advice - amp for busking

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,Guest NZ'er currently in York
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 10:10 AM

Hi,

Thought I'd join in to the debate. I am a fulltime musician and have busked on and off for a living for the last 9 years across the UK and Ireland. I tried a few times without amplification but it never worked as the songs I write are ballad country style that even I was having trouble hearing my picking and don't want to strain my voice by singing to loudly when have paid gigs to do as well.

I have always taken it very seriously and mainly busked in York and Edinburgh and some in Bristol and a few years ago in Ireland. All great spots though harder now with the recession. Anyway I bought an AER amp beautiful sound etc out of my busking money and sell CDs through donations (don't need license anywhere for that not even in YOrk) and yes you can use amplification in certain areas in York.

I have always just had the amp enough to be heard by people within the limits of the busking guidelines (50 metres) and it has been absolutely crucial to being heard and taken seriously as a musician. I have business cards with me and signs with info which people really like and have numerous gigs off the busking.

The AER is the most gorgeous sound but way to heavy to lug around so about to invest in probably the Roland street amp to take around Europe and NZ etc.

I find if I look more professional I get taken more seriously as a performer and at at end of the day I want to be doing concert gigs and moving on from the busking as main source. As a woman on her own busking is hard enough so getting things right and making sure that you amplify it enough only to be heard and not to drown the street as many I have heard do which I absolutely hate as it means others can't play anywhere near.

I also only ever play between 1 hr and max 2 hrs before moving on and do move around so I am not in the same city day in day out. Got to think of the shops, the punters and the other buskers.

Most times its great and I have met so many amazing people this way but its not easy.

:-)

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: Jane of 'ull
Date: 29 May 11 - 06:38 AM

That's interesting I always wondered what the busking guidelines were with regard to noise, etc.

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 29 May 11 - 07:24 AM

I use a Peavey Solo, 9W, with my tenor guitar, through a Dean Markley pick up across the sound hole. The batteries last for months, and it is quite solid, so you can sit on it! The point of using an amp is not primarily to give additional volume, but the kind of slow airs and waltzes I play need the additional sustain that an amp gives.

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,Wayne Landers
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 10:37 AM

The Boss 2-channel battery-powered amp/mini PA by Roland delivers fantastic sound and versatility. Having 2 channels you can have a mic or a friend on the same gear. it uses 6 AA batteries and get about 15- 18 hours to a set. it's a little higher in price than some but you get what you pay for as well. It's not the lightest of amps either at 5 kilos. (that's 11 pounds) So that may also be a factor for some. hope this helps.

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,Ed B
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 03:48 PM

Just wanted to say thanks for a fascinating, 8-year-old thread.

Hope you are all doing fine with your music and looking forward to applying what I've learnt here to my humble beginnings with fiddle.

Amped or not!

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 04 Oct 11 - 01:24 PM

the Roland MicroCube sits in my Penguin 60 Years book bag, with room for cable, &c. Totally love it! Just enough boost to cut through the traffic, and I hunch it would work fine with your Shure.
[never checked battery life, but I seem to get good lots from them]

slainte

dennis

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,Dennis
Date: 15 Nov 11 - 10:24 PM

A small battery powered amp makes a world of difference. I have a little Vox amp and play acoustic guitar and use a headset vocal mic. It just gives you a little more volume so that you can be heard over surrounding noises. Without the amp, you have to pound on the guitar to even be heard. And forget about playing any kind of decent finger picking or lead work. I also play harmonica, but that seems to cut through more than everything else. The vocal mic also picks up the harmonica well enough.

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,paul in new orleans
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 01:38 AM

i much prefer the sound of an electric guitar,and you kinda need an amp to play that so i do. it all depends on the environment. did y'all get mad when dylan went electric?

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 10:35 AM

Roland Microcube. It can run on batteries, is very light, small, and loud. I use it and I love it.

Subject: RE: advice - amp for busking
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 23 May 14 - 01:10 AM

A Roland AC33 is battery (6-8hrs) has mic and guitar inputs, reverb, chorus and a looper. For noisy areas, a Bose Compact run with a car jump starter with an ac plug (400watts or more) will run the Bose, a T1 mixer, wireless for guitar, and Wireless headset mic for 3-4hrs. and it sounds incredible. Mount it hooked together on a 4wheel dolly and roll it in and play, and roll out.