I'm hoping to not have to buy 2 amps. Is there an amp that sounds good with both acoustic (miked) and electric (Stratocaster/ES335)?
I sold my Twin Reverb a couple years ago (too heavy-80 lbs) and have been ampless since. I was thinking of an Ultrasound for acoustic, and maybe a Deluxe Reverb for electric. But if I could co with a single amp for both, that would be great!
I'll take a stab at this. The amp is an intrigal part of the Electric guitar sound. Most people like a tube amp for the sound. A solid state amp will deliver a cleaner sound, but you can't get a good overdrive sound from it. Acoustic amps usually have full range speakers (woofer and tweeter) and a solid state amp for a clean crisp sound. A tube amp or just electric amp will have either 12" OR 10" speakers that are not full range. The high end is not there and you get a good electric sound. If you play through an acoustic amp you will not like your electric sound (it will come out harsh). If you have some kind of preamp pedal like a pod, this could help. I have an all tube Peavey Delta Blues amp with 2 10" speakers for the electric guitar, and I do not need any extra effects. I play my acoustic guitars through the sound system, with monitor speakers. I also have a keyboard amp that will pass with the acoustic guitar.
You can search the archives for my history, but save a lot of money, time, and frustration. Stick with two amps. I really did try to find the "one amp for all" and purchased several amps that were marketed as crossover amps, all to no avail. Lots of time, more money than I would care to admit, and was still empty handed at the end of the day.
What did I end up with? For acoustic use I ended up with an Ultrasound 100w. For electric use I'm using a Reverend Kingsnake 20w/60w. After trying to compromise using one amp for both, I am more than happy with two. They are both light, sound awesome, and really make a HUGE difference by reproducing sounds that no crossover amp ever could.
About the only amp on the market I've heard of that can handle both acoustic and electric guitars is a Rivera. I can't remember the model name, but I've checked and they run $1500+.
Acoustic amps and electric amps are very different animals, with different speaker requirements. Go with the two amp setup to get the best sound from both.
I'll throw my 2 cents in, :blush:
I use either a Fender Acoustasonic SFX, the Acoustasonic Junior for my acoustics
and I use a early 70's Fender Silver Face Deluxe Reverb for my Strat and Les Paul Signature (ES 335 body type)
the Les Paul Signature has been modified with the original pickups being replaced with Seymour Duncan Humbuckers.
I did'nt perform the mod, the previous owner did that, while not original it does sound Like a good 335 and was a lot cheaper
because of not being original.
Electric guitar amps/cabinets are giant band-pass filters - nearly all of them.
Acoustic guitar amps/cabinets are flat-response.
The easiest way to just lug one amp is to buy an acoustic amp or keyboard amp, and then for the electric, buy an amp simulator and run it through the acoustic/keyboard amp.
Or, alternatively, some of the newer modelling electric guitar amp/cabinet combos MIGHt, I repeat MIGHT have a flat response cabinet that you could use with the acoustic if you bypass the amp simulation section.
I've not studied that possibility.
-Scott