Acoustic Image Upshot speaker...any thoughts?

[c***@gmail.com]

I contacted AI about one of their amps and they suggested I try an Upshot with my Clarus IIR...I see demos for bass but wonder if any guitarists here every played through one?

All the best guys! (and girls!)

[c***@gmail.com]

I am looking at a few new amps to buy and am noticing a few things about AI. Many of not most of the NY clarus guys have switched to Henriksen or Quilter. I think for a few reasons ...I am looking for light and portable with a big sound and the Bud seems to dominate. Also, AI seems to want to nickel and dime you to death bringing their price to the same as Henriksen. They have a bracket on the Upshot for $39 bucks extra...and you don't get the gig bag unless you buy the whole combo...if u already have a Clarus and just want the speaker, you pay $100 additional for the gig bag and 30 for the bracket.. BIG turnoff...
I can buy a Quilter for 4 or 5 hundred less than a combo or a Bud Combo for the same price and not have to set up or connect it on the stand, which is what I will likely do.
Also...I like clean headroom but do I need 600w? Is this for bass players?
Any thoughts by some AI folks? Is AI losing its market share these days? They used to be on every stage, now I cant remember the last time I saw one.

[van]

Post by c***@gmail.com
I am looking at a few new amps to buy and am noticing a few things about AI. Many of not most of the NY clarus guys have switched to Henriksen or Quilter. I think for a few reasons ...I am looking for light and portable with a big sound and the Bud seems to dominate. Also, AI seems to want to nickel and dime you to death bringing their price to the same as Henriksen. They have a bracket on the Upshot for $39 bucks extra...and you don't get the gig bag unless you buy the whole combo...if u already have a Clarus and just want the speaker, you pay $100 additional for the gig bag and 30 for the bracket.. BIG turnoff...
I can buy a Quilter for 4 or 5 hundred less than a combo or a Bud Combo for the same price and not have to set up or connect it on the stand, which is what I will likely do.
Also...I like clean headroom but do I need 600w? Is this for bass players?
Any thoughts by some AI folks? Is AI losing its market share these days? They used to be on every stage, now I cant remember the last time I saw one.

I picked up a used AI Corus for $420 from a local dude. It can cut any jazz/big band gig with no problems, and I don't need to bring my RS-10 like I did with my Coda. That's the main reason why guys aren't using Clarus and Coda amps as much anymore; they don't wanna lug an amp plus a speaker cab.

Combo amps like the Henriksen Blu and Bud are much lighter than the Corus or the Clarus + speaker option, and some people claim you can get the same big sound out of them.
I tried a Bud at a friend's house, and it distorted when I cranked it up to a level that would be suitable for playing a gig with a loud drummer, so I wouldn't rec a Bud based on that one particular amp. Maybe something was wrong with it?
A store that carries the Blu just moved to my area, so I'm gonna check that out within the next month. One guy I know lives in Brooklyn, and brings his Blu in to the city for sessions most nights, and early reports from him were that it was fine.
I played a Quilter with a Tele at a Sam Ash store, and couldn't get a decent jazz sound no matter what I did. I didn't try it with my guitar, so I'm not counting Quilter out , yet. I hated the one i tried out.
Another option is the Mambo combo from the UK, which is getting rave reviews from guys at the Jazz Guitar Forum. Most of them are hobbyists, so I'd have to check one out in person, which is impossible in the US.
They're also buying the DV Mark Little Jazz, and the DV Mark Jazz, another make I've yet to try, but they are available at Guitar Centers, so I'm gonna check them out soon.
I bought a used JazzKat AcoustiKat a few years ago that I only use for rehearsals. Paul Bollenback told me it would make a good night table. ;-)

I've got a shitload of Musicals from here until September, so I'm not in a rush to buy a new jazz amp.

[c***@gmail.com]

THanks for the detail Van! I will mention that I have a DV Little Mark Jazz and it is truly terrible. Other players come by to use an amp and after a while they just stare at me...then I have to break out another amp...lol.
Its for sale for 275 ...but its light as a feather and sounds like one too.

So Paul (and you) didn't like the Jazzkat? They were hot for a while...I liked the few I played through..but never owned one. Thanks for your take on the Bud. I would love to find a corus like you did, but they are all over 6 or 6 hundred. I don't think I would put up with the Upshot for very long having to connect it and then deal with the bracket...etc but I do wonder if the two 10s version at 18lbs sounds like it should...might be worth the pain.

