AER Compact 60 amp for voice?

[nereide]

Hi,
for a while now I am trying to figure out which amp would be a good choice for me. I have a jazz guitar (Epiphone Casino) and a classic guitar and I also sing so I need an amp for both. Since I dont have a car I need something that is not too heavy to carry around using public transportation. So I will not try to carry around a PA.
So far the only option that makes sense to me is the AER Compact 60. I was just wondering, what adjustments to the voice channel of the aer compact 60 can be made, if any adjustments can be made. From what I have read, I understand that the effects like reverb are only for the line that is meant to amplify an instrument like the guitar, not for the xlr line. Does anyone here use the AER Compact 60 also for voice? Would it make more sense to buy two AER Alpha instead to use one for voice, one for guitar? Not that I have the money for that now...
Thanks for your help!
Nereide

[kris]

AER Compact 60.
Yes it is great amp for guitar and voice.
I used it comping vocalist -guitar and microphone.
It is great for small gigs with vocals.
I think two Alpha's will be much better because of two small speakers.

[Jazz_175]

I used several times with singers.
I never paied attention if the effects would work only for the guitar channel.
One thing I remember is that if the singer would scream really loud through it, the guitar volume was depressed.

[pingu]

The reverb works on both channels
Its a good unit its like a little PA
mind you a few companies are doing these type of amps now

Loudbox Mini - Fishman Transducers, Inc.

Roland UK - Amplifiers » Guitar » AC-60

[kris]

I used several times with singers.
I never paied attention if the effects would work only for the guitar channel.
One thing I remember is that if the singer would scream really loud through it, the guitar volume was depressed.

I have the same expierience.

[nereide]

Thanks for your replies! I ordered an aer compact 60 and an alpha plus. There are more options to adjust the two lines on the compact. Also, I find it has a better sound, somehow warmer, so I think I am going to keep it and send back the alpha plus. I am really happy with the sound. At home, I cant really turn the volumen up to try out if it is enough for performing at a club, but I have the impression that there is a lot of power in that small box. Hoping to use it soon performing somewhere! :-)

[destinytot]

I'd like advice on this topic, please.

After using a Bose L1 Compact PA at an outdoor event recently, I've decided to splash out next month on a more portable system for vocal & guitar.

At only 6.5kg, the AER Compact 60 III (which can be mounted on a stable speaker stand, should the need arise) seems a compelling choice.

Both amps cost about the same, and the fact that the AER - in its cool gigbag - is half the weight of the Bose makes it very attractive. Besides, I think my Sonntag Augusta would sound fantastic through the AER.

I wish I could try out vocals through an AER, but that isn't possible. All advice gratefully received. Thanks!

[Stringswinger]

I have done duet gigs with my AER Compact 60 with a vocalist. Worked great. At this weight, I don't think there is a better option.

[destinytot]

I have done duet gigs with my AER Compact 60 with a vocalist. Worked great. At this weight, I don't think there is a better option.

Thanks - the vocal is my only doubt, but this helps.

[destinytot]

Another question: could I run a couple of additional mics into the AER via a separate mixer?

[Little Jay]

I use my AER Alpha a lot with vocalists, sometimes as a stand-alone mini PA for vocals, sometimes to amplify both vocals and guitar.

It sounds outstanding for vocals! And the 40 watt Alpha can fill quite a big room when used for vocals only, so the Compact 60 should do even better. The (digital) reverb sounds pretty good (much better than Henriksen or Zt-amps).

When used for both guitar and vocals I use a seperate pre-amp for the guitar (a Joyo American Sound pedal) because the Alpha has only 1 shared EQ section, without the pre-amp you have to compromise but even then it still sounds great.

I think my Alpha (only 6 kgs, 12 lbs) gets the most use of all my amps, best investment ever!

[Little Jay]

Another question: could I run a couple of additional mics into the AER via a separate mixer?

Yes, you can, the mic channel can be switched to -20dB for a line in!

[destinytot]

Thanks SO MUCH!

[JazzNote]

I'm not keen on using the compact 60 for voice. More than once i felt sorry for a great singer who i'm used to hear through FBT active speakers, when she had to put up with my compact 60. If the quality of the sound doesn't concern you or if portability of the amplification is the main issue it might be worth the compromise. It might also depend on the particular voice, but certainly warmth and body of the voice will suffer compared to a real PA box.

[destinytot]

I'm not keen on using the compact 60 for voice. More than once i felt sorry for a great singer who i'm used to hear through FBT active speakers, when she had to put up with my compact 60. If the quality of the sound doesn't concern you or if portability of the amplification is the main issue it might be worth the compromise. It might also depend on the particular voice, but certainly warmth and body of the voice will suffer compared to a real PA box.

Thanks for the input, JazzNote. How about with via separate mixer with eq? Yes, portability is the main issue (If it weren't, I wouldn't hesitate before getting a Bose L1 Compact PA). Thanks.

[JazzNote]

Those few times i used the compact 60 with a singer it was always the mike plugged in directly. I wouldn't know how the result would be with an separate mixer, but the voice channel has only bass and treble controls, no mids, so it certainly would benefit from additional eq.

[destinytot]

Those few times i used the compact 60 with a singer it was always the mike plugged in directly. I wouldn't know how the result would be with an separate mixer, but the voice channel has only bass and treble controls, no mids, so it certainly would benefit from additional eq.

In that case I'm pretty confident I could make it work. I have a heavy PA, but I'm also used to singing through a Polytone guitar amp:

[SierraTango]

I'd like advice on this topic, please.

After using a Bose L1 Compact PA at an outdoor event recently, I've decided to splash out next month on a more portable system for vocal & guitar.

