AER amplifier for archtops

**Makani** · 08-19-2011, 03:14 PM

Does anyone have any experience playing an electric archtop (for jazz) on an acoustic AER Compact 60W amplifier? Its a very small amp with an 8 inch cone speaker, but has alot of volume for its small size. I believe AER recently came out with the Cheeky D amp which is for electric guitars. If anyone has experience with this amp I'd also like to know what you think about it.

**pingu** · 08-19-2011, 03:50 PM

Yes I do .......... Ibz Af120 into a Compact 60
It works OK not a magnificent sound , but it works
They certainly are light reliable and have all the facilities
you could shake a stick at

Jim Mullen is using one at the mo , so it must be OK really

**mr. beaumont** · 08-19-2011, 04:08 PM

When I almost purchased a Jazzica last year the cat I was going to buy the guitar from plugged me into his Compact 60.

I was not impressed. He didn't think much of the amp either for amplifying archtops. He did tell me it sounded better with a piezo equipped flattop, IIRC.

**Frank67** · 08-20-2011, 04:26 AM

I second that.

The AER amplifiers are made for the utmost clarity in the tone. They amplify accoustic guitars really nicely. Theyare also doing a good job with Piezo pickups. They are great for running guitar synthesizers through them. However, plugging an archtop in and looking for that "fat" jazz sound will not likely lead to happy results. At least that is my experience/taste.

**Franz 1997** · 08-20-2011, 04:34 AM

Jim Mullen is a great player with a deserved reputation, but ( like joe pass and a few other great players in the past) he appears to be not too fussy about his gigging sound. He used to play through a GK bass amp - I've been on the same bill as him, and thought on that gig his playing was quite excellent but his sound mediocre. Whereas.....
Anyway, +1 on the above; I think it's difficult to get a satisfying sound with most amps which have the limiting factor of an 8" speaker.

**The_Dude** · 08-20-2011, 06:06 AM

Frank Vignola appears to endorse and/or use as part of his equipment the ARE amp:

Frank Vignola

He uses a Thorell Guitar.

**Pierrot** · 08-20-2011, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by FrankLearns

I second that.

The AER amplifiers are made for the utmost clarity in the tone. They amplify accoustic guitars really nicely. Theyare also doing a good job with Piezo pickups. They are great for running guitar synthesizers through them. However, plugging an archtop in and looking for that "fat" jazz sound will not likely lead to happy results. At least that is my experience/taste.

+1

**bryharrell** · 08-20-2011, 06:43 AM

Everyone has their idea of what a jazz guitar should sound like. Here are my thoughts. I mostly play a hollow body Jazzica custom with two pickups. I used to go through a polytone mini brute (not a bad sound) then I bought a aer compact 60 amp. WOW! Great sound. Really open and airy, beautiful bass and super light. I sold my polytone the next day. I believe like Kenny Burrell and Joe Pass that jazz guitar tone is really nothing more than the sound of the acoustic guitar amplified. What do you want for that sound? Clean, airy, 3D and high quality amplification. Can I also mention that it's light as a feather comes in a high quality bag, has a mic input if you want to have a singer and you can run a line out as I did last year when I played The Rosemont Horizon to 6,000 people. Although I mostly play smaller venues. It's my dream amp and I would highly recommend you try one. Keep in mind I don't play solid bodies through it if that is of concern. But my vintage nylon guild never sounded better through it. Just remember for the last ten years of his life Joe Pass played without an amp straight into a PA. And that was before modelers. If your hands are good enough you'll find the music.

**Makani** · 08-20-2011, 03:05 PM

Thanks for all of your useful comments and perspectives on the AER amp. I think its a high quality amp, which is more suitable for acoustic guitars vis a vis electric archtops...will check out other options. Thanks again!

**PascalD** · 08-26-2011, 08:29 AM

I'm using an AER Compact 60 with jazz guitars (ES175, Benedetto, D'Aquisto)
I agree with the comment on the fat jazz tone: it is not really fat, but it is smooth! And light. And it can be loud as well. So, it all depends what you're looking for. An old tube amp will be fatter and slightly more compressed and back breaking heavy. The AER has an infinite headroom for clean, and the notes are more defined. As I see the other replies, It's a matter of taste, but it is definitely not out of scope for Jazz.

