I'm looking for advice about decent portable acoustic amplifiers. I play a Weber octave mando that doesn't cut through the wall of fiddles, piano, banjo, etc. that I jam with and play with for scottish and contra dance gigs. No, it's not really a 'session' -- we just try to optimize the sound by amping some of the quieter instruments when we practice and play for dancing (short of the full sound system that we sometimes resort to).
I'm currently using a McIntyre piezo pickup on the inside top of the mando plus a Baggs gigpro preamp, and the sound is generally good through amps and PAs. I've been using a borrowed MaxiMouse 9W, battery-powered amp that has good acoustic amplification, but alas I will soon need to return it.
The battery option is nice for maximum portability (and outside gigs -- highland games and the like), but I'm not finding any decent possibilities. The MaxiMouse is no longer made. I test-drove a Roland AC60 which was pretty good (but not battery-powered). Pignose amps seem to be designed for young jimi hendrix wannabes (lots o' fuzz).
So anybody have a suggestion for a moderately priced acoustic amp with good sound and portability?
Batteries can be unreliable. I'd go with the AC if you can get it. I use a Galien-Krueger, about the size and weight of a cinder block. Sounds great, gets as loud as I need it to, and it's got an XLR out if I need to send signal to the board for a larger gig (then I use it as a monitor, and don't drown out the other players in the monitor mix). I don't know if they're still available, but they're a very good amp. I've seen a smaller acoustic amp with similar features from Trace Elliot, that one I think had the option of running on battery power.
Crate makes a few acoustic amps that can run on battery power - the Taxi is one, I think there's also a "Limo" and maybe others. I used the Taxi at a wedding about two years ago, playing instrumental stuff - light fluffy classical and such. With a pre-amp (Baggs Para-Acoustic DI, the old standby) it sounded fine. That one has a mic in, I think, which makes it a bit closer to a mini-PA for busking and such.
There's probably some other options, I'm out of touch. Let us know if you find something good.
-Jon
i would check the AER amps. http://www.aer-amps.de/Sites_E/Produktseiten.htm
i used the bingo (now domino) with very good results on my flute (in concert, that is). verry natural sound, also for guitar/ mandols, and even fiddles (for fiddle even better than TA, because of the more natural sound)
AER Amps are very very good. I use an AER Alpha with my acoustic guitar, tone is very good. Its transportable, 40watts, XLR out if you need it and comes with a very usefull gig bag. A tad expensive tho' (in UK!)
http://monografias.preciomania.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=3839858/
I use one of these, and its very good for sound re-enforcement.
It has 2 speakers mounted at right angles.
A large jack mono input that drives both.
Volume and Tone controls.
An aux small jack stereo input that gives a stereo output.
It is very robustly built, and has a threaded hole in the base to allow it to be mounted on a stand.
It's about the size of a concertina box and very pokey.
It runs of 4AA batteries mounted on the top face for fast easy battery replacement, and has a mains adapter socket.
I've been very pleased with it, and use it at sessions to play my Deger Pipes.
Battery life is good (in the bumf it says 80 hours but I think that’s way optimistic)
I used a guitar amp for a baggs-equipped fiddle and it was horrible. Later I found out that "acoustic" guitar amps are just that. They are designed for guitars with specific sound patterns.
You are better off getting an amplifier that is not guitar specific, and that has a true sound. Many people go with keyboard amps for this reason.
I have not researched the AERs, so I do not know if my comments apply to those.
Carvin Stagemate is an excellent choice for a battery powered amp. It includes reasonable built in reverb / delay effects options, 4 channels. It is fairly lightweight, and portable, can be plugged into a socket if desired. Works well with acoustic instruments & vocals.
Trace Elliot is very well known for their acoustic instrument amps.
Fender amp can is very small, probably still in the $100 - $200 range. It is very basic - not much control over sound quality, but is battery operated. If all you need is a bit of a boost, it is fine. If you need serious amplification, try something else.
