Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on December 29, 2014 at 12:50pm

Yeah, the Pignose is a good amp. It's also a great pre-amp, since it can be connected to an external speaker cabinet, or a mixing board for studio recording. Plus, it has that super cool pig nose volume knob. If you can get one for a decent price, jump on it. There's one listed on Ebay right now, current bid is $31 USD...which is much better than the $100-150+ prices they often go for.

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on December 29, 2014 at 12:52pm

Keep in mind that the term "good amp" is relative to the listener's ears and preferences. What sounds good to one person with one type of guitar may and often will sound different to another person with another guitar. Imho, a good idea is to visit a local music shop and try out a few amps with your own guitar in hand, to see what get's you groovin".

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on December 29, 2014 at 1:34pm

Thanks Scott.

I figure a 5" speaker is likely to sound pretty raw which isn't necessarily a bad thing with a CBG.A Piezo should put plenty of power into the amp. Wouldn't take much to over-drive the amp and get into some distortion.

I've seen them down around $75 from Sweetwater and will check out the ebay listing. But your suggestion to try one out makes a lot of sense.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on December 29, 2014 at 3:28pm

Thanks. I don't plan any shows (for which my friends are grateful), but I do like to amplify a bit when playing. Sounds like it might be just the ticket for what I want to do.

Tom T

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on December 30, 2014 at 12:50am

Bah. I use a Pignose 7-100 onstage quite often. The last big show I did back in May (vids to come), it was part of the backline! All we did was run it off the wall wart into house power, crack it half open, and shove a mic in it, direct to the house mixer. They can sound huge that way. Frank Zappa frequently used one in the studio this way. The very first one was developed for and with Terry Kath, the lead guitarist for the original Chicago Transit Authority, back in 1972, who later tragically took his own life. I own two of them, one in the States at my Mom's, and the other in my man cave in Saudi. In a couple of my vids on my Profile page, I use one; feel free to check it out. As Scott says, they have a distinctive tone, that may, or may not, be just what you're looking for. They have retailed for right around $100 ever since the '70's. They are also perfect for busking; I saw and heard one being used to great effect a number of years ago in the Paris Metro.

Many blues harpists also swear by them, as they have an old-sounding overdrive quality when cranked all the way up, that fits an overblown bent harp perfectly. There are a number of vids out on YouTube demonstrating that, too.

I also use a Roland Stereo Mobile Cube, similar to the Micro Cube, as my main practice amp, which indeed is a more powerful, versatile amp than the Pignose 7-100, as CBJ sez, due to the onboard effects, and the capability of playing both instrument and vocals through it simultaneously. I used it once in a gym in front of 1000 people about 6 years ago, cranked almost all the way up with no further amplification or drive from the house PA, in support of my daughter at a school talent show; I played my Ovation through it, while she simultaneously sang through a Shure SM 58 mic. She brought the house down. They run around $180. I use mine in a couple of my Profile page vids, too. It can also be used for busking. It features Clean, Crunch and Overdrive, has separate Volume controls for mic and instrument, and also has onboard Chorus, Delay and Reverb.

I can highly recommend both. Do as Scott says, and A/B them at your local git emporium with one of your CBGs.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on December 30, 2014 at 1:57am

Great response. I'll check out the vids you suggested.

Thanks for taking the time to give so much information.

T

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on December 29, 2014 at 6:16pm

Depends on what your definition of a good amp is. The Pignose is fine, but it's an old design, and a modern battery powered amp such as the Roland MicroCube will  knock it clean out of the water. The Pignose has the advantage of being smaller and lighter than the Roland, and looks cool, but after that the Roland outscores it on every count. The Pignose has one sound but the MicroCube has 6 different voicings (plus a mic setting), effects, tone control, line out, aux in...and it runs on mains power or 6 x AA batteries.

There are other modern battery amps from people like Vox and Line6, but the MicroCube is so much easier to use and get an acceptable sound out of. I also have a Pignose 20, which I loved...until I got the MicroCube. I really isn't in the same league as the modern stuff, sad to say.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on December 30, 2014 at 12:50am

Thanks for taking the time to provide so much infor, John. If it's the same Roland that made my piano, then I'm sure it is a quality piece.

I'll check out the MicroCube.

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Permalink Reply by John Roberts on January 1, 2015 at 8:14am

Pignose 7-100 is a good amp but a one trick pony. It has "clean" sound, and if you turn it up a lot you get "distortion". I like this amp, but it is limited. A much better choice at twice the price is Roland Micro Cube GX. It has lots of various controls and has onboard "modeling". Battery lasts much longer in the GX than in the Pignose. Sweetwater.com currently has the Roland Micro Cube GX for $150.00 delivered. I have a white one and it looks and sounds impressive.

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Permalink Reply by 3 String Blues on January 4, 2015 at 7:04am

It IS THE BEST AMP for cigar box guitar

Check out some of the videos I have done with one visit radio-guitar-amps.com

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on January 4, 2015 at 10:01am

TMI?

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Permalink Reply by John Roberts on January 5, 2015 at 7:25am

I always enjoy videos from beetle juice. However, it does bring up a weakness in the pig nose. In order to get that sound you have to employ bathroom reverb. And.........to get some gain you have to turn it way up. Much easier when you have gain and reverb settings on the amp itself settings.

That said, I do like the pig nose. I like it a lot. I just like the Roland Micro Cube GX more. 

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