Acoustic " Amplifier comparison question

Lincoln Goertzen · Post by **Lincoln Goertzen** » 10 Feb 2004 4:53 pm

I am looking for an amplifier that I can play guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and dobro through. (Maybe a little keyboard, too.)

Here are the amps I am looking at:

Fender Acoustisonic SFX II

Peavey Ecoustic 112efx

Behringer Ultracoustic ACX1000

Suggestions, anyone?

I was hoping not to spend too terribly much money. ("Terribly much" right now would be over $1100 or $1200.)

Lincoln

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 10 Feb 2004 9:37 pm

Hi Lincoln, I highly recomend the Peavey Ecoustic 112,or the Fender Acoustasonic,with two 8" speakers.

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 11 Feb 2004 4:10 am

Go with the Peavey.

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 11 Feb 2004 4:43 am

Check out the Peavey Keyboard amps, They are Killer and should work well with all you described. They go all the way up to 150 watts with 2 10" speakers and a horn. Have a mic channel too.

http://www.peavey.com/products/shop_online/browse.cfm/action/final/wc/1A1D2/fam/1D/c/2/amplifiers.cfm [This message was edited by John Floyd on 11 February 2004 at 04:54 AM.]

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 11 Feb 2004 5:11 am

Not sure I would put a keyboard into an Eccoustic 112. You just might blow the speaker. Plus it does not have a lot of power.

Just my opinion
Bill

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 11 Feb 2004 6:02 am

Bill you would be right for the old Ecoustic
but the new, Ecoustic 112 EFX, is bi-amped with 100w low and 25w high. It still retains the smooth sound but raises the level quite a bit. Excellent all purpose amp.Your are
still right about a keyboard in any acoustic
amp is ok at moderate levels.[This message was edited by Chuck McGill on 11 February 2004 at 06:04 AM.]

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 11 Feb 2004 6:25 am

Stay away from the Behringer amp. They have had some quality problems with that particular amp. I tried out two of them (from AMS catalog). Both had problems. I have read reviews about this amp and many folks had the same complaints I had.

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 11 Feb 2004 7:41 am

I recommend either the Peavey KB5 or the KB4. I believe that either amp would do the job, however the KB5 is rated to produce 150 watts and it has two 10" speakers. The KB4 is rated to produce 75 watts and has a 15" speaker. It would be a judgemental call on your part, but I would tend to think that the two 10's would be better suited for the instruments that you have listed.

Here is the links to these products from the Peavey website;
http://www.peavey.com/products/shop_online/browse.cfm/action/final/wc/1A1D2/fam/1D/c/2/amplifiers.cfm

If I can be of assistance, please let me know.

Mike Brown
Consumer Information Services

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 11 Feb 2004 8:08 am

Peavey Ecoustic 112. Great acoustic amp. It has two channels and a feed back eliminator. I play all the instruments that you list above
except keyboard. I would NEVER put a keyboard through an acoustic amp. It has a soft cone speaker.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 11 February 2004 at 08:08 AM.]

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 11 Feb 2004 9:00 am

Don't know if anyone else is familiar with these or not but I have a "Suzuki SA 50". that is by far the best acoustic amp I've seen. It has separate channels for guitar, keyboard, mic hi/lo, RCA jacks and master. I think they are available in 50 or 100 watts. Mine is 50 but it's the hottest 50 I've seen. I play a Godin acoustisonic w/nylon strings through it and I've had 2 different guitar players turn their backs and identify the sound as flat top.[This message was edited by Sonny Jenkins on 11 February 2004 at 09:03 AM.]

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 11 Feb 2004 10:15 am

The AER is the best acoustic amp I have ever heard for any price. Unfortunately, they are really expensive! (and they are German so the prices are probably rising as you read this). But they are unbelievably good. They are even great at steel, if you hook up a JBL or BW to the extension speaker jack...

Pat Irvin · Post by **Pat Irvin** » 11 Feb 2004 12:12 pm

I know they don't have the "Best" reputation. But I own a Crate Acoustic CA125D and I think it's great. I play multiple instruments through it, and ocasionally use it for vocals even. I looked at the Fender and Behringer before I bought this, and I felt this was hands down the better of the 3 amps.
Below is a link to the site.

Best regards,

Pat

http://www.crateamps.com/html/product.cfm?pid=9

------------------
03' Zum d-10 '98 ZUM SD-10, Peavey Nashville 1000, Peavey Session 500, '54 Fender Custom T-8, Carter Starter

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 11 Feb 2004 12:20 pm

Pat, I've got one of those Crates too. I didn't know anything about reputation, though. But it sounds good with dobro, or acoustic guitar. I even used it for steel, till I could get myself a "proper" steel amp.
Jerry Douglas and Doc Watson endorse Crate, so we're in pretty good company, anyway!

Lincoln Goertzen · Post by **Lincoln Goertzen** » 11 Feb 2004 3:49 pm

Thank you all for your replies.

Right now, I am looking at the Peavey Ecoustic 112, and the AER Compact 60, because I am also looking for another steel amp. (The one I have now is a Peavey Classic Chorus 212, and it seems to want to distort even at living room levels.)

I am a little bit partial to Peavey, and not just because Mike Brown is watching this!! My dad has a Nashville 400 (Very nice), and we've had a small Peavey PA system for years.

Has anyone tried a steel through a Peavey Ecoustic 112?

Lincoln

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 11 Feb 2004 5:24 pm

How much do the KB5's run?

Lincoln Goertzen · Post by **Lincoln Goertzen** » 11 Feb 2004 7:11 pm

List price used to be $899 US, Frank.

Mike will correct me if it has changed since then.

Lincoln

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 11 Feb 2004 7:15 pm

Steel through a Peavey Ecoustic 112=Baaaaaad.
Again, it has a SOFT CONE speaker.

Rick Trolinger · Post by **Rick Trolinger** » 11 Feb 2004 7:54 pm

You might be able to pick up a Peavey Reno 400 at a very reasonable price. They are great acoustic amps with lots of power. I bought one new and have owned it for over 20 years. It has basically the same chassis as the Nashville 400, but has a horn and a 15" Scorpion speaker. Lots of power.

Rick

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 11 Feb 2004 9:49 pm

I need something to play Dobro through other than the PA. I seen a Reno here a while but didn't think about it then. I'm up to my ears in steel amps.

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 13 Feb 2004 12:50 pm

The AER is the best acoustic amp I have ever heard for any price. Unfortunately, they are really expensive! (and they are German so the prices are probably rising as you read this). But they are unbelievably good. ...

Dan, I 2nd!!!
The Compact 60 I have cost $780 new. I tried all the above, as well as UltraSound and the new Roland (AER look-alike). I will NEVER sell the AER. It is the best acoustic guitar sound I've found. Weighs about 14 lbs. Plug the XLR out into the board and you'll love it for large gigs! I use it for my Stringmaster as a steel amp too. Doubles as a PA for my solo gigs and is excellent for a pedal practice amp as well.

------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon" www.book-em-danno.com

[This message was edited by seldomfed on 13 February 2004 at 12:50 PM.]

Lincoln Goertzen · Post by **Lincoln Goertzen** » 13 Feb 2004 3:14 pm

Thank you for your replies, everyone, both here and through private email.

I have decided on the AER Domino, which is the big brother of the Compact 60, and a little bigger than the Acousticube II. The reason I choose this one is due to the comments on here as well as other reviews elsewhere on the web. It has four independent channels, 120 watts, and weighs only 30 pounds. I am going to find a dealer right away.

Now, I need to decide what to sell in order to get one!

Lincoln