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July 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Detroit Rock City | Hi everybody. I'm new to this site, but I've had an Ovation for a few years. I play just in home, for fun. I've been plugging my O into my Fender Studio 85 amp, which I share with my Telecaster and Stratocaster. Sounds pretty good. Would an "acoustic amp" be an upgrade over an "electric amp"? To me, they seem pretty similar. What is the difference?
I would go to Guitar Center and play with the amps, but then I would definately buy one on the spot. Once I'm "in", I'm done. No self control.
Cool site. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Welcome Fleet!
And another Michigander checks in.
Which Guitar Center?
Roseville, Canton?? |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | This topic comes up regularly and you might want to do a search.
In sum, generally speaking, an acoustic amp is "tuned" for playing an acoustic instrument. While an electric amp is not. There are exceptions of course. If you listen at anything more than 50% volume there is a noticeable difference. If you never play above that level, then you needn't bother getting another amp to lug around.
If you're just playing in your house a 10W self powered PA would work. If you want something more powerful, say your playing in your backyard, then a 30W fender acoustic would be up your alley. Or maybe a 20W pignose keyboard amp. Also, look at the genz benz line, also consider using a PA. Peavey and yamaha have nice packages. |
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Joined:
July 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Detroit Rock City | Thanks for the info - I'm not sure I need an acoustic amp. I actually did do a search, and the threads were more about recommending a specific brand and model of amp. I'm just curious what the difference is between an electric amp and an acoustic one. Not sure it's worth investing in one for my silly use. If I did get one, it would be an inexpensive one just for my practice room.
Slipkid - Thanks for the welcome! I go to the Allen Park one after work. Very close to Dearborn. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Welcome Fleet!
For your purposes, what you have is probably better sounding than a cheap acoustic amp.
Generally acoustic amps are clean, solid state amps that are tuned to reproduce sounds from acoustic instruments and vocals. Electric amps can be tube or solid state but are designed to attain varying levels of distortion to compliment the tones of the magnetic pick-ups in an electic gutar. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The other major factor is the speakers. Electric guitar amps deliberately use speakers with relatively poor high frequency response, whereas an amplification system for acoustic instruments needs extended HF. That's why many acoustic amps use 2 or 3 way full-range speaker systems which include HF tweeters or compression drivers. Some are even bi-amped or tri-amped. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | To revive this thread... I didn't really get the definitive answer to this. I already have a 15w personal amp. Would an Acoustic amp sound that much different to make it worth my while? This has a clean channel and a so-so reverb. But only one 8in speaker, and no chorus.
I also have a Zoom Z1X effects pedal, but I have to go to Devry Institute to learn how to use it :p
Anyway, I see many acoustic amps have multiple speakers. Is that really a better option? I really only need to annoy my neighbors, I ain't gigging or nothing. I guess I just got a minor case of Amp Acquisition Syndrome. I don't wanna repeat mistakes... My first amp was/is an Orange Crush 10, with dual overdrives, but no clean. It is useless for my purposes.
(I'd ebay it, but I would never get anywhere near my money back) |
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March 2007
Posts: 665
Location: Tychy, Poland | if you play only on acoustic, sell this kettner and buy Marshall AS50D. You will be surprised with it's price/value. and you will hear difference. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I generally only play Ovations (or their subsidiaries) through the HK.
If I switched-up, I got the Orange Thing for my Pseudo-Strat, and a Pignose coming.
Hey LBJ, I saw a documentary with a Country and Western manure-slinging Music Festival in Poland...
And there was some dude with a LoneStar T-shirt and a Black Ovation...
Was that you? |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | I use a Fender Passport 150.
No fuss no feedback and covers everything I need |
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March 2007
Posts: 665
Location: Tychy, Poland | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
Hey LBJ, I saw a documentary with a Country and Western manure-slinging Music Festival in Poland...
And there was some dude with a LoneStar T-shirt and a Black Ovation...
Was that you? no :-(
but i've noticed that at least 5 of maybe top 30 of polish artists playing rock / country rock music play on Ovation.
i'm still way too young to be on documentary film :-)
ps.
festival was something like "Picnic Country in Mragowo"?? |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | It was a great segment... They were having a hell of a party. One guy was saying, "These people don't even know what the Cowboys do... They thing that they rope them, then milk them. Plus their cowboy hats are too small." But they had some good cover songs in English, plus they had some great homegrown country songs in Polish.
But it is like any ethnic festival in the US. Just an excuse to party and get drunk.
But I saw that dude with the Ovation, and they had more than one... My first thought was how expensive those things are over there. Next thought was "are those LBJ's buddies?"
