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Acoustic Amps - Best Bargain


Hudman

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I never bought an acoustic amp before. I am considering buying one. Who makes the best bang for your buck in the acoustic amp arena?

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most times ive found that the board works just fine if you have a good one...but i do have an ibenez 35 that is pretty good if you mess with it long enough....................

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Originally posted by Hudman

I never bought an acoustic amp before. I am considering buying one. Who makes the best bang for your buck in the acoustic amp arena?

 

 

Bang for buck I'd say Ultrasound.

Just bang: AER

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depends what all you need it to do...I have been quite satisfied with my purchase of a Carvin AG100D amp...sort of like a mini all in one PA...has been useful for acoustic, vocals, and actually didn't do a bad job for bass...and at least for practice sessoinswi keyboard...and even as a "PA" with prerecorded music for party events..

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Amen, to the last post. I have a Carvin AG100, and have used it for bass guitar, mini-p.a., and my acoustic guitar. You can find them on ebay, just make sure you get a newer one, the one with bigger knobs. Some of the old ones have trouble with cutting out. I really like mine.

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Best bargain...by far...is the Kustom KAA-65 (now called the "Sienna")...around $250, and sounds as good as (or better than) anything out there for under $1500, unless you might play bass, too, then the nod goes to the Carvin.

 

I've had my KAA-65 for about 4 years, and it's held up nicely to gigging 3 to 5X a week!

 

Check one out before laying down your green! :thu:

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Posted

Originally posted by Terry Allan Hall

Best bargain...by far...is the Kustom KAA-65 (now called the "Sienna")...around $250, and sounds as good as (or better than) anything out there for under $1500, unless you might play bass, too, then the nod goes to the Carvin.


I've had my KAA-65 for about 4 years, and it's held up nicely to gigging 3 to 5X a week!


Check one out before laying down your green!
:thu:

 

Isn't it true, though, that the Kustom you are recommending has undergone a couple of changes since its inception?

I started reading about them after your mentioning them here, Terry, and if I understand correctly, not only did the cover become a different brown but the speaker was changed, as well.

Am I totally off base?

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A while back I was in the mode of looking for an acoustic amp - I ended up with the Ultrasound. The reason being, good sound quality/ reasonable cost.

 

Another amp worth considering, if you can find one used for a reasonable price, are the Trace Elliot acoustic amps.

 

I would also take a look at the Genz Benz acoustic amps.

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Posted

Originally posted by Highway_61



Isn't it true, though, that the Kustom you are recommending has undergone a couple of changes since its inception?

I started reading about them after your mentioning them here, Terry, and if I understand correctly, not only did the cover become a different brown but the speaker was changed, as well.

Am I totally off base?

 

Yes, they went to a MUCH tougher covering material (the original was kinda thin and ripped easily, and I eventually took mine down to good friend's auto interior shop and had 'em do me a "Mexican tuck 'n' roll" job, like the Kustoms of the '60s...Red Sparkle! :D)...the speakers in mine are a 12" Celestion and a ferro-cooled tweeter, and, as far as I'm aware, the Sienna has the same configuration.

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Originally posted by Hudman

I never bought an acoustic amp before. I am considering buying one. Who makes the best bang for your buck in the acoustic amp arena?

 

 

 

I will recommend looking at a few things.

 

I once owned a Fender Acoustisonic Jr and did not like I, I bought it for the price.

 

I currently play a SWR California Blonde, which is pretty sweet.

 

While looking at acoustic amps I tried the Trace Elliot TA 100, it was 2X the $$ as the SWR, and I could not justify the extra money.

 

I have also played Genz Benz Stuff, and Ultra Sound stuff both are pretty nice, but not nice enough to sell the SWR.

 

Ashdown makes a acoustic, it's rather pricey , but made by the Trace folks, after they were bought out by Gibson.

 

 

If you can find a TA 100 you won't be sorry

 

i'd also look athe SWR CA BLONDE

The BENZ GENZ Shenandoah 100 1x12 Acoustic Combo

The UltraSound Pro 100 or Pro 200

 

 

100 watt about what you might need for the stage.

 

So that's what I recommend.

 

 

You can try the Roland and the Carvin, but I don't think you'll be happy in the long run, but then again you might be,

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Any of the Crate acoustic guitar amps will give you the biggest bang for your buck. They are well built have great tone and are very affordable.

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The SWR California Blonde, especially the pre-Fender, is excellent, one of the top-of-the-line acoustic amps. It's mate, the Blonde-on-Blonde, takes it to an even higher level of all around sound. The only drawback is its weight (about 65 pounds), which is a strain on my back and is the reason I'm selling mine. Right now it's on consignment at a local music store here in Northeast Arkansas (72401), but contact me if you're interested at folkloristrburns@sbcglobal.net

 

I've recently bought a small acoustic amp, a 35-watt Trace Elliot, which is fine for my needs, epsecially since I just basically play at home. I've had the California Blonde for about a half year after buying it locally and it's difficult to part w/it, but it's just way too much amp for me, and the Blonde-on-Blonde is just plain overkill.

 

Go to SWR's website and check out their specs. Mine is a 1998 model, so it does not have the attenuator dial in the rear, which I don't think is necessary anyway.

 

At any rate, if you're not interested in mine, check out eBay, which often has these available, although they are more often than not the newer ones made in Mexico (since Fender bought them out). Many believe that the overall build quality may have suffered a bit once Fender took over the prodcution of these, but I don't know about this for sure.

 

rburns

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