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Topic: Lightweight rig.. |
john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 10 Aug 2004 10:32 am |
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I play with a large Western Swing band (among others) and I've been using a very lightweight rig that sounds great, cuts through, and makes negotiating NYC transport a lot easier.
The Focus 1R with the factory Steel Guitar Mod, by Acoustic Image, provides a built in pre-amp, a D.I., digital reverbs, an effects loop, and 600 watts @4ohms. It weighs around 4 Lbs, and is smaller than a cigar box. Clean, warm and pleanty of headroom...I love it. I use the Focus with a single Duane Marrs ultralight cab, loaded with either a Peavey 1501-4 SB, or a Deltalight 15 Neodymium. |
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 10 Aug 2004 10:47 am
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| PS: I also play a Modded Nashville 400...which I love, and a Evans/Stewart stereo rack system which is great. Focus has charms that are unique unto itself, and the weight to tone factor is the best. |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 10 Aug 2004 11:02 am
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I was not aware of these, John, looks great. 4 lbs! Amazing....
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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 10 Aug 2004 12:47 pm
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| Looks awesome. And the endorser list is amazing. Pat Martino and Jimmy Bruno? |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 10 Aug 2004 11:02 pm
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| 600 watts and 4 lbs.!?! Am I reading that right? |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 4:06 am
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| Yup, and $1500. |
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D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 4:24 am
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| My wife has an AcousticImage amp for her bass fiddle. Model is is Coda, I believe. So do several other jazz, classical, and bluegrass bassists in our neck of the woods. Expensive and worth every penny, IMHO. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 5:52 am
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A guy that has been around for a long time building the same sort of amps is Walter Woods. Legendary amazing amps.
Acoustic Image is an affordable and available version that with John's help has been modified to sound perfect for steel. These amps are the real deal. The club date and jazz guys around NYC have been using the AI stuff for years.
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Bob
intonation help
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Dave Van Allen
From:
Souderton, PA , US , Earth
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 8:19 am
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what does the *"factory Steel Guitar Mod" consist of versus their standard issue Focus1?
The Clarus seems like a less pricey option; can they perform the FSGM* on it as well?
| Quote: |
| And the endorser list is amazing. Pat Martino and Jimmy Bruno? |
Bruno liked it so much he endorsed it twice 
[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 11 August 2004 at 09:22 AM.] [This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 11 August 2004 at 09:42 AM.] |
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 1:12 pm
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| The factory modification puts the midrange boost/cut at a frequency that is more user friendly for steel guitar applications. I basically cut the mids all the way, adjust bass and treble, and dial in a little midrange "grain" with a slight touch to the mid control. Set it and forget it. The amp is inherantly very warm sounding...warmer than most solid states, but not as "compressed" as tubes. Very sweet highs. |
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 1:20 pm
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Re: the Clarus option..
The Clarus 1R with the mod sounds exactly like the focus. I think it is around 200 or 250 watts @4 ohms. I had one and liked it, but for larger rooms or louder playing situations, the extra headroom of the Focus is very beneficial. |
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seldomfed
From:
Colorado
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 2:10 pm
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John,
yeah, the Clarus 1R is about half the cost of the Focus as well, given that you have that XLR out, for big rooms - couldn't you just line out to the PA for more coverage?
Sounds like you can request the 'mod' on any model. The current spec. for the mid center freq. is 650hz, what do they change it to? 800hz
Lastly, does the notch or high pass filter add anything for you? Seems designed to take care of acoustic guitars, basses etc. that have bumps that need smoothing.
thanks for the info on these!
chris
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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon" www.book-em-danno.com
[This message was edited by seldomfed on 11 August 2004 at 03:12 PM.] |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 11 Aug 2004 5:14 pm
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Okay, now we need that Neo-Dym B/W, and a C/F cabinet, and...
Presto!
A 300-watt amp with two 15's that weighs about 28 pounds.
Uhhh...let's see, that's
$1500
+$500
+$800
-------
$2800
I'll take two!  |
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seldomfed
From:
Colorado
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Posted 12 Aug 2004 8:15 am
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I wrote the mfg. re: the mod - here's their reply
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| We change the position of the mid tone control from 625 Hz to 750 Hz. |
You specify you want the mod when you order from your dealer. Gives me more to think about now - was considering a Stereo Steel rig, nice to have choices.
chris |
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Nicholas Dedring
From:
Beacon, New York, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2004 8:52 am
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John, it's like you've found the Holy Grail...
How are the reverbs on the Focus? Worth getting with them, or just patching an outboard effect in?
I'm going to give some dealers a call, and see what the price as delivered is...
Thanks for the heads up![This message was edited by Nicholas Dedring on 12 August 2004 at 09:57 AM.] |
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john widgren
From:
Wilton CT
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Posted 12 Aug 2004 11:02 am
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Just a quick note to answer a few questions:
The Focus has two speaker outputs, but is NOT stereo. If one uses two 4 ohm speakers that would bring the load to below the 4 ohm nominal load for that model, so I would Not do it without discussing with AI.
I did use two cabs with the Clarus,because the Nominal load on that model is 2 ohms.
Worked fine.
Any technical questions should be referred to AI, as I am not qualified to answer, and don't want to mis-inform.
Yes, using the direct out into a sound re-inforcement system, would provide good additional coverage in large rooms.
I have been using the unit with the built in reverb, quite happily. The effects buss allows one to use their favorite effects, but the "on board" verbs are fine...(okay not lexicon), but good quality digital reverb. The point for me is to stay lean and mean, and still sound good, so I forego the outboard stuff. I have used a stomp box delay occasionally, thru the buss..No problem.
PS: Just finished building a cool 12 string keyless lap steel, will take some pics soon and post in "no peddlers" Regards to all..JW |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 12 Aug 2004 12:05 pm
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b..b..b..b..but I've got a Webb on the way!!! Man.
Sounds real impressive. Hope to hear you play it one of these days. Thanks for the info. |
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