Clarus alternative?

**pcsanwald** · 07-09-2017, 02:12 PM

My beloved clarus has died on a gig yesterday after15 years of service. I plan to send it in to be repaired and have no doubt that Rick will do a great job, but I'm also looking into an alternative head as a backup.

I'm unfamiliar with the amp market, having used a clarus + RE-NY8 for the past 15 years. An important consideration for me is that I want to use the head for both upright bass amplification and guitar, so, not looking for a head that would color the sound too much.

Any advice?

**Stringswinger** · 07-09-2017, 03:17 PM

Buy a 2nd Clarus. The older models are at a very reasonable price point and would serve quite well as a backup.

**docbop** · 07-09-2017, 03:21 PM

AI has brought back the Clarus SL a physically smaller version of the Clarus.

Acoustic Image Series 4PLUS CLARUS SL and SL-R instrument amplifier at Gollihur Music - Double Bass, Upright Bass, String Bass Specialists

**Danny W.** · 07-09-2017, 03:50 PM

I carry a Clarus SL-R as a backup. Weighs almost nothing, takes up little room. Haven't ever needed it, but it's nice to know it's there, and it's a great little head.

Danny W.

**JazzNote** · 07-09-2017, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Buy a 2nd Clarus. The older models are at a very reasonable price point and would serve quite well as a backup.

Great advice! That's what i've been doing for the past few years.

**sgosnell** · 07-09-2017, 05:06 PM

I recently bought a DV Mark Micro50, and I like it better than my Clarus, which I now have for sale. It's not rated for as much power, but it's certainly loud enough for me, and it sounds very good, while smaller and lighter than the Clarus.

**sgcim** · 07-09-2017, 08:18 PM

Most upright bass players I play with have a Contra combo. You're already lifting a bass, so why not make things easier on yourself?
You could always add your extension speaker to it.
That said, i still have an old Coda that i never use anymore since I bought a Corus.
Next time you're in NY, I'll let you have it for three bills- my special NY price...

**Woody Sound** · 07-10-2017, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Danny W.

I carry a Clarus SL-R as a backup. Weighs almost nothing, takes up little room. Haven't ever needed it, but it's nice to know it's there, and it's a great little head.

Danny W.

OK, a question, with candor: Why not just use the SL-R? What functionality do you lose?

**Danny W.** · 07-10-2017, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

OK, a question, with candor: Why not just use the SL-R? What functionality do you lose?

Back when I gigged with RE cabinets I did just use the SL-R, but now I gig with AI combos that have a full-blown Clarus head built in.

One feature the SL-R doesn't have is the variable filter, which I sometimes find useful. Another is the mute button that is invaluable for silent tuning.

Danny W.

**JazzNote** · 07-10-2017, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Danny W.

One feature the SL-R doesn't have is the variable filter, which I sometimes find useful.

I find the variable filter extremely useful. In fact i use it all the time when playing through the clarus.

**Woody Sound** · 07-10-2017, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Danny W.

Back when I gigged with RE cabinets I did just use the SL-R, but now I gig with AI combos that have a full-blown Clarus head built in.

One feature the SL-R doesn't have is the variable filter, which I sometimes find useful. Another is the mute button that is invaluable for silent tuning.

Danny W.

Ah, I see. It looks like the new versions now have both(?)

**whiskey02** · 07-10-2017, 05:53 PM

I know a couple of guys who had AI amps and have read of several others that have had to send them back for servicing(one friend sent the same amp at least twice), same thing for Evans amps. Why is it that that highest priced SS amps crap out so frequently?

**pcsanwald** · 07-10-2017, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by whiskey02

I know a couple of guys who had AI amps and have read of several others that have had to send them back for servicing(one friend sent the same amp at least twice), same thing for Evans amps. Why is it that that highest priced SS amps crap out so frequently?

I can't speak for others, but I've had mine break down once previously, and I've used it heavily for 15 years. This is a good track record!

**Danny W.** · 07-10-2017, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

Ah, I see. It looks like the new versions now have both(?)

Yup.

Originally Posted by whiskey02

I know a couple of guys who had AI amps and have read of several others that have had to send them back for servicing(one friend sent the same amp at least twice), same thing for Evans amps. Why is it that that highest priced SS amps crap out so frequently?

I've been doing my gigs and rehearsals exclusively through AI amps since 2002. Over that time I've owned a number of their products. AI fixed very minor problems on several of them at absolutely no charge to me with about a one-week turnaround. The "problems" including slightly elevated noise levels on two of them and a sticking reverb switch on one that I bought used. I doubt that many manufacturers would have even considered the first two as defects, no less do a free repair--the noise would never have been noticeable in any playing situation.

As for reliability, I've never had one fail. While the earliest ones were known to have power-supply issues that could cause them to flame out, my original 1A never let me down.

