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I finally bit the bullet and bought a ZT Lunchbox Acoustic (12 pounds) to supplement my Henriksen JazzAmp 112 (32 pounds) and BluesAmp 110 (23 pounds).
I bought it to use as a really small, really light, but still really good sounding practice and low volume rehearsal amp to use with my archtop jazz guitar and as part of an occasional micro-rig with my passive-piezo-equipped acoustic travel guitar. It fits the bill nicely.
Does it sound like a 200 watt amp? Certainly not! It's actually 130 watts RMS anyway, the pre-amp is decidedly low-gain, and the little full-range 6.5 inch speaker just can't move as much air as a larger cone could. But is it pretty loud for a miniscule 12 pound amp? Sure it is! I have the still easily luggable JazzAmps for when I need uncompromised tone and volume more than extreme portability.
For actual performing, I'll always use the JazzAmp 112 with my archtop and the 110 with my semi-hollow and my Tele. But as Keira has pointed out, if one were to run the LBA through a serious speaker cabinet, I bet it would be loud enough for most performing situations.
Actually, I do wish ZT made this into a 'Lunchbox Jazz' model: Skip the mic channel, add a middle control to the guitar channel, and reduce the price by $100. Bingo!
Anyway, I'll report in more detail in a week or so, but I'm initially very pleased.
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06-01-2013 08:31 AM
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I've made that request to ZT multiple times after they came out with the Club. ZT convinced me to try the LBA, I did and ended up returning it and again pointing out to ZT there is a good market for an small reasonably priced jazz amp. I would keep the mic channel, move to a 10" speaker, and a pizzo/magnetic pickup switch. I have a feeling the LBA was designed with pizzo pickups in mind.
Originally Posted by Tom Karol
Last edited by docbop; 06-01-2013 at 10:59 AM.
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Too hot to sweat all over my archtop today, so I dialed it in with my travel acoustic. (It's got a piezo pickup under the saddle but no built-in preamp.) Available settings range from 0-10 with 5 being 12 O'Clock.
Gain 9
Bass 4
Treble 6
Reverb 4
Volume 4-7
Gain at 9 and Volume at 7 seems to be the loudest it can go and still retain good tone. Loud enough for a small coffee house gig, but that's about it. Not a problem for me given the other amps I have available, but I can see why some may have been disappointed. Still it's tiny and only weighs 12 pounds; it's all about realistic expectations. I'll consider using this combination for a solo background music gig at a small outdoor wedding I have coming up in August.
@DocBop: Yes, I wonder why ZT seems to have chosen to skip using an 8" or 10" speaker in their lineup.
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Enjoy the new amp Tom!
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hi ya Tom , congrats on the buy.........
if you have not already discovered it.... when using the internal speaker ...........place the amp on the floor and it can be quite room filling at a restaurant size gig for solo or duo playing.... do the test of play with it on the floor and ask someone to lift it onto a stool or table while you play and you will be shocked at how much being on the floor fattens the sound....
also when you compare the ZT ... i know you have some really nice amps.... but the ZT is a $300 amp NOt a $800 - $1000 dollar one , so compare it's size/weight/power /features to other amps in that price bracket ...like laney acoustic amps or the ibanez acoustic amp ...and not to top end amps.
and re the wanting the same amp with an 8 or 10' .... just add an external speaker cab......and see the ZT as it stands to being an amp head that has a speaker built in for practise or small gigs ..... but for bigger gigs just pop on an external cab and it sounds huge.... for outdoors gigs i use the ZT with my archtop but use a 15" extention cab and the sound is massive.......
anyway enjoy the amp.... like i said before i don't rave about this amp cos it's the best amp i ever heard but because the ratio of size/weight/features/high power rating and cost it's in a class of it's own ... most amps that size are only 20W and the AER compact/or alpha (which i think is nearest competition) is double or almost 3x the cost
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@ Keira: Exactly!
Actually, I have the Eminence Beta 10A that I took out of the JazzAmp 110 when I replaced it with an Eminence Ragin Cajun. So I'm on the lookout for a used/cheap/empty 1-10" cabinet to put it in. Should be an interesting addition ... maybe even with all my amps!
