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Author
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Topic: The infamous light weight amp
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Jan Dunn
Member From: Union, NJ USA
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posted 03 June 2002 09:12 AM
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I bought one of these AER Compact (not the Combo like I said in this original posting!) 60 amps (called the Bingo in Germany where its made, but heh, different strokes etc.) but my reasoning might not match yours. I recently remarried and we're getting a new bedroom set. As a literal bedroom player, my guitar and amp were taking up way to much room. To make the missus happy, I sprung for the compact 60 on John Fabian's unbiased and very low pressure comments. No big sales pitch here. Just an honest appraisal of what he hears from the amp.Folks, its really an amazing piece of work. I had my family listen from the other room without telling them I had a new amp and they swore uup and down that I was playing my Evans FET500. This lunchbox sized amp sounds that good. I'm retiring my Evans to basement storage if I don't sell it outright. The missus is happy for different reasons but it seems like a win-win. For those of you who haven't seen it, its fairly rich in feaures (2 channels, each with an impedance switch so you can connect piezo-electric or magnetic pickup and/or a mike. Built in digital reverb and delay. Lots of tone controls. Effects in out that can be alternated or blended with the built in effects.headphone, tuner, direct out, and some other outputs I don't quite remember right now. The 8 inch speaker is surprisingly capable.Not as full as the eclipse 15" on the Evans but pretty close. But the whole AER amp probably weighs less than the Evans speaker alone at 17 pounds or so. Don't think of this as some Pig-nose or other little practice amp. Its way better, but at its price, one would expect a lot more. Thankfully it delivers. I should add, it has an extremely warm tone. Warmer than my Evans even with a tube pre-amp in front of it. Not that I'll ever play out (with talent being a prerequisite, I think its safer to stay in my room), one could play a small room ( a small club or a public bedroom) with these 60 watts or go out to a PA system and use the amp as a monitor. All of this is subjective so my take might be way different than yours but to me the amp is worth the money. Speaking of money (by no means a small issue at $750.00), Carter's price is the lowest I could find on the Net.And they payed the shipping too.[This message was edited by Jan Dunn on 03 June 2002 at 12:07 PM.] [This message was edited by Jan Dunn on 03 June 2002 at 12:14 PM.] |
john buffington
Member From: Owasso Ok USA
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posted 03 June 2002 11:23 AM
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This amp is a real eye opener! I "test drove it" at the Tulsa show playing my personal guitar (Carter) through it. The amp is incredible for it's size. The tone, very warm and has all the effects with out the excess baggage. Perfect match, light weight guitar, light weight amp . . . heavy weight sound. "Tone to the bone". This amp would be perfect for church work, or a medium size room or club. Handles the lows great.
Thumbs up.
John Buffington
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Joey Ace
Sysop From: Southern Ontario, Canada
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posted 03 June 2002 11:45 AM
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I think this amp has an optional rechargable battery pack so you can take it on a picnic.Can someone confirm this? [This message was edited by Joey Ace on 03 June 2002 at 11:45 AM.] |
Jan Dunn
Member From: Union, NJ USA
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posted 03 June 2002 12:06 PM
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Education is a wonderful thing. I have a doctorate degree but can't type the name of an amplifier I just bought..further proof that God has a sense of humor.The A.E.R is called the COMPACT 60 (for good reason, its tiny) not the COMBO (sounds like a Coney Island hot dog order now that I think about it). A good source for further info is http://www.websitesthatshine.com/mts3_objects/compact60.html or the AER website http://www.aer-amps.de/. The owners manual is downloadable from their site but you have to fillout a bunch of demographic info before you can download the manual |
Jan Dunn
Member From: Union, NJ USA
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posted 03 June 2002 12:12 PM
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The Compact 60 can be obtained as the Compact Mobile with a 3-6 hour rechargable battery. The Compact 60 cannot be retro-fitted to become a mobile.. I asked them already. I'm guessing the built in battery adds weight but I don't know how much. |
Pete Burak
Member From: Portland, OR USA
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posted 03 June 2002 12:44 PM
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Here's a few Harmony Central reviews. http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/A_E_R_/Compact_60-01.html I can't get past the price myself, knowing acoustic amps like the Roland AS50R can be had for half the price (about the size of a Pac-a-Seat).
But I heard the AER in the Carter booth and it does sound good! |
George Rozak
Member From: Braidwood, Illinois USA
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posted 03 June 2002 12:50 PM
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Jan... Does this amp have any type of line in jack that would be suitable for patching a CD player into it to play along with rhythm tracks?George
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Sho-Bud Professional |
Jan Dunn
Member From: Union, NJ USA
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posted 03 June 2002 03:46 PM
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Yes, it supports a device like a tape or CD player. Here's a subtle feature that I'm sure was unintended. The handle is built into the case and thus you have a totally flat surface. Holds a notebook computer running Band in Box nice and secure.I agree with Pete that its fairly expensive but its a whole lot cheaper than a divorce lawyer(or at least my last one). Besides, its just really cool looking and shocks the crap out of the guys in my brother's band whenever they hear it. No one believes the sound of of such a tiny box. |
CrowBear Schmitt
Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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posted 04 June 2002 12:57 AM
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a good friend of mine has got a set of those AER amps. He plays Guitar,Banjo,Violin, and sings through his.
i have used them for a monitor when needed.
they do sound good !
i haven't used them for Steel tho....
AER does have a good rep here in Europa
keep on keepin' on... 
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Johan Jansen
Member From: Europe
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posted 04 June 2002 09:07 AM
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The headdealer in the Benelux contacted me. I will testdrive the whole range that could be used for steel and will rapport you. ASAP. 
