Roland

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won our Group Test
head-to-head
Think it’s OK to plug your electro-acoustic into
an electric guitar amplifier? These four great
acoustic guitar amps beg to differ
WORDS ED MITCHELL
T
echnically, you can run your electro-
acoustic through a regular electric
guitar amplifier. However, all you’ll
gain from this is volume; you certainly
won’t experience the full splendour of
your guitar’s ‘voice’. You see, the speakers
bolted into acoustic amplifiers are designed
to produce a wider frequency range than
their electric guitar centric amigos. Electric
guitar speakers are voiced to remove those
frequencies that could make overdrive and
distortion tones sound harsh or tinny.
In other words, using anything less than an
acoustic amplifier for your electro-acoustic
guitar is a tonal compromise. And, frankly,
that’s just not good enough. Most acoustic
amps also feature microphone inputs, which
make them self-contained, portable public
address systems that are therefore perfect
mates for solo performers.
The four amps assembled for this test
are the Vox AGA70 (£317), Roland’s AC-33
(£369), the diminutive ZT Lunchbox Acoustic
(£389) and the Fishman Loudbox Mini
(£449). All four are easy to lug about, have
two channels, handle both guitar and vocals
and are made by brands renowned for tonal
excellence. Of course, there can only be one
victor in a TG Group Test so grab an acoustic,
sack your band and walk this way.
■
“ACOUSTIC AMPLIFIERS
PRODUCE A WIDER
FREQUENCY RANGE”
125
125
Group Test
Acoustic
gigging amps
Fishman
Loudbox Mini
TGR211.gear_test 125 1/4/11 9:24:31 AM