Skip to content

Sol Philcox-Littlefield Rig Rundown Guitar Gear Tour

Search

Latest Stories

Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Tools for the Task: Acoustic Amps

Ten combos to help you cook up delicious acoustic tone.

Rich Osweiler
By Rich OsweilerJul 03, 2015
Rich Osweiler
Associate Editor Rich Osweiler started playing guitar at the tender age of 8, but over the years bass has become his main instrument. Prior to joining Premier Guitar, Rich worked at Acoustic Guitar for 10 years as associate publisher and director of marketing. He loves all types of music—from gypsy jazz to lo-fi and grindcore—provided the genre name isn’t preceded by the “contemporary” tag. Outside of music, Rich enjoys travel, skiing, woodworking, coaching baseball, and being a dad. He lives in Marin County with his 10-year-old daughter and their dog, Kiko.
See Full Bio

Acoustic amplification has gotten more sophisticated over the years. These days, players seeking pure amplified tone have a mouth-watering array of options. Ranging in size, price, and features, here are a few you might want to consider.

AER Compact 60/3

At less than 15 pounds, this 2-channel 60-watt amp is extremely portable, yet it can still fill a room with clean volume. Onboard effects include reverb, chorus, and delay.
$1,199 street
aer-amps.com

ACOUSTIC A1000

Boasting four inputs for instruments or vocals, this 2x8 neodymium combo features discrete 3-band EQ for each channel and two programmable digital-effect processors with LCD readouts.
$499 street
acousticamplification.com

Fishman Loudbox Performer

The 180-watt Loudbox Performer features independent 3-band EQ for each channel, feedback-fighting controls, onboard digital effects, a kickstand for a 50-degree tilt, and phantom power.
$769 street
fishman.com

Schertler Jam 100

This 80-watt amp packs three independent channels into its compact enclosure. It features two XLR jacks with phantom power, 3-band EQ for each channel, and onboard digital reverb.
$799 street
schertler.com

MARSHALL AS50D

This 50-watt combo houses a pair of 8" Celestion speakers and includes a phantom-powered mic channel, independent EQ per channel, digital chorus and reverb, and an anti-feedback notch filter.
$399 street
marshallamps.com

PHIL JONES PURE SOUND Cub II AG-150

This ultra-compact 100-watt amp is outfitted with two 5" PJB NeoPower speakers, two channels with independent 3-band EQ, and an aux input. It comes with a padded gig bag.
$699 street
philjonespuresound.com

ROLAND AC-60

This 2-channel acoustic amp with 30 watts per channel includes a mic/line input with phantom power, two 6 1/2" speakers, anti-feedback controls, and stereo/multiband chorus and delay/reverb effects.
$499 street
roland.com

GODIN ACOUSTIC SOLUTIONS ASG-150

This 150-watt amp resides in a natural-finish wood enclosure. It boasts a compression tweeter and 8" speaker, three inputs with independent EQ, balanced XLR inputs with phantom power, and a notch filter.
$1,079 street
godinacousticsolutions.com

FENDER Acoustasonic 90

This compact and affordable 90-watt 2-channel combo pushes an 8" driver and high-frequency horn. Features include a feedback-elimination circuit and reverb, delay, chorus and Vibratone effects.
$299 street
fender.com

PEAVEY Ecoustic E110

This 100-watt bi-amplified system houses a 10" driver. Its features include 9-band graphic EQ on channel one, a notch filter and phase inverter for feedback control, and channel-assignable reverb, chorus, and delay.
$499 street
peavey.com
featured-storiesaerwhats-newmarshallschertlergodinphil-jonesacoustic-ampstools-for-the-taskaugust-2015fishmanacousticspecial-featured-storiesrolandpeaveyfender

The Latest

Unleash the East: A Mediterranean Surf Primer
Lessons

Unleash the East: A Mediterranean Surf Primer

Montreal Post-Rock Band Big Brave’s Emotional Experimentation
Artist Features

Montreal Post-Rock Band Big Brave’s Emotional Experimentation

More for you

3 Essential Altered Tunings

altered tunings caitlin caggiano

There’s so much to explore when you decide to dip your toes into altered tunings.

Keep ReadingShow less

Most Popular

PG Perks Exclusive Bud SIX Giveaway
PG Perks

PG Perks Exclusive Bud SIX Giveaway

Win a KERNOM MOHO Fuzz and Octave Pedal
PG Giveaways

Win a KERNOM MOHO Fuzz and Octave Pedal

Peavey Debuts New Cirrus Bass Models
News

Peavey Debuts New Cirrus Bass Models

4 Pedals For Pro Acoustic Tones
Gear Roundups

4 Pedals For Pro Acoustic Tones

Supro Airwave Review
Amps

Supro Airwave Review

The Fine Art of Strumming

The Fine Art of Strumming

Tighten up your rhythm playing by focusing on how to get a great sound, balancing your wrist and elbow, and understanding how to subdivide rhythms.

Keep ReadingShow less

The Fundamentals of Fingerstyle Guitar

fingerstyle guitar caitlin caggiano

Learn the key elements to jumpstart your fingerpicking journey and improve your overall technique. Caitlin covers classical-style technique and uses it in a modern setting to enhance your fingerstyle technique for all styles/genres.
Keep ReadingShow less

Decorate Like Django

Decorate Like Django

Chops: Intermediate
Theory: Intermediate
Lesson Overview:
• Understand how to artfully navigate the changes of a 12-bar blues.
• Combine chromatic or “outside” notes with standard 7th-chord arpeggios.
• Learn how Django Reinhardt turned a perceived weakness into an advantage.


Click here to download a printable PDF of this lesson's notation.

The arpeggio can be a powerful ally on the journey to fretboard mastery. As a melodic device, it’s the most no-nonsense, straightforward way to convey the chords you’re playing over. Fast or slow, arpeggios spell out the chords to the listener, just as much as they do for the player.

Using the arpeggio as an improvisational tool lets you get outside of a modal sound and control the harmony in flexible ways. It’s common to enclose the arpeggio with passing tones inside and outside of the key. The master of this approach is, without doubt, the great Gypsy-jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Keep ReadingShow less

Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s Stinging Blues

Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s Stinging Blues
Chops: Intermediate
Theory: Beginner
Lesson Overview:
• Learn essential blues licks.
• Combine open position and higher positions.
• Focus on the subtleties of bends and accents. Click here to download a printable PDF of this lesson's notation.
Keep ReadingShow less