Amp for piezo-equipped acoustics?

[sliding-tom]

I'm thinking about buying a small amp for acoustic guitar. I don't have the need to fill a room of whatever size with it, my need would be to get a good sound with piezo-equipped acoustic guitars and a miked resonator, being independent of what the soundman puts on my monitor, then going line-out into the PA system. I'm on a budget, too. The Acoustasonic 30 DSP seems to be a good choice for what I want and within my price range. Anybody here has any experience with these?
Thanks

[MelvinDale]

Tom,
Sorry no, I don't have any experience, but hoping that you get some good response's or suggestions. I'm looking as well.

Different set up then yours would be, but to the same ends.
MelvinDale

[MelvinDale]

Hello??
is there anybody out there?

Hello??:rolleyes:

[sliding-tom]

Me here - but nobody else, it seems.

[Boogieman]

I can't really recommend an acoustic amp because I've never heard one that impressed me very much. For home use I run my acoustic guitars into a Voodoo Labs Amp Selector and from there I feed a Yamaha AG Stomp and a Yamaha UD Stomp as well as a Korg DTR-1 tuner. The stereo outs from the two Yamaha units then go to a Mackie mixer and either to the Akai DPS 16 digital recorder or to the PA. I've just never heard any acoustic amp that impressed me enough to buy it.
BTW the DTR-1 tuner will be replaced just as soon as the USPS delivers my new Peterson Strobosoft package which should be any day now.

[MelvinDale]

Boogieman -
I agree that acoustic amps in general aren't the worlds best and I've found that small Bass combos (provided they have a tweeter) can be an efficient way to run them (though I don't know with piezo's?).

I think what both Tom and I are looking for is something to keep close to the player for maximum tweakability before it gets to the sound man.

I played an early fender that had a side throw speaker on the bottom and almost pulled the trigger until I realized it had no out - not even an unbalanced. What a shame.

MelvinDale

[sliding-tom]

I think what both Tom and I are looking for is something to keep close to the player for maximum tweakability before it gets to the sound man.MelvinDale

Exactly -like I said: I'm not looking for a rig to play out for the audience but something to monitor myself with a sound / tone I can live with without having to tell a soundman to put more or less vol./treble/ bass/reverb etc. on the monitor all the time. Amps for acoustics are a compromise anyway as are piezos on acoustics unless you're going for that sound which some people do. It's got to be portable and easy and quick to set up, too - that's why I'm thinking combo amp and the Fenders seem to have a pretty good reputation.

[PeeWee]

While not an "acoustic amp" per se, these amps are clean and clear and not very expensive at all - certainly worth looking into. The bassist in my solo project has one for his upright bass that is probably the best sounding combo I've ever heard. Doesn't color the tone of your instrument, is very light weight and packs plenty of wattage.

http://www.jazzamp.com/products_combos.asp

[Boogieman]

You might want to consider an alternative such as an acoustic preamp that could be fed into a powered PA speaker. The kind of preamp I'm talking about is like this:http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%253D2344%2526CTID%253D225100%2526CNTYP%25 3DPRODUCT,00.html
or like:http://www.tonebone.com/tb-pzpre.htm
I use the Yamaha myself and used with a powered PA speaker it sounds better then any stand alone acoustic amp. I would suggest at least a 2-way (or better yet 3-way) PA speaker with at least a 12" woofer (I prefer 15").

[MelvinDale]

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I use the Yamaha myself and used with a powered PA speaker it sounds better then any stand alone acoustic amp. .

Interesting option for sure.
I've run an a/b/y box to a powered speaker in the past as well, but would have liked more tweakability. - I suppose this would/could do the trick.


Powered speakers aren't exactly cheap though either, but could maybe get away with a JBL Eon 10 for a monitor.. . . . Hmmm
I think I'd prefer a single box though as opposed to putting yet another pedal in front of me.

You say you're using a 15" - whose are you using?

[Steve Lowe]

Hey Tom!

