amps, pre-amps

[jclemensfl]

Besides Rivera's Sedona, is anyone aware of another manufacturer making an amp with dedicated channels for both electric and acoustic guitar? In lieu of that, can I get some recommendations on any rackmountable (a word only a musician could use) acoustic guitar pre-amps? I'm thinking of building my own stereo speaker cabinet with two 12's for the electric side and a 12 plus a tweeter for the acoustic side. Any suggestions?

[Brett Valentine]

Wow! That sounds like a pretty involved project, and a heavy amp.

Here's some food for thought. For the acoustic side, I think it depends upon what you're looing for by way of eq, effects loops, connectivity to an amp/house PA, single or multiple source, number of inputs.

For dual source systems, there is the top of the line, very expensive, but very good Pendulum SPS-1 http://www.pendulumaudio.com/SPS-1.html

and for much less (what I have), the Rane AP-13. http://www.rane.com/ap13.html
The Rane also gives you 2 channels so you cound send one signal to the amp, and a completely independent volume level to the house on the second channel(if you combine the mic and undersaddle pickup channels to mono).

Daedalus designs their amp systems around either of these 2 preamps, so that's a good place to start. http://www.daedalusmusic.com/amp%20c...0packages.html

If you have a single source pickup, you might want to look at the Focusrite Tone Factory http://www.focusrite.com/products/platinum/p2.html
While not necessarily an "acoustic guitar" preamp, the Focusrite gives you 2 stages of eq, one parametric, one "guitar amp." You also get multiple outs (-20bd amp, -10db line, and +4db line (xlr), and also has an insert for fx (swiotchable from line level to instrument level). These 3 were high up on my list.


If you're adventurous, the following are designed more for the studio:

The Jomeek VC-10QCS Studio Channel preamp, but no fx loop http://www.joemeek.com/joemeekvc1new.html

the same for their "British Channel" which is less expensive http://www.joemeek.com/joemeekvc3new.html

You might also look at the ART Tube Channel http://www.artroch.com/products_detail.asp?PRODUCTID=39

and the Pro Channel http://www.artroch.com/products_detail.asp?PRODUCTID=37

both of which allow you to rearrange the order of the different sections, and thus, possible inserts for effects. This was the way I was going to go before I picked up the Rane. What's nice about the ART is that you get tubes for a different kind of sound, and pretty flexible semi parametric eq.

That's all I can think of for "racmountable" at relatively "human" prices.

Anybody else got any ideas?
Brett

[ 08-28-2001: Message edited by: Brett Valentine ]

[jclemensfl]

Heavy is right. But if I go through with it, I'll probably just retrofit a 4X12 cab, replacing one 12" celestion with a tweeter and another with a JBL or something similar. Thanks for the tips. The Rane looks like an option that could be in my price range now, and maybe the Pendulum down the road. It's too bad none of the current popular acoustic amp companies make their products in pre-amp form (SWR? Trace?).
FYI, I did find that Laney is making two combination electric/acoustic amps, the EA65 and EA120. Anyone have any experience with these or want to weigh in on my earlier post?

[LarryH in Texas]

Over on www.guitarnotes.com/forum , there's a guy who has had good things to say about Laney amps.

If you search on Laney, you should be able to find his posts without any trouble, then you could email him for more details.

[jclemensfl]

Thanks, Larry. I'll drop the dude a line, although his post said he plays a Sedona, and had only "heard" that the Laney amps sound good, rather than hearing them sound good himself. I had a customer once who told me he "heard" that Zoom effects were pretty good.