AER amps & electric guitars...

[Jorge Magnum]

Hi all. I'm currently in the market for a new guitar amp and am
seeking the cleanest, purest but also loudest sound I can find. I am
extremly fond of the tone Bireli Lagrene achieves on the album Front
Page and aim to recreate something along those lines. In my research
I've found that Bireli uses AER amps, or @ least he endorses them so
those are the only amps I can find him credited to using in liner
notes and whatnot, and after reviewing the various models and places I
can purchase them I've deduced that the AER Compact 60 is the only one
realistically in my price range. That being said though, there are a
few things I'm unsure about that I thought I might post to this group:

- I play eletric guitar: a 7-string solid-body and an ES-335
semi-hollow. Obviously the AER is designed to amplify acoustic
instruments, but I've come to find I enjoy the sound of running my
electric guitar through A/E amps, bass amps and keyboard amps. Are
there any inherent problems with using an AER amp like this?
- The amp is rated @ 60w, but the ensemble I play in tends to play
in a very loud and aggressive fashion but still clean, similar to the
aformentioned Front Page album. Do you think the AER Compact 60 will
be able to cut through and satisfy my volume needs? There also does
not appear to be a way to run an additional speaker off the Compact
60, which is a little troubling.

Any answers to these questions and more would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks all!

[David C. Stephens]

I have heard the little 60 watt AER in a not-loud-situation and it did not
cut the mustard. I'm afraid that you'll have to go to the more costly AER
for enough headroom. If you band is really loud, you might even need the
extension cab.

For the application you describe I'd recommend a Clarus 1R with a Raezer's
Edge T8-T cab. That will keep up with any band AND give you the natural tone
you seem to like.

In between the AER 60 and the Clarus/RE combination, in terms of headroom,
the Acoustic Image Contra R is excellent and very compact. I suspect that it
and the AER Acousticube IIa are in about the same league in terms of volume,
but I haven't compared them yet.

Dave

"Jorge Magnum" <jorge...@jorgemagnum.com> wrote in message
news:f8b8d44f.03040...@posting.google.com...

[Rick Ross]

I own the AER 60...paid around $700 for it..It is well built with a ton of
features..but still alot of $$$
1. too small a speaker for a band situation ..I use it for solo gigs only..
2. great as a small PA for a flute or sax...has a mic input
3. very transparent type sound and more suited for an acoustic vibe..like
pulgging into a PA..
4. incredibly easy to carry..
5. too cute to sell or I'd offer you mine :)

--

Rick Ross
(760) 803-1199
"Everything is chrome in the future.."
........Spongebob Squarepants........

"Jorge Magnum" <jorge...@jorgemagnum.com> wrote in message
news:f8b8d44f.03040...@posting.google.com...

[IvanDRodriguez]

Saw one used in a duo situation....it worked out fine. Next day in a quartet
situation, it had to be mic'd.....I liked the sound of it though..... and
yeah....it's cute....

Ivan

[Skip Moy]

I have tried the AER 60 on serveral occasions and in general like the
acoustic tone especially for small scale , or softer playing situations.
However overall I feel that the unit may be underpowered. Consequently I
would suggest looking at the Razers Edge speaker ssystem with a Clarus 1R
or 2R amplifier.I realize that this may be a little more than you are
wanting to budget for, but the overall application may be more beneficial in
the long run. Try doing a google search under Razers Edge and/or Clarus to
see all the different reviews and comments over the last few years and see
if these units fit your application.
Skip

.
"Jorge Magnum" <jorge...@jorgemagnum.com> wrote in message
news:f8b8d44f.03040...@posting.google.com...

[Joe Jewell]

Rick Ross hits the nail on the head. I have a Compact 60 and a Clarus rig.
The AER is fantastic for solo gigs, low volume. No way for a band situation
and especially no way with a 7-string.
Bireli and other Django-style players use them but almost exclusively for
monitors. The sound you hear in the house is a combination of the direct
out from the AER and a microphone. His recorded sound has nothing to do
with an AER amp.
AER's (or at least the Compact 60) is a very use-specific piece of gear and,
when used for its intended purpose, is one of the best things out there.
But, for an electric band with drums, impossible.
Best,
Joe

"Jorge Magnum" <jorge...@jorgemagnum.com> wrote in message
news:f8b8d44f.03040...@posting.google.com...

[bruce]

Jorge,

I have had my AER compact 60 for a couple of years now.

For it's size and weight, I have never found it underpowered.

I am playing a Guild x170 (a laminated archtop with 2 humbuckers -
certainly no delicate acoustic instrument!) directly into the AER for
all of my gigs. With this set up, I have played duo gigs in tiny bars,
large outdoor concerts and most situations in between. I am only
playing jazz gigs, so I won't bother guessing how it would/wouldn't
work for rock.

I am yet to encounter a situation where either the amp cannot cope on
it's own, or, there's no PA system for me to DI out of the back of the
amp. Maybe one day that situation will arrive, and I'll be wishing I
had a twin reverb!

In the meantime, I'll save my back.

Good luck with the amp search,

bruce

jorge...@jorgemagnum.com (Jorge Magnum) wrote in message news:<f8b8d44f.03040...@posting.google.com>...

[Josip Seidl]

Hi Jorge,if you like the sound of your guitars with the AER,why you don`t
simpply mick it with a Shure SM57,I do.You do have a PA?Greetings Josip
Seidl
"Jorge Magnum" <jorge...@jorgemagnum.com> skrev i meddelandet
news:f8b8d44f.03040...@posting.google.com...

[Agriculture Horizon]

> - I play eletric guitar: a 7-string solid-body and an ES-335
> semi-hollow.

I have an AER and play on a 335

>Obviously the AER is designed to amplify acoustic
> instruments,

The line one is designed for acoustic guitars but a small button, that you
push, is devited for élevtrique guitars
The line two is for microphone or an other guitar

>but I've come to find I enjoy the sound of running my
> electric guitar through A/E amps, bass amps and keyboard amps. Are
> there any inherent problems with using an AER amp like this?
> - The amp is rated @ 60w, but the ensemble I play in tends to play
> in a very loud and aggressive fashion but still clean, similar to the
> aformentioned Front Page album. Do you think the AER Compact 60 will
> be able to cut through and satisfy my volume needs? There also does
> not appear to be a way to run an additional speaker off the Compact
> 60, which is a little troubling.

You can connect the AER with the direct box of the amp on the sound system
of the band or use a microphone

>
> Any answers to these questions and more would be greatly
> appreciated. Thanks all!

For specials effects i use a GT6 effects (simulate another amps,
overdriveŠŠŠ)

Have a good day from France

Jacques Peters

[Peter Kanters]

I own an AER 60 for 5 years now and play it every jazz gig to full
satisfaction of myself and the public. Many guitarists and sound
engineers come to the stage to ask me what amp I play (they are not so
well-known in the Netherlands yet).

I play a Gibson L-12 (1938). For rhythm comping I use a Sony
microphone (like the ones you put on your jacket when you give a
lecture) in the f-hole and use the acoustic AER-channel. For single
string soloing I have a Barcus Berry electric pickup and use the other
channel. Both sound fantastic.

The largest bands I played with are 6-8 people and had no problem with
the volumne, but I admit that these bands play rather acoustic.

Regards,
Peter Kanters
http://people.zeelandnet.nl/pkanters/N-gitaren.htm

On 8 Apr 2003 13:47:58 -0700, jorge...@jorgemagnum.com (Jorge