Best acoustic amp

[Bookstorecowboy]

I mean, the best period. Not the best for the money.

I have an AER Compact 60. It's very good. Is there anything that's significantly better out there?

[Methos1979]

There is no best. Only what is best for you. The AER 60 is a great amp. If it's not working for you, you need to identify what need(s) it's not meeting and let us know and we can then maybe help with some suggestions.

That said, here's what I consider the best for me. My current favorite is the EAE D6-58. It's small and relatively lightweight (30 lbs) with a built-in digital mixer with 6 inputs, 120w of clear and clean power, effects and a lot of EQ and tone shaping abilities and it can run on battery power. In my opinion, it's the best in this class. You can also get it in a beautiful wood cabinet. Not cheap at $1,299 - a price that opens up a whole lot of other options.

Here's the review I did a short time back: NAD: EAE D6-58 120W Battery Powered Acoustic Guitar And Vocal Amplifier

[lkingston]

Another vote here for the Elite Acoustics D6-58. The sound is just incredible. The vocal sound is where this amp shines in particular.

[poopsidoo]

I have not tried the AER. However, i am totally happy with the Gentzler Acoustic Array Pro. very loud, but nice at lower volumes. Can be put on a speaker stand. Can use all 4 inputs if neccesary. The sound is very clean, not colored like fishman..

[YamahaGuy]

LR Baggs Synapse is pretty good. Has phantom power on both channels. 3 band eq. Excellent bass. Good, wide dispersion. Best sounding "thing" I've run my acoustic-electric guitars through.

[Tahitijack]

The best acoustic amp I've ever owned was a SWR California Blonde. I liked it so much I bought is little sister The Strawberry Blonde. The Cali was traded away years ago. The Strawberry is still in the house. As with all things, amplification is a matter of personal taste, just like favorite guitars. One thing about that California Blonde is that, despite the image created by the name, it was/is very heavy. That's partly the reason the Strawberry Blonde is still in the house. Oddly the Cali Blonde seems to be holding it value on the used market despite being discontinued years ago.

[fitness1]

In my world the "best acoustic amp" has always been a small and high quality PA - for many years that meant a powered mixer and a pair of 10 or 12 inch two way cabinets, and back then, for the most part the speakers were heavier. I've never cared about the weight really.

The last 10 years or so it's been very lightweight powered 10's and a non powered mixer. They do everything I need them to, provide better dispersion and fidelity and cost about half as much (or even less) than the high end combo amps.

If you want it to be more portable, and the situation doesn't require the coverage, you can always just take one cabinet

[TedBPhx]

Never played anything better than my Mesa Rosette 2x8 300.
That’s really more of a statement about my inexperience with high end amps.

[YamahaGuy]

Originally Posted by fitness1

In my world the "best acoustic amp" has always been a small and high quality PA - for many years that meant a powered mixer and a pair of 10 or 12 inch two way cabinets, and back then, for the most part the speakers were heavier. I've never cared about the weight really.

The last 10 years or so it's been very lightweight powered 10's and a non powered mixer. They do everything I need them to, provide better dispersion and fidelity and cost about half as much (or even less) than the high end combo amps.

If you want it to be more portable, and the situation doesn't require the coverage, you can always just take on cabinet

^^^^^^^
Thought this at first as well

[lkingston]

I don’t particularly like the high frequency drivers of PA speakers for guitar and vocals work. They are a little too directional to hear the highs properly if you are beside them, and they can also be a little harsh. The high frequency drivers of an acoustic amp are easier to hear when you are sharing it with your audience, and less strident.

There are two high frequency drivers on the D6-58 amp, and they are mounted in such a way as to be as close as possible to you when the amp is mounted sideways above your head and to your right. This is ideal when you are sharing the sound of the amp with your audience. This position also puts the amp controls in easy reach.

[douglasfan1]

I think AER Compact 60 is already in top range. you can find other amp that are in similar level. If you really want to level up, have a look of Humphrey Espresso 30.

[jseth]

Hard to beat my little AER Compact 60 - wonderful fidelity, incredible amount of volume for 60 solid state watts and one 8" speaker, light as a feather...

But I'd have to vote for the Bose L1 units... never, not in all my 50+ years of gigging with acoustic guitar and voice, have I heard or played through anything that eclipses the Bose units... the dispersion is absolutely phenomenal and unparalleled!

[Bookstorecowboy]

Interesting. The bottom of the line is not that expensive at $900 but they go up to double that, or higher. Are there big differences among the units? Which one do you have?

Originally Posted by jseth

Hard to beat my little AER Compact 60 - wonderful fidelity, incredible amount of volume for 60 solid state watts and one 8" speaker, light as a feather...

But I'd have to vote for the Bose L1 units... never, not in all my 50+ years of gigging with acoustic guitar and voice, have I heard or played through anything that eclipses the Bose units... the dispersion is absolutely phenomenal and unparalleled!

[Puerto Player]

My Schertler Jam 200 is about as good as it gets. I had an SWR California Blonde and that is a great amp too. The Jam 200 is like having built in, high end, pre-amps already. Also, they automatically switch to the correct input ohms/voltages/resistance which is nice too.

[6L6]

Very happy with my Fishman Mini and Performer amps.

K&K pups in all of my acoustics.