Members DarkHorseJ27 Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 Guitarists modding their electric amps go back decades, but I never really hear anything about modding acoustic amps. I'm interested in doing so, and I need someone to steer me to some good resources. The reason why is my Crate Limo. I really like its portability and the convenience of a built-in battery, and it sounds good, but I want it to sound better. And I think it would be fun to pull it open and tinker around with stuff (I love to tinker). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seagullplayer77 Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 Hmm... You might try asking around in the amp forum. They're more geared towards electric amps, I know, but I'm sure there are probably some folks over there that would be willing to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DarkHorseJ27 Posted August 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 Hmm... You might try asking around in the amp forum. They're more geared towards electric amps, I know, but I'm sure there are probably some folks over there that would be willing to help. Lol, the reason I'm asking here is because I can't get any replies to that question in the amp forum or the DIY forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 About all I can suggest would be upgrading the speakers...the amp is very clean/hi-fi as it is, so I doubt you can improve on that aspect. The FX are OK, but maybe they can be tweaked a little. I've been pondering a outboard "solar panel thingy" for charging it up while busking, myself...something to plug into the 12v input, most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoddy Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 Guitarists modding their electric amps go back decades, but I never really hear anything about modding acoustic amps. I'm interested in doing so, and I need someone to steer me to some good resources.The reason why is my Crate Limo. I really like its portability and the convenience of a built-in battery, and it sounds good, but I want it to sound better. And I think it would be fun to pull it open and tinker around with stuff (I love to tinker). There's a guy over in the amps forum who goes by Casey4s...he's an amp guru and could probably give you some advice...he's helped me out before with mods. Whatever you do, be very careful, even unplugged an amps filter caps can store lethal amounts of electricity...so don't go poking around in there blindly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seagullplayer77 Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 Whatever you do, be very careful, even unplugged an amps filter caps can store lethal amounts of electricity...so don't go poking around in there blindly. He's 100% right. Accidentally discharging a capacitor could kill you, so proceed with caution. Perhaps if you were able to get some schematics for your amp, you'd have a good place to start. If you can't find them somewhere online, E-mail Crate, give them your amp's S/N, and ask them for a schematic. I did that for my Crate Vintage Club amp head and they sent me a PDF with the schematics the very next day. Crate's customer support is really stellar ! Maybe if you posted the schematics on the amp forum, you'd intrigue some of the more knowledgeable folks and they'd have some suggestions for a mod or two . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 Fishman has those modeler pedals ... I can't recall the exact name. Somewhere I have the nylon modeler and it could have applications in the right hands. There is a steel string model, too. Also, the Zoom A2 has some acoustic models in it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members totamus Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 The power stored in capacitors is largely exaggerated here. The amp is a a 12vdc unit with an external power supply. No problem. A capacitor, of the proper type and rating, can store a huge amount of electricity, but most capacitors are used as signal capacitors and don't store enough power to zap an ant. Even in larger solid state amps this is not and issue. Tube amps are different though. In tube amps high voltage DC is used to operate the tubes and the high voltage source is filtered. In this case, lethal voltage can be stored, but like nearly every warning we receive, it is much exaggerated. It similar to the danger in your wall socket, yes you can be killed, but it would be very rare. That all being said, I am not sure there is much in the way of modding you could do. Speakers, TAH, suggested, are probably your best bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 OH!!!! Modding, not modeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hudman Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 Most if not all modding of amplifiers is done on tube amps. You would be best off to leave it alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 + 1 on upgrading the speaker! The easiest mod to do. Otherwise, if you want to change capacitors and/or resistors, you need to know exactly what you are doing... and have a oscilloscope to be see what you are doing to the signal. For some amps, I.E. the Fender blues Jr, there are a lot of mods on the web with schematics. You are right, though... It's much more common for electric guitar players! Oscilloscope ain't cheap. Unfortunately! Link: http://www.calright.com/pd_728.aspx (Handheld one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Misha Posted August 16, 2009 Members Share Posted August 16, 2009 I think your best bet would be just to upgrade the speaker and use an EQ pedal and a good compressor pedal that will shape the sound to your taste! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guildfire Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 I wouldn't mess with it. If you don't like the sound, get rid of it and get one you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DarkHorseJ27 Posted August 17, 2009 Author Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 I wouldn't mess with it. If you don't like the sound, get rid of it and get one you like. The problem with that is what other acoustic amp has a built-in battery and sounds better? What I'm wondering is what makes, for example, a Fishman Loudbox or a Roland AC-60 sound better than the Crate Limo? If I have to I'm not afraid to make it a completely different amp on the inside. Plus I think it would be fun. I love to tinker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members totamus Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 woofer and tweeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DarkHorseJ27 Posted August 17, 2009 Author Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 I wouldn't mess with the on-board effects, I don't use them. I prefer pedals because you have a lot more control over the sound. I would change the instrument jack to be the same as the hi z jack, because my Parker sounds better through the hi z jack (I think its an impedence issue), and that way I can have the guitar and the mic on different channels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted August 17, 2009 Members Share Posted August 17, 2009 The problem with that is what other acoustic amp has a built-in battery and sounds better?What I'm wondering is what makes, for example, a Fishman Loudbox or a Roland AC-60 sound better than the Crate Limo? If I have to I'm not afraid to make it a completely different amp on the inside. Plus I think it would be fun. I love to tinker. Neither sounds all that much different than the Limo, really...certainly not enough to justify the added expense/losing the DC option. Getting a great sound from one is just in how you have the controls set. OTOH, if you just want to tinker w/ something, get a Crate Taxi and add the extra features of a Limo! My current plans are to buy another Limo, add a much heavier-duty bass speaker and have a 50-watt DC bass amp (Crate did temporarily make such a beast, the Crate "Bus", but they made so few and everyone I've ever met that owns one is hanging on to theirs!)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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