Roland AC 60 Acoustic Amp, worth it?

scotty

Hi,

I am considering buying a Roland AC 60 Acoustic amp and I would appreciate any opinions, good or bad on the unit.

I want to use it for solo performance:
- Gigging with my acoustic guitar and voice (mostly blues/country)

In a band situation:
- Small gigs with me on acoustic and voice and someone else on electric + separate amp

I am attracted to the unit because of the features (specifically feedback buster, phantom power, mute & PA outs)

Compact stereo acoustic amplifier with pure, natural tone and excellent projection
- 2-Channel design: Guitar input and Mic/Line input with Phantom Power
Stereo 30-watt/dual 6.5-inch speaker configuration loud enough for club gigs and small PA applications
- Onboard DSP delivers lush stereo/multi-band chorus, newly developed “wide” chorus and delay/reverb with footswitch control
- Built-in Auto Anti-Feedback controls allow for maximum volume without feedback
- Convenient Mute switch for silent tuning on stage
- Stereo Line Out for PA and recording applications; Subwoofer output
- Built-in tilt stand offers better acoustic projection; can also be mounted on commercially available speaker stands

The general consensus (checking previous posts) seems to be that a PA system is a better buy but I want to try a single amp for convenience and simplicity.

Since I am buying second hand (+ - R3000), I can always sell the unit when things get going and upgrade to a PA if required. I am not able to spend more so betters units such as the AER are a bit out of reach.

Does anyone have any good/bad advice/experiences with this amp? I have seen a post on the AC-33 which suggests a good product.

The only flaw I could find is that you can't set the effects separately for each channel.

Many Thanks.

AlanRatcliffe

The ACs are pretty good - especially as a "mini PA". I know lots of folk who use them exactly for that reason (including guys like Steve Newman). Loud enough for small solo voice/guitar gigs, or guitar in a small band context and the line out covers anything bigger. For pure acoustic amps, you can get more natural sounding amps, but othey tend to be dedicated acoustic amps and cost a fair amount more money (like the AER). For my application, I find them a little lacking on the low end (and the importer doesn't bring in the matching subs), but then again that's because I drum on the guitar. ?

The Mute is moot - mostly you're going to be using a tuner pedal, most of which mute the output anyway. The shared reverb really isn't a problem.

Only other amp I can think of worth looking at in the same range is the Fishman Loudbox Mini (Which has independent reveb controls, come to think of it).

Chocklit_Thunda

I've got an ac90 and I love it. Major clarity and it has quite a bit of power too. Option for piezo or magnetic pickups (for impedance matching) and a mic input.
Personally I don't like the piezo sound as much as a mic'd up guitar would sound (it's a bit thin sounding but that's the piezo not the amp) so my suggestion would be to split the mic channel for vocals and guitar.

Keira-WitherKay

Chocklit_Thunda wrote: I've got an ac90 and I love it. Major clarity and it has quite a bit of power too. Option for piezo or magnetic pickups (for impedance matching) and a mic input.

yep i was gonna say try get an ac90

i have tried the ac60 and found them fabulous amps tonally but quite soft .... so great for classical (softish gigs) but like alan i too drum on my nylons so need much more oomph than the ac60 can offer for my over the top percussive acoustic style

i have and highly recommend a ZT acoustic lunchbox amp ...for acoustic 9and i use it for jazz) and offers the same features as an ac60 but at 130W and smaller in size to ac60 ........... so really loud ...with amazing clear 'transparent" acoustic tone.....
but afraid they not available in SA at the moment...the ZT allows for reverb to be changed on each channel

scotty

Hi Everyone,

Thank you very much for your comments. I have decided not to take the AC-60 (after a lot of pondering and a few logistical reasons).

I will keep looking and try out different models (and PA's ? until I have convinced myself of the correct solution for the longer run.

?