What are some great, natural-sounding acoustic amps?

[bho]

Hi there,

I would like an amp for an acoustic that has a K&K mini installed. No pre-amp. For under $1,000, what are some great, natural-sounding amps?

Thanks.

[mwalk]

The Fishman amps are great!

[jseth]

AER is the best sounding acoustic amp I have ever heard... pricey, but worth it...

Although, for a grand you could get a Bose compact rig... that would blow the doors off most anything else, for sound quality and amazing dispersion if not sheer volume... I have a Bose L1 Model II and it is the purest, most enjoyable system to play and hear an acoustic guitar through that I have experienced or heard in any club over the past 45 years or so...

The Fishman and Roland units are okay... but personally, I felt that they sound a bit "fizzy" when compared to either the AER Compact 60 or my Bose rig...

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Carvin AG200 and AG300.
They sound like portable, high-quality PAs, but have all the features one would want in an acoustic amp. Highly recommended.

[DrJamie]

I love my Bose L1 Compact. With only an input for guitar and mic, a simple volume knob, it is the model of simplicity. It does not have effects, so I use a small mixing board, or an effects pedal in front. It's a great sounding small PA too, for a solo, or duo. To me it is a more natural sounding acoustic amp than most others, such as the Fishman Loud Box's, although I do think the Fishmans are very nice too. I don't think the Bose is often considered just for acoustic amplification. At $900-$1,000 new, it is not cheap, but does do double duty very well.

[rmyAddison]

Great isn't inexpensive. AER, Schertler and Genz Benz are great.

Fishman and Bose are very good and some models double as PAs.

Fender, Marshall, Roland and many others (who also make electrics amps) tend to color the sound a little, they're better at electric amps IMO.

Some good choices out there......

[ocmcook]

i really like the roland cube amps.

[Rmz76]

Originally Posted by bho

Hi there,

I would like an amp for an acoustic that has a K&K mini installed. No pre-amp. For under $1,000, what are some great, natural-sounding amps?

Thanks.

Fishman Loudbox Line... If you need bigger than a Loudbox Artist you should probably just invest in a PA system.

[jonfields45]

Almost any mid priced powered speaker will be louder, completely neutral sounding, lighter in many cases, and more versatile (given you've already got controls on your guitar, pedal, or mixer). I use a Yamaha DBR10, but I think the JBL EON610 and Mackie SRM350V3 are similar good choices.

[penguin71]

+1 for Genz Benz

[ljguitar]

HI bho…

UltraSound AG-50 (DS-4). The naturalness is the deciding reason I chose them over Fishman, GenzBenz, Roland, Fender, Marshall and others.

AER are very natural too, but are nearly triple the price of the UltraSound.

[aknow]

Carvin AG Series

[woodbox]

My vote goes with those advocating a Bose.

The little compact model for about a thousand is a great little package.
I use the larger model II currently and frankly, I've often wished I'd kept the little one when I upgraded.
I was amazed how it surpassed the various acoustic amps I'd had.

Taking along a little mixer is the ticket if more inputs and/or effects are required.
Oh, and uh...don't forget the power supply cord for the mixer.
I've heard that can be a problem.
Not that I've ever done that mind you..oh no, not me, certainly not.

Not exactly the answer the OP is asking for, but Bose can't be beat.

[Dave T]

Can those of you who have them tell me if the Bose L1 has Phantom Power? I can't find anything to indicate if they do or don't on the Bose web site.

Dave

[oldwasichu]

I'm partial to the Fender Acoustasonic.