|
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 10
Location: Chipping Sodbury, England | I'm now the proud owner of an Ovation Celebrity Deluxe CS 257 and would like some advice as to a suitable amplifier to get the best out of my new baby.Power is not an issue as it's purely for home use (for now anyway). What I want is a warm, clean "valve" tone, don't need bells and whistles.
Any suggestions? Oh, and it needs to be available in the UK,and not stupidly expensive.
Cheers,
Bradley |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | Do a search. There are tons of previous posts on this subject. I have the Genz Benz Shen Jr that is plenty for me at home; clean full sound.
Basically, go to the store with your guitar. Try them all. Buy the one that sounds best to you. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 10
Location: Chipping Sodbury, England | Cheers, I'm new to the site and not up to speed yet, will figure out how to search and do just that. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I'm not positive, but I seem t'remember here that GenzBenz are a bit diff t'get in the UK . . .
I've always been partial to TraceAcoustic . . .
(wish I still had my old one) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Just go to the top of the page and click "search". Remember to search "the Vault" as well as the
"forum", as threads from 2003 and before are locked away there and not included in the forum search. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 10
Location: Chipping Sodbury, England | Most " boutique" type amps are quite hard to find here, which makes auditioning them a real pain,and usually involves a long drive to a shop that has one in stock. Mainstream stuff, Marshall etc , is easy to find, but not everyone wants a Marshall!
Bradley |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Aren't Trace's made in England? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Bradley,
I'm guessing from your choice of guitars you aren't willing to jump right in at the high end on amps. I consider Trace and GenzBenz to be in the great, but more expensive than I need category. Behringer and Crate are making some nice small acoustic amps at lower prices. I use a 30 watt Epiphone that suits my needs, although I hardly plug in anymore. I don't know if it's still available, but I got it new for a little over $100 locally about 6 months ago. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The little Fender Acoustasonic Jr is not a bad amp for the price and I assume it would be readily available in England. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | I'll vote for the Acoustasonic too, but I've never owned one. Just tried them out in the shop.
However I will warn you about one to stay away from, and that is the Peavey Ecoustic amp. I've read about their speaker problems, and shortly after that - KABOOM - my speaker fried. I traded it away for something (can't remember what) and never looked back. At shows, I always just plug into the PA anyway. From my experience, no acoustic amp will ever sound as good as a decent PA.
And did you say something about wanting a "valve tone"? Not for an acoustic guitar you don't. This is where solid state reigns supreme. The last thing you'd ever want in an acoustic guitar amp is tubes.
I hate to say it, but I've played through a couple of Crate acoustic amps that I thought sounded pretty good. I can't vouch for their reliability though. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 56
Location: the Netherlands | I use a multi-effectprocessor (at this moment the BOSS VF1, next week I try the BOSS GT PRO) as a pre-amp.That goes straigt to the PA / active monitor. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 44
Location: Port Charlotte, FL | Roland AC-60 is small, nice sounding and has a few nice effects to round out the acoustic sound. I have used Ovations through valve units and it kills the brightness of the instrument. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | I'd shoot for the Fender Acoustasonic, if you can afford it. If money is an issue, try looking into the Ibanez Troubadour (TA) series. I have the TA35, and I'm quite happy with it. Very reasonably priced too.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_id/11... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 10
Location: Chipping Sodbury, England | Well, you guys have certainly given me plenty to think about.
I've tracked down a selection at shops I know and trust, so this weekend will be trying Fender,Roland,Behringer,Crate and Ibanez,(plus an AER and a little 16w Kustom with a celestion speaker that seems , on paper anyway, pretty good),can't wait!
The Genz Benzs and Trace Elliotts do seem to be too high end for my needs, and anyway wouldn't get approved by the "pleasure police", (my missus). Even if I pay part in cash and hide the receipt so I can tell her they were cheaper than they were "50% off in the sale darling, an amazing bargain", used that too many times before.
Interesting that valve amps kill the tone, why is that? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Bradley:
Valve amps don't kill tone. They just have the kind of tone most acoustic guitarists don't want. Vacuum tube amps are great for electric guitars because you can dial up some nice warm crunch/distortion. Your guitar has piezo pick-ups, not magnetic ones like an electric guitar. Piezo and distortion is not a good combination.
Solid state amps are the way to go for acoustic sound. For the money, I think the Crate CA line of amps is great. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 10
Location: Chipping Sodbury, England | So Takamine guitars fitted with cool- tube pre-amps don't use piezo pick-ups then? I assumed they did because there's no visable pickup, even when you squint through the sound hole.Or am I missing something.I nearly bought a Takamine, but the Ovation,(despite it not being a U.S made one,sorry all you purists out there) felt really nice to play, much more like my beloved( U.S ) telecaster than any acoustic/electro-acoustic I'd ever come across.I'd love to get a U.S made Ovation, maybe the 1778T that everyone raves about,but over here in Blighty, they ain't cheap at around $1300! (And we now pay £1 a litre for gas = $1.85 !!
Back to amps :
I've also been recommended the Marshall AS50 R and the Ashdown Acoustic Radiator 1, the Marshall looks really good on paper, and there are some good deals around, because it's a British product and mainstream.........
Have a good weekend guys....... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| A tube in the preamp is not the same as tube power in the power amp. Many preamps for acoustics and microphones have a tube to add warmth. Only Takamine have put the tube onboard. It's a really cool system. And the pickup is a piezo.
The Marshalls are great amps, a lot of bang for the buck as well. Half the price of a similarly powered Roland.
The Ashdowns are terrific - but they are a lot more money.
There are ways around paying UK prices available to you at the click of an email - ask al for a price on the guitar you want and then email me and I'll tell you about the duty/tax/exchange costs. It's still way cheaper than Uk prices. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Schroeder!!!! Welcome back!
Bradley, I have an AS50R, I'm very happy with it. For small venues and such it's very nice. Good chorus on it, too. When I use effects I use outboard pedals, so I wasn't looking for anything high-techy - just good dependable acoustic sound. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 389
Location: RI. That small State out East | My small PA makes me smile.
If you ever need to sing along it kills two birds...
A small "Profile System One" by Kustom is what I have... I don't know if it's available.
Woz |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Woz:
If you ever need to sing along it kills two birds... Woz, I assume this amp is not PETA approved? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | maybe some voice lessons are in order... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 69
Location: Massachusetts | love my crate ca. Only 15 watts but plenty of punch and the tone is terrific. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 7
Location: Denver, PA | OK. I must ask. If you are just playing at home, why would you need a amp with a acoustic? My family complains enough with just my acoutsic. If I amped it they would really yell.
Bill |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Because some things just sound cooler when they're louder. :cool:
And sometimes I'm experimenting with reverb, delay, chorus, etc. Headphones just don't cut it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | What John (Waskel) said. My wife is just glad that my mid-life crisis only involved a yellow bug and guitar stuff!! :D |
|
| |
What amplifier?
