AER Amp One

The AER Amp One is a 29-pound 200-watt bass amplifier with a 10-inch speaker and a plethora of I/O options. This is a brand new product from Germany; when I bought the amp in June 2008 the dealer told that there were only a few dozen of these in the USA.

The Amp One has a single input with a pad switch (to accomodate high-output active pickups), a gain control and a clipping indicator. The EQ section has active low, mid and high controls. The mid control is semi-parametric with a frequency control and a bandwidth switch. The EQ is supplemented with switches for bass boost and contour (mid-scoop) and a two-knob "tone balance" section which acts over the entire frequency range. The top-panel controls are rounded out with a two-knob compressor (threshold and ratio, plus an activity LED) and a master volume control.

The rear panel bristles with connections. Ten 1/4" jacks provide for pre- and post-EQ inserts, a parallel FX loop, an auxilliary input, a headphone jack, a tuner output, a subwoofer output, a line output and a dual footswitch (mute and FX loop). The I/Os are completed by an XLR output with level control, pre/post EQ switch and ground lift.

Also on the rear panel is a large heat sink that gets quite warm during operation. I've read some speculation that AER reduced the weight by using a Class D amplifier. This is clearly not so: a 200 watt Class D amplifier would not need a large heatsink. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if AER has used a switching power supply. The weight budget would be blown by an iron power transformer large enough to support this amp.

The spatter-covered cabinet measures 15 by 12 by 13 inches: about one-and-a-third cubic feet. AER includes a carrying bag with a single front pouch large enough to carry cords and other gig essentials. A cutout in the top of the bag allows access to the amp's leather handle.

A neodynium-magnet speaker contributes to the low weight of the Amp One.

I play an Ibanez SR530 and occasionally an Epiphone EB-0. I'm primarily a guitarist, but I know enough to not play the bass like a guitar and to hold a groove during a blues-rock jam.

When I researched this amp a comment about its "old-school" sound caught my interest. I'm not a fan of the modern extended-range bass sound: leave some of the audio spectrum open for the cymbals, for gosh sake... The Amp One has only the 10" woofer. Bassists who expect that hyped transient response for their slapping and popping histrionics will be disappointed by the Amp One.

In practice the Amp One sounds very, very good. Its default sound is a bit midrange-intensive. This may not be especially satisfying in isolation, but it does sound great in the mix. Fans of big low-end rumble will not be disapointed if they engage the bass boost switch. The rear-ported cabinet moves a surprising amount of air regardless of its size. I've played through larger, heavier 200 watt production bass amps that would not be able to keep up with the Amp One's solid low end. As always, physics will impose some hard limits. Extreme low end response at extreme volumes is going to be impossible with an amp of this size and power. But for most players' realistic needs in a club setting, this little amp is a giant-killer.

Just as a point of reference, I played in a bowling-alley sized church sanctuary with three guitarists and a drummer; the amp One had no problem holding down the low end.

I've only had the amp for five months. There have been no issues.

I don't expect that I'll need to avail myself of AER's support.

As I mentioned above, guitar is my primary instrument. I started playing many years ago, quit for about twenty years, and have been playing "seriously" for almost eight years since I started again. My bass rig consists of the gear already mentioned in this article.

The Amp One sounds great to these ears accustomed to old-school styles. The real win, though, is realizing that this great sound comes from a 30-pound amp that occupies a little more than a cubic foot of space.

This amp is well thought out. Being designed specifically for electric bass, many controls are designed for that type of instrument, i.e., the center frequencies of the EQ and so on. It has a very musical compressor with threshold AND ratio knobs. A sweep mid EQ with pushbutton Q control comes in handy, as does a very cool variable "shaping" circuit that gets you from boomy P sound to Jeff Berlin top end to Marcus very quickly and easily. Push the Bass Boost button (+10 dB @ 55Hz) and prepare to be amazed. Handy Mute button for unplugging. On the back, there is a wealth of features: stereo headphone out, preamp out, send and return for effects, footswitch for the effect loop, inserts both pre and post EQ, stereo aux in (1/4) for CDs etc, pre-master tuner out, sub out (as if this thing needed more bass), an XLR DI out with ground lift, and level knobs for both the aux in and the DI out. The only thing I wish it had is a speaker level out, but I guess they designed the amp to not support another passive cabinet. Otherwise very nice. Oh, yeah, under 30 lbs! 14" x 12" x 12" ! Snap!!

