You get to the open mic, only to discover that they don't have stage monitors and the sound guy is asleep at the wheel. You show up to the coffee shop, only to realize that the din of conversation and espresso machines drowns out your playing. You head down to the subway stop, but your playing isn't loud enough to gather a crowd. If you've ever been in these situations, the Fishman Loudbox Mini is for you. Even if you haven't, you'll encounter problems like these if you like playing solo shows. Do yourself a favor. Check out this amp.

A Singer-Songwriter's Best Friend

It's fine to sing and play unplugged when figuring out a song or jamming with another acoustic instrument. If you want to hear yourself as the audience would and get a good mix, it helps to have one unit to amplify your voice and your guitar. That way you can balance both signal levels, dial in their respective EQs and still hear yourself as if you had a stage monitor. That's exactly what the Fishman Loudbox Mini allows you to do. With a phase switch to fight feedback, you can stand in front of the amp without worrying about drones developing. The Loudbox Mini lets you be fully self-reliant as a solo performer, ensuring that you will always be heard regardless of the venue.

Mini Box, Loud Sound

All the features in the world would be useless if a solo performer couldn't lug the Loudbox Mini around on his/her own. At under twenty pounds, this amp is smaller than a trumpet case, borderline backpack material if you had a serious backpack. And yet it cranks out 60 watts of solid state power that maintains clarity even at high volume. With a 6.5" woofer and a 1" tweeter, the Loudbox Mini is well-suited to the frequencies of most acoustic guitars and vocal ranges. The mic channel has its own two-band EQ and reverb, while the instrument channel has a three-band EQ, reverb and an adjustable chorus effect. The amp also has a master volume, which is useful if you've found the right balance between your guitar and your voice and increase the overall level of that mix.

Practice and Jamming

With an MP3 input and XLR output, you have plenty of options for practicing and performing. The audio-in allows you to plug in your iPod or other device and dial in your signal so you become part of the mix with your favorite songs. You can also use this feature to provide pre-recorded backing tracks during live performance. The XLR out allows you to use the Loudbox Mini as your own preamp before your signal goes into a venue's D.I. box. This allows you to be in control of the EQ and pre-gain, with the amp acting like a stage monitor if a sound tech insists on using the venue's system. This output also makes direct in recording a possibility.

How does this compare to other small acoustic amps like the Yamaha THR5A or the Roland AC-33?

The Yamaha THR5A is somewhat of an apples to oranges comparison, since it is a 5 watt, single-channel modeling amplifier simply designed to make your acoustic sound like it is mic'ed with five classic set ups. The Roland AC-33 is a more apt comparison, since it can also handle two simultaneous signals (two instruments or instrument and mic) and is roughly the same size. The AC-33 can't quite deliver as much power (30W vs. 60W), so there is less clean headroom, but it can function on eight AA batteries for street performances. It also includes a 40 second looper, a headphone jack (which the Loudbox Mini lacks) and additional effects. A worthy competitor, but its preamp doesn't quite measure up to the one in the Fishman.