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  #1  
Old 07-29-2009, 03:47 PM
surgeon00 surgeon00 is offline
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Default Low-end Amp Suggestions?

I'm looking for an inexpensive acoustic amp that I can play in the living room to connect to my Taylor 414ce
I bought the $99 Guitar Center Acoustic (house brand) but the hum was so loud I returned it.
I was about to get the Fender 30w for $349... but the reviews said the sonic reproduction was poor.
Any suggestions in the sub-$350 range?
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Old 07-29-2009, 04:33 PM
James Willer James Willer is offline
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I had one of these a while back and it wasnt to bad of a little amp.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...Amp?sku=480781
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  #3  
Old 07-29-2009, 04:35 PM
buzzardwhiskey buzzardwhiskey is offline
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That price range has a whole bunch that sound pretty darned good.

Kustom Sienna 30 <- this should get more press
Behringer Ultracoustic ACX450 <- good sound and astounding feature set
UltraSound AG-30 <- players choice award winner
Acoustic AG30 <- good sound, interesting "monitor-like" look
Ibanez Troubadour T20 <- looks really cute to me but I haven't played it yet
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Old 07-30-2009, 07:41 AM
TRW1 TRW1 is offline
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American Musical Supply and Zzounds are closing out the Crate CA6110DG's for $199 with free shipping, an incredible deal. These are very underrated amps with a ton of nice features. At that price, I bought one just to have around the house and to use as an occasional backup. If you don't like it, keep it until the sale is over and then sell it for more than you paid, a win-win. These amps are $379 most places and actually sound pretty good with 60 watts of power.
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Old 07-30-2009, 07:50 AM
Herb Hunter Herb Hunter is offline
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Most AGF members seem to prefer the Ultrasound AG-30 when it comes to amplifiers in the $200 price range. It has an 8-inch woofer and unlike some that come with a cheap, piezoelectric tweeter or no tweeter; it has a dynamic tweeter.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...Amp?sku=488500
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Old 07-30-2009, 08:00 AM
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ljguitar ljguitar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Herb Hunter View Post
Most AGF members seem to prefer the Ultrasound AG-30 when it comes to amplifiers in the $200 price range. It has an 8-inch woofer and unlike some that come with a cheap, piezoelectric tweeter or no tweeter; it has a dynamic tweeter.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...Amp?sku=488500
Hi Herb...
I agree...as owner of both an AG-30 and AG-50, if I'm going to a gig where I don't need two channels, I take the AG-30.

Several pounds lighter and it sounds as good as the AG-50.
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Old 07-30-2009, 08:09 AM
Herb Hunter Herb Hunter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ljguitar View Post
Hi Herb...
I agree...as owner of both an AG-30 and AG-50, if I'm going to a gig where I don't need two channels, I take the AG-30.

Several pounds lighter and it sounds as good as the AG-50.
Hi Larry. You were one of the ones that came to mind when I wrote my post. When you use the AG-30, do you connect a reverb unit to it?
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Old 07-30-2009, 08:16 AM
imwjl imwjl is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by surgeon00 View Post
I'm looking for an inexpensive acoustic amp that I can play in the living room to connect to my Taylor 414ce
I bought the $99 Guitar Center Acoustic (house brand) but the hum was so loud I returned it.
I was about to get the Fender 30w for $349... but the reviews said the sonic reproduction was poor.
Any suggestions in the sub-$350 range?
Hmmm....... I got that cheap Acoustic because it was surprisingly accurate sounding for the price and there's no hum. It often sits next to two black face and a Roland solid state so I think you must have a bad copy or a premises where other amps may be noisy.

The Fenders were quite accurate sounding compared to other moderately priced amps I tried. I tried inexpensive Behrenger (spell?) and Crate too.

My shopping included $50 - $1500 products and testing with my pickup and two commonly found Martin and Taylor models. The sound quality and accuracy also changed with the guitar used, and some pickups are more susceptible to feed back so keep that in mind as far as your hum.

The best products I tried were not cheap but my needs are no more using my looper or iPod for practice or for getting loud enough to play with electrics and drums because there are PA systems or somebody doing front and back line stuff if I go to a jam where it's the show.

Good luck.
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Old 07-31-2009, 04:06 PM
Misifus Misifus is offline
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While there's every chance this amp was the source of the hum, it could also be your house. Are you using a grounded outlet? If not, that can likely be a source of hum.

If you are, and you're still looking, let me add my voice to those recommending Ultrasound. I've got a couple of AG50's, and a friend has an AG30. I like 'em all. They're clean and very accurate.

-Raf
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Old 07-31-2009, 04:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Herb Hunter View Post
Hi Larry. You were one of the ones that came to mind when I wrote my post. When you use the AG-30, do you connect a reverb unit to it?
Hi Herb...
I always play sans-effects of any kind (a long answer to say ''No...'').
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Old 07-31-2009, 04:31 PM
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In that price range, I bought an Ultrasound AG50 DS4 in perfect condition from a fellow forum member. It does exactly what I wanted it to do!

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  #12  
Old 07-31-2009, 05:41 PM
biggs2 biggs2 is offline
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For just about $50 more, you can get a Phil Jones AAD Cub 100. It is an incredible little (11.5 lbs) amp. It is a single channel class A/B amp with no effects and, for the money, is one fine sounding amp.
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