Teaching Studio All-Purpose Combo Amp

[Steve Freides]

The Acoustic Image Clarus+ is a nice amp with two separate channels.
Unfortunately, the main guy at AI died recently and they are not continuing the business without him. You could probably still find a used Clarus+, but future repairs might become problematic, though they are pretty reliable amps. There are also some speaker cabinets that the Clarus+ docks into, like the Ten2 cabinet (to name one, and there are others as well). Good luck in your search.

I'm a long-time AI fan and own, among other things from them, a Series III Ten2 and EX speaker. Just not what I want for guitar.

I still think a small mixer and a couple of emulators and an amp or powered PA speaker would be nicer and super flexible.

The solution here will be a one-stop shop: 2-channel combo amp with a small footprint that can make cool guitar sounds and still handle bass.

-S-

 

[Fishheadjoe]

The new Sunn Beta Bass head and a cab of your choice. Two channels, independent eq per channel and switchable.
Fishheadjoe

 

[gtirard]

I'm a long-time AI fan and own, among other things from them, a Series III Ten2 and EX speaker. Just not what I want for guitar.



The solution here will be a one-stop shop: 2-channel combo amp with a small footprint that can make cool guitar sounds and still handle bass.

-S-

That's why I think the best solution is a "smart amp" like the Spark Edge: an integrated mini PA system, with a FRFR speaker and software amps for bass & guitar, and multiple channels/input.

We don't have any customer feedback yet because it's a new product, but the Spark range has a good reputation, at least if you don't need to play bass too loud. If I were you, I'd buy it, with the option of returning it if I'm disappointed. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Azari]

An active stage monitor with an external preamp. How about a Tech 21 PSA? Works for both instruments. Then the same rig would also be useful at gigs because another monitor is always nice to have anyway.

 

[Tassieviking]

Sunn Beta amps are 2 channel and works for both
Bassman amps can do bass if you can get one away from a guitar player

 

[Passinwind]

That's why I think the best solution is a "smart amp" like the Spark Edge: an integrated mini PA system, with a FRFR speaker and software amps for bass & guitar, and multiple channels/input.

We don't have any customer feedback yet because it's a new product, but the Spark range has a good reputation, at least if you don't need to play bass too loud. If I were you, I'd buy it, with the option of returning it if I'm disappointed. Just my 2 cents.

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The Spark 40 was almost useless for bass for me, couldn't really even keep up with three unamplified acoustic instruments. Love it for guitar though, and it's so small that just getting one and using any decent dedicated bass amp would be my suggestion to the OP, although I totally get wanting an all in one solution. But there's been some talk of putting an Edge in my friend's jam space and I'd be very happy if I could just plug into that every Friday night at our weekly community jam.

 

[Tassieviking]

Powered cab, tiny mixer and pre-amp pedals.

 

[shirojiro]

The solution here will be a one-stop shop: 2-channel combo amp with a small footprint that can make cool guitar sounds and still handle bass.

-S-

I think that would be a bass, keys, or PA amp with a built in effects and multiple channels.

Some of the big Fender twin reverbs sound ok on bass at low volumes, but they’re massive and really heavy. Most guitar amps don’t sound great for bass guitar imho. Maybe there’s some multichannel exceptions out there , but it’s a pretty specific application.

Good luck with your search.

My teachers have all used little mixers as do I when I want to have a quiet jam with friends. Sometimes I even send the output to my home stereo. Sounds great and full range at low volumes.

 

[Steve Freides]

The Spark 40 was almost useless for bass for me, couldn't really even keep up with three unamplified acoustic instruments. Love it for guitar though, and it's so small that just getting one and using any decent dedicated bass amp would be my suggestion to the OP, although I totally get wanting an all in one solution. But there's been some talk of putting an Edge in my friend's jam space and I'd be very happy if I could just plug into that every Friday night at our weekly community jam.

I'm interested to hear more about what "almost useless for bass" means to you. This is going to be in my teaching studio - it means the student, me, and the amp are all going to be very close together.

Thanks, and great username, btw ... )

-S-

 

[Passinwind]

Hey Steve,

For context, I was testing in a small Reddi Shed space with unamplified instruments: mandolin and acoustic guitars in this case. This weekly community jam is mostly based around bluegrass, Americana, and folk music. I was playing the only amplified instrument, fretless BG (I play EUB and sometimes AUB too though, and old school Real Book jazz with other people) and vocals were acoustic-only as well. No one was more than ten feet from me but only the two guys closest to me and right on axis to the Spark amp were really satisfied, and when I switched back to my modest 110 combo someone instantly commented "there you are!" Much like the PJB Double Four I tried recently at an open mic in a much different room, the amp seems to want to be on the floor/in a corner if any real fundamental content is desired, which is not so swell if I need to be right on top of it. I've played and rehearsed in many situations where that would be OK though, so it could be worth a try. Not having a line output would be a big deal to me, but both of the two newest PG amps do have that feature, FWIW.

I have high hopes for the Edge, which on the face of it seems nearly ideal for your needs. I'll start bugging the nearest GC, an hour away from me, and when they get one in I'll drop by whenever I happen to be going by that way. Best of luck with whatever you decide on!

 

[Steve Freides]

@Passinwind, thanks again for the report. Since the one you tried bills itself as a guitar amp and the Edge bills itself as a small PA, I think high hopes for the Edge are justified.

-S-

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Powered cab, tiny mixer and pre-amp pedals.

This for the win as the most versatile, most frequency agile, and best watt per dollar choice you can make.
Powered speakers have come a long way and it is super easy to chain more together if class size grows, or adding a powered sub if more bottom is needed.

