Amp comparison advice-sorry!

[Robin, Wales]

Tim, have you tried playing a CofE church and standard village hall without a p/a at all? I sing with a Welsh MVC and we always have solo spots spaced within a choir concert. There are a few of us who will play guitar and sing songs during these slots in exactly the venues and audience size you describe, using no amplification at all.

It works just fine, surprisingly so, particularly in churches where the natural reverb can screw up amplification.

[TWar]

Thanks guys really helpful.

Lots to consider.

Tim

[TWar]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

Tim, have you tried playing a CofE church and standard village hall without a p/a at all? I sing with a Welsh MVC and we always have solo spots spaced within a choir concert. There are a few of us who will play guitar and sing songs during these slots in exactly the venues and audience size you describe, using no amplification at all.

It works just fine, surprisingly so, particularly in churches where the natural reverb can screw up amplification.

Thanks Robin, I think that is what I’m finding. So much natural reverb. Playing unamplified would work in these settings for sure but I have a grand piano behind me, another guitarist and two vocalists with me. I don’t stand a chance against the piano! The natural reverb is the big issue though totally agree.

[TWar]

Originally Posted by loco gringo

My Acus One For Strings 8 is excellent. Have never tried a Schertler Jam, but I hear good things about them, too.

Sorry I didn’t see this post initially. The Acus amps look excellent and get good rep for sure. What are the vocals like through it?

[loco gringo]

Originally Posted by TWar

Sorry I didn’t see this post initially. The Acus amps look excellent and get good rep for sure. What are the vocals like through it?

Vocals are excellent. The effects are nice as well. I think it is an excellent one-piece rig.

[TWar]

Originally Posted by loco gringo

Vocals are excellent. The effects are nice as well. I think it is an excellent one-piece rig.

Can’t hear enough good things about them and the flexibility of working as a stand alone amp with all the time shaping and feedback features as well as being able to use as a monitor with a PA is really good. They also have a lovely asthetic.

I’m going to order the:

Acus One forstrings 8
Elite acoustics D6-58
Shertler Jam (and return ones I don’t like)

My friend has a Bose s1 and another has an AER so will try those also.

Will update after tried them all out. Thanks for the advice guys.

Tim

[jseth]

Sounds like (!!!) you've already made a few decisions about an amp, but I have to add: DO NOT RULE OUT the AER Compact 60 because some folks don't like them for vocals...

I play 6 and 12 string guitars and sing, and I LOVE my Compact 60/2 for voice... I use a Shure Beta 58A, and it sounds wonderful through that amp! My AER weighs in at just under 13#s, and it produces an amazing amount of high quality sound for one little 8" speaker and 60 solid state watts... I have used it as my sole source of amplification in rooms that were far larger than I would ever have expected to use it with any success.

One thing I will say is that, with any smaller amp, you want to have a bit of distance between you and the amp, in order to let the sound "bloom"; otherwise, a smaller amp can sound very "boxy" and directional. I try to have 12-20' between my stage position and the AER when I use it.

A friend has a Domino III and loves it. After his first gig with it, he sold off all his other PA gear - the JBL pole-mounted speakers, the monitors, the power amp and mixer. The AER sounded SO good that he made the decision immediately to have that unit as his only amplification...

I use a small mixer with mine; a Bose T1. I use the same mixer with my bigger rig, a Bose L1 Model II, and it's a great piece of kit... any small mixer would give you the flexibility and inputs you desire, though.

[leew3]

Originally Posted by TWar

Thanks guys. Budget around £1000. Fishman looks good but would value 3 channels ideally. Thanks

technically you can use the 'aux in' as a third channel. Granted, it doesn't go through the effects of the two main channels but can be useful in a pinch. I've run my mandolin this way on numerous gigs and it can work.

[loco gringo]

Originally Posted by TWar

Sorry I didn’t see this post initially. The Acus amps look excellent and get good rep for sure. What are the vocals like through it?

I have realized that I have the One For Strings AD, and not the 8.