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Thread: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

  1. #1
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    Friends, I have another query to pose to the wisened heads here: What amp would you recommend to run an acoustic or acoustic electric guitar through?

    I have two Fender modeling amps, A Mustang IIv2, and a Champion 40. I have a 15-watt Monoprice (Laney) tube amp and a Behringer bass amp. I also have some "mini" amps: A Line6 AMPLIFi 30, a Vox AC5 Rhythmvox, and an old Pignose 7-100. To date, I have never been able to get good acoustic sound amplification from my Taylor BBT-e, and although I purchased a Dean Markley Promag Plus for my Framus 12-string, I have yet to try it because I can't find an amp that works.

    Some have said the Fender Champion can be used for an acoustic guitar, but I have yet to find the mix that makes that work. I guess perhaps I should look to a small practice-amp geared specifically for use with acoustic guitars. I know of Fishman -- our church uses one for the acoustic guitarists playing in the band, but a search shows a "top 12" or so of acoustic-oriented amps, including the Blackstar Super Fly, Boss Katana Air, even Pignose now has a HOG 20.

    I know a lot of you folks play acoustic as well as electric, so when you decide to "unplug" and want a listen oomph to your sound, what do you choose? And if you know the secret sauce for the Champion, that would be even better!

  2. #2
    Forum Member phantomman's Avatar
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    Re: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    The most realistic acoustic-electric tones I've ever heard were with the instrument DI'd directly into a mixing console then fed to a quality PA/SR system.
    "When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."

  3. #3
    Forum Member gibsonjunkie's Avatar
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    Re: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    I've looked at them from time to time. I think I'd probably buy a Fishman if I needed one.
    "We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness." Mark Twain

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    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    I played in a band with a guy a while back, and he had one of the Fender amps made for the acoustic. His sounded good, but I like a PA sound better.

    I wish I could remember the name of the system I put in my Martin; it attaches inside the sound hole, under the bridge and is or is like tiny microphones; they work differently from transducers my luthier told me. I can't distinguish between a mic'd sound and the "pickups" in my acoustic.

    When I play live, I use the PA, and when I'm recording, it goes into the mixer. I've never had an acoustic amp nor needed one. But if you're planning on just using it at home, you could check into a compact PA or an acoustic amp.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  5. #5
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    Quote Originally Posted by ch willie View Post
    But if you're planning on just using it at home, you could check into a compact PA or an acoustic amp.

    At the very most I'd be doing an open mic night, or similar. For the most part, I'm just looking for home use. The Fender Acoustasonic 15 seems to crop up in a lot of articles and reviews I've seen.



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    Re: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    If you can find one locally give this a try. I bought it for bass but with the 3-10 holographic cabinet it amplifies acoustic and violins amazingly well.



  7. #7
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    I know Phantonman doesn't care for the Fender Champion series of amps, but I couldn't resist plugging my new Little Martin into the clean channel of my 40 last night and...

    Holy Schnikes! Not only does that little guitar sound good electrified (deep bass, clear high tones), but the amp works really well with it. I did detect a little fret buzz on the lower strings from time to time, but I think that just highlights my sloppy playing. If I continue to amplify it, I'm going to have to pay more attention to my technique.

    Remember that quote I said I was going to hang on my guitar room wall? "The hardest thing about playing guitar is resisting the urge to play fast!"

  8. #8
    Forum Member gibsonjunkie's Avatar
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    Re: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    Slightly off-topic, but her is my acoustic pedal board. The BBE Acoustimax is a really cool processor.

    "We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness." Mark Twain

  9. #9
    Forum Member dirtdog's Avatar
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    Re: Recommended Acoustic Electric Guitar Amps?

    I’ve never heard an acoustic guitar amp I’ve liked. My last amplified acoustic setup was the Epiphone EJ200 through a Radial DI into the PA. Very natural sounding. YMMV.

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