Pre amp not 100% needed if you don’t need dirt or overdrive and the input channels on the board have decent EQ section as well as a proper HI-Z input.

 

[Steve Freides]

I just sent Spark a email support request. Basically I said that, while they're calling it a PA, nowhere online do it mention electric bass, and I also said my reference is a PJ Bass Cub so I need to know if it put out at least that much.

I'll report back when I hear from them.

This [Powered cab, tiny mixer and pre-amp pedals] for the win as the most versatile, most frequency agile, and best watt per dollar choice you can make.
Powered speakers have come a long way and it is super easy to chain more together if class size grows, or adding a powered sub if more bottom is needed.

Sorry but space and simplicity win for me. No pedals, no separate heads and cabs, no chaining together anything. The Spark Edge is the front runner so far. A power cord and two 1/4 guitar cords and that's the rig I want. I'll have my phone so that app is definitely an option but from what I see about the Spark, the built-in voicings will be fine.

-S-

 

[AK Bass Guy]

I just sent Spark a email support request. Basically I said that, while they're calling it a PA, nowhere online do it mention electric bass, and I also said my reference is a PJ Bass Cub so I need to know if it put out at least that much.

I'll report back when I hear from them.


Sorry but space and simplicity win for me. No pedals, no separate heads and cabs, no chaining together anything. The Spark Edge is the front runner so far. A power cord and two 1/4 guitar cords and that's the rig I want. I'll have my phone so that app is definitely an option but from what I see about the Spark, the built-in voicings will be fine.

-S-

You do you. It if it works for you, great. There is never one right solution when it comes to gear.

 

[Passinwind]

I just sent Spark a email support request. Basically I said that, while they're calling it a PA, nowhere online do it mention electric bass, and I also said my reference is a PJ Bass Cub so I need to know if it put out at least that much.

I'll report back when I hear from them.


Sorry but space and simplicity win for me. No pedals, no separate heads and cabs, no chaining together anything. The Spark Edge is the front runner so far. A power cord and two 1/4 guitar cords and that's the rig I want. I'll have my phone so that app is definitely an option but from what I see about the Spark, the built-in voicings will be fine.

-S-

FWIW, the playalong functions for the Spark amps seem really well suited to teaching, judging from my limited experience with them. I’m slowly taking on more of an overt mentoring role at our community jam and that aspect would definitely be a big plus for me.

I’ll report back if I can manage to find an Edge in the wild soon. The Guitar Center near Portland I mentioned is right on the way to a luthier friend’s shop further down in Oregon and I’m way overdue for a visit, so maybe by next week, with luck.

 

[Steve Freides]

I thought I'd follow up on this.

I bought the Spark Edge through Sweetwater.com - I haven't tried it with upright yet, but the sound on what I've tried, which is electric bass and electric guitar, is spectacular and I'm very pleased. It comes with 4 presets, the first of which is nominally clean, and whatever it is, it sounds great. The others sounded good for distorted electric guitar.

I haven't had a chance to use it with any students yet but I'm looking forward to that.

NB: Definitely there is a learning curve. Wasn't too hard to get it to be an amp, and that's going to be its main use and it sounds great at that. Still haven't figured out how to get it to function as a bluetooth speaker for my phone, did download the app but there's a lot in there that will take me a while to get through.

-S-

 

[Passinwind]

I thought I'd follow up on this.

I bought the Spark Edge through Sweetwater.com - I haven't tried it with upright yet, but the sound on what I've tried, which is electric bass and electric guitar, is spectacular and I'm very pleased. It comes with 4 presets, the first of which is nominally clean, and whatever it is, it sounds great. The others sounded good for distorted electric guitar.

I haven't had a chance to use it with any students yet but I'm looking forward to that.

NB: Definitely there is a learning curve. Wasn't too hard to get it to be an amp, and that's going to be its main use and it sounds great at that. Still haven't figured out how to get it to function as a bluetooth speaker for my phone, did download the app but there's a lot in there that will take me a while to get through.

-S-

Hi Steve,

Any further follow up on this? I'm feeling ready to move on from the Spark 2 and my best candidates are the Spark Edge or building something myself, which I am actually pretty well equipped to pull off.

 

[Steve Freides]

Hi Steve,

Any further follow up on this? I'm feeling ready to move on from the Spark 2 and my best candidates are the Spark Edge or building something myself, which I am actually pretty well equipped to pull off.

Honestly it just does everything well. My only complaint is that, while it has a gazillion amps and effects you can choose from via the app, there isn't a way - at least not that I've found - to say you want the cleanest, most unaltered sound possible. But out of the box, the first preset is really quite clean so that's what I use for most things. IOW, if one of the amp presets was Acoustic Image, I'd be happier, but I am very, very happy with my choice overall.

-S-

 

[Passinwind]

Honestly it just does everything well. My only complaint is that, while it has a gazillion amps and effects you can choose from via the app, there isn't a way - at least not that I've found - to say you want the cleanest, most unaltered sound possible. But out of the box, the first preset is really quite clean so that's what I use for most things. IOW, if one of the amp presets was Acoustic Image, I'd be happier, but I am very, very happy with my choice overall.

-S-

Thanks much. In the Spark 2 I’ve tried just disabling all the modeling, only enabling the graphic EQ and using an external preamp, etc. The Flat Acoustic amp or JC120 amp models work pretty well for me too, but maybe lobbying for an Acoustic Image or Walter Woods model actually would get us somewhere. I was already thinking of pinging someone in engineering at Positive Grid, as I ‘m a retired long time tech with a strong bent for DIY building, have serious health issues, and therefore quite a bit of time on my hands.