The new Bose Personal Amplification System is supposed to be top-of-the-line, cutting edge technology. I heard it once - sounds great. For $1700 minimum, it should be.....
I have been using an Ultrasound AG-50DS2 (the current model is DS3) with a Taylor guitar equipped with Fishman blender transducer/mic and a Crump bouzouki with a B-band transducer. The sound with both instrument is great and sounds just like the instruments, only louder. Very transparent. Only weighs about 25 pounds. The amp has a direct out as well. For more info, see the links below.
I don't know if anyone will ever revisit this thread, but just to bring it full circle, Thanks for all the input...I did follow up on several of your suggestions. I ended up buying what seems to be the favorite of many of the acoustic instrument shops in the region -- the Roland AC60 ("Acoustic Chorus"). It's a nice little amp with 2 channels, decent line ins and outs (phono and XLR), practical seeming chorus, reverb, and delay circuits (not necessary but do add a bit of presence). And the overall acoustic sound reproduction is good. For about $500. It's AC (not battery as I had been looking for), but it's portable (nice carry case).
I tried it side-by-side with a much more expensive Fishman and sure the Fishman had better "acoustic" sound, but I didn't want to deflate the pocketbook that much.
I tried the Roland out at a gig last weekend, using it as a monitor, and it worked quite well there too.
They seem to have found a good price point for medium-level electronics and circuits without going overboard.
After looking in several major cities without finding much, I decided to go with what seemed like a good amp from a local shop...I live in the boonies and getting something serviced can be a royal pain. Another consideration.
acoustic amplifiers?
acoustic amplifiers?
I'm looking for advice about decent portable acoustic amplifiers. I play a Weber octave mando that doesn't cut through the wall of fiddles, piano, banjo, etc. that I jam with and play with for scottish and contra dance gigs. No, it's not really a 'session' -- we just try to optimize the sound by amping some of the quieter instruments when we practice and play for dancing (short of the full sound system that we sometimes resort to).
I'm currently using a McIntyre piezo pickup on the inside top of the mando plus a Baggs gigpro preamp, and the sound is generally good through amps and PAs. I've been using a borrowed MaxiMouse 9W, battery-powered amp that has good acoustic amplification, but alas I will soon need to return it.
The battery option is nice for maximum portability (and outside gigs -- highland games and the like), but I'm not finding any decent possibilities. The MaxiMouse is no longer made. I test-drove a Roland AC60 which was pretty good (but not battery-powered). Pignose amps seem to be designed for young jimi hendrix wannabes (lots o' fuzz).
So anybody have a suggestion for a moderately priced acoustic amp with good sound and portability?
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by roaringj
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
Batteries can be unreliable. I'd go with the AC if you can get it. I use a Galien-Krueger, about the size and weight of a cinder block. Sounds great, gets as loud as I need it to, and it's got an XLR out if I need to send signal to the board for a larger gig (then I use it as a monitor, and don't drown out the other players in the monitor mix). I don't know if they're still available, but they're a very good amp. I've seen a smaller acoustic amp with similar features from Trace Elliot, that one I think had the option of running on battery power.
Crate makes a few acoustic amps that can run on battery power - the Taxi is one, I think there's also a "Limo" and maybe others. I used the Taxi at a wedding about two years ago, playing instrumental stuff - light fluffy classical and such. With a pre-amp (Baggs Para-Acoustic DI, the old standby) it sounded fine. That one has a mic in, I think, which makes it a bit closer to a mini-PA for busking and such.
There's probably some other options, I'm out of touch. Let us know if you find something good.
-Jon
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
i would check the AER amps.
http://www.aer-amps.de/Sites_E/Produktseiten.htm
i used the bingo (now domino) with very good results on my flute (in concert, that is). verry natural sound, also for guitar/ mandols, and even fiddles (for fiddle even better than TA, because of the more natural sound)
mm
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by MM
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
(that would be compact 60, not domino)
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by MM
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
AER Amps are very very good. I use an AER Alpha with my acoustic guitar, tone is very good. Its transportable, 40watts, XLR out if you need it and comes with a very usefull gig bag. A tad expensive tho' (in UK!)