My 2 cents
Pascal

**kris** · 08-26-2011, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by PascalD

I'm using an AER Compact 60 with jazz guitars (ES175, Benedetto, D'Aquisto)
I agree with the comment on the fat jazz tone: it is not really fat, but it is smooth! And light. And it can be loud as well. So, it all depends what you're looking for. An old tube amp will be fatter and slightly more compressed and back breaking heavy. The AER has an infinite headroom for clean, and the notes are more defined. As I see the other replies, It's a matter of taste, but it is definitely not out of scope for Jazz.

My 2 cents
Pascal

You are right.
I use AER Compact XL at the moment.I like to play guitar with piezzo on it.
I tried this amp on gigs with arch-top guitar....I prefer tube amp like Peavey Classic 30.

**whiskey02** · 08-26-2011, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by pingu

Yes I do .......... Ibz Af120 into a Compact 60
It works OK not a magnificent sound , but it works
They certainly are light reliable and have all the facilities
you could shake a stick at

Jim Mullen is using one at the mo , so it must be OK really

The AER really is an acoustic amp; it doesn't do so well with a plywood top or solid body. You'll get much better results with this amp using a carved top with a floater.

**jonnykiss** · 08-30-2011, 04:26 PM

well said!

**JensL** · 08-30-2011, 04:36 PM

I use a compact 60 a lot for especially background gigs. It is very reliable, light and it sounds ok. It compresses nicely so the sound is smooth.

It's maybe not great sounding compared to my other amps but then again it's onbly 8.5 kg. If it broke (The one I have has done I guess 1000 gigs or more since 2003) I'd replace it right away.

Jens

**jorgemg1984** · 09-01-2011, 12:52 PM

I am thinking about getting a compact 60 for my acoustic gigs and I am also curious if I can use it with my archtop. I know a lot of players use these amps with archtops (Frank Vignola, Rusell Malone, Gene Bertoncini, Jack Wilkins, Martin Taylor, Ulf Wakenius, Steve Herberman) so they must be at least usable...

Any opinions on reverb? Hall is usually one of my favorite settings.

**JensL** · 09-01-2011, 01:11 PM

The reverb is ok, but not fantastic. There are two settings, one is a room the other is a hall

Jens

**Frank67** · 09-02-2011, 11:35 AM

In my opinion ghe reverb on the cpmpact XL is truly horrible. It is certainly a matter of taste but i don't like it at all. Sounds thin, shallow and very artificial to me.

**kris** · 09-02-2011, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by FrankLearns

In my opinion ghe reverb on the cpmpact XL is truly horrible. It is certainly a matter of taste but i don't like it at all. Sounds thin, shallow and very artificial to me.

what kind of guitar are you play?

**kris** · 09-03-2011, 06:47 AM

I use AER Compact XL with my arch-top.At low volume it is quite good.
I like the sound without Doug plugs.It is very clean acoustic sound.

**Frank67** · 09-03-2011, 11:40 AM

I use the AER to amplify the piezo pickups of my Godin guitars and also of my modified Archtop with a Schattendesign bridge. I am generally very happy with the amp but not with the reverb. Maybe i should play more with the controls but so far i haven't found a reverb that i liked. Maybe you want to make a suggestion?
I noticed that reverb is highly subjective. Many people say that the reverb on the Henricksen Jazzamp is hideous - to me it sounds fine.

**kris** · 09-03-2011, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by FrankLearns

I use the AER to amplify the piezo pickups of my Godin guitars and also of my modified Archtop with a Schattendesign bridge. I am generally very happy with the amp but not with the reverb. Maybe i should play more with the controls but so far i haven't found a reverb that i liked. Maybe you want to make a suggestion?
I noticed that reverb is highly subjective. Many people say that the reverb on the Henricksen Jazzamp is hideous - to me it sounds fine.

I use very small of reverb/hall/.

**jorgemg1984** · 09-03-2011, 11:50 AM

Reverb is indeed subjective. I am part of the club that thinks the reverb on the Henriksen is hedious.

**JensL** · 09-03-2011, 07:41 PM

THe AER reverb is a fairly neutral digital reverb, not as bright as a "plate reverb" If that makes any sense. FOr my taste it might be a bit darker, but that's taste. I find it useable but not great.

Jens