At only 6.5kg, the AER Compact 60 III (which can be mounted on a stable speaker stand, should the need arise) seems a compelling choice.

Both amps cost about the same, and the fact that the AER - in its cool gigbag - is half the weight of the Bose makes it very attractive. Besides, I think my Sonntag Augusta would sound fantastic through the AER.

I wish I could try out vocals through an AER, but that isn't possible. All advice gratefully received. Thanks!

Have you considered a Shertler Unico? Mine has been a real trooper, it's the 185W bi-amped 4 channel version, works great for vocals. Since Eastman is now the distributor they have several other amps out now, I've not tried the JAM series however they would merit a look.
I do use a Para EQ in front of the "STAT" channel for guitar, but honestly, I could do without it.

[destinytot]

Have you considered a Shertler Unico? Mine has been a real trooper, it's the 185W bi-amped 4 channel version, works great for vocals. Since Eastman is now the distributor they have several other amps out now, I've not tried the JAM series however they would merit a look.
I do use a Para EQ in front of the "STAT" channel for guitar, but honestly, I could do without it.

Thanks. Looks and sounds nice on the demos, but its 15.4kg (compared to the AER Compat 60 III's 6.5kg) makes it too heavy for my liking.

[destinytot]

I haven't sung through an AER Compact, but I had a chance to play my big archtop through one - very good indeed.

[JazzNote]

Thanks. Looks and sounds nice on the demos, but its 15.4kg (compared to the AER Compat 60 III's 6.5kg) makes it too heavy for my liking.

I think that sound is related to weight with a few exceptions. For instance my larger Compact 60 mobile which contains some quite heavy panasonic accus, sounds better than the normal Compact 60. But i wouldn't really recommend the mobile as the accus life span is pretty short. In ten years i had to replace them twice already.

It will be a compromise between sound and carrying comfort. On your clip above i hear a fairly loud audience. I think for such environment you probably lack bottom in the voice through a compact 60, unless you can sufficiently compensate with additional eq. I do not know how well that can be accomplished though.

Good luck for making the right choice!

[destinytot]

I think that sound is related to weight with a few exceptions. For instance my larger Compact 60 mobile which contains some quite heavy panasonic accus, sounds better than the normal Compact 60. But i wouldn't really recommend the mobile as the accus life span is pretty short. In ten years i had to replace them twice already.

It will be a compromise between sound and carrying comfort. On your clip above i hear a fairly loud audience. I think for such environment you probably lack bottom in the voice through a compact 60, unless you can sufficiently compensate with additional eq. I do not know how well that can be accomplished though.

Good luck for making the right choice!

Thanks, JazzNote. Interesting observation about sound and weight. My tiny Polytone weighs 12kg - almost double the weight of the AER Compact - and has enough bottom and warmth for me, whereas the suitcase-type portable PA I'm replacing has neither.

(I'm hanging on to my Polytone; I really like combining it with the preamp of an Evans RE200, which I foolishly considered selling, but I'm selling the suitcase PDQ - it's perhaps ironic that the suitcase will probably sell quicker locally.)

Raising amps off the floor seems to tighten bottom end in a way that makes fine adjustment via additional eq more effective. I understand that the AER can be mounted on a mic stand (though I may prefer to use a speaker stand with an adaptor), but I see they also make a wedge - which is probably enough for some of the tiny places I play.

Besides, a lighter weight to carry, hands-free gigbags, and super-quick set-up time will make possible the use of public transport and night buses for mid-week restaurant gigs - perhaps dropping by one of the boho joints where the best jams happen. I currently miss out on that because of the amount of gear I lug around (and unglamourously schlepp up three flights of stairs before my cocoa). Moreover, there's already PA (and a sound engineer) on some gigs.

Yes, it's a compromise; but although - in this instance - I'm putting carrying comfort first, I have a lot of confidence in AER.

When I played my big archtop through it, I was reminded of the characteristic sound of certain modern recordings - a bit too polished, perhaps over-produced, almost 'squeaky-clean' or too 'sickly-sweet' for my liking - but I think that could also be fun*. There's a time and a place for everything (including hi-jinx, hell-raising and debauchery).

My point is that I'm confident that I'll be able to make the AER work well for both vocals ​and guitar.

*PS I was struck by something a technician told me years ago when I commented on the impressive front-of-house sound at a particular club: "Most customers want it to sound like a CD, and I want it to sound better than a CD at home."

[Little Jay]

Just get the AER, especially if portability is your main concern. To my ears it simply sounds great, for both guitar and vocals, hardly feels like a compromise at all. It's a very professional piece if equipment, well worth every penny!

[shawntp]

I love the AER Compact 60 (version 3 is the only one I have owned) for vocals. Other amps I have owned are the Fishman SoloAmp, Bose Compact, Bose L1 Model II, Fishman Loudbox Mini, and I currently have an Acoustic Image Clarus Series 4 into a Buscarino Chameleon full range speaker and the AER is one of my all time favorites to sing through.

At the moment I have been comparing my Clarus rig to the AER and I prefer the AER Compact 60 for a lot of things in my stable lately (namly archtops with round wound strings, flat tops, and vocals). The AER has kept up with all the rigs I have had (though some scale up to larger venues better) but in the right sized setting the AER form factor and sound are just nothing short of amazing. FWIW I consider the AER one of my favorite vocal amps - it has a natural smoothing and compression that occur and it just ends up having a really nice and pleasing voicing for both the singer and the audience. Nothing harsh or unwieldy - its like a tiny little sports car that is fun, effortless, and responsive.