Simmo's Busking Gear

[simmo123]

Hi folks i had a query from a valued hangout member as to how i powered my busking gear so i thought i might share my progress so far on this subject with the forum as well ...after several experiments on how to keep it portable but at the same time get a good overall sound i invested in a Roland AC33 30 watt acoustic amp which is powered by 8 x AA alkaline rechargeable batteries which fit into a removable cartridge, i also invested in a spare cartridge from Roland just in case i ever needed it,i had to buy a couple of mains power battery chargers which i got on a recommendation from Roland, Itunes sells them,each one charges 2 batteries at a time.With my Roland pack can get up to 10 hours use out of each Roland 8 battery pack.When busking I plug my acoustic ele guitar into the guitar channel of the amp & my SM58 mic into the dedicated mic channel,the amp has a great chorus function plus a good reverb as well as the usual inputs for line out /foot switch/audio etc,the sound is incredible.they are not cheap but i knocked them down from over $700 down to $560,it also has a looper function as well.When i am busking i often get asked by muso’s about how i get such good a quality sound.It only weighs about 4 kilo. OK now for my backing tracks,i could also put them through the amp as well into the audio function but went for the following option.With my backing tracks after editing the midis to suit me i then put them into mp3 format,at first i put them on to my ipod which was placed on to my battery powered bose docking station which i already had given me as a present (not cheap $500) & used a remote to change the tracks on the ipod,the quality of the bose made the tracks sound brilliant but because i am a bit of a crusty & the eyes (even with glasses)i had problems seeing the tracks in the small ipod window...right next step...i went for a normal portable battery powered dvd player (not to expensive) with about 4 hours of battery life in,i then put my mp3 tracks on a memory stick which then went into the DVD player,the sound that i got from the dvd player itself was crap but when i connected it to the bose via a single audio cable the quality was as good as the ipod,i suppose it all gets back to the quality that goes into the original recording using the sounds of my Sonic cell module when editing the midis.I hope this may be of interest to anybody going down this road as it was all trial & error for Ole Simmo,the only other thing i take with me is a mic stand plus a home made very light dual songbook/dvd player stand
Just another of the ole fellas ramblings...i think i need to get out more

Best Wishes to all....Simmo