Acoustic Control Corporation 301

One 18 inch Cerwin Vega speaker in a folded horn configuration (speaker faces backwards and bounces off the back of the cabinet and into the horn). Low end for days but still good mids; high's are enough for me.

My main basses are the Asian-made hard rock maple neck-though Stenberger 5 string with passive EMG pickups, one fretted, one fretless (they sound much warmer than the synthetic Steinbergers). Also, '67 Fender Jazz, a '91 Alembic 6 string and a Peavy TL-5 with Alembic electronics, a '52 Kay acoustic bass.

The fretless bass with this cabinet is as close to an acoustic bass sound that I've ever gotten, very woody. My main amps are Galien-Krueger 200MB's, the little metal box combos which are the standard for acoustic bass. I also have the head-only version of this amp which is what I'm using with the 301; it has 150 watts into 4 ohms (the impedence of the 301). It's loud without ever having to turn that little thing up very much.
The sound: lows for days and weeks, great mids and definition, too, as this cabinet is not as deep dimension-wise as other folded horns. The other poster that mentioned it is louder further out than close to it is accurate. It will drive the sound engineer crazy or you have to play quiet onstage. The cab is best when you have to be loud without a sound engineer. At stage volume, no one will be telling you to turn down, but you can fill the dance hall. To me, that's what this is: a dance hall cabinet. If you like the sound of tweeters in a bass rig, that tingy tingy sound (I don't) this cab by itself is not for you. Same cabinet as Jaco used (his was the tube-powered 360, but same speaker and cab design) so plenty of presence. If you dig James Brown, Sly, Tower of Power, you're in. And for reggae? Oh My GAWD! Better wear a jock strap. Or a cup even! That's the sound I go for: that in the 'hood cranked up juke box bass sound. If you do metal and your cohorts are playing Marshalls turned up to 11, this cab is your best defense.

VERY RELIABLE. An 11 out of 10. That's why I got it. I was riding my little GK's hard and putting them to bed wet and was having reliability problems with those from pushing them too hard. I got in this funk band, did a wedding gig or two as well, and so I thought I'd get this. I can make everyone disappear with this thing. I power it with my little GK head. The cabinet is very efficient so you don't need a lot of power as you do with a 8 10 cab. The Cerwin Vega speaker was first used in the movie theatre for the movie "Earthquake." They don't blow, they just don't.

The company is no more, but you can get the speaker reconed by anyone who recones speakers, and the only reason you'd need to do that is if you've left the cab in a cold and damp garage or basement for a long, long time. Music will not blow it. You don't need customer support really.

My main amps are Galien-Krueger 200MB's, the little metal box combos which are the standard for acoustic bass. I also have the head-only version of this amp which is what I'm using with the 301; it has 150 watts into 4 ohms (the impedence of the 301). IT's plenty. I would get the matching 370 head, but I like a limiter/compressor for a more tube sound. I still might get a 370 head if one comes up cheap enough on eBay.
I have played for 35 years so I've had many amps and have seen many come and go. I've had Eden, Acoustic, Ampeg SVT, Peavy's, Carvin, Fender (my first amp was a 2-12 Fender Bassman I got in 1973) Dean Markley (a piece of crap), Kustom, Crown DC300 with Alembic preamp, others. Back in the day it was pretty much just the Acoustic 370 with this 301 cab, the Ampeg SVT and Sunn Collisuem. I preferred the 370/301 to the SVT. They're both about the same size and output, but the 370/301 is easier to haul around and much lighter weight. I play jazz (Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz, Jimmy McGriff, Dave Valentin, Terrence Blanchard), but I play funk and R&B, too, which is why I purchased this baby on eBay for a mere $180 and drove from St Louis to D.C. to get it.
The only thing not to like about it? It's big and heavy, but it tilts back onto two built-in wheels like a dolly, and I can get it up and down stairs by myslef. I'm 48, so it is a workout, but I need the excercise!

amp was bought new in 1974,
I've played cabaret,country rock and now 70's rock.very versatile,plenty of power(very little difference in performance to my gallien Kreuger 800rb)not bad considering a 30 yr technology disadvantage!!smooth,fat and warm at low volume love it

I am using a 73 precision bass and an acoustic Martin/sigma bass.Original p bass pickups and martin pre/amp onboard electrics.can pull most sounds,really enjoy being able to use a bit of mids and uppermids without getting a brittle almost brassy sound as I do with my other rig.(1x15" ev &2x12ev's on top) with a 800 G.K

only once did it break down and I had a lot of trouble getting someone who was game enough to work on it.a man called Ted Sampson in Sydney did a wonderful rebuild and its sound just like it did new. I can't remember the actual problem, however it was only minor until a tec.who didn't have it together made it worse,I then had to find someone who was a specialist

as mentioned previously,I resorted to getting assistance from elsewhere as the company had folded or had very low profile here in australia at the time.I hadn't needed their assistance for the first 18 yrs or so as the amp was just so good

I have a G.K 800rb bass head on top of a 2x12ev bin on top of a 15"ev tl bin.I am looking for another 301 reflex bin(I foolishly sold mine, just recently )and I still have the the original head.I wish I had the two rigs as I would alternate them depending on the size of the venue.

