Acoustic Amp Shootout! The NEW Taylor Circa 74 vs. Fishman Loudbox Artist Comparison
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- Taylor just released their first acoustic amp, but how does it sound compared to a Fishman Loudbox Artist? In this detailed amp comparison, we dive deep into both, dissecting their unique features and sound profiles 🎶 Tune in to learn more and find which one is best for you!
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00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Amp DI Comparison
00:40 - Features
01:10 - Speaker Comparison from Miking
01:46 - More Features
03:04 - Final Thoughts
I own the Fishman amp and I feel it is better for a performing artist. The Circa 75 is fine for home use. Your Playing a Taylor guitar with a Taylor tee shirt and finally picking the Taylor amp shows too much bias to be a real comparison.
I just realized this, thank you for pointing it out. Seems sus.
I think the Taylor sounds more natural while the Fishman is more mellow and warmer. Would love to hear vocal from the Taylor. Cosmetically, the Taylor is a unique option for natural and classic wood cabinet amp. It’s all about personal preference and taste.
I’ve been mulling over the Circa 74 amp for a few months. The steep MSRP $1200 deterred me from buying until Musician’s Friend listed an open box one $350 below MSRP and that made it easier for me to pull the trigger. I have the Circa 74 for a few weeks now and have been using it with LR Baggs Anthem, LR Baggs Orianthi Custom, Taylor ES2, K&K Pure mini, and B-band pickups. I so far mostly used Taylor recommended settings in the user manual for the LR Baggs, ES2, and K&K pickups; and they all sound great. The user manual does not have recommended settings for B-band pickup but that pickup uses under saddle transducer similar to the Taylor ES2 pickup, thus, I used ES2 recommended settings for the B-band pickup and it sounds great. The most pleasant surprise is how the Circa 74 sounds with nylon string and classical guitars. I used a pair of Pure SM58 and Pure beta 58 along with a Pure PGA81 mics placed about 12 inches in front of the 12th fret of my classical guitars and what a pleasant sound coming out of the Circa 74. Before buying the Circa 74 amp, I thought that the natural, woody, and earthy sound of the Circa 74 would be great for classical guitars and I wasn’t wrong. Since I couldn’t find any review or demo of the Circa 74 with classical or nylon string guitars, I thought I could share my little experience with nylon string guitars and Circa 74 amp here. I have a Fender Acoustasonic SFX amp for 15 years. I now like my Circa amp more than my Acoustasonic amp, especially, for classical guitars. The solid mahogany wood cabinet seems to resonate well with nylon string guitars. And the Circa 74 is as beautifully crafted as a Taylor guitar is. The only complaint is the thin dust bag/cover that came with the amp. At MSRP $1200, the least Taylor could do is to include a better fabric cover and perhaps with a Circa 74 logo on it, which probably costs less than $5 to make but the marketing values of a better cover would be much greater than the cost to make it.
Any advice what I should use for singing and acoustic guitar? I don't want to use pickup just microphone for guitar. I need for practice and small audience. Should I use acoustic amp or PA and which one you are advice?
I have a few friends who play in small venues. They have a floorboard with tons of effects pedals. I have never used the pedals and am now trying to figure out how to use them and how to set the adjustments. Do you have any hints? I own a Taylor 916CE, and several amps. I just bought the Positive Grid Live 150-watt Amp with a battery. I think the battery option is pretty important so that you can play anywhere and Positive Grid offers tons of effects built in. What are your thoughts?
Dude you’re playing a Taylor guitar, wearing a Taylor hat, a Taylor Shirt, and you have a Taylor T5 hanging on the back wall. Of course you’d pick the Taylor Amp unbiased…. 😂 Fishman amp all day everyday and if it’s wattage your after then just go with the Fishman Performer which is 180 watts and more of an equal comparison to the Taylor Circa 74.
😂
I see your point! And yeah, the Fishman is a rad choice AND is like $400 cheaper. I don’t want to make it sound like I think it’s an inferior amp. The Loudboxes are some of the best out there! That’s why we wanted to compare them!
