What is the Hamer of acoustic guitar amps?

[G Man]

I just picked up my first acoustic with a pickup, Fishman Matrix Infinity, and was thinking an acoustic amp that can also handle vocals might be fun. A bit of research reveals several options to fit the bill. So, I thought I would put it to the collective as to what you have used and find the most useful, realizing I may get very few responses. I also see where some folks use a small PA and a stomp box/DI box of some sort as another option. I know nothing of these things, school me.

[carfish7]

Technically, I suppose it would be Trace Elliot astheynwere once under the same corporate umbrella. They seem to sound pretty good, but I can't recommend a specific model and there were a TON of them. If they were good enough for Adrian Legg.......

[coolfeel]

Genz Benz - nothing compares...

[cmatthes]

I heart my:

[veatch]

I heart my:

+1

I used it for both the DuoTone and a Zeta upright bass.

I played an AER in a New York store years ago - German made. Small and light and sounded *great*. I think the price tag was a bit hefty, though.

[serial]

I really like the SWR. My co-guitarist in my acoustic duo has a Fender Acoustasonic(?) which does fine. We usually run a PA, but after our last gig, he's pushing me to get an acoustic amp for ease of setup, etc in smaller rooms/events.

[Hamerhack]

What's the difference between the California Blonde I and II?

[BCR Greg]

Genz Benz. But I'm a dealer, so you can't trust me.

[G Man]

Genz Benz. But I'm a dealer, so you can't trust me.

As long as the first hits free, your okay by me.

[G Man]

Its looking like I'm gonna go for the Fishman Loudbox Artist. Anyone play one? Unfortunately, all I can do it rely on the interwebs for advice on this one, there are none in my area to try first hand.

[veatch]

What's the difference between the California Blonde I and II?

I'm no SWR expert but:

If i recall correctly, about 40W (the II had more power) - makes a big difference in headroom, but you probably already know that.

The bigger difference was the original Blonde had a Celestion Super Tweeter - though far from perfect, it was much better (IMFO) than the crappy piezo tweeter in the II. I had heard that SWR went back to the Super Tweeter - if that is true, just look twice at the amp and make sure it doesn't have the piezo.

FWIW - I actually started with a Strawberry Blonde (which had the piezo), and returned it for the Cali Blonde - the tweeter and the better bass response of the Cali was why.

Hope that helps.

[RobB]

Its looking like I'm gonna go for the Fishman Loudbox Artist. Anyone play one? Unfortunately, all I can do it rely on the interwebs for advice on this one, there are none in my area to try first hand.

Premier Guitar seems to like it. Guitar Player, too.

[tombo]

I love my Schertler David. Small, Swiss-made, very nice.