JJ------------------
my web-site
my bands CODand TSC
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John Russell
Member From: Austin, Texas
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posted 04 June 2002 10:04 AM
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This is sweet news!We've been discussing the issue of high volume on another thread and this sorta ties in. Really, it's about time with all the micro innovation in other technologies, that we have a great sounding amp that weighs 17 lbs. I considered it an epiphany of sorts when I discovered how good my steel guitar sounds thru my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (40 watt) amp. It's a kind of new/old style item, all tube but different circuitry than the blackface era. Purists may scoff but it works for me and it only weighs 45 lbs. Hey, we ain't getting any stronger in our advancing age! Speaking of Pignose, they have two new models that may be worth checking out. One's 40 watts with a 10" speaker, the other's 60 watts with a 12" speaker. Both are all tube, the 60 watt version has reverb and effects loop. Prices are about $250 and $400 respectively thru Musician's Friend. www.musiciansfriend.com --JR |
seldomfed
Member From: Colorado
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posted 07 June 2002 12:25 PM
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I've tried the AER for acoustic guitar and was blown away. I'm sure I could dump my PA for coffeehouse gigs and just use the AER. (if I had one) Nice to hear it works for steel because I was thinking about trying that. There are a number of choices from AER. I played the Domino, very cool. And the Compact 60. They are quite amazing and I'm saving my money for one.
Chris------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"We can't afford to let Nature run wild" - govt. offical - Alaska
www.seldomfed.com |
Johan Jansen
Member From: Europe
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posted 19 June 2002 09:29 AM
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I felt the AER 60 having not enough power on stage. Will testdrive the 200 watts bass-amp with 4x 8" speakers, on advice of the import-company. |
Ann Fabian
Member From: Mesquite, Texas, USA
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posted 28 June 2002 10:57 AM
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We'll be getting another shipment of these incredible AER Compact 60 amps in next week ... July 3 or so.
Ann Fabian
Carter Steel Guitars |
basilh
Member From: United Kingdom
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posted 28 June 2002 11:41 AM
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The best lightweight amp I have used is described here :- http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/003032.html
Basil ------------------
quote:
Steel players do it without fretting
http://www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk |
CrowBear Schmitt
Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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posted 08 July 2002 06:57 AM
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Last Saturday, the Bass player had an AER
Basic Performer, which i got a chance to plug into.
it's 150 watt and rather compact.
Well i found it to be quite good !
i mostly played C6 on it.
that amp handles the low tones just fine.
i use Fender and Peavey so i'm not workin' for AER dig ?
but these amps are worth lookin' into.
Steel keepin' on...
Steelin'France[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 24 August 2002 at 09:03 AM.] |
Tony Prior
Member From: Charlotte NC
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posted 10 July 2002 10:38 AM
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Coney Island Hot Dog..now theres a memory that one cannot toss out..We can talk Steels and Amps all day long but there is only one Coney Island Hot Dog for sure.tp
former New Yorker as well...(Queens , Astoria, 22nd drive by the park under the Hellgate ) |
CrowBear Schmitt
Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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posted 21 July 2002 01:27 AM
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How'bout the dogs at Nathans on LI ?
i used to love to go there.
anyback to the topic...
this weekend a fellow Violinist happened to have a couple of those little AERs.
they are popular round here and do sound good
Steelin'France |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 21 July 2002 07:00 PM
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Crowbear I was raised on Long Island. Wasn't that Long Beach Road? I surfed at Long Beach. Always stopped at Nathans on the way back. What a small world. |
Johan Jansen
Member From: Europe
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posted 16 August 2002 12:11 PM
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I will receive 2 AER basic performers next month, gonna use them on stage. Great amps!!! www.steeljj.com |
seldomfed
Member From: Colorado
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posted 23 August 2002 04:10 PM
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Still no AER BUT........ try this.
Lately I've been using an old Supro with a little 8" speaker, or my Moviola, or my Reverend Hellhound with my Fender Stringmaster - and just putting a Shure sm57 in front and running thru the PA. Quite fine! Not tried for pedal yet. Anyway, get these little suckers, mic 'em - save your back. Assumes your PA and monitors are capable. AER has xlr out as well. AER is a choice. I suspect the Little Lanilei 'Super 50' might work too but have not had a chance to try it http://www.songworks.com/ chris ------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"We can't afford to let Nature run wild" - govt. offical - Alaska
www.seldomfed.com |
basilh
Member From: United Kingdom
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posted 29 August 2002 12:28 PM
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I am convinced that this baby does the job........Maybe Doug Jernigan can say what it sounded like to him ,after he hears it at the Irish Steel Guitar Festival next weekend
I have been using this amp for 2 months now and feel that I can report on it's capabilities etc. having put it through it's paces so to speak.
A1+++++ Hawaiian lap and reso guitar amp, definitely the ultimate amp for these instruments , PLUS ,, it's VERY impresive on pedal steel.
I'll post some clips later in the week. For now you can see it at :--
http://groups.msn.com/TheBritishSteeliesSociety/basilhenriques.msnw?action=Sho wPhoto&PhotoID=122
http://groups.msn.com/TheBritishSteeliesSociety/basilhenriques.msnw?action=Sho wPhoto&PhotoID=123
http://groups.msn.com/TheBritishSteeliesSociety/basilhenriques.msnw?action=Sho wPhoto&PhotoID=124
http://groups.msn.com/TheBritishSteeliesSociety/basilhenriques.msnw?action=Sho wPhoto&PhotoID=125
http://www.ashdownmusic.co.uk/
Basil Henriques http://www.steelguitarireland.com ------------------
quote:
Steel players do it without fretting
http://www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk |
basilh
Member From: United Kingdom
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posted 02 September 2002 08:27 AM
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could someone post similar personal reviews and info on AER amps PLEASE !!
Baz
[This message was edited by basilh on 02 September 2002 at 08:29 AM.]
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