I try to approach all videos as unbiased as I can be. The reality is that our shop sells LOTS of Taylors and we get asked these questions all the time when it comes to these more boutique items. Rest assured, that regardless of how I chose to dress I DID believe that the Circa 74 sounded better.
Thanks for sharing your opinion 🤘
I think he is trying to say that you’re saying you are doing an unbiased review, but it does not necessarily appear unbiased based on your instrument choice, your apparel choice and the prominent background guitar placement. Now, I watched the whole video so I genuinely believe you’re trying to give an unbiased review. I also believe that the Taylor/taylor combo sounded best in your video, but the power of marketing and advertising will cause many people to question the integrity of the review. Again, AWESOME REVIEW, just maybe try to be mindful of the branding. Thanks for the awesome content as always.
@@ryansullivan2933 So yeah all fair points! Our owner likes brand recognition and consistency in our videos. We do regular Taylor-specific content since it’s one of our most sold brands. But your comments definitely inspire me to make a video using a different acoustic and see how other brands compare with these amps.
Thanks for watching and I appreciate the feedback!
Also, how can you compare playing a taylor while the average joe problably plays on cheaper guitar 🤷🏻♂️
I would definitely need to hear the microphone inputs in use
Great overall review! Price would help though. For me it is the '74 all the way. I don't use any DI, so the sound in the room is all that matters. The '74 is also a nice piece for furniture that the wife would be OK with in the living room. Thank you, and bring us more reviews in the future please!
Circa 74 is $1200
each of these amps have tonal options. you never changed either one. they were very close with the settings as shown. would i by any amp without changing some of the tonal features. this "review" left a lot to be desired. the circa is ~$300 more than this fishman. i like the idea the circa has a 10" speaker but the fishman has a 2 separate speakers and could make a significant difference in tonal separation. next time turn a few knobs for comparative evaluation. the fisherman has a lot more capability options than the circa and it costs less too. they both sound very nice and i'd more than happy to have either but the fishman artist is a better value with the ability to appeal to meet more options. i agree with @hugh, its always all about personal preference and taste.
Interesting demo. I own a Fishman Loudbox Artist and it never sounds its best with all Tone controls straight up at Noon. If you optimize it for tone, it sounds incredibly natural. I cut the treble slightly to 10 or 11 o'clock. Depending on the guitar, I might drop the Bass EQ to 11 o'clock and the key to the best sound is to scoop the Mids almost all the way off to 7 o'clock or maybe up to 9 oclock). I demoed a Circa74 in a local shop and I could not get a sound I liked from it. Go figure. My guitars are Martin HD-28E w/Anthem PU and D-18E w/Anthem PU.
I agree. These kinds of comparisons where all of the EQ settings are at noon are a little deceptive, since no acoustic amp is going to sound great that way.
Thank you for the comment. This helps me in my decision.
I have the Fishman Artist and the way you set your tone is almost exactly like I do.
I’ve always like the Loudbox’s, but aesthetically and tonally, I’m going to go with the Circa 74. I will never use anything more than reverb when I’m playing acoustic, and I want my music gear to look good in my house. Loudbox just doesn’t look great
You’re wearing a Taylor shirt.
Kind of hard for you to look unbiased on your review.
I have a Taylor guitar… Love it
I have a Fishman loud box artist… Love it
Agreed 👍
The Taylor not having built-in chorus, an effects loop, or footswitch capability was a deal breaker for me. I went with the Fishman. Taylor does make high quality stuff. I do love their guitars.
Definitely feel torn here. On one hand, I like the tone of the Circa 74, but on the other hand, the Loudbox has a ton of features. I feel like whoever has one is going to be happy with either regardless! Both seem great!
You can get the fishman performer for less than the taylor. Seems like you are paying for aesthetics more than anything with Taylor’s option
After this review I bought AER compact amp
haha.......i have the same feeling.
Of these 2 I'd go with the Circa 74, and for the same reasons as the presenter. HOWEVER, there are OTHER acoustic amps out there, and I'd welcome some further comparisons in order to know which one would best suit my needs. Alternatives include offerings from AER, Fender, Boss, Roland, Vox, Orange, Marshall and Blackstar.
