What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?

[Black Beauty]

Just wondering if I could get some recommendations? Or do you guys mostly just plug straight into PAs? Specific models would be great. Not concerned about price although it'd be good to get recommendations on a range, for going cheap and going expensive. I've had someone recommend Roland to me - are they any good? I also saw this one for sale too:

http://www.nzguitars.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=23202

Cheers.

[Redwood Tree]

I've had a few amp's
 I liked the Trace Elliot TA100, Also  The Genz Benz Shenandoah

 My next amp will most likely be a ARE compact 60  . Some time they come up used at around 700.

 These new Taylor amp also have my atttion. maybe eventuly they will mass produce a simple model.

 Fender made a junior 30 that was suppost to be real good

[Herb Hunter]

Here are a few you might consider are:


- The Carvin AG100D http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/AG100D
- The Ultrasound DS4 http://www.ultrasoundamps.com/image-viewer-ds4.htm
- The Shenandoah Compak 300SHEN-CPK-10T http://www.genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=2396&sid=629&cid=94
- The SWR California Blonde II with a circuit designed for the Expression System http://www.swramps.com/products/search.php?partno=4460000010
- The Rivera Sedona 55 Combo with the Expression System option http://www.swramps.com/products/search.php?partno=4460000010

An interesting and expensive amp is the Swiss Schertler Jam 400:

http://www.schertler.com/homepage_schertler/jam400-en.html



edited : please see rule #2

[maritimer]

I had a Marshall AS-50R and it was great for @home practice / noodling and it had built in reverb and chorus.

I ended up selling it and picked up an Electro Voice powered PA speaker ELX112P.  I use a small Mackie mixer with onboard effects and use the PA speaker for everything.  I have an electric drum kit at home and some mics.  It is perfect when a few friends come over and we can all go into the mixer and then to the PA speaker.  This is much more flexible than a standalone acoustic amp. 

[Captain Jim]

It depends on what your use will be.  I have had amps from the current small Roland to a Marshall stack.  You aren't going to do an outdoor gig for a big crowd with a small Roland, no need to carry around heavy stuff if you're just playing for a few folks.  I bought the Roland Cube Street because it is small, can operate on its own battery, has separate inputs for mic and guitar, nice reverb and chorus, and is easy to carry with us while we're on the boat this summer.  It sure wouldn't do the job for a big crowd or in a band situation where you'd have to keep up with other equipment.

For a small PA with good sound, I have been very pleased with the Bose.  I don't have the Bose mixer/effects, but an EQ pedal and the TC Helicon Gxt really do a nice job with that PA; guitar and mic.

If I were buying one amp to be an "all around" for use with a Taylor, I would look real close at the Marshall AS80R or whatever the newest equivalent is.

Take your guitar to Guitar Center or your local favorite music store, and tell them you want to try out some acoustic amps.  Make sure you have a balanced cable.

Best wishes,
Jim

[mgap]

Just wondering if anybody has had any experience with the Fender Acoustasonic ?

[Herb Hunter]

Just wondering if anybody has had any experience with the Fender Acoustasonic ?

I've seen posts from folks that are happy with their Acoustasonics but their piezoelectric tweeter, much cheaper than the dynamic tweeter and crossover network that competitors like Ultrasound use, are a deal breaker for me.

[dougboy1970]

My Fishman Soloamp (though also a PA) is amazing and makes my Taylor sound great!

[jml]

I bought a Crate CA 6110D used a year ago (I've been playing acoustics for over 40 years, but I'd never owned an amp, so I thought it was time).  This unit puts out 60 Watts from a fairly compact package that weighs less than 40 pounds.  I have a 2000 Taylor with a Fishman barn door, and a 2007 Taylor with the Expression system; this amp sounds good with both of them.  It's also dual channel, so you can plug a mic into it, as well.  10" woofer with a piezo tweeter.  For the noodling around I do, it serves my purposes.

But, as Captain Jim said, it depends on what your use will be, how big a space you need to fill, how many effects you want built into the amp itself, etc.

[gerald germany]

Checkout the Fishmany Loudbox Artist. It's small and light (about 25 lbs). There's a reason they call it 'Loudbox". Excallent built-in effects, very natural acoustic sound. As with the Fender Acoustasonic, the best results seem to be with a balanced cable.

[stringbound]

As doughboy1970, I use also a Fishman SA 220.
Easy to carry, easy to set up and an excellent reverb.

Taylor GC5e into Fishman SA 220

[Scriptor]

I went through a few amps before I got something I really like:  Fishman Loudbox Artist.  Unless you need a complete powerhouse, it has plenty of volume.  It is very easy to dial in a good sound.  It works really well with the Taylor ES system.  No amp is perfect, but this amp has just the right features for me.

It works well as a personal monitor running out to the PA or can hold up pretty well in a band setting if it is all you have.  It certainly can handle a small room for solo performances.

I recommend you try either the Mini or the Artist and see what you think.

[jjracer]

Just wondering if anybody has had any experience with the Fender Acoustasonic ?

I have a Fender Acoustasonic 30 and it works well with my Taylor and my other acoustic/electric guitars. 

[Drifter]

I would like to recommend an Acoustic AG120S. This thing is really impressive, with 4 inputs for mics and/or line 1/4"era. Each input has a volume so you can get good mix balance. The other day I had two Taylors and 2 mics and it was plenty loud without a PA. Works well for a small Cafe scene. Check it out
http://i.imgur.com/ElSpN.jpg

[Fellrunner]

No one's mentioned my favourite yet - the AER Alpha plus.  Not cheap but small, light, clear pure sound, it blows my old Marshall AS50 away.  It will accept a balanced input with 3 band eq and send this on via a balanced output to a PA, you can even add effects via it's effects loop without breaking the balanced signal.  I think it's superb.