes. They have to break up. Cool.
Bass guys, don't need tubes. Ever.
Ok, back to Acoustic, Control Corp. (1968)
The owner and the two designers were a very unique trio. Steve Marks, Harvey Gerst, and Russ Allee.
Harvey was the street guy, Russ Was the intellectually guy. They used to fight, ( they are both in their 70's now, today still dear friends. )
Harvey would tell Russ ........... Now here's what we need Hendricks is now playing 10,000 seaters and the stages are getting bigger and bigger and we need this and that. Russ would go what? that makes no scence?
Russ would get his morning coffee and have a muffin and design a new amp on his napkin. Whoaaaaaaaaaaa.
I got really lucky, I met Harvey, he introduced me to Russ. ( the rest is history ) When Russ agreed to design the new 360/361. My arm stretched out and I just looked at the phone. WOW, Russ Allee just agreed to design my new amp. I was floored.
I never thought about the electronics again. I went out and got $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, then lawyers, then accountants, then bankers, then amp manufacturers, blah blah bla. Tons of work. Tons. God bless Mark Jamieson.
Any of you guys got a partner that will spend 6 hours a day for 10 months looking for handles........... I do.......... (I also did that).
10 months later we had our handles. We we're so excited the day the samples came we went to the bar. Brought it with us showd it to the bar tender, and said Here's our handle. LOL. Of coures no one knew cared or knew what we were talking about. But by God. We got out handle. The wheels......... same story. LOL You people have no idea what is involved here. None. And No im not a jerk.
This is all real.
Steve Rabe worked for Acoustic. Then Russ left and started AMP. Amplified Music Products. Bh 420. Great famous amp. Steve Rabe worked there also. Then started SWR. Cool Gibson, thunderfunk, SWR, all built from the AMP Bh420. It's all real. Check it out. Cool.
So, Russ, is "The Godfather of Electric Bass Amplification" It's totally documented. Not my bs. I get slaughtered a lot, I'm just telling the facts.
As I read this forum, So many of you must get your info from comic books.
Believe me, I'm not special........ by any means, I'm not patting myself on the back. I'm really not that guy. I just have this information.
I keep reading, I had a 360 back in the the day, I loved it. Then I read I had an Acoustic 360, I couldn't hear myself on stage.
Now, since I was in several bands in the day........... 360 on stage, I could always hear it, Always.
Then we go to the guys that have heard a 360 in the last 20 years......... whine........ Oh, I didn't like it.!!!!
Well, dufus, it's 42 yrs old. are ou playing a mint one. Hell, they've had 42 yrs to screw it up. I started out restoring old ones. WOW. Unreal. dead amp, screwed up pre-amp. Dude, I just scored an original 360. The speaker was dead, I replaced it with a 18" black widow.
It's awsome.
Well, now it makes sound. Guess what?
?? You still don't have a 360.............. LOL.
The original 360 is the Holy Grail. That pre-amp, that cab, the amp (200 watts), Buy the way guys it's loud. You can Rock it, Funk it , and play it like a Celllo. In the real world Watts are a joke. Well, I have a 1200 watt( xyz brand) it's awsome. Watts create heat and cause amp failure, cool let's get a 800 watt bass amp, my buddy only has 600 Watts ( I'm a badd ass).
Let's learn people. It's 2011. It's all come a long way. There's over 50 bass companys. WOW, light weight, $200.00 for an amp. Coool.
My amps are High -End. Pro-gear.
Here ya go. In 1968, the 360/361 Was....... $1,299.00. Plus Tax. Fair trade laws. No fake 20, 30 40 50 60 70% off.
Go to google, type money conversion, ........... $1,299.99 (in 1968) is around $8,600.00 Today.( Holy crap Batman.)
When we started "acoustic" USA, we got Russ's designs. Harvey sent cab designs. Cool, our mentors are the guys. They are the real Guys. God Bless them. I got lucky.
In fact your lucky. We spent over 9 yrs, doing this. I had no idea,
Our retail price 2 yrs ago was around $6,200.00. Crap, I'm dead. That's alot of money. WOW.
I called Harvey Gerst, Hey, Harvey, were you guys expensive, Oh, George, we were always the most expensive amp out there.
I said " thank God" We still are? We laughed.
Anyhow, Mark and I spent thousands of hours and we ....... With out loosing qulity sourced all 531 parts and got the retail to $5,000.00
Actually cheap. Make in the USA. and yes, many parts are off shore. Hey, Not my fault.
The 531 parts are 6 months out, 14 weeks out, capisotors are 8 months out, 12 weeks, 6 weeks, blah blah blah, to get all the 531 parts in the building to make one............. Is nuts............. You guys geting this............ It's nuts.
So, Many stores and rep-groups, asked George what are your price points.
George, we don't have any!
........... Well is your 4 x 10 $299.00 is it $599.99. What is it.
Dude, you don't get It, I''m bring back " acoustic made in the USA"........... duh, I told my guys make it great. Get it ?
MAKE It GREAT, Period.
Were gonna make it Great, that's it. Make it Great. I'm serious here. What the hell do I care if it's 500 or 1000. My names on it.
If they don't want it......... That's ok, Play China stuff. I'm a music guy. I'm 58, I'm gonna die. This is the real deal.
First off it's all about music, and tone.
The real guys play the new amp and loose it.
LJ Johnston of 38 Special ( southern Rock, original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd) ..... Ps. go see them. The lead singer is great, the background vocals are stunning, the drummer is flawless and perfect. The guitars are good as I've ever heard. And LJ is the guy.
Anyhow LJ, played the New 360 for 2 minutes and looked at me and pointed over his shoulder and said George I'm selling that thing. It was him Ampeg SVT 810.
2 minuter, LJ is very cool been on the road for 40 yrs. Very nice guy.
Flea called me, He said I love your amps. cool.
He told me, he felt bad leaving GK, he told me they were good to him. But I want to play your amps.
He was heading for a interview with Rolling Stone. I said, will you say it's the worlds greatest bass amp.
He said................ NO
My heart sank.
But, I will say ......................It's the Best Amp I Ever Played. Cool.
Oh, our pre-amp weight about 12 pounds. WOW, the 361 cab is about 150, it Moves very nice. And for all the old fans, I'll never move one of those again......... We built the 361m cab. 36" by 24.5 by 15, fits in the car. Neo-15' ......................Slick .
Anyhow, guys, Acoustic ruled the world.
Don't tell me Jaco wouldn't play the New 360.
Since you tell me he would not today with the amp manufactures over 50, today.
I'm gonna tell ya .......... If Jaco had the New Russ Allee design. 360, 2011.
He'd be doing cart wheels. He'd also create 4 new JAco grooves............... LOL.
So, please you guys, don't dissssssssssss my new company. Till you stand in front of one.
We worked like pigs to build this company. So, don't buy one, buy one.............. Play SWR, who ever.
All we did wrong was build an amazing American product, advised by the greats, we spent 9 yrs, to do it.
Anyhow, My wife hates how I write, but............ It's me. Nothing personal here. But, some of you need to think outside the box.
That's not mean.
It's all about music......... That's a fact we all love it. So, go practice your bass. Play anything you want. They all make sound.
Now all ya need is a good drummer, good, guitar player, and add horns and keys if you wish.
God Bless Ya All. Music #1. Have fun.
here's our new website............
www.acousticbassusa.com.
My phone is 1-(724)-589-5440 The web site gives a 800 free number. You'll enjoy the call. It's 3:25 Am I'm going to bed.
Later.
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