Acoustic Practice Amps

here are a few starting at $60, scroll down the page and there are a few more.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/home/navigation?page=1&N=100001%2B304262&Ntk=All&Ntt=acoustic%2Bamp&Nty=1&Ns=P_Price%7C0
acoustic amps are more akin to PAs then guitar amplifiers as they usually have tweeters and cover the high end of the spectrum better than most typical guitar amps.

Dean has this package deal http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/DeanTraditionAcousticElectricGuitarandAmpPack?sku=519970
i gave the guitar to a friend and kept the amp. i thought the guitar was actually very nice for the money. the amp is a great little practice amp with volume treble, middle, bass, presence dials, and a phone jack. it handles a mic very nicely also if you have a mixer or an xml to 1/4 adapter. it's $200

Just wondering: if you are playing accoustic, why do you need a "practice" amp? I can see the need for it if you are playing gigs; or performing informally, but need to play and sing, and want to balance things out. But, just to practice, the accostic itself should be loud enough.

(If you are really into fingerpicking then maybe it makes sense to have one.. you don't have to work as hard at generating volume, you can use a smaller guitar and still be loud enough etc.)

Here's a site that will give some great information on how to Amplify an acoustic guitar

Joe

Thanks for the links, at least now I have a bit more info to work with.

As for why I want/need a practice amp, I guess in honesty I probably don't. Truth is, as my guitar is an electro-acoustic, I just want to make sure that the 'electro' side still works! It's not been used in the two years I've had the guitar, at least not since I left the shop with it! Just nagging doubts in the back of my mind, and also when I bought the guitar I purposly didn't buy an amp as I wanted to make sure that I was serious about learning to play. Two years later I'm still playing, badly I will admit :oops: - but I'm trying to rectify this as I'm also looking for a guitar tutor!

Is it an acoustic with an acoustic type pickup in it, or a hollow-body electric? The most typical example of the former would be something like a Takamine, with a pickup in it. The latter would be something like a Epiphone Casino, which is really an electric with a hollow-body. If it is the first kind, and you simply want to verify that the pickup works, plug it into a tuner :-) Or take it into a shop and try out some accoustic amps .. If you have a hollow-body electric, then you can certainly make good use of an amp, but you would not want an acoustic type amp.

Yeah, a tuner, or hog the guitar stores amp should let you know if your still in buisness.

You've come to the right place when it comes to guitar learning. Really you could pickup any guitar amp to use for practicing. When the time is right and you feel its time to invest in a better amp then perhaps consider a more expensive acoustic amp.

Joe

Is it an acoustic with an acoustic type pickup in it, or a hollow-body electric?

It's an acoustic - I never thought to plug it in to a tuner :oops:

Perhaps I'll hold off on the amp until I can afford/become good enough to warrant getting one!

Thanks for everyones help.

Cheers.

Well when you get to the point of being serious about an amp and if you like the pure acoustic sound with some nice FXs take a look at the new ones that Marshall is building. I just received my Marshall AS100D and I selected it after looking at Fender and Crate. They are good amps but this Marshall AS100D is a real sweetheart. My guitar is a Martin D15 Custom with a solid Spruce top (the original D15s are all Mahogany, great but different in sound produced). My pickup is a Martin Thinline 332 under the bridge (passive) pickup. Marshall also builds an AS50R that is a pretty darn good amp, too. Best of luck with your future progress. My guitar is my "six string tranquilizer" that has seen me through some rough times.

Yeah, I had looked at the AS50R, seen a lot of reviews that say it's one of the best you can get for the price but it's still over my budget at the moment. Figure if I can get some lessons sorted out, then see where I am, in say a years time, review the situation and take it from there. At this stage I'll probably get a better return investing the money in lessons, and who knows maybe in a years time I'll be able to afford a better amp :D

For the time being you could always use a regular inexpensive guitar amp. I use to brainstorm ways of getting equipment when I was younger and wanted something bad enough. Like mowing lawns, walking folks animals, car washing, etc. Sometimes you can even find folks willing to help you out if your willing to help them with some everyday tasks. I once worked an amp off by helping my grandparents at their cafe. Boy, I was good at making big tubs of jell-o.

Just a few thoughts. Hope your situation allows for something like I suggested.

joe