aphex alpha

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aphex alpha

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Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

aphex alpha

I tried out one of these high end acoustic amps a few weekends ago. A little 15 lb thing, it was loud and sounded incredible. I am thinking about selling my PA and getting one. Combined with the new pickup I'm going to buy... that would be awesome, just taking my guitar, the amp, and a cord to the gig! No more monstrous PA, speaker stand, microphone stand, microphone, etc.!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2004 2:34:05

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: aphex alpha (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

I assume you mean the AER alpha like that nice man on FT told you?

It gets rave reviews, although I would always be cautious about a dedicated acoustic guitar amp. This is because they are meant for acoustics (ie steel strung) guitars and the speakers are tweaked to handle those frequencies accordingly. Usually, people who play nylon strung guitars wheher classical, flamenco or whatever) are better off with something that gives a full range response - like PA speakers - as you get a much smoother sound.

However, your ears are the best judge, so if it sounds great it is great. Although I would make sure you try it at higher volumes, Mike - it may sound fab at low volume in the shop, but tinny and too bright at higher volumes.

Another thing that would put me off would be the lack of flexibility. With PA speakers, you have many options for speaker placement, with a single combo, you can put it in one place only. For small gigs this is fine, but I'd be concerned playing a big wedding in an odd shaped room. (If you use backing, you also have the option to run things in stereo with PA speakers which can give a nice full, more realistic sound).

Power too would worry me - 40 watts?? Hmmm...I had my 150W Passport running at halfway up the dial on the weekend during the drinks reception which was outdoors.
There's just no way a 40W combo would do it for me. And for my largest gigs I use a 400W rig!

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2004 10:29:15

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: aphex alpha (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

Yeah, Jon, these things sure are considerations. It seems that at least 90% of my work is small, quiet venues. For these things, a small amp would work just fine. Very occasionally I do use both speakers. My current amp has 250 watts but I'm not sure these are all "guitar watts." doesn't it seem that guitar amps are much louder than PA amps of the same power? And when do you use 400 watts? That's a lot of power. Maybe outside for 500 people I could see.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 8 2004 16:29:07

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: aphex alpha (in reply to Miguel de Maria)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria
Yeah, Jon, these things sure are considerations. It seems that at least 90% of my work is small, quiet venues.

Yeah, it would be fine for that, no question, but I thought you wanted to get seriously into doing weddings? I do a lot of these, and few are what I would describe as quiet and small. Playing during the ceremony when everyone is quiet is one thing (I actually just use a loud classical guitar for this - no amplification at all), but if you play background music during the wedding breakfast (thats what we call the big meal over here), you might have a huge hotel room of 100 or so guests, talking and laughing loudly, especially when the wine starts to flow. I can't see how a 40watt combo would cut it, especialy if you are not mounting it on a stand as you say. I always have my speakers up on poles for big occasions, it gives a good spread.

quote:

My current amp has 250 watts but I'm not sure these are all "guitar watts." doesn't it seem that guitar amps are much louder than PA amps of the same power? And when do you use 400 watts? That's a lot of power. Maybe outside for 500 people I could see.

Well I was never very good at physics, but we're back on the law of dimishing returns, I think. 400watts is not twice as loud as 200watts, or ten times as loud as your 40w AER, but it will give more headroom, and thats the important thing.

I only use that 400W rig for a few of my gigs (maybe once every two months) -these are big noisy places where people are doing lots of drinking. I have tried my 150watt Passport in these places and I would not use it again. I get a much better sound running my Yamaha 400Watt rig on number 3, than I do running the Passport at 7 or 8. The furher you go up the dial with any system, the less clear the sound gets, so its all about headroom as I said.

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2004 8:34:29