AMP for Organ/Keys any tips?

mwnci

Joined: Nov 27, 2008
Posts: 48
North Wales

Posted on Sep 04 2011 04:38 AM

Hi, hope all's well, im looking for an amp for organ/keys , something not too big, (no 2/12's if poss)any ideas? Thanks! Al

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narciso

Joined: Mar 29, 2010
Posts: 324
Spain
Spain

Posted on Sep 04 2011 06:38 AM

The Keyboard player in my band uses a Roland KC model. It is not too big and it sounds good.

—

https://lospipelines.es/
Find us on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all other music platforms.
https://www.youtube.com/@LosPipelines
https://www.instagram.com/los_pipelines/?next=%2F
Los Pipelines - Facebook

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11078
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2011 09:16 AM

Why not buy a small P.A.? Keyboards don't need amps to color the sound like guitars do. Especially Farfisas.

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

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killbabykill34

Joined: Apr 03, 2010
Posts: 3201
Jacksonville, AL
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2011 09:23 AM

A Bass decent bass amp always makes for a good Keyboard amp.

—

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

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cambeezy

Joined: Jun 26, 2007
Posts: 399
Cleveland, Ohio
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2011 11:21 AM

killbabykill34 wrote:

A Bass decent bass amp always makes for a good Keyboard
amp.

+1 bass amp with piezo horn.

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CrispyGoodness

Joined: Apr 06, 2009
Posts: 565
North Cackalacky
2 News Pins

Posted on Sep 04 2011 12:09 PM

What kind of organ is it? If it's a vintage combo organ, like a Farfisa or Vox, a modern key amp or bass amp with a horn can make the treble ear-bleedingly bad. I'd recommend either an old-school bass amp, or a big clean guitar amp, like a Twin Reverb or Peavey Musician. (Lab amps actually made a keyboard variant of their L7 guitar amp--they can be had quite cheap if you can find one).

If it's something more recent, like a Nord or Roland VK organ, any good keyboard amp will kick ass. Like Narsico's key guy, I use a Roland KC-500, but I've also used Peavey's KB series amps a bunch, and they sound good, too.

--Crispy

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psychonaut

Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1305
2 Download Pins

Posted on Sep 04 2011 12:36 PM

I know you said no 2 12's, but we run our Vox organ through a Twin Reverb. It has just enough headroom to keep it clean at the volume level we play at. Plus the tubes really warm it up nicely. Alternately, something with a 15" speaker would probably work great.

—

https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com

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nedorama

Joined: Oct 10, 2009
Posts: 229
South Bay, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 05 2011 12:42 PM

Keyboard amps or a Twin reverb will work nice, but if you're looking for versatility, hard to beat a powered PA speaker, such as the QSC KW or K series. Lightweight and has both low end and top with separate woofer and horn, both powered. You can set it up as a floor monitor wedge in front of you, on a tripod stand behind you, etc. Bonus is you can also use this as a monitor to run vocals through.

Our band has 2 of the QSC HPR122i's, and keyboards sound great through them as do vocals. We've run a Kurzweil K2000, Korg i5, and a Farfisa Compact Duo through them.

If you want a little more control on EQ and levels with multiple keyboards, a small mixer like the Mackie 402 is great - I got one for when I need to bring an iPod, speaker and mic to my kids' school - easier than bringing a rack case with the mixer, etc.

Also - for modern powered PA speakers, you don't need a 15" to get bass - I had thought that when I originally bought JBL JRX115's. A good efficient 12" speaker in a good cabinet (i.e. not the JRX) will get better punchier bass than a crappy 15.

Hope this helps.

—

'65 Fender Tremolux, '74 Princeton; 77 Vibrolux Reverb; '81 Princeton Reverb
'65-66 Hilgen Basso Grande
Dr. Z MAZ 18 Jr. + 1x12 Cab
Various Telecasters and noise-making pedals
Farfisa Compact Duo

Last edited: Sep 05, 2011 12:43:19

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Surfabilly

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
7 Contributor Pins

Posted on Sep 06 2011 07:22 AM

Didn't John Lord (Deep Purple) use a 2x12 Marshall with his Hammond B3?

—

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

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bangbang

Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 183
N.C.
United States

Posted on Sep 06 2011 02:02 PM

The other guitarist in our band uses a Fender Twin Reverb for his keyboard.
Of course he also plays his guitar and trumpet through it also .

