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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 121
Location: Powder Springs, Ga. | I'm in the market for an amp and am having a problem finding out why I would want an acoustic amp over a combo amp or visa-versa. 95% of my playing will be acoustic but what will I do if I want to play electric? I'm not financially able to get two amps and with a house being built and a baby on the way it doesn't look like I will for a long time.
1. What is the main difference between the two types?
2. Does the clean channel on a combo amp sound just as good as an acoustic amp?
3. Are any acoustic amps good for electric guitars?
4. What particular amp would you recommend?
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Bentman |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Bentman,
do a search for "Amps" in the archives and you'll find tons of answers to your question. Acoustic amps are a much cleaner sound and built to allow the "pure" sound of the guitar come through without any electronic color. Your find several preferred brands being mentioned. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm a bargain-basement kind of guy, so my advice may be a lot different from some of the high-end guys here. I bought 3 amps since December and did quite a bit of looking and listening. I got a 30 watt Epiphone acoustic for about $120 and a used 60 watt Behringer for $89, both at a local guitar store. The Epiphone sounds lots better than the Behringer for acoustics, even with the Behringer on the clean channel. I also bought my daughter a $139 Fender 25 watt that she uses for her acoustic Ibanez. It sounds pretty decent and lots better than the Marshalls in the same price range.
If you want a practice amp, I'd recommend the Epi or one of the new Crates that just came out. Behringer also has some new acoustic amps at reasonable prices, but I haven't had a chance to listen to them. If you need more volume for performances, the price jumps a lot for acoustic amps, but you can get a Fender 212 fm 100 watt for around $300.
There are a lot of features available on the combo amps that really only apply to electric guitars. For acoustics, the Epi has a second input and a mic input. Those might be nice if you play with another person or sing. Lots of choices. Have fun shopping. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I like the Crate acoustic amps. Mine is the CA125D, but the CA60D model is also very nice. You can get them on Ebay at very reasonable prices, for example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38073&item=7...
The acoustic amps work best for acoustic guitars. The Crate models also have imputs for a mic (XLR) and an auxilliary source. Any acoustic amp will sound better than a similar electric amp for acoustic guitar. You can play electric through the acoustic amp, but you get a pure clean tone. I have tried playing electric though a distortion box into the Crate. It sounds OK, but a bit off when compared to playing through an electric amp.
If you play 95% acoustic, get an acoustic amp. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Exactly what the 2 Ms said. |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 474
Location: Anchorage, Alaska | Check out a Genz Benz Shenandoah. Very nice acoustic amp with some nice effects. This is also a Kaman product. There are 2 sizes. I have the Jr. and recommend it highly. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I just missed a Genz Benz on Flea Bay that wend for $450. It was right here in Madison so there would have been no freight. Sorry to say, I need to get the bathroom remodel done b4 I get any new toys. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Paul Wag has the Genz Benz Shenandoah. I tried it last weekend, and it's a sweet amp.
Willard: I hear ya. I have to get kitchen countertops before I can get another guitar. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 1026
Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | I've got the Crate CA60, and the Crate CA250. Both outstanding amps! |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I've got the Marshal AS50R combo. Nice and portable, pure acoustic sound, lots of i/o.
I've also heard a lot of good things about the Genz Benz amps as well. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| I tried a Fishman Loudbox Pro - surely the greatest acoustic amp ever built. The Rolls Royce of amps. Unfortunately the same price. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I've found that at low volumes the difference in amps is miniscule. It's at higher volume things change. An electric guitar amp will make an electric guitar sound like an electric guitar, you can get those nice warm overdriven tones. The acoustic amp will keep the acoustic guitar sounding acoustic. Peter Townsend and others, look first to the sound of the electric amp first, the pickups are secondary, and the guitar is third. Acoustic guitar you want to sound pure. That said, an electric amp will work for an acoustic guitar, it'll just sound like an electric when you crank the volume. If it's your first amp, buy a crate acoustic amp. Also, a 30 watt amp is enough for your first amp, because you want to carry it around. My amp is 45 watts and it weighs a fucking ton. Aslo, it's good to have two inputs, so that if you have a microphone, or want to jam with a friend. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| an4340 said:-
"Peter Townsend and others, look first to the sound of the electric amp first, the pickups are secondary, and the guitar is third."
this is totally (waiting for a bollocking from Master T.) true.
A great guitar through a crap amp sounds crap - a cheap guitar through a great amp can sound fantastic. |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | Bentman:
I have a Genz Benz Shenandoah 85 and love it. The amp is amazing, and you can pick them up for +/- $450 used on ebay. They are pricey though if cash is the concern. I just picked up a TranZamp A-25 on ebay. It is a Genz Benz design and obviously in a new economy line for them. It arrived today and of course I had to plug it in and give it a spin. Sounds very nice for a $139.00 amp, two channels (channel 1 also has an XLR input (No Phantom)) and all the inputs blend together, so you can use the XLR and the 1/4" input on channel 1 at the same time (i.e. a dynamic mic and a guitar)! Very cool. Has three band active equalizer with sweepable mids, and spring reverb. It seems nice and loud for a 25 watt amp and would work well in small venues, as a stage monitor, or for practice. Here's a link for a current auction on ebay if you are interested.
TranZamp on eBay
The Crate that Mitchrx cited also looks like a fine opportunity to save green and get a nice amp. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 121
Location: Powder Springs, Ga. | Thanks for all the info. You guys are great. Now the hunt begins.
Bentman |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Bentman!
Genz Benz is great But i used to play through a Laney GC-60. It was a great amp . Wish i could find another. It was a stereo Chorusing Amp geared toward acoustic/ Electrics but also had a chanel for just electric which was way cool!
I loved the way it sounded. Just shop around and see which one you like. There are alot of great amps out there. |
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Acoustic vs Combo Amp