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Post by pinkyspencer on Oct 23, 2021 11:10:38 GMT
Hi,
I've recently bought a National Resophonic Resolectric guitar. I'm looking for recommendations for a practice amp that would suit the guitar. I heard it's a little tricky due to the guitar's acoustic and electric nature. Thanks in advance,
Paul
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 23, 2021 11:30:09 GMT
Hello Paul,
Welcome to our forum.
You are right that it needs to be the right thing. With a magnetic pickup that prefers a valve/tube guitar amp and a piezo that is best through a PA or acoustic amp, there must be a good compromise that works.
This is not a subject I can advise about, but I am sure there are forum members with knowledge of what you are asking.
Have you asked NRP what type of amp they recommend? It would be interesting to know what they say. If you do ask them, please post their recommendation on here.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by pete1951 on Oct 23, 2021 12:00:09 GMT
As Michael says, a small valve amp for the magnetic, a solid state with EQ for the piezo. So ideally you need a two channel amp. I have loads of mostly valve amps but the one I grab when in a hurry is a Roland micro cube. This has only one channel, ( but has settings to emulate acoustic or valve amps) so might not suit ( I don’t know how you intend to use it) so I might be tempted to look at one of the larger 2 channel Rolands. Yes the ‘valve’ tone won’t be as good as a Fender Champ, but it will probably have reverb, trem and several other effects built in.
Roland also have several amps with a built in battery operation ( great for low volume busking).
If you just want to make a noise you can probably pick up a cheap solid state amp on Gumtree or eBay for £15-20
Pete
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Post by snakehips on Oct 23, 2021 14:51:19 GMT
Hi there !
I have a few areas of questioning :
1. What did you buy it to plug into, for playing beyond practice ?
An electric guitar amp ? An acoustic amp or PA system ? Both ?
Some smaller amps for acoustic guitars also have an electric guitar channel - perhaps Laney, if my memory serves me right.
2. Is this a brand-spanking new Resolectric or is it at least a year or two old ?
I ask this because the Highlander pickups have not been available for a year or so - and so NRP have started using a different pickup for the resonator cone - a Fishman Nashville biscuit pickup. I'm curious to know how your guitar's acoustic pickup sounds (NB. see the thread on the Fishman Nashville Biscuit pickup thread I started less than a week ago). Do you know for sure what pickup is in your guitar ??
3. Are you after an acoustic sound, a raunchy electric guitar sound, a double-pickup way of reinforcing a hopefully acoustic sound, or perhaps all/any of all 3, whenever you feel the need ?
Nickel-wound strings work best with magnetic pickups but piezo type pickups should be fine with either those or phosphor-bronze strings - so I'd recommend nickel-wound strings.
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Oct 23, 2021 15:38:14 GMT
Welcome to the forum Paul.
This is going to sound a bit harsh and I apologize in advance if it offends you or anybody else.
I had a red resolectric with a highlander and a P90 for a short while some time ago thinking that I could mix'n'match through the blend control - it turned out to be neither fish nor fowl, I'm afraid.
The only decent reso sound I got from it was through an AER but the P90 was crap.
The only decent P90 sound was through a Fender DeLuxe but the reso sound was crap.
Tried it at a couple of local jam sessions and it was an absolute pain to get an acceptable sound out of it whatever I did through one amp.
Didn't want to mess about with split leads, A/B boxes, two amps and the like so got shot of it PDQ and replaced it with a LP Jnr alike and eventually an MM Blues 28 and still had a few quid left in my pocket.
In my experience, unless you're actually going to play live gigs with the thing along with getting hold of two amps and the rest of the paraphernalia, I wouldn't bother.
Just play the reso bit acoustically through an SM57 into a clean amp if you have to and plug in to a guitar amp if you want an electric sound.
Just my tanners worth, but I know it it ain't much help.
Best of luck young man.
