|
|
Post by jonathan on Nov 19, 2014 11:44:36 GMT
Hi,
My wife is the proud owner of a Takamine LTD2012C Michi which she currently plays unplugged or through a borrowed amp. I am looking to buy her an amp for Christmas that she can use both for practice and in smallish venues (rooms for 50-100). I want a smallish amp that won't take over the small room at home where she practises, but one that will do justice to the guitar. Can anyone advise?
Thanks
|
|
Martin
Administrator
Posts: 11,994 
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"http://mandocello.org/lytebox/images/adirondack.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0a530b
Mini-Profile Text Color: 4f3517
|
Post by Martin on Nov 19, 2014 11:56:14 GMT
Hi jonathan, and  the the forum! I don't have an acoustic amp, but I like the look of the Sub Zero acoustic amps. The 60W amp should be sufficient for your wife's requirements, although there is a cheaper 25W available too. Sub Zero 60W Acoustic Amp There's a review of it on Music RadarAlternatively, if you have a higher budget, you can look at Marshall (AS50D) or even better, AER (quite expensive!). I'm sure you'll get other recommendations on here too  |
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 35,710
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on Nov 19, 2014 13:12:30 GMT
Welcome to the Forum jonathan. These - www.acousticmagazine.com/reviews/yamaha-thr5a-199/ - are nice, and obtainable slightly more cheaply if you hunt around.  Used to great effect by Brian Willoughby to give acoustic guitar a bit of a lift in the sort of venues you mention jonathan, and miked up through PA in larger ones. Those Sub-Zeros look very  , Martin! Keith |
|
|
|
Post by clydeslide on Nov 19, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
Price range is going to be key. Whats the expected damage?
|
|
|
|
Post by jonathan on Nov 19, 2014 15:30:19 GMT
Considering the value of the guitar, I don't want to scrimp on the amp. I haven't priced around yet, but the amps that have been suggested are: - Sub Zero 60W Acoustic Amp (£109.99 from gear4music)
- Yamaha THR5A (£158.58 from thomann)
- Marshall AS50DC (£269 from gear4music)
None of those prices are excessive. AER is a make that has also been suggested, though they appear to start upwards of £500. I would have to be convinced it was worth spending that sort of money. To provide a little more context, the requirements would be (in rough order of preference): - Sound quality
- Compact
- Suitable for a 50-100 person venue* without having to rely on their PA (*where the audience were listening without much in the way of background noise; NOT a pub)
- Additional I/O (e.g. ability to plug in a microphone)
- Ability to use effects with other inputs as well as guitar
- Lightweight
I've probably missed some, but that's probably a good starting point. |
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 35,710
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on Nov 19, 2014 15:58:24 GMT
The Yammy has no mike input so that's out. Looking at your list of priorities I'd be inclined to go for an AER if at all poss - they are good value if good sound is the major priority. Easy to carry and mic-stand mountable too, which helps a lot. The Alpha would easily cope in the circumstances envisaged, though the Compact 60 has more flexible eq. No effects loop, though built in reverb not bad though I hardly use mine. AERs tend to sound a bit boxy to the user at close quarters esp when quiet, but to the punters they are magnificent. If you're into AER price range then also consider the Fishman Soloamp - www.thomann.de/gb/fishman_soloamp.htm, which gives very good dispersion without being loud onstage. Intuitive to use and natural sounding. The Tanglewood AER lookalikes (not quite soundalike, esp vocally and when used loud, but not bad) might be worth your while auditioning too. www.amazon.co.uk/TANGLEWOOD-T6-Acoustic-electric-amps/dp/B00604EHQIKeith |
|
|
|
Post by clydeslide on Nov 19, 2014 16:11:31 GMT
You get what you pay for generally and the AERs really are nice (I don't own one but have sat in front of plenty).
The compact 60 seems to basically be a small PA in a box and looks like it has pretty much everything you could ever need.
Is it worth the money? Well really only you can say, you'd have to compare them against each other. Bear in mind that the point of these is to allow the audience to hear the performer, so you should sit in front while your wife plays and decide which sounds best to you. If an effects loop is essential then I think all AER amps are out of the running.
As for practicing at home, I'm not sure why she'd need the amp? Do you just mean won't take over as in storage-wise?
|
|
|
|
Post by jonathan on Nov 19, 2014 16:33:21 GMT
My wife is not tech savvy so, unless she regularly practised with the amp at home, skill fade would make it difficult for her to set up at a venue.
|
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 35,710
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on Nov 19, 2014 16:46:51 GMT
If "plugged in" practice is what she feels to be necessary, then she needs to practice in a larger room than at home - it will sound completely different. To begin with it may even be worth asking one of the potential venues if you could have an hour or so when they are closed so you can go with her and listen from a distance to advise on tone etc. Will still sound different from whenb the room is full, but you'd have some "default" settings to start with. Practising at "home" volume levels and in small room sizes is not going to help at all IMHO, other than getting a quick and general feel of what the knobs do (ooer  ). Keith ..just thought, if she really isn't techy, then I'd not use any outboard effects, which means you won't need an effects loop!  |
|
|
|
Post by scorpiodog on Nov 20, 2014 15:52:07 GMT
I've got a Marshall AS50D. It's simple and practical to use. I have one criticism for small venue use and that's that it isn't designed to tilt. Consequently, you have to put it on a table or something to raise it high enough that it doesn't lose itself in the mobile acoustic baffles. (Audience).
I did have an Ibanez Troubador before, which was OK but not as good quality as the Marshall, but it did tilt, and that made a huge difference.
|
|
|
|
Post by grayn on Nov 20, 2014 18:24:22 GMT
+1 on the Marshall.
Great value and you can get an amp stand for tilting.
|
|
alig
C.O.G. 
Posts: 1,059
|
Post by alig on Nov 21, 2014 19:48:13 GMT
Used the Marshall and it's very good. Downside is its weight - it's quite a beast to carry around.
Have an AER compact 60 which is the dog's thingies. Best I've had by a country mile. Portable and sounds wonderful. Pretty flexible and user-friendly too.
For myself, I couldn't look beyond an AER. Keith mentions the Alpha which is, I think, 40 watt and might be the ticket for you.
Portable? Padded gig bag with shoulder strap - beats the Marshall hands down in that regard.
Try on in a shop if you can - you'll be impressed.
Alasdair
|
|
the the forum!
, 
). 
Jo whoever he is.
