Dobro Amplifiers

Ian · From: San Francisco, CA

I read Paddy Long's "Dobro Amplification" post with much interest. It was very informative regarding pick ups but very little was mentioned about amplifiers. I am considering the purchase of an "acoustic" amplifier and am currently leaning toward the Fishman Loudbox 100. Has anyone used one or tried one? Pros and cons? Love to get some feedback.

Thanks,
Ian

Rob Anderlik · From: Chicago, IL

I'm happy to share my experience:

I've owned a few different acoustic instrument amplifiers over the past few years including the Fishman Loudbox Performer, an AER Compact 60 as well as the flagship Acousticube and the L.R. Baggs Acoustic Reference Amplififier.

All 4 amps are at different price points. I think the Fishman Loudbox Performer sells for around $699; the LR Baggs Acoustic Reference Amplifier and the AER Compact 60 both sell for around $1100, and the AER Acousticube sells for well over $2000

The AER Acousticube is way expensive but its also hands down the finest acoustic instrument amplifier I've ever heard. Its tiny in size, but extremely powerful, sounds completely amazing and the quality of the digital effects rivals a Lexicon PCM90 (which I also used to own). Its really in a class of its own...

The Compact 60 is also a great amplifier, perhaps not quite as transparent as the Acousticube, but a great sounding amp. But...the effects unit is nowhere near the quality of the Acousticube.

The only downside to the AER equipment that I experienced (other than the price tag) - is that I had a hard time getting enough volume out of an external microphone. I tried a variety of different mics - both dynamic and condensor - but I was never completely happy with trying to turn either AER amp into a small P.A. system using both a pickup and a microphone. Of course, YMMV

The Fishman Loudbox Performer is a great amplifier at a very reasonable price point. It sounds very good and the design allows plenty of gain when using a microphone which comes in handy if you want to use it like a mini P.A., etc. The one downside (in my experience) is limited tone shaping capabilities using the E.Q. controls.

When the L.R. Baggs Acoustic Reference Amplifier came out I had a chance to do the A/B against the Fishman Loudbox Performer on a number of occasions. My interest in comparing the two amps was strictly related to amplifying my dobro, so my experience may be a little different than, say, an acoustic guitarist, etc. All things considered I'd give a slight edge in transparency and warmth to the L.R. Baggs Acoustic Reference Amplifier. In addition, the E.Q. controls (which I believe are based on Para Acoustic D.I.) offer significantly improved tone shaping possibilities over the Fishman amp.

Of course, there is a pretty big price difference between the two amps! The quality difference was enough for me to switch to the L.R. Baggs model though.

Hope this helps!

Orville Johnson · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

I use the Fishman Loudbox and am quite happy with it. I use it either for plug-in dobro or acoustic guitar or little gigs like restaurants or solo performing. Playing solo I also use the mic input and it really does perform like a small PA.

For dobro I run the Aura box thru a Baggs ParaDI into the amp so I have tons of EQ and gain. My biggest problem is taming that so I have to watch my gain structure but, basically, it works just fine.

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

I have the original Peavey Ecoustic amp ('95 or '96?), and have used it on several small jobs and also outside on picnics / fairs by using strictly acoustic with an AKG C1000S mike. My Guernsey resophonic has a factory installed McIntyre pickup on it and I can use the the pickup output on one channel on this amp and the mike on the other channel, then adjust the blend. Both channels have EQ, and reverb control. This amp also has a great tuneable feedback filter so I have never had any feedback problems with this amp. I think Peavey still has versions of this amp for sale, and maybe at a little better price than those mentioned above.

Thanx,
Jim

Ian · From: San Francisco, CA

Thanks for the replies.

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