PD
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Post by leeophonic on Oct 23, 2021 17:48:38 GMT
Best small amp I have which can take anything and replicate a lot of different things is a Roland Microcube. Cheap & tough little thing also with a battery option should you find yourself up a mountain or on the boat!!! Lee Top left living with the toys  |
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Post by pete1951 on Oct 23, 2021 18:52:47 GMT
Best small amp I have which can take anything and replicate a lot of different things is a Roland Microcube. Cheap & tough little thing also with a battery option should you find yourself up a mountain or on the boat!!! Lee Top left living with the toys View Attachment Well that’s good to have someone agreed with me ( I knew that it would happen eventually) Pete I do have a Champ clone, a Champ on steroids ( 2x6V6s in parallel) a Watkins Westminster ( 5watts) and a Watkins Scout ( 10-15 watts) , ok they have one sound that is ‘better’ than the Cube, but the Cube is very versatile! |
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Post by Stevie on Oct 23, 2021 23:15:48 GMT
Me too Pete. Grand little amp. Unbelievable battery endurance. A completely flat battery pack still plays fine with just more flappy breakup in the bass than normal. I leave my MicroCube on the bottom shelf of the bookcase in the sitting room with a wireless receiver attached and it gets more use than all the other amps put together, although I find that I need to adjust it between hummers and single coils which is a little inconvenient given its location. I've wondered how similar it is to the Vox equivalent.
e&oe ...
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sceyral
Serious MM Forum Member
Posts: 24
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Post by sceyral on Oct 24, 2021 15:41:18 GMT
I built a personal copy of Resolectric (many years ago) : Telecaster neck PU + under bridge Piezo Fishman PU (+ personal internal preamp, run thru a 9V battery)
I tried many amps for that baby (Fender Twin, Classic50 Peavey) and the most decent sound I can get, is with a Boss Acoustic Singer 60 W amp.
This amp is not too expensive, not too heavy, and has many EQ possibilities.
Today I use the same amp for all my guitars, in pubs, for "acoustic" gigs : great with my Martin (Highlander PU), and Fine Resophonic Tricone (+SM57 mic )
I tried it in a store, and found it better and more convenient (or cheaper) than a Roland or AER...
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Post by pete1951 on Oct 24, 2021 17:36:38 GMT
a Boss Acoustic Singer 60 W amp. This amp is not too expensive, not too heavy, and has many EQ possibilities. Today I use the same amp for all my guitars, in pubs, for "acoustic" gigs : great with my Martin (Highlander PU), and Fine Resophonic Tricone (+SM57 mic ) I tried it in a store, and found it better and more convenient (or cheaper) than a Roland or AER... Of coarse the Boss 60watt will give you loads of flexibility, and you can play at ‘bedroom’ levels with the volume down and although ( like most solid state amps) it’s not too heavy compared with a Micro Cube it’s a monster! The cost is also much greater £200-300 for a second hand one and £50-100 for a used Cube.( just did a quick search,you may find cheaper) You do get more Watts per Pound with the Boss but it will probably be too big to put in your bottom drawer . |
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Post by leeophonic on Oct 26, 2021 5:06:13 GMT
My Microcube I have had from new as they first came to my attention when visiting a great steel player "Colin Brooks" who had one on his kitchen table in Lewes and got some great tone and noise from it.
When I saw the Ivory finish on a run of special editions I bought the amp (fickle aesthetics!!!), then funnily enough my local music shop which was closing a few years ago had one used but in the same finish for £25... before you know it I have 2.
The 2nd one went off to a guy in Spain as I realised the error of FOMO, did get more than I paid as I seem to remember though. Pound for Pound there is nothing out there that comes close. Remember the original query, cheap practice amp for resolectric, also the bonus with these is the plug in 9v power adaptor powers pedals!!!
Regards
Lee
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Post by pwblues on Oct 29, 2021 9:17:19 GMT
Hi Paul
Roland Street Cube might be a good option. It has two channels, one which is effectively a mini PA which would work for the piezo, and the other, while digital rather than valve, has various amp modelling options which would get you in the right ballpark sound-wise, at least for practice purposes.
Worth practising unplugged too, so you get to know the sound and response of the cone itself rather than the pickups.
All the best
Pete
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Post by pete1951 on Oct 29, 2021 10:05:16 GMT
Hi Paul Roland Street Cube might be a good option. It has two channels, one which is effectively a mini PA which would work for the piezo, and the other, while digital rather than valve, has various amp modelling options which would get you in the right ballpark sound-wise, at least for practice purposes. Worth practising unplugged too, so you get to know the sound and response of the cone itself rather than the pickups. All the best Pete Yes, the Street Cube has all the features of the Micro, plus more power and an extra clean channel, but it will be more than twice the price. ( probably three times second hand) Micro Cubes turn up second hand for under £50 , so if cost is a factor Micro is the way forward |
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Post by andys on Oct 30, 2021 20:14:17 GMT
Low wattage, cheap valve amps?? I use one of these, for low volume gigs plus it comes to me as a demo amp for my guitars at guitar shows Bugera T5 head through a home made cabinet, though they do a combo version too  |
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Post by biscuit on Nov 16, 2021 9:45:25 GMT
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