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Amplifiers for electric violin
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Gordon Shumway
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August 13, 2020 - 5:52 am
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I've got a basic amp ($20-type thing) that came with a dirt-cheap bass outfit.

And I was thinking of buying something along the lines of a Cube - i.e. top price $200-$300. You can spend $2000 on an amp, so forget that - if I had $2000 I'd buy a viola.

Anyways, Cube make various amps, there's the microcube, there's the bass cube, which might work very well with a violin.

What do you recommend? It would mainly be for indoors, although busking is not impossible.

Andrew

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Irv
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August 13, 2020 - 9:57 am
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In the same price range as the one you mentioned is the Yamaha THR5A.  I have used it on violin, guitar, and cello.  It will accept batteries for outdoor performance without access to an electrical outlet.  

Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.

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JohnBAngel

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August 14, 2020 - 1:32 pm
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Gordon,

There are several good small amps on the market. I think they stopped producing the Microcube, but I could be wrong.

I don't believe you would need anything more than 5 amps and a battery-only option would be helpful at times of no plug. Anything requiring more than 5 amps could be mic'd to a PA system with a microphone on your amp.

My go-to amp is a Maxi-Mouse, which has been out of production for a while now.

My suggestion is to make sure you play any amp before you buy it. A lot of people like the response from bass amps in lieu of others.

Hope this is helpful

JohnBAngel 👍

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Gordon Shumway
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August 14, 2020 - 4:01 pm
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The Yamaha is sweet-looking, although I'm wary of tubes. The Cube Bass amp is more than twice as heavy, but impressive! I suspect it will be good for a 5-string electric like the Yamaha YEV5. I'll look at the Maxi Mouse.

Bass amps also tend to be favoured by harmonica players. Those antique 100W Fender bass amps used to be a particular favourite with the old guys. Then the 50W Harp Gear amp took over, but we're back to $2000 again.

Andrew

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Irv
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August 14, 2020 - 5:33 pm
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Gordon, I looked at the Yamaha USA website and it appears that the tube effect is simulated with electronic circuitry. 9DC1BC1A-01E0-4D81-B017-D0E5D1F403DC.jpegImage Enlarger

Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.

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ABitRusty
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August 14, 2020 - 6:01 pm
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These guys send out emails of new products.  I dont have this and cant say either way if it would work.  Looks like they modeled a bunch of amps and loaded them in it.  Their software is great..again cant speak for this though but the price seems about where you are and the flexability seems nice.

https://www.positivegrid.com/spark

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Gordon Shumway
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August 15, 2020 - 4:04 am
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Irv said
Gordon, I looked at the Yamaha USA website and it appears that the tube effect is simulated with electronic circuitry. 9DC1BC1A-01E0-4D81-B017-D0E5D1F403DC.jpegImage Enlarger

  

Thanks, Irv. All I saw was some Amazon blurb that was ambiguous.

Andrew

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Irv
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August 15, 2020 - 3:42 pm
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Gordon, I think that Yamaha fosters the illusion.  They appear to use small neon type light sources to give off the glow of tubes.  The amp has some utility where you can download effects.  No clue how that works.  The carrying case (an extra cost accessory) is useful.

Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.

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