Fishman Loud Box Mini vs Crate 6110 Gunnison

[Matt42]

My band is looking at getting a couple of acoustic amps here soon, and have narrowed it down to these two (mostly, though the larger Durango/Telluride and Loudbox Artist would be considered).

Anyone have any experience with these, or just general comments about them? I like the Loudbox Mini's size from a portability standpoint, but I'm afraid a 6.5 inch speaker wont push enough sound. When we are playing bars and stuff, it wont matter since we'll be using the direct out to the PA. But when we play places where we wont be doing that, will it be able to keep up with a drummer?

 

[jtougas]

Re: Fishman Loud Box Mini vs Crate 6110 Gunnison

If you'll always have a PA, skip the amp and go with a good DI, like a SansAmp Paracoustic DI, a Countryman, or an LR Baggs.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fishman Loud Box Mini vs Crate 6110 Gunnison

i have a loudbox mini. ive been doing more acoustic duo shows and the other singer/guitar player already had one. i was tired of dragging around 250 lbs of speakers and pa, we had a cable go bad so while i went back to the car to get another he ran his vox and guitar thru the loudbox and did a song solo. i was impressed enough by the way it sounded that i found a used one and now we both just use a loudbox mini.

vocal and guitar into the amp. done.

it has a good amount of volume and will keep up with a drummer as long as he isnt really loud. it doesnt have a huge deep bottom but doesnt sound thin at all either. im very happy with it, granted im using it a little different than you will be

 

[briggleman]

Re: Fishman Loud Box Mini vs Crate 6110 Gunnison

I use the Fishman loudbox 100 (almost the same as the Artist) and love the sound, power, and connectivity options. This will give you all the power you need, plus the ability to go to the PA and then, the Artist can be used as a monitor if needed or point it toward the crowd for more sound reinforcement. Great natural acoustic sound.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Fishman Loud Box Mini vs Crate 6110 Gunnison

If you'll always have a PA, skip the amp and go with a good DI, like a SansAmp Paracoustic DI, a Countryman, or an LR Baggs.

I actually use an LR Baggs Paracoustic DI and love it. The problem is that we wont always have the capability of plugging everything into a PA. I'd eventually like to have 3 acoustic amps for the band, one for my acoustic, one of our singer's acoustic and banjo and one for the fiddle, that way when we play on the street, we can run 3 mics and 3 instruments.

it has a good amount of volume and will keep up with a drummer as long as he isnt really loud. it doesnt have a huge deep bottom but doesnt sound thin at all either. im very happy with it, granted im using it a little different than you will be

This is encouraging. He'll be using it with banjo a fair amount, so the lack of a deep bottom end wont be an issue there, and even when he plays guitar, he doesn't do much low end stuff. We are currently without a drummer, but whoever we get will have to be on the quite side of things, so that's not a problem either.

If it were for me, I'd probably get something with more speaker size, but for him, I think it'll be great, and at a price that will let him get a new acoustic so he can stop stealing mine!

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Fishman Loud Box Mini vs Crate 6110 Gunnison

I've got both the Loudbox Mini and the Gunnison (as well as the LR Baggs Para DI and a PA). I bought the Gunnison (used at a pawn shop) as a backup/spare to the Mini. The Crate has more low-end and volume than the Fishman (no surprize there, since the driver in the Crate is so much larger). But the Loudbox sounds MUCH more natural than the Gunnison. So that's why it's my backup. I've also used it at several gigs as an extension cab to my Loudbox. I just run out of the XLR out of the LB into one of the channels on the Crate. Makes a very nice and capable mini-PA!

The Para DI is my favorite DI, and I haul it around as a backup when I've got my whole PA with me. But I still prefer the sound of the Loudbox to it (not to mention the versatility of that sweet little amp!). The Loudbox really is an awesome all-in-one amp/PA solution for anyone doing small-medium venues. Eventually I'll upgrade to the Artist and use my Mini as a backup.