And by the the way, I got the gig bag too - Zzounds adds it in for free - so I can carry the amp in its gig bag over one shoulder, my travel guitar in its gig bag over the other shoulder, and still have both hands free!
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Congratulations Tom. I just ordered one too and I'll give my take on it when I have a chance to work with it. BTW, Djangobooks also includes the case in the price.
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I've been gigging solo or duo with this amp for a couple of years now at a restaurant which has a bar/lounge area and dining room. When placed on the floor it can be heard clearly in both areas. Also, what Keira said is right. With an extension speaker you can get a huge sound out of this amp.
I like the mic channel for the occasional vocal. For this gig, I use a mic headset so there is no need for a mic stand. Yes, the amp gig bag is very convenient. All said, this is a very compact set-up: ZT Acoustic, Yamaha nylon acoustic guitar(sometimes I bring a Steinberger, too), headset mic, and music stand/gig book. One trip in and out.
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The only negative I've read about this amp is that it doesn't work very well in ensemble/band situations: it simply doesn't move enough air. For solo gigs/coffeehouses, it's great. Or even as an onstage monitor. But simply not large enough for multiple instrumentation.
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Although I've not personally tried it, this amp could probably work in a band situation if you have a decent extension speaker. For a solo or duo gig, the internal speaker has been more than adequate. It might be enough in a band situation if the drummer is quiet or using brushes, and so long as the horns don't get too loud.
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Preliminary settings with my Eastman AR403 - Guitar Volume and Tone wide open, amp on the floor behind me and to the left. (Available settings range from 0-10 with 5 being 12 O'Clock.):
Gain 7
Bass 3
Treble 8
Reverb 4
Volume 4-6
Feedback Cut on setting #2 only when Volume is all the way at 6 (otherwise off).
Definitely loud enough for a solo or duo gig.
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I have one and agreed, loud enough for most small solo gigs. Cool little amp.
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I've had the LBA in hand for a few days and I'm pleasantly surprised. I'd borrowed a regular LB and wasn't impressed. It was very loud and sounded OK but I didn't love it. This LBA is a different animal... much better for jazz IMO. Not as loud maybe, but plenty loud enough for what I'll use it for. The tone is quite nice for jazz and I think it has enough power to do what I need with the portability I want. Putting it on the floor is good advice as is keeping the gain high. The reverb is nicer than I expected.
I have a smallish thing coming up with a piano/vocalist and and bass and I'll take the LBA. I'll have a 12" cab in the car just in case but I doubt I'll need it. I'd be more concerned if there was a drummer w sticks or the size of the room was larger. Loading in and out in one trip will be great!
I was considering the more expensive Phil Jones Cub, but couldn't try out either one, so my tired feet and slender wallet give special thanks to Kiera, Tom, Marcar and others who shared their experience.
- Joe
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Aloha Joe,
I think you'll be pleased with the LBA for the gig you described. Your tired feet will thank you!
marcar
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If you gig with a drummer with brushes as i do , the lba is perfect without extention cab or lined out for medium rooms .....
But i occasionally play with a loud drummer with sticks and a heavy but skilled hand ..... And i always need the 15' extention to compete
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Brought it and my travel guitar over to a singer's house for a low volume rehearsal with electric bass and hand drums today. Worked great, and then the singer said, "I wish I had a microphone". Bass player had an SM57 out in the car; plugged that into the LBA as well, and it worked great too!
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On the volume thing ........
Has anyone tried putting a clean boost in front of their LBA
To see if you can get more clean Volume out of it ?
There's a shop getting one in for me to try out , hopefully soonish
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I guess you could use a clean boost, but I think the key is to not be afraid of boosting the gain control to suit the output level of the guitar. With my passive piezo travel guitar I set the gain knob on 9 out 10; the amp does not distort or hiss with the volume knob then set between 4 and 7. But if you need more volume you probably need an extension speaker cab instead of the built-in 6.5 " speaker.
Last edited by Tom Karol; 06-10-2013 at 10:11 AM.
