Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Sept 20, 2015 18:33:46 GMT
I'm looking for easily portable gear to give a boost to an electro-acoustic guitar and two vocal mics, for small clubs, quiet pubs, etc. I don't want, and won't need, to go down the full P.A. route.
The Acus One system gets great reviews as an acoustic guitar amp. Would it be suitable for the role I've described, with judicious use of the individual EQs on each channel? If so, do I really need the 200w One 8 model or would the One 6T 130w suffice (being £140 cheaper?). Or would the 6in speaker on the latter not be up to the job?
Thanks in advance.
Andy
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2015 9:52:24 GMT
I have used my acus one 8 as a mini pa in large rooms and even a large auditorium and it has worked extremely well. Huge, clear sound. You would use the bottom two channels for the mics, and then the third channel for your guitar. I would say the 6 inch version may be a little small for all your needs. You also get more reverb options with the one 8. The great thing about the aus range is that you can expand them in the future with extension cabinets and subwoofers. But I don't think you will need them Robbie
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Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Sept 21, 2015 14:54:31 GMT
Many thanks @robbiej, just the kind of information and reassurance I was hoping for. I will follow your advice and go for the One 8.
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Post by grayn on Sept 21, 2015 17:19:03 GMT
The Acus One-8 definitely sounds like the right amp for you. Just for reference, I use a One-5, to amplify my twelever and you won't believe the fullness of tone and volume, you get from this diminutive combo. It's played in large, noisy pubs and even a large marquee, and with no help from the PA, was plenty loud enough. And we have a drummer. You won't regret getting an Acus, IMO.
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Andy P
C.O.G.
Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Mini-Profile Name Color: 060607
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Post by Andy P on Sept 22, 2015 8:57:16 GMT
The Acus One-8 definitely sounds like the right amp for you. Just for reference, I use a One-5, to amplify my twelever and you won't believe the fullness of tone and volume, you get from this diminutive combo. It's played in large, noisy pubs and even a large marquee, and with no help from the PA, was plenty loud enough. And we have a drummer. You won't regret getting an Acus, IMO. Thanks grayn, much appreciated.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 22, 2015 9:49:51 GMT
Andy P - Possibly not what you want to hear, Andy, but for the cost of the One-8 you could have the smaller One-5 and a good small mixer. The One-*8looks superb, but from what I can tell by Googling, with two mics in use there's only one instrument channel (the fourth channel having 2x phono input). If you are certain that's all you'll need then it would be a fab amp I'm sure. But to add even another instrument you'd need a sub-mixer.If you are sure the channels on the 8 are really all you'll ever need then that's great, but it is always handy to have extra capacity/flexibility for other situations too, even if this is beyond what you currently envisage using the amp for. For small/quietish gigs the One-5 would have enough power, and the channel capacity would then only be limited by your mixer. Run the amp pretty much with flat eq and use the mixer to sort all that, to get your balance and to finely tweak the overall volume. The advantage of having a mixer rather than an amp near you is huge. Going near a "live" amp to make adjustments whilst playing or even wearing an instrument can be a feedback nightmare. Mixer can be kept at your fingertips whilst performing and is handy to kill everything quickly in case of serious problems; to turn one instrument down if not in use when changing to another; is easier to use when making setting up adjustments etc. Glyn and I use the sort of setup I'm talking about for 2x mics, 2x guitars and 1x mandolin. There's still another spare mic/line channel plus two spare stereo channels with jack inputs and also a phone input too. A smaller amp, plus small mixer is actually lighter than a large amp, easier to stash in car, and can be easier to carry in, esp if you use bags with shoulder straps. Just sayin'! Keith
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Andy P
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Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Sept 22, 2015 14:19:34 GMT
ocarolan - thanks Keith, I want to hear anything that saves me money and trouble, so thanks. Forgive me if we've discussed this before - I promise to make notes this time as I'm now in the process of actually going ahead. I'm getting the K&K pure pickup fitted (good move I hear you say). Now then, I can see your point about using a mixer and the One-5. Presumably my current mixer would do the job perfectly well: _ I'm sure I wouldn't need more than 50 watts, but I'm finding it hard to imagine signals from three or more sources all coming through one 5 inch speaker and sounding full enough to fill a room, although grayn's post does reassure me somewhat. Waddya reckon? My next question is where would the K&K Pure XLR Preamp fit into the equation, or wouldn't it? I was intending to use one as it has a phase switch: the one thing that pees me off about amplified acoustic instruments is when they start that awful moaning feedback.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 22, 2015 16:37:29 GMT
Andy P - your mixer would be fine for the job Andy. My AER is only 40w but does just fine, sounding clear and full with two instruments and two voices at Grace's reception (125- ish people and has also worked well in our church hall which is a similar size but with a much higher ceiling. You can certainly still use the K&K preamp as it will give you extra control esp over the crucial mids as the preamp mid cuts a lower frequency than the mixer; excellent. The phase switch may well be unecessary if you pay careful attention to postioning the amp relative to the mics and instrument soundboards. The separate mixer gives you a big advantage here as you can put the amp further away from you than if you were using the amp alone. Hope that makes sense! Keith
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Andy P
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Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Sept 22, 2015 16:39:06 GMT
Ooo Keith I just read your glowing review in the Orchid preamp thread. Can it deal with feedback issues?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 22, 2015 16:42:31 GMT
The Orchid has no specific provision for feedback reduction/elimination, Andy. I rarely find instrument feedback to be a problem anyway. The mics usually are my problem! And again, careful positioning of all the bits of gear usually solves any probs.
Keith
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Andy P
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Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Sept 22, 2015 17:35:04 GMT
Thanks for the extra info and advice Keith. All the feedback problems I've experienced with the amplified Breedlove have been in a band situation where space has been very much restricted (barely room to swing my Fender Stratocaster) so moving various bits of equipment around much hasn't been an option. As you say, judicious attention to positioning various kit should expunge the problem (good word huh? ). I note that you prefer the Orchid to the K&K XLR. They're very similarly priced at around £170/£180.
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 23, 2015 6:50:23 GMT
I agree with Keith. I have an AER Compact which is more than powerful enough for most small rooms. I've used it with a mixed as well successfully (thought mostly without). This tactic should work well it's the smaller Acus. Lightness means portability and I've learnt to value that!
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Andy P
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Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Sept 23, 2015 11:56:18 GMT
andyhowell Thanks Andy. I see there's also the AER Alpha, which has 40w output and an 8 inch speaker. Is that the one you use Keith ocarolan?
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Andy P
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Posts: 4,982
My main instrument is: Taylor 312ce, Guild D25, Deering 5 string banjo
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Post by Andy P on Sept 23, 2015 12:37:07 GMT
Another question has just occurred to me. Whichever amp I choose, if I have more than two sources (guitar and one mic) and I use the mixer, are there likely to be sound quality issues as a result of the fact that the line out from the mixer takes a jack-plug rather than XLR?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 23, 2015 12:43:54 GMT
No. K
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