Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF

Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Topic started by: Black Beauty on June 18, 2012, 08:51:42 PM

Title: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Black Beauty on June 18, 2012, 08:51:42 PM
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.
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Redwood Tree on June 18, 2012, 09:25:42 PM
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

Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Herb Hunter on June 19, 2012, 09:40:21 AM
Here are a few you might consider are:


- The Carvin AG100D http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/AG100D (http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/AG100D)
- The Ultrasound DS4 http://www.ultrasoundamps.com/image-viewer-ds4.htm (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 (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 (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 (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 (http://www.schertler.com/homepage_schertler/jam400-en.html)



edited : please see rule #2
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: maritimer on June 19, 2012, 10:56:12 AM
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. 
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Captain Jim on June 19, 2012, 11:38:38 AM
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
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: mgap on June 19, 2012, 07:46:39 PM
Just wondering if anybody has had any experience with the Fender Acoustasonic ?
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Herb Hunter on June 19, 2012, 07:57:30 PM
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.
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: dougboy1970 on June 19, 2012, 09:31:40 PM
My Fishman Soloamp (though also a PA) is amazing and makes my Taylor sound great! :)
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: jml on June 19, 2012, 10:57:31 PM
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.
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: gerald germany on June 20, 2012, 03:08:02 AM
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.
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: stringbound on June 20, 2012, 05:11:07 AM
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 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTQEPGYC_BM)
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Scriptor on June 20, 2012, 08:44:48 AM
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.
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: jjracer on June 20, 2012, 03:51:02 PM
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. 
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Drifter on June 20, 2012, 05:13:50 PM
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
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Fellrunner on June 20, 2012, 06:22:56 PM
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.
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: roadbiker on June 21, 2012, 11:44:03 PM
I have two and like them both: Fishman Loudbox Mini and VOX AGA 70. Completely different sounds, but they both sound awesome. I think the Fishman Loudbox Artist is a nice amp too.

Jim
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Montaramike on June 22, 2012, 09:11:21 PM
My 714 CE-n (nylon) sounds pretty good through the Roland AC-33, which has a nice, full sound and can run on batteries!
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Tammany Tiger on June 23, 2012, 11:34:42 AM
I love my Marshall AS50D for the price that I bought it used, but so much of this choice depends on what features you want and how you will use the amp.

If I were buying new and playing out, I would hold out for an SR Jam 100. They are the most natural sounding acoustic amps I have ever heard, have thee channels, loads of inputs and come with an onboard mixer so you can go to a House PA. They also have come way down in price this year.

The SR also sounds pretty good with arch tops and semi-hollow/hollow body electrics.
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Justiceandmercy on June 25, 2012, 05:26:30 AM
I've never played a taylor acoustic through an amp by itself but I have played a koa t5 through an aer compact 60 and I was blown away by how good it sounded... they are pretty pricey amps tho... I just ordered a roland ac60 for myself as I couldn't justify the cost of the AER and am hoping that it lives up to its reviews and impressions that I got from others that own and use it...
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Giraku on July 02, 2012, 03:05:50 PM
I'm surprised that no one has suggested Taylor's own ES amplifier yet (Builder's Reserve Series).
I had a chance to play with a BRIII amp at my FLGS (favorite local guitar shop).
It sounded great. I compared against Fishman Solo and Fishman Loudbox Artist at the same time using the same guitars (various Taylor models).
ES amplifier sounded best with any Taylor guitars.
However, it did not sound well with other pickup systems (e.g. Martin F1 Aura).
Only problem is its price...
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: asahi on July 02, 2012, 06:35:44 PM
My 714 CE-n (nylon) sounds pretty good through the Roland AC-33, which has a nice, full sound and can run on batteries!

i, too have the roland ac33.  nice little amp great for the room, gararge party, tailgates, and some small crowd gigs.  the price is not that cheap but you'll see why as its size will fool you. 

best to go plug in at your local music store for a test drive.  the roland 60 also is another great product, albeit, much bigger.

trust in roland.
Title: Re: What's a good amp to go with a Taylor?
Post by: Gutch on July 03, 2012, 12:53:56 PM
For small gigs I use a Fishman Loudbox Mini.  It works very nicely and the tone belies its size.

For larger gigs, I use a Bose L1 (Original version) with 2 x B1 bass cabinets and the T1 Tonematch module.  Just a tremendously transparent system that sounds fantastic and covers a large area easily.  It really shows off its capabilities in outdoor venues like the Farmers Markets and street festivals I've played.  Easy to hear but not overpowering, you don't have to worry about blowing the audience away in order to get the coverage to the back of the room/performance area.