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absolutely agree with tom ......btw my lba is more than loud enough for what i need ,when i want to be compact (without the cab) and yes carry the extra cab and the same amp delivers big sound and volume Originally Posted by Tom Karol
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So, we had a dress rehearsal at the venue last night. It's a medium sized recital room with live acoustics. Since I'm playing my archtop, sometimes with just the singer and sometimes with electric bass and hand drums as well, I figured I'll bring my JazzAmp112 to the actual performance and the singer would use the house PA. But for the rehearsal I decided to just bring the LBA. Originally Posted by Tom Karol
Well, it turns out that the venue doesn't have a PA! So, the singer and I both used the LBA. Everyone - including her voice teacher/musical director - agreed that it would be quite suitable for the actual performance! Who woulda thunk it?!Last edited by Tom Karol; 06-18-2013 at 09:54 AM. Reason: typo
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Originally Posted by Tom Karol
The audio guy in me has to say when that medium sized room fills with people whose bodies are eating sound, then people raise the base buzz/noise in a room, you might want more power and to get the amp up in the air to cover to back of room. Especially when people in back can't hear the show they tend to get noisier. Just pointing out once people get into a room the sound requirements change.
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Good point, Doc ... and understood. Room is wide but not deep. Volume on the LBA was only on 4 ... can go to 5 or 6 if necessary. But I'll bring one of my Henriksens too just in case. Then, if necessary, she could sing through the (elevated) LBA; and I would have my own dedicated JazzAmp. I honestly don't think that will be necessary, though. Stay tuned - gig is this Sunday afternoon.
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Gig Report:
Rehearsal Settings:
Guitar (AR403 - volume and tone rolled back just a bit)
Gain 7 Bass 3 Treble 8 Reverb 4
Mic (SM57 - handheld)
Gain 5 Bass 5 Treble 5 Reverb 4
Volume 4
Performance Settings - same room with 60 people, amp still on the floor to maintain bass response:
Guitar (AR403, controls wide open)
Gain 7 Bass 3 Treble 8 Reverb 4
Mic (SM57 - handheld, no feedback issues encountered)
Gain 7 Bass 5 Treble 5 Reverb 4
Volume 5
Probably close to its max (volume could probably have been boosted to 6), but it worked fine! And a number of people said things like, "All that good sound coming out of that tiny box? Wow!" It in no way replaces either of my Henriksens, but I am very glad I bought this little amp!Last edited by Tom Karol; 06-23-2013 at 07:05 PM.
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Originally Posted by Tom Karol
hey Tom ... glad to hear it went well........
and yes that little box produces sound and fat tone way beyond what us as musicians are traditionally expecting from a small box ....
i bet ZT must have a hard time convincing people to believe that it is a giggable tool IF THEY NEVER HEARD ONE YET .... but however like you and i and marcar who also posted he uses one in small (60 - 80 seater) jazz gigs ...once you heard it at a gig , and get favourable comments from audiences and even sound engineers ...you discover what an amazing little box the ZT LBA is .......
now wait till you add an extension cab with the LBA....
now if ZT are reading this.... nudge nudge , wink wink..... i know you make the small 30 W 12v battery option amp ...................... But to make the acoustic lunchbox complete... .. offer the same amp as the acoustic lunchbox (features and power rating) but with a 12v battery option (not at 30 W but at least 60 - 100W and using the 6.5 inch speaker ) ...... then it will be perfect for the travelling acoustic/jazz/flamenco guitarists (like myself)
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Glad to hear that your gig was a success with the ZT Lunchbox Acoustic. Thanks for posting your settings. I find that time must be spent setting the proper gain-staging levels and EQ for your particular instrument. I noticed that each of my acoustic guitars and the Steinberger require their own setting which varies greatly from one guitar to another. But once you've figured out the sweet spot for your instruments, then it's plug and play. Originally Posted by Tom Karol
I agree that the lba won't replace other amps, but I'm glad I have it for its versatility. It is a professional amp with the ability to adapt to many different performance situations. It has a line out to interface with a house sound system. It achieves full fidelity and volume with an extension speaker. With two channels, you can have vocal (including phantom power)/guitar, or guitar/guitar. For international travel, it has a switching power supply. It can hold its own -as is- in a solo, duo, or small low volume group situation. All of this fits into a shoulder gig bag that won't break your back. These features make the zt lba a valuable tool for me.
Of course, Tom, you know all of this. May you have many more satisfying gigs with your lba.
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