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Keeping up with the acoustic-amp marketTake a look at some of the best acoustic amps of yore, before all of the new models hit the street.
Keeping up with the acoustic-amp market can be a challenge, as manufacturers release new units and update existing models at an ever-increasing rate. We tried to keep you in-the-know about these products as they were released, and, as our 2018 NAMM reports are coming soon, we thought we’d take a look at some excellent amps of yore, before all of the new models hit the street.
This guide includes some previously reviewed amps that got high marks from me and/or the GP staff, as well as some 2017 models we didn’t have a chance to look at before, and every one of them carries solid features that acoustic players should check out. There’s even a peek at some 2018 amps! Please note that this guide covers compact guitar amps with a vocal channel. We’ll investigate larger, more full-featured amps-as-P.A.-systems in the May 2018 issue.
ACOUSTIC AMPLIFICATION
A40
$299 street
This 40-watter offers programmable digital effects, and it gets bonus points for automatic feedback elimination, a stage-monitor-style cabinet that can be tilted to disperse sound to both performer and audience, and Bluetooth connectivity.
acousticamplification.com[1]
AER
Compact 60/3 TE
$1,299 street
Tommy Emmanuel put his signature stamp on the already responsive 60/3 by smoothing out and warming up the tone circuit, putting high fidelity effects pre-line out, and adding personalized appointments. This astonishingly powerful, über-compact amp feels like it practically plays along with you. Read the full review in the April 2017 issue.
aer-amps.com[2]
BOSS
Acoustic Singer Pro
$699 street
The key word here is “singer.” This intriguing all-in-one proposition—which we reviewed in the August 2017 issue—is aimed at the performing singer/songwriter. We liked how strummed chords