Danny W.

**sgcim** · 07-11-2017, 01:57 AM

I'm going to be using my AI Corus for the first time on a steady summer gig I've had for the last 20 years (the band has had the gig for 39 years), and I've always had volume problems on it, because we play outside.
There's a huge, spread out audience, so I'm going to use my RS-10 for the first time with my Corus and see how that works.

Thanks to Rob McKillop providing the music for Solo Flight, they've made it a permanent part of the gig since I played it for CC's 100th last year.
My Coda with the RS-10 was okay last year, but I'm hoping the Corus with the added RS-10 will be more effective.

**Cunamara** · 07-14-2017, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by whiskey02

I know a couple of guys who had AI amps and have read of several others that have had to send them back for servicing(one friend sent the same amp at least twice), same thing for Evans amps. Why is it that that highest priced SS amps crap out so frequently?

And yet they still last longer between repairs than tubes <ducks>!

My Clarus 2r is at least 10 years old, has hundreds of hours on it and never a hiccup. The folks at Acoustic Image are famous for repairing their amps for free, even when you're not the original buyer. Dunno if they do that every time but the few repair stories I have heard about them have all been very, very good.

I never even think about taking a backup amp along.

**docbop** · 07-14-2017, 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

And yet they still last longer between repairs than tubes <ducks>!

My Clarus 2r is at least 10 years old, has hundreds of hours on it and never a hiccup. The folks at Acoustic Image are famous for repairing their amps for free, even when you're not the original buyer. Dunno if they do that every time but the few repair stories I have heard about them have all been very, very good.

I never even think about taking a backup amp along.

I have two AI's a Clarus 2r and the single channel version of the same amp. Bought both used from working pro's and they said they didn't have trouble and I haven't had any in the years I've had them. My tube amps mainly collect dust especially in summer don't need more heat. I will keep using the AI's for 99% of what I do until someone make a Jazz focused modeling amp with nice selection of classic SS and tube Jazz amps and not cost a fortune.

**sgosnell** · 07-14-2017, 11:06 AM

My Clarus is 25 years old. AI repaired it at no charge when it developed some noise about a year ago. I had it for sale on Reverb, and pulled it out to make sure it still worked. After listening to it through my newly acquired RE Stealth 10ER, I ended the Reverb sale, and I plan on keeping it. It's built like a tank, and sounds so good I don't want to let it go. It's not the most attractive visual design you'll ever see, but amps aren't for looking at, they're for listening to, and it's great at that.

**Woody Sound** · 07-14-2017, 12:23 PM

$150, needs a little work. (no affiliation)

Acoustic Image Contra Bass Amp - musical instruments - by owner - sale

Clarus alternative?-ai-jpg

**Greentone** · 07-14-2017, 03:04 PM

I saw Jimmy Bruno once. He was playing through an AI Clarus and a RE cabinet with 10" speaker. Good Gawd! The tone Bruno was getting that day was incredible. I mean...I don't think it could have gotten any better, at all.

AI amps are great with RE cabs.

**Stringswinger** · 07-14-2017, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Greentone

I saw Jimmy Bruno once. He was playing through an AI Clarus and a RE cabinet with 10" speaker. Good Gawd! The tone Bruno was getting that day was incredible. I mean...I don't think it could have gotten any better, at all.

AI amps are great with RE cabs.

That is pretty much the rig I have been using the last 15 years or so.

My Series 3 Clarus 2 is 10 years old and has probably been used on 1500 gigs with no issues.

**sgcim** · 07-22-2017, 01:37 AM

Originally Posted by sgcim

I'm going to be using my AI Corus for the first time on a steady summer gig I've had for the last 20 years (the band has had the gig for 39 years), and I've always had volume problems on it, because we play outside.
There's a huge, spread out audience, so I'm going to use my RS-10 for the first time with my Corus and see how that works.

Thanks to Rob McKillop providing the music for Solo Flight, they've made it a permanent part of the gig since I played it for CC's 100th last year.
My Coda with the RS-10 was okay last year, but I'm hoping the Corus with the added RS-10 will be more effective.

I just came back from the gig where I played "Solo Flight" by CC with a big band, and I decided to take only my Corus without the RS-10, because I carpooled with a trumpet player friend of mine, and I didn't want to load both the RS-10 and the Corus into his car.

As it turned out, I didn't need to bring the RS-10. My Borys B-222 cut right through the big band with a big, warm, fat sound on Solo Flight, and all my other solos.
I think that the combination of the B-222, Kent Armstrong's version of a DeArmond RC 1100, and the Corus are the perfect solution to the dilemma of cutting through a loud big band (with a very loud drummer), and still maintaining an excellent jazz sound.

My tone quest is over...