—

Johnny Rocket
The Monterreys !
http://www.youtube.com/user/THEMONTERREYS?feature=mhum

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mwnci Joined: Nov 27, 2008 Posts: 48 North Wales	Posted on Sep 04 2011 04:38 AM Hi, hope all's well, im looking for an amp for organ/keys , something not too big, (no 2/12's if poss)any ideas? Thanks! Al Top
narciso Joined: Mar 29, 2010 Posts: 324 Spain	Posted on Sep 04 2011 06:38 AM The Keyboard player in my band uses a Roland KC model. It is not too big and it sounds good. — https://lospipelines.es/ Find us on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all other music platforms. https://www.youtube.com/@LosPipelines https://www.instagram.com/los_pipelines/?next=%2F Los Pipelines - Facebook Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11078 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Sep 04 2011 09:16 AM Why not buy a small P.A.? Keyboards don't need amps to color the sound like guitars do. Especially Farfisas. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
killbabykill34 Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL	Posted on Sep 04 2011 09:23 AM A Bass decent bass amp always makes for a good Keyboard amp. — THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/ www.reverbnation.com/thekbk www.facebook.com/thekbkal Top
cambeezy Joined: Jun 26, 2007 Posts: 399 Cleveland, Ohio	Posted on Sep 04 2011 11:21 AM killbabykill34 wrote: A Bass decent bass amp always makes for a good Keyboard amp. +1 bass amp with piezo horn. Top
CrispyGoodness Joined: Apr 06, 2009 Posts: 565 North Cackalacky	Posted on Sep 04 2011 12:09 PM What kind of organ is it? If it's a vintage combo organ, like a Farfisa or Vox, a modern key amp or bass amp with a horn can make the treble ear-bleedingly bad. I'd recommend either an old-school bass amp, or a big clean guitar amp, like a Twin Reverb or Peavey Musician. (Lab amps actually made a keyboard variant of their L7 guitar amp--they can be had quite cheap if you can find one). If it's something more recent, like a Nord or Roland VK organ, any good keyboard amp will kick ass. Like Narsico's key guy, I use a Roland KC-500, but I've also used Peavey's KB series amps a bunch, and they sound good, too. --Crispy Top
psychonaut Joined: Dec 08, 2007 Posts: 1305	Posted on Sep 04 2011 12:36 PM I know you said no 2 12's, but we run our Vox organ through a Twin Reverb. It has just enough headroom to keep it clean at the volume level we play at. Plus the tubes really warm it up nicely. Alternately, something with a 15" speaker would probably work great. — https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger http://coffindaggers.com/ http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com Top
nedorama Joined: Oct 10, 2009 Posts: 229 South Bay, CA	Posted on Sep 05 2011 12:42 PM Keyboard amps or a Twin reverb will work nice, but if you're looking for versatility, hard to beat a powered PA speaker, such as the QSC KW or K series. Lightweight and has both low end and top with separate woofer and horn, both powered. You can set it up as a floor monitor wedge in front of you, on a tripod stand behind you, etc. Bonus is you can also use this as a monitor to run vocals through. Our band has 2 of the QSC HPR122i's, and keyboards sound great through them as do vocals. We've run a Kurzweil K2000, Korg i5, and a Farfisa Compact Duo through them. If you want a little more control on EQ and levels with multiple keyboards, a small mixer like the Mackie 402 is great - I got one for when I need to bring an iPod, speaker and mic to my kids' school - easier than bringing a rack case with the mixer, etc. Also - for modern powered PA speakers, you don't need a 15" to get bass - I had thought that when I originally bought JBL JRX115's. A good efficient 12" speaker in a good cabinet (i.e. not the JRX) will get better punchier bass than a crappy 15. Hope this helps. — '65 Fender Tremolux, '74 Princeton; 77 Vibrolux Reverb; '81 Princeton Reverb '65-66 Hilgen Basso Grande Dr. Z MAZ 18 Jr. + 1x12 Cab Various Telecasters and noise-making pedals Farfisa Compact Duo Last edited: Sep 05, 2011 12:43:19 Top
Surfabilly Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 852 Connersville, Indiana, USA	Posted on Sep 06 2011 07:22 AM Didn't John Lord (Deep Purple) use a 2x12 Marshall with his Hammond B3? — Fast Cars & Loud Guitars! Top
bangbang Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 183 N.C.	Posted on Sep 06 2011 02:02 PM The other guitarist in our band uses a Fender Twin Reverb for his keyboard. Of course he also plays his guitar and trumpet through it also . — Johnny Rocket The Monterreys ! http://www.youtube.com/user/THEMONTERREYS?feature=mhum Top

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AMP for Organ/Keys any tips?