Need amp advice....

[AXEL276]

Interesting....I'm swaying toward the Performer now. I'm waiting until after this weekend, I really need to sell another amp (a Roland KC-550) and have a deal pending. If it falls through I may need to go to plan B and lay out the cash.

[AXEL276]

Originally Posted by woodenstrings

Loudbox performer is a great amp.. would have quality sound and all the power you want !
If its an older Performer with a metal grill, than its built like a tank in a good way..
Outputs on loudbox are extremely versatile if ever needed
Curious what you wind up with..

I am looking at a used older model with the metal grill. I see the older ones are 130 watts which is the same as the Artist. The older Performer has (2) 8" speakers and (2) tweeters. Would it be worth buying the used Performer or a new Artist (with factory warrenty). Both are the same price?

[SteveHung]

I own a Fender Acoustasonic Jr and play my Martin 000-15 through it, and so far it's served me well as an acoustic amp for coffeehouse and restuarant gigs. I tired out a Fishman Loudbox at the music store, and thought it sounded great with very pristine tones.

[briggleman]

Originally Posted by AXEL276

I am looking at a used older model with the metal grill. I see the older ones are 130 watts which is the same as the Artist. The older Performer has (2) 8" speakers and (2) tweeters. Would it be worth buying the used Performer or a new Artist (with factory warrenty). Both are the same price?

I believe the older Fishman Performer had Two (2) 6 1/2" drivers a 4" midrange and a Tweeter. The New Performer has a single 8" driver, a 5" midrange and a Tweeter. The new Performer has a fuller sound due to the single 8" driver.

That said, Larry's recommendation of the UltraSound DS4 with its twin Co-ax 8" drivers (tweeters are inside the center cone of the 8" drivers) really will give you a natural and fuller sound yet. I have heard all three and sound wise, the Ultrasound wins, it just falls short in connectivity, ergonomics (at least to me) and the effects are better on the Fishman with more control. (again my opinion on the effects)

[AXEL276]

Originally Posted by briggleman

I believe the older Fishman Performer had Two (2) 6 1/2" drivers a 4" midrange and a Tweeter. The New Performer has a single 8" driver, a 5" midrange and a Tweeter. The new Performer has a fuller sound due to the single 8" driver.

That said, Larry's recommendation of the UltraSound DS4 with its twin Co-ax 8" drivers (tweeters are inside the center cone of the 8" drivers) really will give you a natural and fuller sound yet. I have heard all three and sound wise, the Ultrasound wins, it just falls short in connectivity, ergonomics (at least to me) and the effects are better on the Fishman with more control. (again my opinion on the effects)

The older Performer has (2) 8" drivers, 5" mid and 1" tweeter. So your saying (1) 8" driver has a fuller sound?
The DS4 is only 50 watts which I think will not be enough. They have a 100 watt model but I'm not sure about it.

[briggleman]

Originally Posted by AXEL276

The older Performer has (2) 8" drivers, 5" mid and 1" tweeter. So your saying (1) 8" driver has a fuller sound?
The DS4 is only 50 watts which I think will not be enough. They have a 100 watt model but I'm not sure about it.

We may be confusing models, here are the specs for the older Fishman Loudbox Performer specifications right from Fishmans website:
130W RMS, cumulative, tri-amped power with active crossover
Two 6.5 in. Woofers: 80W amplifier
One 4 in. Cone Midrange: 40W amplifier
One 1 in. Neodymium Soft-Dome Tweeters: 10W amplifier


The New Fishman Loudbox Performer is as follows, again from Fishmans Website:
Power: 180 Watts, bi-amped
Drivers:
One 1” Soft Dome Tweeter
One 5” Midrange
One 8” Woofer

Yes to my ears, the single 8" driver sounds fuller than the two 6.5" drivers in the original model. Your mileage may vary. I also think going with a Bi-amp design in the new model makes it less harsh and the bigger mid-range smooths out the tone.

[RockerDuck]

I own and play the Fishman Artist. I use it to monitor. I can also play bigger venues by adding a powered speaker through the Post DI out and still use the Pre DI out to the PA. It is light enough to be versatile on all fronts.

[coxster]

A local 2nd hand guitar shop ( run by the world's preeminent Les Paul Sunburst collector : ) has a Genz Benz Shenandoah Pro for sale. PM me if you want his contact info

[gibbyguy]

I test drove an AER 60/3, AC60, Loudbox Mini, Loudbox Artist. I bought the Loudbox Artist. It's an amp I would have paid another $100 over the new price it's that good. Not regrets. It has great built in effects.
Ed

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by AXEL276

The older Performer has (2) 8" drivers, 5" mid and 1" tweeter. So your saying (1) 8" driver has a fuller sound?
The DS4 is only 50 watts which I think will not be enough. They have a 100 watt model but I'm not sure about it.

Hi AXEL...

If you plan to run bass guitar or keyboard through an acoustic amp, then you will need a 10" or 12" woofer.

An acoustic amp with an 8" (or a pair of 8") woofers will put out great acoustic guitar sound. If you need enough volume with the amp alone (no help from a PA) then you need something with at least a 12" woofer plus high frequency driver, or else you need a Bose tower, or Fishman SoloAmp 220, or something similar.

You will definitely encounter feedback issues trying to carry any room/auditorium with any noise (think coffee house) or audience which is making noise with a simple acoustic amp by itself.

Watts are rated so many ways, that specs don't tell the story. One company rates it's amps at 8ohms, another at 2ohms, and neither may tell you how much distortion their max figure contains. The real way to know is plug in your own rig, and try it out.

If/when the specs are the same, it takes 10 times the power to double the volume. So to double the volume of 50 Watts, it takes an amp which puts out 500 Watts. An amp rated at 50 watts at 8 ohms will outperform the volume of a 150 watt amp rated at 2 ohms.

With my dual source K&K pickups (mini plus internal mic), and my DTAR Solstice or Raven PMB blenders, I cannot stay on the stage with my UltraSound if it's turned higher than 1pm on the Master and 1pm on the guitar channel. (noon being straight up).

Size should be based on each person's needs, and other equipment involved on the stage at the same time.

[aknow]

Carvin AG100 - 300

[AXEL276]

Thanks all you guys for all your comments, it's been a real education! I ended up putting an order in for the Fishman Artist. I found an online distributor called Kraft Music that was selling a bundle including the Artist and a Gator carrying case ($50 value), something I would have had to buy anyway. Free shipping, no tax of course (love it). It will be at my door by the end of the week.
I was tossing between the Artist and a used older model Performer which was being sold locally. The Performer was in mint condition and the guy was selling it for a very fair price. Based on opinion here plus the fact that the Artist is new (warranty) and smaller ( I plan to use it as a stage monitor and go out into the PA) I went with the Artist. They are both 130 watts, just different speaker configs. There are better amps, but with the budget I'm working with it seems like this is the best choice for me.
If I hate it I can always send it back and start all over.

[martingitdave]

Fishman or Roland