As to the Marshall... Yeah, I was surprised at the price alright! I probably got enough amplifiers right now. I will look into that once I get confident enough to play in public...
And good enough to get Paid For It! :D |
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March 2007
Posts: 665
Location: Tychy, Poland | haha ;]
it's probably in Mragowo. This country festival is now 26 years old, and it's now lasts 2 days.
1st day there is a true country / bluegrass being played, and on the second day, they play everything but country.
but friend of mine (with whom i'm currently working and playing) won that festival contest in 2001 ;]
btw, not everyone knows this, but bluegrass music originally came from czech republic, and in Czech republic there is a hell of a good country/bluegrass artists. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | The Main Difference between an Electric guitar combo/Acoustic guitar combo ,is the Loudspeaker.!!..Electric guitar speaker (Pioneered by Celestion),has a rise of several db,starting at around 1 khz culminating at around 3khz,dropping rather sharply after that...
other significant differences are in the Control amp. ( too many options to mention )..info on the original GuitarSpeaker..
http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/products/alnico/detail.asp...
..info on guitar amps.would be technically complex,and be out of range for this board, BUT If Any-One is Interested,than have a Look Here..
http://www.drtube.com/guitamp.htm
..and just in case,the best Acoustic/Electric guitar(s)..
http://www.ovationguitars.com/
Vic :)
..heh heh heh.. |
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November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | Try a California Blonde... Its a very sweet amp...goes very nicely with Ovation guitars. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I find the solid state acoustic amps improve acoustic tone when compared to solid state non-acoustic amps. On the other hand, I'm not impressed with the tone of a pure electric with a so-called acoustic amp. Acoustic amps (at least the four I have) just don't provide enough bite for straight electrics, in which case I prefer something with tubes. For example, the band is putting together a jazz concert at the end of the month, so we're mixing in jazz numbers with the acoustic stuff during rehearsals. In an effort to minimize hauling extra gear to rehearsals, I've tried to just use the acoustic amp on hand for the jazz numbers, but was very dissappointed in the sound. At a special rehearsal last Sataurday, I used my trusty Deluxe Reverb. It sounds just fine with the acoustics, but what a difference with the electrics. Also, don't many (most?) professionals continue to prefer tube amps with acoustic/electrics for stage work? What do you professionals among us have to say? |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Topic is about the Difference Electric guitarcombo VS Acoustic guitarcombo..and Prof BB experiencing a real life problem..now, as simple as possible :)
Electric combo uses a loudspeaker that sounds 2 -4 times (3db..6db) louder at around 3 Khz,Acoustic combo uses a loudspeaker that plays evenly across it`s frequency range (it is simply a PA speaker),so Theoretically ,an Acoustic guitar would sound not so good over an ElectricCombo,in reality however,that boost can also make an Acoustic Axe sound lively,and usually there are ToneControlls to Adjust the sound,Hence Prof BB`s experiencing ,that his ElectricCombo can be used for his Acoustic Axe,while the AcousticCombo sounds a little flat on the Electric Axe,...the Fender Acoustasonic SFX employs several speakers to achieve a full/spatial sound (yeah,I dig that one too)it`s name says what it is,an AcousticCombo ,but one with digital effects,have not tried it myself,but a buddy of mine uses it on a jazzbox (humbuckers),and he likes it.. :) Now,a working man who plays it all,would sustain serious "back-injuries" carrying ElectricCombo..AcousticCombo..PA System..Instruments..cables = Lots of Weight,..
My Solution...(Micro system)
1) Electric combo for Electric and Acoustic.(Fender G-DEC or ROSS RB 60)Mic. aimed at speaker and connected to Mixer.
2)Mixer (Behringer UB2222 FX)
3)Active tops (Opera 415)
..this set-up will easily cover an average club..!..(for light acoustic single/duo/trio )
However,when there is a "Drummer"..?!..oh boy,acoustic percussion can go plenty loud,for that I use a vented box (not bass reflex,just a couple of vents in the baffle)with an ALTEC 418-8H ..(vintage)16" Humdinger (freq.range 40 Hz - 8 Khz),coupled to a Mono PA Amp. with several inputs,level/tone/master control on each channel,and every guitar gets connected to that set-up (sometimes stomp`s in between instrument/amp.)it`s my fav. !!..on any stage it can shatter anybody`s eardrums :)
Vic
..when possible a YAMAHA RA-50 (leslie clone) coupled to my 1618..it sounds heavenly.. |
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Difference between Acoustic and Electric Amp?