These are hands down the BEST bass cabinets ever manufactured... If you like earthshaking lows, there is and never will be any bass cabinet that will deliver as much bottom end as this beast... I have never really played it by itself, due to the fact that I also like the punchiness of 10's. I use a Peavey 2-10" cabinet with a tweeter on top of it. I play through a late 80's Crate BT-350 bass head and have it bi-amped so the BT350 powers the lows in the Acoustic cabinet and the genius Stewart PA-100B half rack space 200W bridged power amp to put out the highs through the 2-10. This is simply the best setup ever... Wish it were a little smaller but man is it worth it.

Like I said, this is simply the best low frequency bass cabinet ever made, there will be no other...

This is the same bass cabinet that Led Zeppelin, the Doors, and countless others used... What can I say? They are from the early 70's. The one I have has been on at least 4 tours that I know of, and that was just from the previous owner. It has a band name spray painted on the back "Tunza Fish" whom I have never heard of, so I'm sure it has seen immense gigging. All that and the only thing wrong with it is that the tolex is ripped off the bottom and the cabinet corners on the bottom front finally fell off... This speaker is still original!!! I have been playing 350 Watts through it for a while ith the volume on 5-7 and no trouble. I heard of one guy blowing one of these, but he pumped 600 Watts through it for a long while... I think they were rated at 300 Watts but luck has been with me so far. I think you can have them reconed as just under 400 Watts (the Cerwin-Vega 187 18's have slightly smaller magnets than the newer 188's which were 400 Watts). Also the caps in the top where the head sat into are missing, seems to be the only common problem.

Out of business a long time ago. Wonder why? Probably because they made pretty much all high end stuff and nothing cheap...

See above. I cannot stress how awesome these are... Very heavy, but I can manage it on all but stairs by myself. Oh yeah, I play early 80's Washburn B-series basses with active EMG pickups. These things have so much thump it's ridiculous. I have a Washburn Status headless as well, with new EMG extended series P&J setup and the old "inferior" Washburn EMG stuff still kicks its butt... Oh yeah, when I shut the door to my semi-soundproofed band room and play outside in the basement, everything in the basement shakes... I let anotehr band practice down there once and it shook the plaster in the walls in my 3rd floor bedroom... The bass is the only thing that makes it outside. This thing is ridiculously incredible.

Made in early 70's ???
2 square-magnet speakers and an amazing cabinet. Unique removable
sort of woven grill. Solid as a rock when installed, but removable simply by prying carefully around the edge (once you know how -- or you'll go nuts trying to get into it).

I play guitar, blues and old rock mostly, and a LOT of guitar synthesizer. This cabinet is reputed to be a bass player's dream but frankly is equally good on full-range applications.
Only disadvantage is weight -- it is HEAVY -- solid wood cabinetry with brown covering. The 2X12 is manageable by one person, I wouldn't even think about transporting a 4 X 12 without a van and serious help.

Epiphone Sheraton II, Strat, Raven (Jackson clone), Roland GR-30 guitar synth, etc.
I usually drive it with an AIMS 100W P.A. head (for synth, guitar and vocal use), excellent match, but it handles anything I've put on it. Usually coupled with a 4X10 column when used for synth and vocals.
With original speakers, has awesome guitar and bass capability. With higher-efficiency full-range 12's it has greater output but loses nothing on the bass. (I've had Celestions and Rolands in it.)

Solid as a rock. Indestructible, I mean it -- this cabinet is head and shoulders above even other good ones I've had. I wouldn't even want to try to destroy it. Even the casters have survived 30 years intact.
Bought on Ebay, within a week I had two unsolicited offers for it.
After watching for a year or two, I just found another without speakers, will install the originals from my first in it, probably.

Company is apparently long gone, but its products just keep kicking along.

Playing 35 years. I guess I have 20+ guitars, 7 or 8 amps. Partial to Ibanez/Jackson types for rock, 335 type (Sheraton II and others) for blues and country. Also early 70's underrated Japanese electrics (like early 70's Epiphones and Ibanez). (Use an acoustic simulator an lot, also a Roland Gr-30 guitar synth.
If lost or stolen, I'd lie in wait until I can buy another and put out a contract on the perpetrator.
It's heavy--you'll use the castors if you're smart or old like me. :)

