Acoustic Amp

[bcains]

I'm looking at investing in a acoustic amp, that will be used for studio/recording purposes only.
I've search back on old threads and these four seem to be the ones most mentioned.
I have only just started looking around in the local guitar shops, but none of them seem to have
got any in at the moment, so i havent been able to try any of them out.

Theres also the Fishman Loudbox, but i dont know to much about it.

Little more information about them:
Roland JC120: 120watt, 60+60 stereo
Carvin AG 100D: 100watt, 3CH, 24bit effects
Trace Elliot TA50R: 50watt, 16bit effects
Marshall AS50r: 50watt, 2CH

In conclusion, This is were you come in.
I'm doing this poll, to find out what would you purchase based on performance/quailty,
not price "good value for the price".

If you chose none, please explain and add your own recommendation.

Cheers

[scrubs]

Why an acoustic amp for recording? Just about every time, an acoustic guitar will sound better with mics than via a pickup and amp. Now, I have a Fender Acoustasonic amp (which I would add to your list) and it sounds phenomenal for clean electric guitar (telecaster, etc.).

[Scottgman]

About a year or two ago I was in the market for an acoustic amp and played every amp I could find. I think I played that Trace Elliot you listed. I also checked out a Roland-- don't know if it was the same model you listed. Anyway, the short story is the only acoustic amp that I really liked and ended up buying was the SWR Strawberry Blonde (or it's big brother the California Blonde or something like that). The SWR was the only amp that sounded "natural" to my ears. All the others I tried sounded very processed and fake.

But my question is... why would you want an acoustic amp for recording? Unless you *want* that direct, processed, fake sounding acoustic guitar tone... you would probably get better results with a couple decent mics.

[sile2001]

I'm gonna have to agree with what both guys have said so far. One of the primary purposes of acoustic guitar amps is to try and compensate for some of the deficiencies of acoustic guitar pickups when they are used live. Unless you are specifically wanting the sound of a guitar pickup through an acoustic amp, you will get much better results miking the guitar itself.

That said, I'll also agree with both these guys that as acoustic amps go, the Fender Acoustisonics and SWR Strawberry Blonde are really hard to beat. They are the only acoustic amps that I would ever consider using.

[diogo]

in my opinion, if you really want to skip the benefits of a good condenser near the soundhole, you cant go wrong with somethign by AER...you'll pay big bucks though..

this would be my recomendation, but their line just goes on and on..lots of choices, not cheap, but not huge either

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw10_aer_co..._prodinfo.html

this is also an emerging brand, and judging by the hype around them, worth checking out:

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw10_ultras..._prodinfo.html

or this if u dont need so much power:

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw10_ultras..._prodinfo.html

u cant go wrong with fenders, but they're not stelar, and there's a lot of wasted circuit there with the vocal channel.

[onlyfingers]

I don't have one of the four mentioned, never used one, can't say anything good or bad about any of them. So I have no check-box to use on this poll.

Not to be too coarse about it, but I associate "suck" with good experiences, anyway, not bad.

[pohaku]

I have an Ultrasound that I am quite happy with. Comes with Lexicon digital effects for reverb, delay and chorus. Last time I looked, newer versions had a separate mic channel as well. You can get powered extension cabs too if you want more power for gigging. Mine is 50 watts and perfectly suitable for recording and small venues (coffeee house). I believe they also make a 100 watt model and you can always add the aforementioned powered extension cabs. If you need more than that, you probably ought to be running through the PA anyway. Priced pretty reasonably IMHO.

[bcains]

I usually go direct, with a couple of mics, but i wanted to try going from the line out of the amp,
to see what kinda of sound i'd get, or try micing it. All experimental, it wouldnt be the way id always
go about with elec/acou guitars.

Also wanted to pick one up because we have jam nights in my "studio"
which usually involves a full band (and acoustic).

Cheers for the recommendations.
P.S This Fender Acoustasonic, is it the Jr. or the 30?

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by bcains

Cheers for the recommendations.
P.S This Fender Acoustasonic, is it the Jr. or the 30?

I have the original Acoustasonic SFX. I haven't tried the newer models.

[erosconpollo]

I picked the JC120 because it's such a versatile piece of equipment -- useful for electric or acoustic and even a pretty good bass amp. Now it won't sound as 'realistic' on acoustic as some dedicated amps, though good work has been done with it (e.g. Joni Mitchell).

Roland does have an acoustic amp, the AC60 (I think that's the model name), but I really don't know much about it, except that it is, like the JC models, stereo.

[Richard Monroe]

Here's another vote for the SWR Strawberry Blonde. Its somwhat larger cousin, the California Blonde, has an XLR in, and doubles as a micro PA. Unless you are looking for a small amp to mic a guitar through, the Strawberry Blonde sounds better, and costs less. When I jack my Taylor with the Fishman stereo blender into the SWR, it sounds like I am standing inside the guitar. Ooh baby!
Another surprising alternative is a Fender PD150 or PD250, a small portable PA. Plug the guitar into the unbalanced line in, and the little puppy becomes an *excellent* acoustic amp. For small gigs, I just jack acoustic and vox into the PD250. For bigger gigs, I add the Strawberry Blonde, and just use the PA for vox.-Richie

[Scottgman]

Originally Posted by bcains

Also wanted to pick one up because we have jam nights in my "studio"
which usually involves a full band (and acoustic).

If that's the case then you should seriously consider the wattage of the amp you purchase. The Strawberry Blonde cannot keep up with my rock band. It's only a 50-watt amp if I remember correctly. Basically I use it as my personal monitor and run the line out to the PA for rehearsals and gigs. It just isn't loud enough to compete with drums, bass, and everything else. But I love it's sound and I get alot more control over my tone compared to just the onboard preamp built into my acoustic-- so the lack of wattage doesn't really bother me.

Good luck!