Acoustic Guitar Amp Suggestion?

[Ellis]

Hi,

I own a Taylor 314ce and was wondering if you all had any suggestions for a acoustic guitar amp?
Looking for something that really brings out my guitar without stretching the sound. It doesn't need to be powerful, just something that could be used in a small venue.

Price Range: Hopefully nothing above $500.

Thanks!

[SprintBob]

I just got but have not used a new Fishman Mini Loudbox based on how good these little amps sounded at a Tommy Emmanuel guitar camp I attended recently. TE explained he normally uses AER amps but he was very impressed with the Fishman hardware. I also own a Yamaha THR5A desktop amp and it's quite impressive what you get out of it at only 10 amps.

[NJ Guitar man]

I absolutely love my Ibanez Troubador T-80 Acoustic combo amp. Plenty of firepower for even mid-sized venues. Compact, light, amazing sound, and available for about $299. Good luck!

[SpiderTrap]

Picked up Roland STREET EX on 4th July MF Sale for $420 TOTAL , Excellent for small portable amp . Have sold all my AC ONLY Amps so can play anywhere , as people ask . WHERE DO YOU GET POWER FROM ? Also have 2 Reg Street Cube LINE OUT of EX Goes to street cubes , to fill sound out ...BUT THEY Need to be about 10 feet away from the EX -or get feedback ?? Nice EZ Portable system .

[Rev Tim T]

Still a fan of the Fender Acoustasonic 100 or 150

Tim

[RockerDuck]

Fishman mini all the way. It has a DI out if you need to go bigger. I've used just the mini at loud venues of 100 and it works like a charm.

[CharlesT]

Another Fishman user here - you won't go wrong with either the Loudbox Mini, or the Loudbox Artist. I am using a Mini right now, and it works really well in a lot of settings, and the DI out makes it a great monitor at larger venues.

[ricdoug]

http://www.carvinamplifiers.com/coll...coustic-series

Carvin AG200 or Carvin AG300. These feature 3 cnannels, can be mounted on a speaker stand. They can also power an extension speaker. What this means to you is these will not only satisfy your needs, but will allow you to expand in the future and still fit in your current buget. Ric

[JHD512]

I have a 314ce and a Loudbox mini. I love it. Great sound for small venues and easy to tote around.

Joe

[Br1ck]

Haven't hyped my Carvin in a while. Still very happy with it after several months. The AG 300 sounds huge. Around the house, I add in just enough volume to be audible and add a very small amount of reverb to the guitar. I add a bit more on the vocal mic.

I find if I dial in a good sound at home, I can take it out and just crank the master volume and be very close to what I want. The AG 300 is a repurposed bass amp. Carvin just took out the bass pre amp and added the acoustic front end, so it can handle bass at moderately loud volumes. I've found over the years that having a bunch of power solidifies the sound even at low volumes.

Overkill for you? Perhaps, but better too much than too little. The other amp I have experience with is a Genz Benz Shanandoah, a much more compact and lightweight unit a friend has. Unfortunately, G-B has been yet another casualty of Fender and is no longer made, but if you scored one for $500 used you'd be doing well.

The default go to everyone seems to like is the Loudbox mini. They sound good to me and are affordable. A lot to like there.

[Tomm Williams]

Just because I'm friends with the designer (and they have been used by the Eagles), I bought a Genz Benz Shenandoah 100. It is a dual-channel with FX, pole mountable, kick stand for monitor position, FX loop and can be found easily within your budget. I think I paid $275? for mine in excellent condition.

[Ellis]

Appreciate all the suggestions! I will go test out some of those amps mentioned and see which one I prefer.

[6L6]

I gig with one of the following depending upon the venue:

* 2006 Fender Acoustasonic Jr DSP

* Fishman Loudbox Performer

* Fishman Loudbox Mini


Of these, the Fender has, by far, the best vocal channel. It will even make a lousy singer sound good! The guitar channel is just "OK". This amp gets used about 90% of the time.

The Loudbox Performer has the best sounding guitar channel. Vocal channel good.

Loudbox Mini has excellent guitar sounds and good vocal channel. More than adequate, power wise, for most gigs.

My Fender Acoustasonic Jr DSP amp:




My acoustics are all dreads and all are equipped with K&K Pure Mini pickups. When gigging I mostly play my 2006 Guild D-55NT:

[bbarkow]

Another vote for Carvin. As I said in another thread, my next purchase will be a used AG100 ~$200 plus shipping. Single 12 speaker and padded tweeter. Easily filled a 200+ seat sanctuary with power to spare. Both vocal and guitar sound were fantastic. The music team at my church loved it so much that I donated it when I moved away.

Light cabinet with pole mount, and a matching extension speaker available. Perfect rig for me.

[Long tooth]

I am using a Genz Benz Shenandoah 150 scored off EBay at a good price. Very happy with it.