Acoustic Amps

[DHN]

Any of you acoustic guitar players have an opinion on SWR Strawberry Blonde amps vs. Ultrasound AG50D? I've been comparing the two in the stores and finally purchased the Ultrasound. I thought it was a little fuller sounding than the SWR, especially on the high end. The high E and B strings sounded a little thin on the SWR. Anyway, I'm not blown away by the Ultrasound. It was almost a toss up, but I leaned that way in the end. Anyway, interested to know if anyone has an opinion. By the way, I did also try the Crate, Roland, Fender, Marshall and Trace Elliot amps. I didn't like any of them much and boiled it down to the SWR and the Ultrasound.

Thanks,
DHN

 

[LI Slim]

I didn't try the amps you narrowed it down to, but I ended up getting the Fender Acoustasonic (the bigger one). I thought it had a full sound and a lot of versatility. I like it, but you know what? If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten a good powered mixer and a couple 12" speakers. Now I'm usually a solo acoustic act so I need something for vocals too (I use the Acoustasonic for both in very small venues), but I don't think any of the acoustic guitar amps come close to a good head and speakers. It would have been worth spending the extra couple hundred.

 

[DHN]

Thanks for your reply. I actually use a powered mixer with EV speakers when I do solo acoustic/vocal gigs and agree that it's a good way to go. However, sometimes the venue calls for a smaller set up. Last week I did a gig with a violinist and trumpet player--no vocals. I used the Ultrasound amp I just purchased. It was nice to carry a 40 pound combo instead of a heavy powered mixer and speakers.

I did discover one thing. What I described as a mellow, full sound in my newly purchase amp turned out to be too muddy in the trio setting. The guitar sound did not cut through at all. I ended up returning the Ultrasound amp and purchased the SWR Strawberry Blonde. What I had originally perceived as a thin sound, I can now see is a clear, bright sound that will cut through other, louder instruments.

The reverb on the SWR is not as versatile as the Alesis chip in the Ultrasound but the Aural Enhancer does add a nice sound to the acoustic guitar.

I played a gig yesterday with a piano and vocalist. The SWR did indeed cut through nicely. I think sometimes with fuller sounding amps you end up duking it out with the pianist, bassist, etc. It's nice to be where they aren't. You can be heard and you don't clash.

Anyway, it was kind of fun experimenting to find the right sound for my situation. Thanks again for your reply.

DHN

 

[Treeline]

Just reviving this thread a little... Anyone else have experience with either the SWR Strawberry Blond or the California Blond? (Yeah, I knew one once, too...)

How do they rate for a dual source acoustic without any direct box? Any ideas?