The Steel Guitar Forum

I really need to get one. Can anyone make a suggestion based on their experiences with various makes and models?

There's a limit to what I can afford to lay out on what isn't a #1 priority, but I don't want to waste money on anything of questionable performance. Almost exclusively, it'll be used in an orchestra-pit, and should have a line out so I can send a nicely-EQ'd signal to the sound-desk.

I don't use guitars with pre-amps - just Martins with a 'bug' mic by McIntyre affixed inside the guitars.

Thanks in advance.

RR

I recently picked up a Marshall 100 watt acoustic. It has some really nice features. It has 3 channels for guitars and mic plus a channel with RCA jacks for CD input or whatever. It also has some built in effects and a XLR output.

I've used a Crate for several years now. It's a little stereo amp, with built-in chorus, and 2-8" speakers. Weighs about 35-40 lbs., has enough parametric EQ to kill feedback, XLR out, and it'll get loud! Doc Watson uses one, too.

If you can get your hands on a Peavey Vegas with the horn in the top you should be in pig heaven !!

Roger,
There are a number of acoustic amp mfgs. The most popular are the Peavey, Fender, Marshall and SWR "Blonde" series. Most have two channels with one being an XLR out for going direct to the PA or whatever. New amps are in the $300-$400 range, depending upon who/where you purchase it. I teach 6 string guitar and most of my students play acoustic/electric guitars. They seem to favor the Marshall and Peavey amps. This may be be because they can get good deals on these two brands here in Houston. I am sure the other two brands are just as good. Matter of preference and $$$

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Many thanks to all of you for all this useful information - I'll go and check some of these suggestions over the next week or so.

Roger

Peavey Ecoustic 112.

The Peavey 110 or 112 and the Roland AC 60.
All the above have very nice features.

I can tell you what I saw at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention. This is in order of most seen; UltraSound,Aer and Swr. What all this means I cant exactly say.

I have a (Fender Owned) SWR Strawberry Blonde it's real nice the weight isn't too bad and I like the cab style 80 watts. If you want more power more features (and weight) then a California Blonde is a great choice. I bought the Strawb after seeing a Calif. Blonde in action for me I didn't require the 120 watt version. I had at the time of the purchase been looking at the Peavey Ecoustics and the Marshall Acoustics for me the SWR was more available. The Peavey and the Marshall seemed pretty much the equalent of the SWR so, either of those two would have suited me just as well as the SWR.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Alan Kroeger on 24 July 2004 at 01:07 PM.]</p></FONT>

Roger,
Check out some Crate amps. Band members of mine play Taylor guitars through them, which have a pre-amp. They have tremendous bite and presence, and very versatile tone-tailoring. I don't recall the model numbers, but the ones they are using are light and small and very easy to move around. They did some sort of redesign in the last couple of years that lessened the quality of their sound, so try to find some older models from 3-5 years back, if you can. The older, preferable designs have a darker brown color scheme compared to the newer ones, if I recall correctly.

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Jeff's Jazz

Sounds like my amp, Jeff. It's a CA-60, brown, real sturdy. I don't think they make these anymore, but I could be wrong. Great-sounding amp, though.

Another Possibility is the JBL EON systems (particularly the EON 15 G2 powered speaker)I have heard these used in multiple applications (Electric Guitarist, Keyboard, Fiddle but not steel yet)and they are absolutely dead flat response with no coloration or distortion. They're so clean you might have to adjust your system to add the noises you are acustomed to hearing so, get a POD a GT-6 or some other DSP Multi Effect to add it back in
Needless to say this is definately on my to get list in the future. http://www.jblpro.com/eong2/index.htm

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Six String Lap Steel,Boss VF-1, TC Electronics FireworX, Echoplex Digital Pro, Sundries & SWR Strawberry Blonde, bunch of Fiddles too
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Alan Kroeger on 25 July 2004 at 07:25 AM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks, you guys!

There are more of these things out there than I would have guessed - it'll be fun looking!

Right now I'm playing "Tommy" here in Naples - my old 000-18 Martin is going straight to the desk, and I'm uncomfortable with what the sound-guy is doing with it. This show requires me to thrash the Martin mercilessly on those suspended chords on 'Pinball Wizard', and also to gently finger-pick some passages.

I need more control!!!!

RR

AER Compact 60 - may have been mentioned.

I like it for the sound, it's weight and size, and the XLR out. Nice other I/O options, headphone out, tuner out etc. If you have the option of sending the signal to a PA anyway - this amp is ideal for a small stage area. They are more expensive, but worth the money I think.

Chris

I used my Nashville 112 this weekend for acoustic guitar, but I used a Boss AD-5 acoustic guitar preamp/processer and plugged it into the "power amp in" jack on the back. I was able to EQ it the way I wanted with the AD-5. This may be an alternative to another amp. The AD-5 also has an XLR output (actually two of them if you want stereo) so you can send an EQ'd signal to the board.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 26 July 2004 at 11:44 AM.]</p></FONT>

Roger, here is a link from our website that I recommend that you check out. Peavey has offered an ecoustic/electric guitar amplifier for several years now. We offer a 5 year warranty and the best support in the business. If you have questions, please feel free to pick up the phone and call me and I'll be glad to assist you. I can be reached toll free at 1-877-732-8391.

Here is the link; http://www.peavey.com/products/shop_online/browse.cfm/action/final/wc/1A1B4/fam/1B/c/4/acoustic.cfm

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Roger:

Check out the Carvin AG100D Acoustic amp at www.carvin.com. All of Carvin's stuff is great, gets good reviews, and they stand behind everything, and they offer a 10 day trial money back garantee. The 10 days start when you receive the equipment.