I love playing bass! The deeper the sub-lows the better! And give it to me at volume levels that will vibrate my clothes off! I have 2 Acoustic 301 cabs! I simply plug the 2 of them into my 1970 Ampeg SVT, which I had modified the two external amp. jacks, over to an effects loop which I run a Peavey Architectural Acoustics 31 band equalizer. Damn that sounds great! Oh yeah.. I have 2 original Dan Armstong basses! Due to the unique design of the pick-up (2 magnets, 1 on TOP of the other, instead of side by side) has an individual sound all its own. As much as I love my Dan Armstrong basses, (which I'll probably have burried with me) the only problem I have achieving my sound is the 70's midrange tone the head and the cab inherently have, hence the equalizer. Cut the hollow mids and you have a natural split between the lows and highs and my 301's come ALIVE! Bring the volume up to 3 (anything higher and jesus shows up to tell me to turn it down) and lay down before you get vibrated to the floor and turned into a puddle of goo. By cutting the mids you also get MORE and CLEANER highs! By the way, this cab could start an earthquake! The lows are great! And 2 of them is even better!
The first 301 I bought for $85.00! The kid I got it from complained it rattled! Problem was some of the screws for the back board had striped the receiving plywood board. I replaced the contact boards with regular boards instead of plywood because I thought that was the problem.
The second one I bought for 150.00 in excellent condition. Slid it in the back seat of the Camry and I was gone!

I'm a heavy metal/rock and roll bass player.The Acoustic 301's are excellent for this type of music. Subs you only dreamed of have suddenly come alive. Both of my 301's have the original Cerwin-Vega 300 watts 18" speakers. These mothers will put you to bed when I hook them up to my SVT. They makes dogs bark 5 miles away! ( is he kidding? ) With my Dan Armstrong bass, I cut the mids so I can take fill advantage of ALL the highs and lows from this type of set up. Deep bass or biting highs, what ever type of music you play, this cab KICKS BUTT!!

All I can say about reliability is : If it wasn't good, I wouldn't own it!

Acoustic Contol Corporation has gone to audio heaven. (say bye-bye) At one time there was a company called the Wagner Group tried to re-issue the Acoustic line but it didn't last long.

I've been playing bass for just about 30 years. I have a personal collection of: 1) 2 Original Dan Armstrong basses. One with a phase switch, one without. 2) A 1970 Ampeg SVT with one original 8x10" cab. 3) 2 Acoustic 301 cabs. 4) An Ampeg re-issue V4-B cab and an original Ampeg V4-B cab I purchased stripped for $50.00 that I equipped with 2 EV 15" 400 watt speakers and totally restored the ENTIRE cab with all Ampeg parts (except for the speakers which at this age I could not find anywhere). Hence the EV's. And finally 5) An Acoustic 450 head with a 406 cab that has an Eminence 18" speaker front mounted with a baffle. I also have a rack with a Furman PL-8, an Ampeg SVP-PRO pre amp, a Biamp stereo 10 band EQ that then goes to my Crown Micro-Tech 1000. I run 2 pre-amp signals, one for each side of the EQ, then to the Crown so I can power The 2 Acoustic 301"s on one side and the Ampeg V4-B with the EV's on the other side. I'm in heaven! If it was stolen or lost I would DEFINITELY buy another, no doubt about it!!!
I've heard others complain about its weight but after spending years on the road with an SVT head (85 pounds alone) And a SVT cab that weighs about the same, I don't get it . If you want quality you have to take the down side as well. The cabs are not the heaviest around. The re-issue Ampeg V4-B weighs 225 pounds!!! Now that sucks! But the sound is great!

By the away... if anyone knows where I could get some parts ( caps on top of cab to hold head in place or feet for the bottom of an Acoustic head ) PLEASE let me know!!!!!

This is a folded horn enclosure with a Cerwin-Vega 18" speaker. It has removable cloth grills attached by Velcro. It sounds better without the grills but looks bad that way. It has an ugly blue colored panel. It has very good casters and handles, so it is easy to roll, which is good because it is heavy and bulky even for two people to carry.

This bottom sounds great for hard rock with my 370 top. See my review there for more info. Here is what you need to know: the folded horn enclosure has two important properties. 1) it emphasizes bass frequencies, and taken with the res[ponse of the 18" driver, that means you will have endless bottom, if you like bass, look no further. But it does not have the treble punch of, say, a 4x10/tweeter combo. 2) the folded horn PROJECTS. This is a great bottom for playing outside, it will send your sound rolling over the audience. However, the sound does not fully develop until about 20' in front of the enclosure. So, if you turn yourself up so you can hear yourself real good, your sound man will tell you you're too loud, turn it down. This happens to me constantly. The cure is to get a 1x15 for an onstage monitor.

Never had a problem with the enclosure per se. However, one of the grill panels has warped, but this is an annoyance that does not affect basic sound or serviceability.

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Ive been playing 25 years, and this cab actually WAS stolen once, but it was so heavy, the guy left it in the yard next door!! I've compared this side by side with a Cerwin Vega 18" cab and I thought this sounded better. I love 18" speakers and will always use one, but they are VERY bottom heavy, not for everybody. However, they do NOT break up. I am curious about Carvin's new 18" front mounted enclosure, though. The folded horn has advantages and disadvantages, see above.