We get it, you have that old Boss amp in the corner that has an acoustic setting, that should sound good enough for your acoustic guitar, right? Nope. You need an acoustic amp.
While some electric amps can get somewhat close to the natural sound of an acoustic guitar, most will still produce a magnetic, electric tone that is comparable to a Fender Acoustasonic. Because of the very different ways that electric amps are made, they can't cover the full range of tones that come from an acoustic guitar. You'll notice a lack of depth from an electric guitar amp, like it can't quite translate the low end and the high end at the same time. For the purest sound possible, get yourself an acoustic amp.
Nowadays, acoustic guitar amps are really more like mini PA systems. Many have microphone inputs so you can play and sing from the same amp. Not to mention the internal components that are cleaning up the sound for you, such as pre-amps, EQ, reverb, chorus, and maybe some delay, just for fun. Most amps offer all of those features for not only your acoustic, but also your vocals. An acoustic amp also acts as a personal monitor for live performances. With a DI out on the back, you can run your vocals and acoustic through the amp, then have it all channel to the mixer. That way, you have total control over how your acoustic and vocals sound, without having to ask the sound guy to turn you up.
Top Five Acoustic Guitar Amps
1. Fishman Loudbox
There's a reason why Fishman has had the best selling acoustic amplifier for the past decade. Not only does it sound pure and keep your guitar from away from that nasty feedback, it's incredibly cost-effective. The Loudbox comes in three different sizes, which each offer an array of features. One of the coolest new features: every Loudbox comes with Bluetooth 4.0, so you can easily connect your phone and use the amp as a speaker.
The Loudbox Mini Charge is the smallest, at 60 watts. Designed for small venues and practice sessions, the Mini Charge packs a lot of features in a small box. Most notably, it has a rechargeable battery built in, making it extremely portable and great for travelling or busking.
The Loudbox Artist is a 120 watt amp that comes with two channels that can both be used for either instruments or microphones. Meaning, you could plug two acoustic guitars into it and have specialized effects and EQ for each!
The Loudbox Performer is the biggest with 180 watts, two channels, and every feature available. This acoustic amp is really more of a PA, as it could easily fill a large room or be suitable for outdoor environments. It also comes with a kickstand so you can lean it back 50 degrees.
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2. NUX Stageman AC-50
NUX recently broke into the acoustic amplifier market with the Stageman, a 50 watt amp with two channels, one of which can be used for a microphone. The Stageman has an incredible acoustic tone that doesn't electrify the natural sound of your guitar. The contrast of the vocals with guitar at the same time is crystal clear, not allowing any feedback or overlapping low end to make things muddy. They also offer a Bluetooth footswitch pedal that allows you to quickly transition between your saved settings without ever touching the amp. The coolest feature of the Stageman: comes with a built-in drum machine and FX looper!
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3. Schertler JAM
The lesser known underdog in the acoustic amp market, Schertler makes the purest amps in the world. These solid state mini-PAs pack an impressive amount of features and effects into small units, with everything from reverb to decay. The JAM comes equipped with three channels, one instrument only, one mic only, and one for either a mic or instrument. Even though this amp is the size of the Loudbox Artist or the Songwriter 60, it is much louder at 200 watts. The coolest feature of the JAM: phantom power and a “warm” button for the instrument channel.
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4. AER Compact 60
The choice amp for legends like Tommy Emmanuel and Gene Bertoncini, the AER Compact has 60 watts but many users say it can be louder than a 200 watt amp. With a small frame and weighing in at only 18 pounds, it is very portable and lightweight. There are plenty of EQ options and effects available, designed and arranged in a simple way so it’s not over-complicated. You don’t need to be constantly fiddling with the knobs to get the sound you want because there are preset settings! The decades of experience that AER has in acoustic amps has led to an unparalleled ability to handle less-than-ideal pickups. Piezos and low-output transducer pickups will be cleaned up and amplified smoothly without having to adjust anything.
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5. Recording King Songwriter 60
The Songwriter 60 is designed to be as simple as possible with all the necessary features. The vintage style look is matched with a single line of controls, reverb for each channel, and phantom power for condenser microphones. The Songwriter is a 60 watt amp with two 6.5" woofers plus 1" soft-dome tweeter, producing a balanced and natural tone. The back of the amp has a tuner out line, an effects loop, reverb footswitch line, and send & return lines. It also features an aux input for phone and audio players!
