Which Amp for an Acoustic/Electric

[adorshki]

Interesting, and why I wouldn't buy a Gibson (or a Martin for that matter) without playing it first, but would buy a Guild. It's all about consistency. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never played a bad Guild, which I certainly can't say for the others. The thing about Gibsons is that when they're good, they're REALLY good!

I know we're veering slightly but your observation is what makes me think that perhaps Guild is confident that they don't need to produce a lot of guitars for store display, that people who want one will be confident they'll be happy with an "ordered" guitar. This said in regards to my recent gripes about "where are the guitars?"

 

[twocorgis]

I know we're veering slightly but your observation is what makes me think that perhaps Guild is confident that they don't need to produce a lot of guitars for store display, that people who want one will be confident they'll be happy with an "ordered" guitar. This said in regards to my recent gripes about "where are the guitars?"

The highs and lows of Gibsons are remarkable. Sitting right next to the one that I bought at GC was an L-4A like this one, and it was absolute rubbish for the same amount of money. However, I still don't think that Guild can make a go of it in the future without some soldiers on the ground. I was surprised to find out that GC isn't even an authorized retailer.

 

[evenkeel]

After trying out a bunch of amps, I liked the Genz Benz Shenandoah 60 better than the Roland and the Fender, and found one on Craigslist in basically unused condition for $300. It should arrive Friday. I'll keep everyone informed, and thanks for all the advice!

Very cool, good price also. Genz Benz makes a great acoustic amp. If my memory is right you also have a XLR input so you can run a mic into the amp if so desired.

 

[twocorgis]

Very cool, good price also. Genz Benz makes a great acoustic amp. If my memory is right you also have a XLR input so you can run a mic into the amp if so desired.

Yep. It's just like this one. Should serve the purpose well.

 

[adorshki]

However, I still don't think that Guild can make a go of it in the future without some soldiers on the ground. I was surprised to find out that GC isn't even an authorized retailer.

I agree. I'm just trying to figure out what their marketing philosophy is. Hopefully they'll clarify during LMG so Chazmo can report back. I assume your info about GC's status was acquired during your visit? It's also possible that the franchise is not granted chainwide. I'm gonna call my locaa GC to see what a real manager has to say. 8)

 

[twocorgis]

I agree. I'm just trying to figure out what their marketing philosophy is. Hopefully they'll clarify during LMG so Chazmo can report back. I assume your info about GC's status was acquired during your visit? It's also possible that the franchise is not granted chainwide. I'm gonna call my locaa GC to see what a real manager has to say. 8)

Well, that came from Pat, who is the store manager of the GC near my office. Whether it's a chain-wide thing I don't know, but if Fender wants to position Guild as their premium line of acoustics (which is what I'm guessing), they need to have some in the GC right next to all the American made Gibsons, Martins, and Taylors.

Interesting side note. I was just there this morning, and played four other Gibson acoustics. All four of them sucked, and my SWD Ovangkol just continues to amaze.

 

[adorshki]

Interesting side note. I was just there this morning, and played four other Gibson acoustics. All four of them sucked, and my SWD Ovangkol just continues to amaze.

When I settled on my D25, a floor demo, (at Guitar Center in '97!) the guy said: "Let me get you a brand new one from the back". I said: "NO thanks. I want THIS one". You know what I'm sayin'!
But I wonder if your guitar might have been treated just a little differently during production because of special wood? Maybe a certain set of guys built it? Just curious, even though it seems to get me in a lot of trouble... :lol:

 

[twocorgis]

When I settled on my D25, a floor demo, (at Guitar Center in '97!) the guy said: "Let me get you a brand new one from the back". I said: "NO thanks. I want THIS one". You know what I'm sayin'!

Indeed I do, though I don't think I've ever played a bad Guild, at least not "bad" in the sense that Gibsons and Martins seem to be when they're "bad".

But I wonder if your guitar might have been treated just a little differently during production because of special wood? Maybe a certain set of guys built it? Just curious, even though it seems to get me in a lot of trouble... :lol:

Really, I don't think the wood is all that special. In fact, it's less expensive than the Rosewood version of the same guitar. I also like the fact that the Ovangkol SWD (much like the Guild D50 compared to the D55) has plain dot inlays and no binding on the fingerboard, a more austere bridge, plainer rosette around the sound hole, and no "gold" hardware. All those qualities (and the massive sound) make it a much better guitar for my personal preferences.

I also played an Ovangkol Taylor in the store (a 414CE), and it didn't do a thing for me. :roll:

 

[cjd-player]

Finally read through this whole thread.

Congrats on the new guitar and the amp purchase, Sandy. Shenendoahs are great amps. I have the 100 that I bought several years ago to replace a Fender Acoustasonic that I could just never bond with. In my opinion, the semi-parabolic EQ on the mid frequenciesis is one of the defining features of these amps, and is fabulous to precisely dial out some mid tones. I used mine as a PA system with borrowed extension speakers at my daughter's wedding a few years ago.

