Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm looking for a recommendation for a good performance amp for an
acoustic guitar with a K&K Pure Western pickup. There's no pre-amp
involved at the moment, but I'm thinking that might also be a
consideration. Thoughts and comments welcomed.
Craig S.

I just bought a Fender Acoustasonic Junior DSP amp and I love it. Has 2x40 watts and two 8" speakers and the sound is pure, crisp and clean, but you also get some effects you can use for distortion if you feel the need.
I also looked at the Marshall Acoustice AS50R, which is less money, but doesn't have as many features. The Fender also comes in a 2x30 watt version which is pretty nice. Go to your local music store and test drive them both.

I really like the California Blonde by SWR when I owned it - despite the fact that it was solid state
and Im a tube-head.
cheers
Charliewood

I just went through the exact same thing looking to buy an acoustic amp. I played a ton of amps side by side, and I finally went with an Ultrasound amp. To me it was the best sounding amp (in any of the price brackets). There were some amps that cost quite a bit more that didn't sound nearly as good. Check it out if you're interested in a good, flat response acoustic amp. This amp sounds just like my guitar unplugged, only louder.

Ultrasound amps

Cheers!

John

Late 60's early 70's Fender Princeton Reverb.

too cool

Thanks everyone. I have checked out on line the amps you recommended.
They all look like they would do the trick. Now it's off to try them out.
Craig S.

I've got an early 70's Princeton and not too keen on it as an acoustic guitar amp. Don't get me wrong its great little amp with an electric. Technology has really moved on with so many good choices for acoustics. Charliewood I am a tube head as well -- but some of the solid states I've played really sound warm too.

Craig --- have fun trying 'em out.

I've got an ultrasound with the extension cabinet.
-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Depending on your price range and how small you want it to be, you might want to check out the Genz-Benz Shenandoah Jr. I'm very happy with mine.

_________________
Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

I probably should have not made a recommendation on this. But I have used my Fender with a few guitars with pickup and liked the sound. But, I don't recall what pickup. I also have an older Tubeworks that I tried out with a wired acoustic and I thought it did real well but again, this is a rookie and generic reaction. I also used both with my "Lucille"( now with my brother in Cleveland) and I was amazed at the sound from those combinations. Sorry for the ramble. MT

I've got one of the Fender Acoustasonic jr. amps. I like it a lot. It has 2- 8" speakers and a small tweety,with reverb and chorus. As some of the others have said,I think it would be best to go to the music store and compare what they got. There are a lot of acoustic amps out there these days.

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

What about a powered monitor and a nice preamp?

[QUOTE=csullivan] I'm looking for a recommendation for a good performance amp for an
acoustic guitar with a K&K Pure Western pickup. There's no pre-amp
involved at the moment, but I'm thinking that might also be a
consideration. Thoughts and comments welcomed.
Craig S.[/QUOTE]


Craig...I have K&K pickups in all my instruments (without any on board preamps) and run them through an Ultrasound amp. I play amplified only at church and use the amp as a floor monitor, sending the signal to the board via the XLR output. It works wonderfully! The K&K's are hot enough that no preamp is needed...just plug into the amp and away you go.
That's the setup I'd seriously recommend you investigate.
Also, the K&K's have no detectible effect on purely acoustic playing of the instruments.