I am in and around NY on weekends...what store is near you that has Quilters? I never saw one in Sams. I would tend to believe you when u say the Bud didn't hold up with a loud drummer but I have heard them with 'not so loud' drummers and they were fine and is still on my list.

so, your corus is fine for subway, jams and running around town? I will have to check one out...wish a store had one that I could hear with my guitar. Thanks again and Id love to hear you in NY sometime!

[van]

Post by c***@gmail.com
THanks for the detail Van! I will mention that I have a DV Little Mark Jazz and it is truly terrible. Other players come by to use an amp and after a while they just stare at me...then I have to break out another amp...lol.
Its for sale for 275 ...but its light as a feather and sounds like one too.
So Paul (and you) didn't like the Jazzkat? They were hot for a while...I liked the few I played through..but never owned one. Thanks for your take on the Bud. I would love to find a corus like you did, but they are all over 6 or 6 hundred. I don't think I would put up with the Upshot for very long having to connect it and then deal with the bracket...etc but I do wonder if the two 10s version at 18lbs sounds like it should...might be worth the pain.
I am in and around NY on weekends...what store is near you that has Quilters? I never saw one in Sams. I would tend to believe you when u say the Bud didn't hold up with a loud drummer but I have heard them with 'not so loud' drummers and they were fine and is still on my list.
so, your corus is fine for subway, jams and running around town? I will have to check one out...wish a store had one that I could hear with my guitar. Thanks again and Id love to hear you in NY sometime!

Maybe it was just this guy's Bud. Sam Ash had a used Quilter in its Queens store once, but it's gone now. The Corus is not as light as it looks, so that's why I'm interested in the Blu, which is only about 16lbs. or so.
There are still guys who like the AER amp, but I've heard it's better for acoustic instruments only.
Did you move? I thought you were in some state West of NY.

[c***@gmail.com]

No..i didn't move ..im in Philly but my GF is in Newark nj so im up there every other weekend or so. When there, I get to NYC in 20 min via NJT. There is a great jam in Newark at a place called Clements. So, im looking for something I can take on the train and drag around to the jams. Jack Zucker suggested the quilter Blockdock 10...also at 16lbs..and not too expensive either. But sizewise its bigger than a Bud..which is due soon for an upgrade. Let me know if ur jamming anywhere or if there are some jams in the city that I can hit on weekends. Would love to meet up sometime. The only jams I know in NY is the after hrs at Smalls..but there must be more Im sure. Let me know what you end up getting. All the best

[van]

Post by c***@gmail.com
I contacted AI about one of their amps and they suggested I try an Upshot with my Clarus IIR...I see demos for bass but wonder if any guitarists here every played through one?
All the best guys! (and girls!)

I dunno about how they sound for guitar, but a bass player I session with has one, and they're Extremely portable. That's how Harvie S. told them to make it.

[c***@gmail.com]

Yes, as I understand, Harvey is the guy who initiated this design. I contacted AI again on FB and they said they will get some clips up of guitar players soon. Im holding out to see them before I pull the trigger.

[Tim McNamara]

Post by c***@gmail.com
Yes, as I understand, Harvey is the guy who initiated this design. I
contacted AI again on FB and they said they will get some clips up of
guitar players soon. Im holding out to see them before I pull the
trigger.

Seems like the same notion that Johnny Smith sought with the Ampeg
Fountain of Sound. I'd like to try one with my Clarus to check it out.
Jack Zucker has said he could get a smoky jazz tone out of the Corus or
Coda, can't recall which. I've always been doubtful about the
downfiring woofer design, but Jack is legendarily picky about tone.

I still have my Clarus 2r with a Redstone 8" cab and a Raezer's Edge
12". I much prefer the sound of the latter but it's not all that
portable. Most of the time I use my tweed Deluxe clone which is more
portable than lugging a head + cab. I will say that the Clarus sounds
great, though, for clean tones. The 5E3 sounds like old Blue Note
recordings rather than modern sounds, no problem for me there but
wouldn't suit some. I have a Polytone Baby Taurus with is far more
portable still; good with my archtop, not so good with my Tele to my
ears.

[c***@gmail.com]

Jeez Tim...we must shop at the same stores!! I have all the same amps as you right down to the little Polytone..(I have 3 or those...love em!) Id love to hear this upshot..i also have the clarus 2r..so far, no clips though..

[b***@gmail.com]

Post by c***@gmail.com
Yes, as I understand, Harvey is the guy who initiated this design. I contacted AI again on FB and they said they will get some clips up of guitar players soon. Im holding out to see them before I pull the trigger.

Pretty sure I saw a post maybe on instagram where Sheryl Bailey (and Harvey S) both were using the upshot speaker.
Maybe reach out to her