Review of the Acoustic B200 Bass Combo Guitar

The 200-watt Acoustic B200 bass guitar combo amplifier gives gigging bassists enough volume, tones and portability for most bar and club gigs.

The B200's basic features include Gain and Volume knobs, a Frequency knob, six-band EQ, dual inputs for passive and active instruments, effect loop in and out, volume knob and ground lift for the XLR out, speaker output (minimum four-ohm load), tweeter which can be turned off, and a nice blue power light.

At 67 pounds, the Acoustic B200 is not the lightest bass combo in its power range. The lack of a top handle and caster wheels don't help in lugging it, either. There are caster slots, and a folding hand truck is a good investment. A big advantage in the B200 combo over the Acoustic B200H head and B410/B115 cabinet rig is size: though heavy, the B200 combo can easily fit in any trunk or backseat, even in compact cars.

Unique visually, the Acoustic B200 has classic sky-blue accents, crisp white print, white piping, Tolex covering and a black cloth grill. Rather than try for a "new and improved" look, the whole thing has a vintage Acoustic appearance with tone to match.

The B200 revives the classic Acoustic sound for a new generation of bass players. Fusion-jazz legend Jaco Pastorius used Acoustic amplifiers with his fretless Jazz bass, creating a distinctive tone that players have been emulating since Pastorius's heyday. The B200 is not a one-trick combo, and can produce deep, fundamental-heavy dub-bass tones, dirty, bright rock sounds and anything in between. It helps that the B200 is very loud for its 200-watt rating.

One minor complaint is the constant 60Hz hum the combo produces, even without a bass plugged in. Not every B200 hums, and the problem may be one with the electricity in my home creating interference. Still, many other bassists report this humming. It's impossible to hear while playing, and is never too intrusive even while not playing. Perfectionists may be bothered by it, but most bassists won't find it overly distracting.

A loud, versatile combo, the Acoustic B200 is a budget-friendly way to attain bar- and club-level volumes without sacrificing great tone. The weight and minor humming are shortcomings, but shouldn't deter players. As always, it's best to try before you buy, but