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Jean Robinson
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
http://monografias.preciomania.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=3839858/
I use one of these, and its very good for sound re-enforcement.
It has 2 speakers mounted at right angles.
A large jack mono input that drives both.
Volume and Tone controls.
An aux small jack stereo input that gives a stereo output.
It is very robustly built, and has a threaded hole in the base to allow it to be mounted on a stand.
It's about the size of a concertina box and very pokey.
It runs of 4AA batteries mounted on the top face for fast easy battery replacement, and has a mains adapter socket.
I've been very pleased with it, and use it at sessions to play my Deger Pipes.
Battery life is good (in the bumf it says 80 hours but I think that’s way optimistic)
PP
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Pied Piper
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
I used a guitar amp for a baggs-equipped fiddle and it was horrible. Later I found out that "acoustic" guitar amps are just that. They are designed for guitars with specific sound patterns.
You are better off getting an amplifier that is not guitar specific, and that has a true sound. Many people go with keyboard amps for this reason.
I have not researched the AERs, so I do not know if my comments apply to those.
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by Jode
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
Carvin Stagemate is an excellent choice for a battery powered amp. It includes reasonable built in reverb / delay effects options, 4 channels. It is fairly lightweight, and portable, can be plugged into a socket if desired. Works well with acoustic instruments & vocals.
Trace Elliot is very well known for their acoustic instrument amps.
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by ceciltguitar
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
Fender amp can is very small, probably still in the $100 - $200 range. It is very basic - not much control over sound quality, but is battery operated. If all you need is a bit of a boost, it is fine. If you need serious amplification, try something else.
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by ceciltguitar
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
The new Bose Personal Amplification System is supposed to be top-of-the-line, cutting edge technology. I heard it once - sounds great. For $1700 minimum, it should be.....
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by ceciltguitar
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
I have been using an Ultrasound AG-50DS2 (the current model is DS3) with a Taylor guitar equipped with Fishman blender transducer/mic and a Crump bouzouki with a B-band transducer. The sound with both instrument is great and sounds just like the instruments, only louder. Very transparent. Only weighs about 25 pounds. The amp has a direct out as well. For more info, see the links below.
http://www.shorelinemusic.com/amplification/ultrasound.shtml
http://www.ultrasoundamps.com/main.html
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by rob zouk
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
jode, the AER is not specific guitar, it's any acoustic instrument
"AER, the acoustic people"
mm
# Posted on February 1st 2005 by MM
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
I use a Laney Acoustic amp for fiddle and guitar.
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: acoustic amplifiers?
I don't know if anyone will ever revisit this thread, but just to bring it full circle, Thanks for all the input...I did follow up on several of your suggestions. I ended up buying what seems to be the favorite of many of the acoustic instrument shops in the region -- the Roland AC60 ("Acoustic Chorus"). It's a nice little amp with 2 channels, decent line ins and outs (phono and XLR), practical seeming chorus, reverb, and delay circuits (not necessary but do add a bit of presence). And the overall acoustic sound reproduction is good. For about $500. It's AC (not battery as I had been looking for), but it's portable (nice carry case).
I tried it side-by-side with a much more expensive Fishman and sure the Fishman had better "acoustic" sound, but I didn't want to deflate the pocketbook that much.
I tried the Roland out at a gig last weekend, using it as a monitor, and it worked quite well there too.
They seem to have found a good price point for medium-level electronics and circuits without going overboard.
After looking in several major cities without finding much, I decided to go with what seemed like a good amp from a local shop...I live in the boonies and getting something serviced can be a royal pain. Another consideration.
# Posted on July 21st 2005 by roaringj