A buddy was over a couple of weeks ago with a Fishman Loudbox similar to this one (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Loudbox100/) but smaller. I thought it sounded amazing. He runs a Talyor 914 limited edition with the ES system through a pedalboard with a BBE sonicstomp, a chorus, a compressor, tuner and volume pedal and gets very nice sounds. I ran my Larrivee L03 with Fishman Matrix piezo through his rig and with a few tweaks got some great sounds, too.

[sliding-tom]

Thanks, Steve!

[MelvinDale]

I'm thinking about buying a small amp for acoustic guitar. I don't have the need to fill a room of whatever size with it, my need would be to get a good sound with piezo-equipped acoustic guitars and a miked resonator, being independent of what the soundman puts on my monitor, then going line-out into the PA system. I'm on a budget, too. The Acoustasonic 30 DSP seems to be a good choice for what I want and within my price range. Anybody here has any experience with these?
Thanks

Tom,
Wondering if your still on a quest for an acoustic amp?
The reason I ask is the latest (September - WTF, but I digress) issue of GuitarPlayer has a review of a 'Phil Jones Cub' - Price is $535.00. Unsure what they would sell for on your side of the pond.

I've not had a chance to see or hear it, but I am familiar with their Bass amps and they are outstanding - Money well spent. This puppy, sorry Cub, is a whopping 11.5 lbs - great for geezers (yes, I'm speaking for myself) 100 Watts, XLR out, pushing . . . and I love this part - Two 5" drivers.:p Same as his Bass amps.
Until you hear them and understand the concept, you just might not get it, but I have and do.

If you get the chance check one out - I know I will be - he's also going to make a 250 watt four speaker model.

MelvinDale

[sliding-tom]

Hi Melvin, sorry for the late reply. I got my copy of GP just the day before you posted and checked the review. Looks like this is indeed a very good package. I have checked the availability and price over here and it definitely would be in my price range. But: to fund a new purchase I need to sell an amp that I don't have use for nymore and unluckily the deal fell through, so an acoustic amp will have to wait. Thanks anyway - when the time comes I will try to check it out.

[MelvinDale]

Hi Melvin, sorry for the late reply. I got my copy of GP just the day before you posted and checked the review. Thanks anyway - when the time comes I will try to check it out.


No worries . . . I know exactly how you feel about your selling an amp. I had one listed on Craigslist locally and it's been a real no go - should have just traded for that Fernades - alas.

Funny thing is since I had it listed I figured I should make sure it looks pretty and sounds good. Low and behold I've decided to to start using it (at least for a while) It's got a decent reverb and a killer tremolo - so now I've changed up my pedalboard.

I'll use my trusty TopHat for clean and run all my effects through this.

If you know ant Bass players looking for a new amp - I still can't find an amp regardless of size that sounds like these. With a 5" driver you don't have to chase the sound to hear it - it's right there with you on stage. I've got a great Ampeg B-15 but it throws the sound so far out into the room I end up over compensating by turning it up.

Hope your workin' lots of gigs and enjoying the summer . . . .

MelvinDale

[MelvinDale]

How Strange - got an email saying that Boogieman replied to this yey. it's not here?:confused:

He mentioned the Carvin G100 (?) 3 channel amp.
It looks to be a pretty sweet amp for the money - a couple have shown up locally, but I've yet to try one. There was one a week ago that I saw for just under 300.00 - can't beat that.

MelvinDale

[Boogieman]

I did in fact mention the Carvin AG100D as a low cost solution for an acoustic amp but deleted my post after doing some follow up reading on the web. After reading several users reviews it seems that it (the Carvin AG100D) doesn't rate very high in terms of reliability so I deleted my post rather then passing on a bad suggestion.

[sliding-tom]

Might be better to edit (add new information you acquired after posting)your post instead of deleting so everybody has the chance to know what you know. :)

[MelvinDale]

Good point - saves me money.
:rolleyes: