That Rebel 20 looks fantastic....
AAS attack!!!
UPDATE:: ouch
for $550 that is a scream from where i stand.
That Rebel 20 looks fantastic....
AAS attack!!!
UPDATE:: ouch
for $550 that is a scream from where i stand.
Hereby & forthwith, any instrument with an odd number of strings shall be considered broken. With regard to mix levels, usually the best approach is treating the mandolin the same as a cowbell.
$500 is a lot of money for a 20-watt amplifier with no speaker. $1,599 is just ludicrous.
Eastman 605, Strad-o-lin, and Kentucky 300e mandolins.
Mandolinist, Stringtopia, the Long Island Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra
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I've been using a Fishman Loudbox acoustic amp for about a year with my Godin A8. This is mostly for dense acoustic music (contra dances etc) which i play with 4 other instruments. i think that new, it cost about $450. Things I particularly like about it include the fact that it weighs just 25 pounds, has enough power for any situation I've ever found myself in, also includes a mic input, doesn't add any "coloring" unless I want it to, has a mute switch for tuning, it has the right amount of worthy effects, and a output to connect it into a sound board. Most notably, it's one of the few amps I've ever used that doesn't seem to put all its electronic emphasis on reinforcing the usual guitar midrange.
Explore some of my published music here.
—Jim
Sierra F5 #30 (2005)
Altman 2-point (2007)
Portuguese fado cittern (1965)
How about $2,300 for a 22 watt Carr Rambler!!
When I look at the title of this thread I'm thinking electric mandolins with electric guitar type pick-ups. For that a tube amp can't be beat IMHO. I've owned many tube amps many of them high end. What you start to receive with a boutique amp is dead quiet operation, reliability and a 3D sound and musical sounding overtones. The amp becomes more of an instrument then simply a speaker. Also the reverb units are usually far superior on a high end amp.
I had an older Matchless Lightning in green tolex that I sold that is probably the single most regrettable equipment sale I have ever made. That was also a very sweet amp. About $1500 in 1994.
I understand a professional buying a high-end "esoteric" amp. I understand that many acoustic players like low-power amplifiers. I just think someone's making a lot of money off something limited by the laws of physics and not influenced too much by workman skills -- unlike, say, a carved mandolin. I don't know that something you play LOUD needs to be unreasonably quiet. Hey, if you can afford it, more power to you!
Eastman 605, Strad-o-lin, and Kentucky 300e mandolins.
Mandolinist, Stringtopia, the Long Island Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra
Visit my YouTube page
Heh - I'll be sure not to pass this on to the amp techs I know. Like any thing with serious devotees, we're talking about fine distinctions that begin to make a real difference to the obsessive user (read: musician.) I know as many electric guitar tone freaks who wouldn't hear much difference between a decent Kentucky and a truly great mandolin as I do acoustic players who can't hear the difference between a strat and an LP. To me, this is the same thing taken to the nth degree.
I have a friend who always jokingly tells me not to play his Two Rock Amethyst "unless you want to spend five thousand dollars." So far, I haven't played it...
If you hear a big enough difference, I say go for it.
Eastman 605, Strad-o-lin, and Kentucky 300e mandolins.
Mandolinist, Stringtopia, the Long Island Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra
Visit my YouTube page
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