A compact little powerhouse that is perfect for small gigs and coffee shop sessions. Highly portable, (many thanks to the reviewer who suggested a Stairville SB130 as a gig bag which fits it perfectly). Oh, and the whole lot only costs about as much as a reverb pedal!
The sound: Like other reviewers, I have used the treble EQ a fair way up to boost the highs, as I like my guitar to be bright and crisp. Took just a few minutes to settle into an EQ I like, but once there it’s very stable and matches my LR Baggs Anthem very well. There are a lot of effects settings, which can be easily overdone changing the sound too much, but just a little medium length reverb dialled in suits my style. The exception is a little slap-back delay when used with a hollowbody 335-lookalike, which is great for jazz, or even some light rockabilly. The phantom power is handy as I can use some condenser mics I already own, and a lapel condenser mic doubles as a resonator pickup on channel 2. A real bonus is the standard pole mount on the bottom – I’ve even used it as a little sound reinforcement PA for a softly spoken speaker in the town hall.
I can’t say I’m a fan of the splatter paint finish, but it looks pretty durable and easier to live with than the inevitable grazes and scratches you’d get on flat black. Kicked back on its stand, it looks classy and acts as a nice monitor if the output is fed to a desk.
Would I have liked a nice oak – finish Compact amp by that other manufacturer? Sure, but I don’t have a spare 900 euros. Would I be able to hear the difference? Possibly. Would my audience notice the difference? Not a chance.
