Do you amplify your classical guitar?

[drjond56]

I am curious if others use an amp when playing jazz on classical guitar and what amp and settings you use. I rarely play classical music on gigs so I don't amp up for that, but when playing jazz on nylon string I obviously amp up if the gig requires, but find myself running the amp for fun even when playing unto myself. I have a Baggs Anthem classical pickup and use an Ultrasound DS4 amp. I generally use the "chorus"setting with the shape filter on, though sometimes I run the clean channel (i.e. "no effect"). BTW I have also been having great fun playing fingerstyle jazz on ukulele and running it through various settings on the amp.

Jon

[rictroll]

I run my Takemine through a Baggs pre-amp into an AI/RE rig.

A dash of reverb and I'm happy.

[medblues]

I have been having a lot of fun with the Godin Grand Concert Duet Ambiance (mouth full) which has four mic simulations that can be blended with the piezo. Allows me to play very softly and has much lower action than my Yairi classical.

[randalljazz]

schertler dyn-g mike and schertler david amp.

[Endorphins]

I miss not having a pickup on mine, but I don't gig that kind of playing anyway. Maybe someday, if I find the extra funds.

[ronjazz]

My 7-string flamenco has an RMC pickup system (like the Godin), my classical a Kreomona pickup, run them through a Zoom A2 processor into a Bose Compact. Very good results.

[jazzrat]

I have the Fishman Presys Blend system on my Cordoba.
I use either a Henriksen JazzAmp 110 or a Centaur Acousric with a 15" speaker and tweaters.
Very natural tone.

[destinytot]

I use a classical to sing and play bossa nova. I had an LR-Baggs Element fitted - great product, but I've found a solution I'm more comfortable with - a condenser mic into a Polytone Mini-Brute, which becomes the sound-source for a larger PA where this is required, as in this video (from around 2002):

[Cunamara]

I use one of two amps, both heads through a Raezer's Edge 1 x 12. The first amp is a Clarus 2r with an ART tubeMP mic preamp in the effects loop. This does a nice job of warming up the sterility of clean SS amps. The second is a Mission Amps 5E3 circuit built as a head.

I have two nylon string guitars, a Takamine EC-something with a laminate top. It's nearly useless for gigging, however, due to the amazing propensity for feedback. Very nice guitar, beautifully made and finished, but I almost never play it any more and should sell it. I find that it's very hard to dial the piezo quack out of this guitar through an amp; it sounds best with the Clarus, however. I tested a lot of classical guitars and every one of them using a piezo had this problem, the Takamine was the best sounding I found. As is the case with archtops IMHO, the laminate top sounds better amplified. But a couple of years later I got my next nylon string guitar...

My main nylon string these days is a Rick Turner RN-6. I cannot speak highly enough of this guitar. It is a semi-hollow design but through an amp sounds more acoustic than any true acoustic nylon string guitar that I have ever hear amplified. There is no feedback, the tone can be as warm as you want or as crystalline clear as you want. The preamp uses 2 9v batteries for an 18v system with more headroom than a 9v system; by itself this reduces the quack because a fair amount of the quack is actually high frequency distortion (piezo pickups put out a voltage spike on the attack of a note). Turner's pickup system also includes a couple of trim pots; one of them is a high pass (or low cut) filter that you can use to sculpt the bass end of the sound. This is very helpful for tuning the guitar to your particular amplifier and allows finding the sweet spot between a warm, strong bass and a boomy, muddy bass. The other trim pot sets the sensitivity and gain of the pickup and lets you dial up or down the "thump" of the pickup; it is probably also a high cut filter and helps tame the piezo sizzle. The volume pot on mine has detents, which is a little weird. The tone control is very effective and is well centered for the high end.

If you like a big beefy classical neck, this may not be the guitar for you as the nut is 1 7/8 IIRC and the neck profile is like an electric guitar. Also, it's a thin body instrument and works better standing with a strap than seated, so if you play in the classical position you may struggle with this guitar. It's very light and lively, the body vibrates like an acoustic or even more so. IMHO you'll not find a better sounding amplified nylon string. There are a few videos on YouTube of this, perhaps the best for demonstrating the sound of the guitar is Paul's. Well recorded, he plays with pick and with fingers, and great playing as well of one of my favorite tunes.

[richb2]

I have a Cordoba Studio and I find that if I have the internal mike on at all it feeds back like a banshee. In speak with my teacher yesterday, he usually uses an external mike although he has a piezzo, like me.

[Woody Sound]

I think the speaker choice is more important than the electronics. A full-range speaker (with a high-freq driver) seems to be very important. As long as you have that, most amps with enough clean headroom will sound good.

[ronjazz]

Woody, I agree, and utilize the Bose L1 and Compact systems for just that reason; they also really help cut down on feedback. With a Zoom acoustic processor, and a decent pickup system (from the $70 Kremona to the $600 RMC) I can get quite a good representation of a true classical or flamenco guitar tone. My 7-string nylon with RMC pickups through the Bose is really impressive, especially in bossas and sambas.

