acoustic amp

[oz_fenda]

Hi guys,
I'm thinking of buying the Behringer Ultracoustic ACX450. http://www.behringer.com/ACX450/index.cfm?lang=ENG

I used to do a few 'mini gigs' at a mate's place for maybe 20 people or so, and used to run my acoustic guitar and microphone into my Behringer UB1202FX, which was amplified through my Roland Cube 60. Needless to say, the vocals sounded like rubbish, and I couldn't get it to a descent volume without it feeding back on me.

That friend just got a new place and asked if I would do another performance there but this time with a bigger crowd, so we're moving into real party kinda territory. I agreed to play but said first I'd need to find something a little better.

Just wondering if anybody has any experience with this amp or if anybody has any idea if it would be suitable for that kind of thing? Its just volume i'm concerned about. I'm a relatively poor student so I can't really afford anything much more expensive at the moment. It doesn't matter if its not a 'gigging machine', as I'd be using it in the bedroom most of the time, so just really wondering if anyone has an opinion on whether they think it'd be loud enough for a party or small club kinda thing.

Cheers,
Matt

 

[Big Kenny]

Sounds good at low volumes, sux when you get to where you need it...

 

[oz_fenda]

Ah ok cheers.
Does the sound break up or distort or anything in particular which makes it a bad choice?
Any idea if the ACX900 (90 watts) would be any better?

Or would I be better going for this smaller pa system? http://www.guitar.com.au/pa_systems/ashton/bpa100.htm There's only one left at my local music store and it's rrp is $800AU and is being sold at for $400AU due to a newer model coming in. Any idea if a PA would ruin my acoustics' (cole clark fat lady1) tone? Not too sure if I could imagine myself sitting in my room everyday playing my guitar through a pa system though :S

 

[BigsbyBoyUK]

I'm not familiar with this particular amp but I have a Trace Elliott 50 watt acoustic guitar amp with a mic channel and it has been useful for very small gigs. So if you really are only going to play to a small room of people it could well be worth it. I would suggest though that you try to find a music shop with a range of these from different manufactureres and try a few different ones - both the guitar sound and the vocal sound.

By the way personally I never never play my acoustic through the amp at home . . . just can't see the point when the natural volume from the guitar is enough, and the natural tone much nicer than amplified.

The 'PA' you linked to isn't really what most people would call a PA, more of a mini portable thing and I can't see much advantage in getting that vs a dedicated acoustic guitar amp with mic channel.

If you think you might play to bigger venues then it is worth getting a 'proper' PA (ie mixer and power amp and speakers, or mixer and powered speakers) but that does create extra gear to carry around and costs more so for small rooms a standalone amp would be fine.