THE VENERABLE 1X15 COMBO IS LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
of bass amps; getting one is a good indication that you’ve learned the basic art,
math, and science of bass playing, and you’re more or less ready for the real world.
Fortunately, there are lots of choices for those in the market for a 1x15. Th is month
we take a look at two promising candidates, the Acoustic B200
MKII, and the Warwick BC150. Although both combos share similar
price tags and power ratings, they differ significantly in terms
of tone and features.
GOIN’ ACOUSTIC
The Acoustic B200 MKII’s size, footprint, construction, and durable
vinyl covering make it much like many any other 1x15 combos on
the market. But Acoustic attempts to break away from the pack by
including built-in compression and overdrive circuits and by expanding
the EQ control with 6-bands of boost/cut, a notch filter, and
a mid-scooping shape control. More on the EQ in a minute. . . .
Recessed, spring-loaded handles on the combo’s sides make
the Acoustic easy enough to cart around, but weighing just over
65 pounds, the amp is a little on the chunky side. To keep things
from overheating, a cooling fan automatically engages when you
turn the amp on. You can feel the air moving through the combo’s
top-mounted ventilation grates; I appreciate the confidence it gives
me that the rig won’t overheat, but with the constant fan noise
and potentially disastrous vent placement (can you say, “Beverage-
free zone?”), I wonder if there isn’t a more elegant solution.
“Flat” is a relative term when it comes to amps, but there’s
really no such thing with the B200 MKII; setting each of the six
frequency-specific EQ knobs at noon is a start, but it all depends
on the position of the notch control, which constantly cuts 10dB
at frequencies ranging from 50Hz to 1kHz. Sweeping notch to
the left cuts low end, while sweeping right attenuates the highs.
Meanwhile, the adjacent shape button cuts mid frequencies. With
so much (too much?) EQ control, its possible—if not easy or intuitive—
to get a range of tones with the Acoustic. At most settings,
the Acoustic seems to have an assertive, midrange-rich voice that
would sit well in a rock & roll environment.
In addition to the numerous EQ controls, the B200 MKII houses
on-board compression and overdrive. The compression circuit,
though not exactly as subtle or effective as others
I’ve played, at least wasn’t offensive. The overdrive
was actually quite cool. Again, I’d generally prefer
to plug into any number of stomp boxes for such an
effect, but for rehearsals, etc., I found the overdrive
to be a worthy addition. Around back, the Acoustic
is equipped with a DI, an effects loop, and a footswitch
jack for triggering the overdrive.
Th e relative depth of its EQ controls make the
Acoustic B200 MKII a potentially challenging rig for
a rank beginner to wrangle, but that consequent flexibility
makes it a good option for a players seeking to
fine-tune their tone. Features like the onboard compression
and overdrive, the nifty notch filter, and
DI sweeten the pot. Bob Dylan got flack for going
electric; if you’re looking for a solid 1x15 combo, you
should definitely consider going Acoustic.
WARWICK PICK
The new BC line of Warwick amps designed by tone
titan Jonas Hellborg is an attempt to take advantage
of developments in modern-day circuitry and
manufacturing, with particular attention to the
integration of all aspects of design, from cabinetry
to components to circuitry.
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| Acoustic B200 MKII |
The 55-pound BC150 comes housed in a carpeted
cabinet with metal-reinforced corners. The
grille and speaker are mounted so they at a slight
upward angle; the angle makes the combo easier to
carry via it’s top-mounted handle, and it also aids
in onstage monitoring. The combo’s power switch
and AC cable plug are located on the back panel,
which sits at the bottom left corner of the combo.
The placement makes accessing the power switch a
bit of a chore, but it also gives the combo a cleaner
look, and it makes for a tidier cable run from the
amp to the power outlet.
The BC150 is among the cleanest sounding
combos I’ve played, with little if any added noise
when I boosted the mids and highs, and the combo’s
fan-free operation meant I could leave the amp on
while checking email or taking a phone call without
getting annoyed by excess noise. With the 4-band
EQ, it was easy to dial in every imaginable tone,
from old-school thump to contemporary zing. In
addition to two parallel instrument inputs—which
can be used simultaneously—the BC150 has a r"
aux in jack (for an external mp3 or CD player, drum
machine, etc.) and a headphone jack that automatically
mutes the speaker and horn when in use. The
recessed plastic knobs were easy to access, but I
found the placement of the critical volume control—
between treble and the less-than-crucial
aux volume control—a bit perplexing.
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| Warwick BC150 |
The amp kicks out just enough sound for smaller
stages, but the BC150 doesn’t have a DI; if you require
sound reinforcement, you’ll either need a separate
DI or a mic for the speaker. Though it could probably
do the trick for some gigs, the BC150’s true element
seems to be a practice space, a bedroom, or a
lesson studio. The Warwick BC150’s rich tone, sonic
versatility, low-noise operation, and (mostly) ergonomic
design make it an excellent choice for any
beginning player, and features like the dual inputs,
aux in, and headphone jack make it a solid option
for those looking for a high-quality reference rig for
lessons or practice. For its features, its design, and—
most importantly—its clean sound, the Warwick
BC150 is worthy of a Bass Player Editor's Award.
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| The Acoustic B200 MKII’s back panel |
SPECIFICATIONS
ACOUSTIC B200 MKII
Street $490
Bottom line The Acoustic B200 MKII is
a brawler—a powerhouse with built-in
overdrive, six bands of EQ, and a midrange
punch well suited to throwing
down old-school rock & roll jams.
Contact acousticamplification.com
TECH SPECS
Power rating 200 watts
Speakers 15" custom driver with HF horn
Controls GAIN, COMPRESSOR, OVERDRIVE,
OVERDRIVE LEVEL, VOLUME, NOTCH (-10dB,
50Hz to 1kHz), SHAPE (mid cut) LOW, LOW
MD, HIGH MID, HIGH
Input One ¼" with -10dB pad switch
and clip indicator light
Output XLR with level control, pre/post
switch, and ground lift
Other Effects loop, footswitch (optional)
Dimensions 20" x 15.2" x 25"
Weight 65.5 lbs
Made in China
WARWICK BC150
Street $530
Bottom line The BC150’s luscious low-end
clarity, ergonomic design, near-noiseless
fan-free operation, and straight-up controls
make it a great choice for bedrooms,
practice pads, and even low-volume gigs.
Contact warwick.de
TECH SPECS
Power rating 150 watts
Speakers 15" custom driver with HF horn
Controls BASS, LOW MID, HIGH MID, TREBLE,
VOLUME, AUX VOLUME
Input ¼" ACTIVE, ¼" PASSIVE, r" AUX IN
Output ¼" LINE OUT
Other Effects loop
Dimensions 21" x 23" x 15"
Weight 55 lbs
Made in China