Acoustic Guitar mag reviews a small acoustic [sic] amp in the current issue. I don't remember the name, but it's a single-purpose unit with no microphone input and no bells or whistles. Tiny, but reportedly sounds good. I'll retrieve more info, if you want.
Fender's Acoustasonic 30 isn't a mini-amp (it weighs 34 lbs), but it's portable enough, and the tone is superior to any mini-amp I've heard, especially for acoustic instruments. Also nice to have too much power rather than too little when you're suddenly battling a roomful of 500 drunks at a wedding reception or pub on St. Paddy's Day.
Roland makes good stuff. I was just demo-ing small Roland amps on fiddle at my local music store this afternoon, helping a fiddler choose something for small gigs. I don't recall which size she finally went with, but it was larger than the microcube. It was the smallest Roland with the "presence" feature, which really filled out the tone. Ran about $350 USD, and about half the size of the Fender Acoustasonic 30.
Not battery operated, but the best $69.99 I ever spent.
There is a little secret about this, you can actually plug in three people or instruments/mikes if you have a pickup with volume controls on one. I accidentally plugged a guitar pickup line into the CD input and though that doesn't have it's own volume, if your pickup does it works.
The other inputs, a line in and a mike, can be converted to both XLR or line input with cheap adapters. I have used this for bar gigs and had the volume way down, maybe on 3, and it was very loud. It doesn't distort or feed in my experience.
Drawbacks only that it has low/mid/high range controls, no reverb, or effects. You can even get around that though... and actually plug in more people than three if you use a little mixer, and if it's got phantom power you can use all sorts of condenser mikes.
It weighs about 10 pounds maybe, about a foot square and maybe four-six inches deep. Our group uses this when a whole system isn't needed but a little sound boost is.
Great, great little workhorse, and so easy to carry.
I really like the Roland Cube Street, it has replaced a much larger Roland AC-60 for several gigs, runs on batteries for something like 10 hours, two inputs.
AAD Cub AG-100
100 watts
Two 5-inch speakers
Three EQ controls (bass, mid, treble)
Switchable input levels (one input)
Line out, tuner out, effects loop (send and return)
6.5 x 11.8 x 12.5 inches
11.5 lb
Street price 535 US bucks
"clean sounding" "emphasizes function and tone more than bells and whistles" "warm, rich sound" "exceptionally resistant to feedback" "don't expect the volume of a 100-watt electric guitar tube amplifier" [It takes more power to reproduce an acoustic guitar sound.]
I have someting calling itslef a VOX DA5 which cost about €90. It runs on mains or batteries, is about 10 inches square and has a few effects. Fine for busking or beefing up an instrument in a session. Not really enough for a stage.
Just got a Roland CM-30 I am really happy with. Not battery powered, but small, versatile, with good sound --clean, bright, nice flat response. Good value for under 200 bucks, US.
I have a Yamaha VA10. It weighs about ten pounds and runs on six D-cell batteries which last for ages, or you can use a mains adaptor. It has volume, treble, middle and bass controls and (apart from all those distortion thingies that I never switch on) it has a variable delay control which adds a nice touch of warmth. It claims six watts and has a lovely leather carry handle. A really clean sound is possible. I love it.
AER Amplifier - Compact Mobile
Battery mode: up to six hours without mains power supply, perm. lithium battery with electronic charge control, . £850 sterling.
5 Watts doesn't sound like much, but it might be just right for the limited boost I'm looking for. The super-portability and available AC adaptor are very appealing. I'm going to try one out on the weekend.
Mini-amp for gigs
Mini-amp for gigs
Any recommendations out there for a mini-amp to give my octave mandolin (pickups installed) a bit of a boost during dinner performance gigs.
Fender Can Amp - seems not to be available any more (at least in Canada)?
Traynor TVM10?
Pignose Hog 20?
Others?
