amp for acoustics

[tdh]

Hi All,
What have people been happy with for amplifying acoustic?.I just bought a nice acoustic with thr K&k country pickup installed.I need to buy an amp.Does one really have to spend a thousand on an amp to get great mid-almost loud volume?Someone suggested the AER amps)1000 or more)Then I saw a friend playing a battery one that sounded OK.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Tim

[PUCKBOY99]

I just scored a sweet SWR California Blonde that is not only a very good acoustic amp, but acts as a p.a. too for solo playing & singing.

Used $400.00

[Redrum]

I've been really happy with my Fishman Loudbox Performer. Excellent sounding acoustic amp for sure and plenty loud. Two channels, one with XLR input and both channels have pre EQ XLR outs in addition to a combined post EQ XLR out so you can patch it to a P.A. and use the amp as your monitor or just blend the two to taste. Also has some basic verbs and a chorus setting you can utilize along with feedback controls and phase switches. It's also pretty light weight and very portable. There's a couple different models with different power ratings including the mini. I got the 130 watt model new at just under 700.00 from Guitar Center.

[go7]

I have had great success w/ the fishman loudbox performer as well 130 watts.
Good luck.

[Dr.Tom]

I have tried many different acoustic amps. If you can , go and try out a few different brands. For my money, I really like the Genz Benz.

Regards,

Tom
ACOUSTICS :2008 Guild F512;2006 Gibson Dove ; 2005 Martin D-45V ;2007 D-18A ; Martin D-28CW ; 2006 Martin Bellezza Bianca; 1998 Martin HD-28(beater);Adamas 2080, Adamas 1688-8 12 String ; 2006 Takamine TAN 15C; 2006 Ovation 1858LX 12 String ;Takamine EF 75 #70 ;Takamine Grand Ole Opry 75th Anniversary ; 2001 Takamine SW341SC(Steve Wariner Signature); 2004 Takamine EF360S ; 2004 Taylor 814CE ;1997 Taylor 912CE(Cindy Inlay); 1990 Takamine FP400SC 12 String ;197? Bruno Royal Artist acoustic

[lamenlovinit]

This is sacrilege, but if you have a laptop, for modest needs, aka coffee house open mic level stuff, one of the DI boxes into the house PA works very well. You don't sound like Tommy Emanuel, but then again... Wait. You may be much better than me. I don't sound like Tommy Emanuel, but then again, I'm not Tommy Emanuel, if you get my drift. You can often find them on closeout with very sophisticated software for way under a $100. Yes you are "modeling" and not amplifying but lots of us can get by on that for 90% of our public playing.

[Willie Johnson]

I've been using the Fishman SA220 and love it!

[ballynally]

Schertler David. Plugs in a mic too. 80 watts. never heared a better acoustic amp.over an AER any time. around $700

[blasius01]

I've had them all .... California blonde is a good amp but nothing beats a great PA system

[Pa'ani]

Love my AER Compact 60!

[r9player]

At church we go direct, but I actually just plug my acoustic(s) into my Chandler C38 (which I also use for my electics) and it sounds great.

[Blackhawk]

SWR Cali Blonde for me...

[drive-south]

The Schertlers and Genz Benz amps are very good, but may be out of your price range. A better value would be an Ultrasound amp.

If you are using a K&K mini western pickup, make sure whatever amp you get has a very good parametric EQ with sweepable mids. An amp with just bass and treble controls will not be a good match for that pickup as you really need to cut mids. My friend has a Marshall AG50 and it does not have mid-range controls. He plays his Martin HD28 with K&K through an LR Baggs Para DI and then into his Marshall.

drive-south

[BComp61]

If you can find one, I have used a Prime PM-50 for several years. Three input channels including RCA input, and has XLR inputs for vocals. It is a nice little amp/PA unit.

[janschfan]

Another vote for the original SWR California Blonde......