In my experience, Ovangal guitars have a strong midrange, so the sweepable mids on the Shenendoah should work very well to keep the mids from overpowering the amplified tone.

Congrats again. It's so much fun to buy a guitar that you really love and don't want to put down.

Just did that myself not too long ago.

 

[twocorgis]

Congrats on the new guitar and the amp purchase, Sandy. Shenendoahs are great amps. I have the 100 that I bought several years ago to replace a Fender Acoustasonic that I could just never bond with. In my opinion, the semi-parabolic EQ on the mid frequenciesis is one of the defining features of these amps, and is fabulous to precisely dial out some mid tones. I used mine as a PA system with borrowed extension speakers at my daughter's wedding a few years ago.

I'm wondering if I should have just bought a small PA like the Fender Passport 150, but I like that the Shenandoah has the effects built-in, and it's small enough to fit in the little nook I have in my practice area for an amp. I can always get the small PA later anyway. Pat the store manager of the GC here gave me a too-good-to-be-true price on the Fender Acoustasonic SFX that I posted pics of, but the damned thing was HUGE, so I passed.

In my experience, Ovangal guitars have a strong midrange, so the sweepable mids on the Shenendoah should work very well to keep the mids from overpowering the amplified tone

That would explain the Taylor 414CE that I played, but definitely not the Gibson. There's just a gigantic response that comes from this guitar, and it's very evenly distributed across the entire tonal spectrum. I can only compare it to a car with a completely flat torque curve. The Taylor sounded like a transistor radio by comparison.

Congrats again. It's so much fun to buy a guitar that you really love and don't want to put down.

Just did that myself not too long ago.

It's an awesome feeling, no doubt. I don't want to go anywhere without this one, to the point that I'll be bringing it with me to LMG next month. I'll bring some Guilds, too.!

 

[cjd-player]

Sandy,
You have two (Left and Right) 1/4-inch speaker out jacks on that amp. So you can use it as a small PA with some outboard enclosed speakers just like I did with my 100.

 

[twocorgis]

Sandy,
You have two (Left and Right) 1/4-inch speaker out jacks on that amp. So you can use it as a small PA with some outboard enclosed speakers just like I did with my 100.

The only problem is that there's probably not enough grunt with the 60W model that I'm getting to output much volume. We'll see. I have one real good PA speaker here. I'll see what kind of volume it generates. If not this looks intriguing...

 

[cjd-player]

There's only a fraction move volume from my 100 watt, and it was more than loud enough.
Covered an entire outdoor wedding of about 200 people with two speaker cabinets up front.

Where are you playing? Yankee Stadium? :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[adorshki]

There's only a fraction move volume from my 100 watt, and it was more than loud enough.
Covered an entire outdoor wedding of about 200 people with two speaker cabinets up front.

Where are you playing? Yankee Stadium? :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

"Hot Tuna: the Metal Years"

 

[twocorgis]

"Hot Tuna: the Metal Years"

:lol: I went to many a Tuna show on the East Coast back in the "Metal Years". A particular fave was a New Year's show at the old Academy of Music in the East Village in the late '70s. They started at midnight, and ended around six in the morning. I had more energy then.

 

[adorshki]

"Hot Tuna: the Metal Years"

:lol: I went to many a Tuna show on the East Coast back in the "Metal Years". A particular fave was a New Year's show at the old Academy of Music in the East Village in the late '70s. They started at midnight, and ended around six in the morning. I had more energy then.

I saw 'em in '75 at the DelRey theater in Santa Cruz CA...If I just think about it my ears start ringing again!

 

[West R Lee]

I'd like to throw a Roland AC (Acoustic Chorus) 90 into the mix..........I've got an AC 60, love it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Roland-AC-90-Ac ... 2a05633599

West

 

[tele4tone]

However, I still don't think that Guild can make a go of it in the future without some soldiers on the ground. I was surprised to find out that GC isn't even an authorized retailer.

I agree. I'm just trying to figure out what their marketing philosophy is. Hopefully they'll clarify during LMG so Chazmo can report back. I assume your info about GC's status was acquired during your visit? It's also possible that the franchise is not granted chainwide. I'm gonna call my locaa GC to see what a real manager has to say. 8)

Sam Ash has the Guild GAD Line...... IT is a shame, because SA is the worst guitar chain I have ever seen. Having said that I used to be an employee of Mars music. That wasn't much better.

Jeff

 

[cjd-player]

I'd like to throw a Roland AC (Acoustic Chorus) 90 into the mix..........I've got an AC 60, love it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Roland-AC-90-Ac ... 2a05633599

West

I've heard lots of good things about those, West.
Never tried one, though.

 

[AlohaJoe]

Joe V at archtop.com currently has a nice used AC60 for sale. I don't know what he's asking for it, but it's been there a while and should be reasonable.