[ronjazz]

Very nice, destinytot, lots of Gilberto's time feel, always a plus. I have been learning many of the Brazilian tunes in Portuguese as well as English, it's quite a difference in accents and messaging.

[khalkingol]

Just spotted this thread, sorry about late addition. I play classical once in a while, and I've pretty much given up trying to pretend that the unamplified nylon-string guitar can hold its own against woodwind or strings; or against a roomful of conversation, for that matter.

So nowadays I nearly always go amped. My personal preference is for the AER Compact 60, German-built and a bit expensive but amazingly powerful for its size. I can't recommend this amp highly enough: you can check out reviews online which express amazement that such a little box can do so much. I read recently in UK Guitarist mag that jazz guitarist Jim Mullen also uses these for his Aria FA-80, and I can confirm that it'll double perfectly well as a clean amp for electrics (some may prefer a bit of tube dirt, which you won't get). Very portable, at about 30cm cubed, and light with it. Great piece of kit.

[Duncan21]

I use a Schertler UNICO and it's fantastic with my Yamaha NCX900R classical. Use some reverb and often a touch of delay. Wouldn't mind trying an AER at some stage but I have heard them used and I think I would still prefer Schertler because the AER sounded a bit 'boxy' for my taste.

[destinytot]

Very nice, destinytot, lots of Gilberto's time feel, always a plus. I have been learning many of the Brazilian tunes in Portuguese as well as English, it's quite a difference in accents and messaging.

Just seen this - thanks very much, ronjazz! I've started taking the João Gilberto approach to songs in other languages. I'm using a clip-on condenser mic, and tuning down makes it more quiet and gentle - I believe that if people want to listen, they will.

[Doctor Jeff]

I don't play classical repertoire much these days, and rarely take my classical A/E out for gigs, but every now and then I use it with our jazz combo--really nice for bossa nova or Latin tunes like Desafinado, Besame Mucho, Sway.

I have an Alvarez AC60 which has a nice preamp. I run it into a Fishman Loudbox Artist. This has become my go-to amp for all occasions due to its versatility, transparency, loudness and small weight. It does a great job with piezo pickups without much piezo quack--easily dialed out. Interestingly, my classical sounds much better than an archtop I was using with a piezo pickup--hard to get rid of unwanted noises on that one.

Usually I run it clean and cut out some of the treble for a mellow sound--add reverb at about 9 o'clock. Occasionally I will add some chorus just for a change of sound.

[grahambop]

Just do what the Maestro did:

[christianm77]

I am curious if others use an amp when playing jazz on classical guitar and what amp and settings you use. I rarely play classical music on gigs so I don't amp up for that, but when playing jazz on nylon string I obviously amp up if the gig requires, but find myself running the amp for fun even when playing unto myself. I have a Baggs Anthem classical pickup and use an Ultrasound DS4 amp. I generally use the "chorus"setting with the shape filter on, though sometimes I run the clean channel (i.e. "no effect"). BTW I have also been having great fun playing fingerstyle jazz on ukulele and running it through various settings on the amp.

Jon

I have a classical with a Fishman undersaddle passive which I put straight into an AER alpha (sometimes with an LR Baggs Para DI.) I like the way it sounds, but many people tell me this is a terrible set up...

[Doctor Jeff]

just do what the maestro did:

lol!

[Sandaun]

Well, I've got a classical guitar with a piezo pickup and a cut-away, an Aria AK-30CE, so I suppose that makes me persona non grata in certain classical circles ... circles I don't frequent, anyway. I've got an Epiphone Studio Acoustic amp, part of the PR-4E Acoustic/Electric Player Pack I got a while back. I'm nowhere near good enough to be gigging but I figure that two acoustic guitars and one acoustic amp means I'm on to a good deal. I can always mike the amp through the PA when the background gets too loud: I'm pretty certain I can stuff something in the soundhole to cut down on feedback.

[Marinero]

Yes. I use a 1966 Shure PE54 Series II Unidyne III dynamic microphone with a Fender KXR60 piano amp. I've never been really happy with the amplified sound but it's a necessary evil to play gigs. It's very difficult to get the pure sound of the Classical guitar unless, perhaps, you're an electro-techie . . . which I'm not. Play live . . . Marinero

[kris]

I use nylon strings guitars/Sanchez , Frameworks modren classic/ and
BODYREZ ACOUSTIC PICKUP ENHANCER to AER Compact XL.

Best
Kris

[Alter]

The nylon string guitar I use in gigs doesn't even have an acoustic sound. It's a chambered solidbody with a piezo system, a Guild custom shop Paloma.

Sounds great, and is as easy as an electric guitar to work with. I never play it at home though of course..

[jrethorst]

I don't use an amp, but a friend puts his nylon guitar into a Fishman Mini. Sounds very good.