That is definitely true, there are many great acoustic amps that we can compare with. We absolutely love the new Circa 74, and is one of our favorite acoustic amps, but everyones needs are also different, so we really strive to help anyone find the perfect amp for what they will need it for 😊
@@haggertysmusicworks For me, it's always a compromise between having the best tone available (with enough headroom) and an amp which isn't too heavy to carry to gigs/playing in church etc. The other factor is the price. For example, a lot of people really like the Henriksen 'Bud,' but they're on the expensive side.
@@timelwell7002 totally! Many things to consider
Both sound incredible, but it seemed like the Circia 74 was a bit cleaner and clear.
compare the circa 74 vs the de capo 75
If you’re actually going out and gigging with it, the Fishman’s features make it soooo much more practical.
If you’re playing in a crowded bar through a Fishman Artist, and one of the guys you’re playing with is playing through the 74, NO ONE in your audience can hear the difference (besides maybe one or two wise guys).
I do like the 74’s stand though!
The 10 inch speaker in the Circa 74 makes the difference. All those smaller speaker acoustic amps struggle with the low frequencies. I'm replacing my Fender Acoustic Junior with a Circa 74 as soon as the walnut version becomes available.
Good point. I mostly use my Fender acoustic amp but my bass amp is my second frequently used amp for my acoustic guitars. I noticed that dialing the low frequencies down on the bass amp sounds better than cranking up those on the acoustic amp.
The Taylor sounds more natural, but at almost twice the price. I looked at both, chose the Fishman. More versatile, more effects, where the Taylor is a one trick pony, though a fine one.
It's the Circa for me, but those Acus amps are a bit nice too.
I agree. I Ave the Circa 74 and a Martin sounds amazing with it.
What about the mic inputs? The Fishman Loudbox Artist has phantom power whereas it looks like the Circa 74 does not have phantom power, so one is very limited to what types of vocal mics can be used unless one spends an additional $30 to $50 for a phantom power supply. It seems to me that the more expensive Circa 74 without phantom power is a show stopper. It does sound nice for a guitar.
I strongly recommend not using a condenser mic with an amp, as it's far more sensitive and is usually placed right behind you. Grab a Sennheiser e935, they're awesome.
I do cheat a little. LOL. I put in a TC Helicon unit in between the mic the the amp. It then allows me to change the volume, eliminate any feedback, shape things as needed, and even if I want, auto correct my voice. I'll check out the Sennheiser. Thanks. @@gabrielobrien21
no one is taking a Cloudlifter to gigs lol. The SM7b is a broadcast mic. Live performance dynamic mics do not need phantom power and a condenser isn’t a good choice with an amp because of how sensitive it is and the fact that it’s designed to sit behind the player - right in the zone where it’ll create feedback.
No phantom power is not a problem. You can use the XLR wireless system that has 5V or 48V DC for condenser mic to wirelessly connect to the Circa 74. I have been experimenting with different mics for the Circa 74, mainly for classical guitars which don't have pickup. I haven’t found the answer whether condenser mics are better than non-condenser mics with the Circa 74 amp or not.
Can you use the DI out for both channels....just one DI out! I want the mic and guitar to exit one DI
Yes, the DI out works for all channels, so if you were plugging in your guitar and microphone, both will go to the DI out!
The Circa74 is $1,100 US. You might have wanted to mention that in your comparison.
After this review, I bought AER compact 60
LOL!
Fishman is a clear winner with a few suddle cuddles
How about a Rivera Sedona 55ES
The Taylor costs 50% more, for some, that will be the deciding factor. Does it sound 50% better?
For the price and power, the Loudbox Performer is closer to the Circa 74 than the Artist. Weird review.
There are two speakers in the fischman amplifier, a low-midrange and a tweeter. The test with the microphone at the amplifier itself is idiotic, you probably brought it close to the woofer.
AER
Can't beat the Mini Loudbox
But the Circa74 is double the price of the Fishman!
loudbox sounds better and is much cheaper
FISHMAN is better!!!❤