Best Amp For Electric Mando

[Ben Milne]

That Rebel 20 looks fantastic....

AAS attack!!!



UPDATE:: ouch

for $550 that is a scream from where i stand.

[Charlieshafer]

That Rebel 20 looks fantastic....

AAS attack!!!



UPDATE:: ouch

for $550 that is a scream from where i stand.

WOW! Check out that mark-up for Australia. I'm sure a lot is shipping, but Woah, Nelly!!

[Elliot Luber]

$500 is a lot of money for a 20-watt amplifier with no speaker. $1,599 is just ludicrous.

[Jim Nollman]

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.

[Perry]

$500 is a lot of money for a 20-watt amplifier with no speaker. $1,599 is just ludicrous.

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.

[Elliot Luber]

How about $2,300 for a 22 watt Carr Rambler!!

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!

[Christian McKee]

...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....

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...

[Elliot Luber]

If you hear a big enough difference, I say go for it.