Acoustic Guitar Amps

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stetto

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I have an opportunity to start playing some coffeehouse/small club gigs, just acoustic and vocal. I'm looking for some input on acoustic-specific amps.

The search function isn't working for me today or I might've found something already...So far I've read up on the Fishman Loudboxes and the Roland AC60, the SWR Blondes too. They seem comparable, just wondering what the users think of them. I'll be using a small PA, so the small acoustic pre's are also a consideration...I don't need a LOT of volume for these small venues...Price is an issue in the backseat behind sound and features...

Any thoughts? Thanks...

Eric

edit; And no, the local stores here do not have a selection to test drive... :(
 
Any keyboard amp would work good. They generally don't distort at lower levels like guitar amps do. Once I tried hooking up my keyboard to a small sold state marshall and it didn't work out too well....
 
If you already have a decent PA, I'd just plug in there. I use both a Baggs PADI and a Rane AP13 as pres. Otherwise, I have an older Ultrasound 50 watt amp which works fine for small venues. If you want a top of the line acoustic amp, take a look at AER amps. Absolutely great sound in a real small box. More $$$$ though. See
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/cats/130N.html
 
Thanks for that guys...And for the link, Pohaku.

I play a Seagull S6 w/LR Baggs Ibeam Active. What I've been using onstage (rare occasions) was a Behri V-Amp Pro (bass) through a QSC RMX 850 into an Ampeg HD-50 (I think that's what it's called...2 15's, 2 10's and a peizo)...Overkill to say the least and a bear to haul around. I want a lite, compact acoustic amp with some decent reverb and chorus. 15-30 lbs @ 30-100 watts sounds like a miracle of modern technology. :eek:

Eric
 
I'm not even sure if these are still being sold but I have a Trace Acoustic that's 2x25 watts with 2 8" speakers. Amazing reverbs on it, and its very small but potent enough for a small venue like you say. It handles 1 1/4" input from an electric/acoustic guitar and 1 XLR input from a microphone. It also has a notch filter so that you can dial in a single frequency that's prone to feedback.

Its a really great sounding little amp, although it was waaaaaaay overpriced when I got it. But that was about 10 years ago.

I heard a guy at a bar using a Genz-Benz amp, and it did a great job. But it was big. But the sound quality on it was great...tight low end and lots of definition in the vocal range.
 
I'm a big fan of the SWR Strawberry Blonde (which I prefer to the California Blonde). For a pre to go into a PA, I like Yamaha AG stomp. Either version can produce a pure acoustic sound, or when paired with a magnetic pickup, an intermediate acoustic/electric folk-rock sort of vibe. I've also had pretty good luck at small gigs jacking a Fishman stereo blender straight into a Yamaha Passport PD250. Best of luck-Richie
 
Since you already have a PA, you probably don't need an acoustic amp. You could get a DI/cheap toob pre (ART Tube MP works) to run the guitar through before the PA if the pickup sounds crappy by itself. If you still want one, I really like the fender acoustasonics.
 
Lots of food for thought here guys, thanks. Scrubs, yeah I got the PA, but having a compact unit will come in handy for stuff like songwriting sessions and rehearsals where a PA would be a pain...I know, an acoustic is self-amplified in intimate rooms, but I've gotten spoiled to having control of more volume and dynamics via amplification. I have a pair of SP VTB1's, but they're in the studio rack. I was thinking about a powered stage monitor and an acoustic pre, but the all-in-one concept turns me on...More versatility, don't ya know...

Gad I wish there was a decent music store in my part of flyover country...

Eric
 
A favorite of mine is the Fender Acoustisonic Jr, but if volume is no issue you might just want to go with the std Acoutisonic. The Jr is 40W per channel the std is 30W mono, there is a big difference in volume between the two.

I never played an SWR but I liked the Acoustisonics better than the Rolands in a side by side compairison.
 
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