Kess, It’s pretty hard to get much agreement on pickups and amps that produce a good “acoustic sound.” I’ve been surprised and mystified by what some otherwise sane ( ) people consider good acoustic sound from a pickup.
If you’ve settled on a pickup, I’d say try the amps designed specifically for acoustic instruments. Several are geared toward guitars, but should also be decent for mandolin. Let your own ears be the judge. Roland, Behringer and Trace Eliot all make acoustic guitar amps.
Perhaps not a helpful answer, but I have done a lot of busking on mandolin and I have never used an amp. This is partly because, when I am busking, I am usually travelling very light, and it doesn't seem worth investing in an amp for the odd occasion when I am busking 'off the road'. But, anyway, I much prefer to utilise the natural acoustics of a space. This, of course, means choosing the spot carefully, and sometimes there just isn't anywhere where the sound is good *and* playing is permitted (the chances are, if there are one or two, they'll be taken). So, I fully understand your reasons - I won't say I haven't thought about it myself.
I notice that you play a few instruments, so you might try testing out the merits of a few spots with each of your instruments - the best place for a flute is not necessarily the best place for a mandolin. I intersperse mandolin with whistle and, more recently fiddle (which, incidentally, is often a better earner than the mandolin, despite the hideous noises it spews forth when in my hands).
At the other end of the scale, I know a mandolin player who made his living for some years playing (illegally) on the tube trains in London. He used a standard little guitar practice amp clipped onto his belt, and put the mandolin through digital delay to 'fatten' the sound a bit. The sound is far from concert quality, but it serves to give enough of a boost to make it audible above the noise of the train. However, if you are playing in an open space, the feebleness of tone will be much more evident.
Sorry for answering a different question to the one you asked. Best of luck.
Yes, use the natural acoustics if you can, but in an open space.........
There was this discussion a little while ago, and while I haven't actually tested the waters yet, I now have a Roland MicroCube, small enough to carry easily, runs on 8 AA batteries, supposedly for 20+ hours, two selector switches for different effects and another for different basic amp sounds including "acoustic" and "microphone". You can also DI it into a larger amp onstage.
I think the pignose is the belt-mounted possibility, and it gives an electric amp sound, not really want you want unless you use a graphic equaliser box as well.
I had the pleasure of teaming up a few times with a one-man-band (making it a 2 man band - except I was only playing 20% of the instruments) in Portugal. Elias Rodrigues (a retired truck driver from Madeira and excellent harmonica player), over his 15-year career as a street performer, has acquired friends in every town, thus always having a socket to plug his amp into. So there is always that option: make friends with the owner of a cafe, take all your tea-breaks there, have your lunch there, recommend it to all your friends and maybe you'll get free use of the electricity supply. Better still, if the guv'nor enjoys the music.
What amp would you recommend?
What amp would you recommend?
Thinking of busking with my mandolin, and want a good clean acoustic sound is there much difference in the sound of amps?
Sorry never used them before.
K
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Kess
Re: What amp would you recommend?
Kess, It’s pretty hard to get much agreement on pickups and amps that produce a good “acoustic sound.” I’ve been surprised and mystified by what some otherwise sane (
) people consider good acoustic sound from a pickup.
If you’ve settled on a pickup, I’d say try the amps designed specifically for acoustic instruments. Several are geared toward guitars, but should also be decent for mandolin. Let your own ears be the judge. Roland, Behringer and Trace Eliot all make acoustic guitar amps.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Bob himself
Re: What amp would you recommend?
Thanks Bob!
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Kess
Re: What amp would you recommend?
Perhaps not a helpful answer, but I have done a lot of busking on mandolin and I have never used an amp. This is partly because, when I am busking, I am usually travelling very light, and it doesn't seem worth investing in an amp for the odd occasion when I am busking 'off the road'. But, anyway, I much prefer to utilise the natural acoustics of a space. This, of course, means choosing the spot carefully, and sometimes there just isn't anywhere where the sound is good *and* playing is permitted (the chances are, if there are one or two, they'll be taken). So, I fully understand your reasons - I won't say I haven't thought about it myself.
I notice that you play a few instruments, so you might try testing out the merits of a few spots with each of your instruments - the best place for a flute is not necessarily the best place for a mandolin. I intersperse mandolin with whistle and, more recently fiddle (which, incidentally, is often a better earner than the mandolin, despite the hideous noises it spews forth when in my hands).
At the other end of the scale, I know a mandolin player who made his living for some years playing (illegally) on the tube trains in London. He used a standard little guitar practice amp clipped onto his belt, and put the mandolin through digital delay to 'fatten' the sound a bit. The sound is far from concert quality, but it serves to give enough of a boost to make it audible above the noise of the train. However, if you are playing in an open space, the feebleness of tone will be much more evident.
Sorry for answering a different question to the one you asked. Best of luck.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by granama
Re: What amp would you recommend?
I busked this weekend with a mandolin, I found a quite place away from the traffic . . . .
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Justintime
Re: What amp would you recommend?
Yes, use the natural acoustics if you can, but in an open space.........
There was this discussion a little while ago, and while I haven't actually tested the waters yet, I now have a Roland MicroCube, small enough to carry easily, runs on 8 AA batteries, supposedly for 20+ hours, two selector switches for different effects and another for different basic amp sounds including "acoustic" and "microphone". You can also DI it into a larger amp onstage.
I think the pignose is the belt-mounted possibility, and it gives an electric amp sound, not really want you want unless you use a graphic equaliser box as well.
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: What amp would you recommend?
"what you want"
Proofreading - Pah !
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: What amp would you recommend?
http://www.thinkmusic.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=9399
I USE THIS ONE THEY ARE ALL YOU NEED
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Ripthecalico
Re: What amp would you recommend?
What AC 50r for busking? in the streets?
# Posted on July 5th 2006 by Justintime
Re: What amp would you recommend?
I had the pleasure of teaming up a few times with a one-man-band (making it a 2 man band - except I was only playing 20% of the instruments) in Portugal. Elias Rodrigues (a retired truck driver from Madeira and excellent harmonica player), over his 15-year career as a street performer, has acquired friends in every town, thus always having a socket to plug his amp into. So there is always that option: make friends with the owner of a cafe, take all your tea-breaks there, have your lunch there, recommend it to all your friends and maybe you'll get free use of the electricity supply. Better still, if the guv'nor enjoys the music.
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by granama
Re: What amp would you recommend?
http://www.pignoseamps.com/index.php?disp=detail&subcat=portamps&id=253 have a look at this amp its an ideal buskers amp powered by 6 AA batteries. depending on pickup preamp may be required for best results.
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by Dphil
Re: What amp would you recommend?
best 'acoustic' sound?
check 'the acoustic people' ...
http://www.aer-amps.de/Sites/sites_ENG/Abendteuer.htm
mm
# Posted on July 6th 2006 by MM