Amplification for a V-Accordion

[EuroFolker]

Dear members,

Just wondering how you go about amplifying your digital accordions (if you do). Looking for inspiration (and an excuse to buy more toys, haha)

I predict that the FR1x's tiny speaker(s) will not produce the most satisfying sound for anything other than quiet practice.

I have a Vox NuTube keyboard amplifier which I sometimes use with my arranger keyboard - it is a mono amplifier with multiple inputs so it would amplify both the bass and treble side.



I am thinking about adding one of these to amplify the bass side separately for a more immersive sound when playing for pleasure:



Would love to see some other amplification examples.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Chris Laarman]

Dear members,

Just wondering how you go about amplifying your digital accordions (if you do). Looking for inspiration (and an excuse to buy more toys, haha)

I predict that the FR1x's tiny speaker(s) will not produce the most satisfying sound for anything other than quiet practice.

I have a Vox NuTube keyboard amplifier which I sometimes use with my arranger keyboard - it is a mono amplifier with multiple inputs so it would amplify both the bass and treble side.



I am thinking about adding one of these to amplify the bass side separately for a more immersive sound when playing for pleasure:



Would love to see some other amplification examples.

Thank you in advance!

Those experienced may already be writing.

In the meantime, check out our thread(s) on wireless transmitters for V-Accordions: a related topic.

 

[Ben-jammin]

The go to these days for acoustic/midi/reedless accordions is line array full range systems with the Bose systems being particularly well regarded. Amplifiers designed to accentuate/attenuate frequency’s to flatter guitar should be avoided.

 

[EuroFolker]

The Black VOX amplifier is a bass guitar amplifier, although the speaker is the same as the keyboard version, and the NuTube circuitry. Definitely a valid point about frequency contouring being different for a bass guitar (but the aux input will accept an audio player so maybe that part can be bypassed!)

 

[davidplaysaccordion]

I use a Bose s1 pro battery powered speaker. Has good bass. Connected using getaria gws 28 stereo wireless system. Works great and being battery powered keeps me free from the need for a mains lead

 

[Tommaso B]

My current accordion is a Roland FR4X, so I can't speak for the smaller FR1X. My unit has built-in receptors to accommodate a remote audio amplifier for both the treble and bass sides, and in fact works very well. A few years ago I purchased a 15-watt keyboard amplifier (Ultratone HT108) by Behringer for use (at the time) with a Petosa 1400 full-sized piano accordion that had really excellent built-in audio pickups on its treble and bass sides. I use the same amp set up now for my Roland, and it works quite well for those rare occasions when my Roland's full output into a stand-up mic isn't able to "fill" a fairly large audience space. (I always remember that wise reminder, that an amplifier also projects your mistakes as well as your good stuff.....

 

[Chris Laarman]

Let me chime in after all. - I do have an FR-1xb, but I'm currently not into accordions. If I'd need just a bit of amplification, I might wirelessly connect it to (the auxiliary input of) my Boss Dual Cube LX. (Note: Boss. I also have Bose gear.) Which is just another member of the Roland/Boss Cube family. Stereo.

 

[John M]

I am very satisfied with the Bose Portable Line array speaker systems to amplify my Roland 8X. I have a Bose L1 Compact and recently purchased a L1 Pro8. The features I like about the Pro8 are:

- 8 speakers in the line array vs. 6 in the Compact with an additional 15 watts of RMS power

- Larger Bass speaker, 240 Watts RMS power. Compact = 65 watts RMS power.

- Lower Frequency response 45 Hz (-3dB) vs. 65 Hz (3 dB) for the Compact – nice clear “Thump” on the low bass notes

- Separate Bass and Treble controls to control the gain on the Bass & Treble Amps. Compact doesn’t have this.

- Port to supply power to my T4S mixer, so I don’t need another power supply. Compact doesn’t have this.

- The Pro 8 is just as portable as the Compact. It is a few pounds heavier. Height with line array is about the same. Height of the power stand is about 2 inches more than on the Compact.

 

[EuroFolker]

Proof of concept with the basic bass amp I already had - I like the results. Line out of the arranger keyboard is fully programmable, only sending the bass parts to the bass amp. I think this should work well for the v-accordion.

 

[Chris Laarman]

Proof of concept with the basic bass amp I already had - I like the results. Line out of the arranger keyboard is fully programmable, only sending the bass parts to the bass amp. I think this should work well for the v-accordion.

I'm not familiar with these Vox amps. If they are of a plain or PA type, your plan seems good. If these amps are designed for bass and guitar, then their output may be skewed in a way that bassists and guitarists appreciate, but accordionists don't. That's a lesson a learned on his forum...

 

[Simon Max]

Hi,
In order to create two separate outputs for right and left side, you must change the stereo setting to full. When using headphones, this setting is quite uncomfortable.
Even when playing without headphones, this may he be problematic. It probably depends on how the pan settings were programmed for a specific setting.
As I am still fiddiling around with my sets, I find it easier to just change the Ste setting back to NAT when playing without amplification.

P.S. on the FR1- (maybe on the fr1-x too) you must also adjust the reverb and chorus settings to 0 in order to achieve total separation of the right and left sides.

Simon

 

[Rosie C]

" only sending the bass parts to the bass amp"

Ooh, thanks for this. I don't have a Roland accordion, but I have been thinking about mic'ing my acoustic accordion. I play my accordion treble through an Orange guitar amp. But I have a matching Orange bass practice amp! It just hadn't occurred to me!

 

[Kim at the Stack]

I use a little Roland cube - I need to keep things simple, and as a small female, I go for the lightest weight possible! It's a simple arrangement, plug in the Roland accordion, there's also a slot for a microphone. The cube and leads, microphone, etc, go in a Hohner gig bag on my back, the accordion in a case on wheels. So I can, just about, carry everything at once. All battery operated.

This works well in the setting I usually play in - care homes and day centres. Being battery operated means the staff don't need to worry about PAT testing my equipment.

Kim