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by grego
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
Acoustic Guitar mag reviews a small acoustic [sic] amp in the current issue. I don't remember the name, but it's a single-purpose unit with no microphone input and no bells or whistles. Tiny, but reportedly sounds good. I'll retrieve more info, if you want.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
Thanks Bob - I'd appreciate it.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by grego
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
Fender's Acoustasonic 30 isn't a mini-amp (it weighs 34 lbs), but it's portable enough, and the tone is superior to any mini-amp I've heard, especially for acoustic instruments. Also nice to have too much power rather than too little when you're suddenly battling a roomful of 500 drunks at a wedding reception or pub on St. Paddy's Day.
# Posted on October 29th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
I've been using one of these for my guitar recently.it souds really good.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLMICROCUBE
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by dafydd
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
sounds
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by dafydd
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
Roland makes good stuff. I was just demo-ing small Roland amps on fiddle at my local music store this afternoon, helping a fiddler choose something for small gigs. I don't recall which size she finally went with, but it was larger than the microcube. It was the smallest Roland with the "presence" feature, which really filled out the tone. Ran about $350 USD, and about half the size of the Fender Acoustasonic 30.
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
Not battery operated, but the best $69.99 I ever spent.
There is a little secret about this, you can actually plug in three people or instruments/mikes if you have a pickup with volume controls on one. I accidentally plugged a guitar pickup line into the CD input and though that doesn't have it's own volume, if your pickup does it works.
The other inputs, a line in and a mike, can be converted to both XLR or line input with cheap adapters. I have used this for bar gigs and had the volume way down, maybe on 3, and it was very loud. It doesn't distort or feed in my experience.
Drawbacks only that it has low/mid/high range controls, no reverb, or effects. You can even get around that though... and actually plug in more people than three if you use a little mixer, and if it's got phantom power you can use all sorts of condenser mikes.
It weighs about 10 pounds maybe, about a foot square and maybe four-six inches deep. Our group uses this when a whole system isn't needed but a little sound boost is.
Great, great little workhorse, and so easy to carry.
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
Sorry....here is link....
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-Ultracoustic-AT108-Acoustic-Combo-Amp?sku=480781
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
I really like the Roland Cube Street, it has replaced a much larger Roland AC-60 for several gigs, runs on batteries for something like 10 hours, two inputs.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLCUBEST
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by Michael Eskin
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
From Acoustic Guitar magazine:
AAD Cub AG-100
100 watts
Two 5-inch speakers
Three EQ controls (bass, mid, treble)
Switchable input levels (one input)
Line out, tuner out, effects loop (send and return)
6.5 x 11.8 x 12.5 inches
11.5 lb
Street price 535 US bucks
"clean sounding" "emphasizes function and tone more than bells and whistles" "warm, rich sound" "exceptionally resistant to feedback" "don't expect the volume of a 100-watt electric guitar tube amplifier" [It takes more power to reproduce an acoustic guitar sound.]
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
I have someting calling itslef a VOX DA5 which cost about €90. It runs on mains or batteries, is about 10 inches square and has a few effects. Fine for busking or beefing up an instrument in a session. Not really enough for a stage.
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by Crackpot
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
Just got a Roland CM-30 I am really happy with. Not battery powered, but small, versatile, with good sound --clean, bright, nice flat response. Good value for under 200 bucks, US.
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=663
# Posted on October 30th 2008 by John Galt
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
I have a Yamaha VA10. It weighs about ten pounds and runs on six D-cell batteries which last for ages, or you can use a mains adaptor. It has volume, treble, middle and bass controls and (apart from all those distortion thingies that I never switch on) it has a variable delay control which adds a nice touch of warmth. It claims six watts and has a lovely leather carry handle. A really clean sound is possible. I love it.
# Posted on October 31st 2008 by Steve Shaw
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
AER Amplifier - Compact Mobile
Battery mode: up to six hours without mains power supply, perm. lithium battery with electronic charge control, . £850 sterling.
# Posted on October 31st 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: Mini-amp for gigs
Thanks for all the input, guys.
In the end, I think I've pegged my budget at about CDN$200, and the best option looks like the Roland "Mobile Cube" (~CDN$185)
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ROLMOBILECUBE
5 Watts doesn't sound like much, but it might be just right for the limited boost I'm looking for. The super-portability and available AC adaptor are very appealing. I'm going to try one out on the weekend.
# Posted on October 31st 2008 by grego