I'm using it with an MTD fretted maple 535, a Rob Allen maple Mouse 30, and a Steinberger CRM5 electric upright. Jazz, blues, funk top 40, convention band stuff, etc etc. Sound is UNBELIEVABLE. This amp, for what it is, KILLS. It is amazingly loud, but absolutely clear. When the compressor kicks in it retains its smoothness all the way to the very top. Only at the upper limit does it get even a trace harsher. You're not going to replace an 8x10 Ampeg or SWR with this, nor would you want to. But I A/B'd it with my Acoustic Image Focus amp with EA 110 and Aguilar 112 and the Amp One stood its ground. Not as much deep bass but the clarity was unmistakable. even against a 4x10 with the Focus it was hard to find any fault with the Amp One. I use it regularly where I don't want to carry even TWO cabinets up stairs. At under 30 lbs it's a One Trip gig monster.

With the Rob Allen in particular (any fretless, I would think) it just sounds flat out better than anything I've ever heard. A Tech 21 DI just puts the icing on it. I had to hunt for my jaw after the first few notes.

Incredibly, with a little EQ work, it's also a kick*** keyboard amp as well.

It gets pretty hot in a live situation; you'll probably be running it almost full out if you have anything bigger than a three piece, especially with drums. But it really doesn't seem to mind. Nothing has failed yet, it's only a few weeks old, but the unit feels high quality and very sturdy. Knobs, buttons and switches are firm and solid, the handle is very very good, and the case is protective yet easy to handle. Everything, in short, feels like it's going to last a long long time. I will eventually stop having the Focus in the trunk as a backup.

Have not dealt with AER directly, but their dealer here in Hawaii is exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Based on that I give them a 10.

I've been playing bass and keyboards for over 30 years. I've owned lots of stuff and gotten rid of not quite so much stuff. I must say that not only do I think very highly of this amp, but everyone I play and work with from drummers to singers to the sound companies at bigger gigs just absolutely flip out when they hear this thing. I've done coffee shop duos, jazz trios, Hawaiian outdoor festivals, conventions, and polo fields with this and the reaction is that same. First, "What is that. Is that ALL you have?" Then, "Hey it looks pretty cool. Wow it has a DI. Nice." After the first few notes, "What the @#$! is that thing? Holy crap! That's amazing/incredible/unbelievable!"

Here's the only thing...if I lost it (not a chance) or if it was stolen(I would hunt them down and kill them) I would really have to dig down deep to get another one. Why? Because they are pretty darn pricey. I hemmed and hawed about this amp for quite a while before I bought it. It is definitely out of reach for a lot of players, especially if music is not their full time career. but the fact that I would TRY to get another one just speaks for the overall value of this thing. It is worth every penny I paid for it. Career musicians and tone junkies will agree - if it sounds like the best damn amp you ever heard, if you can carry it in one hand without sweating, if it can do just about every gig you currently do, if the first thing you think about after the tone is, "What can I sell now that I have this?"...it's a Fantastic Value. So...an EXPENSIVE 10.

Brand new model from AER. One channel, 200 watts, single 10" driver. Effects loops, headphone out, line out, DI out, line in, tuner out. Very small and lightwieght, (29 lbs)

I play many different styles; rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass. Have used the amp with upright bass through a fishman pro platinum and had great results. Also used with a 67 hofner beatle bass, fretless schecter PJ, fretted precision bass, and a homemade trashcan bass. For electric bass this is simply the best amp I have ever played through. Fat and punchy, sound not unlike an old ampeg fliptop with no issues.

I have played bass for 36 years amd have owned Fender and Ampeg tube bass rigs and a variety of rack mount solid state gear. I wouldn't trade my AER for ANYTHING. It is small, light and sounds like god. The only thing I dont like about it is it's so small people dont take it seriously. (Until they HEAR it)