DigiTech Drop

136 Guitarist March 2015
QUICK TEST
MISCELLANEOUS
This wedge-shaped ‘Slope’
isn’t a new amp as such, just
a reconfigured version of the
well-loved Compact 60, now in
its third generation. It’s a highly
transportable, lightweight
(6.5kg) two-channel acoustic
amp with 60W of output from
a single eight-inch twin-cone
speaker. As usual, all the
controls run along the top, back
edge of the amp. Channel one
has a standard jack input with
three-band EQ, plus a colour
switch (a mid-cut/treble-
boost), high/low input selection
and LED clip monitor. Channel
two features an XLR/jack
combi input, with line/mic
input selection, LED clip
monitor and two-band EQ. The
four digital effects (two reverbs,
delay and chorus) are global via
the pan control, which also
allows you to mix in any
external effects. Finally, we
have an overall master output
control. On the back are outputs
for headphones, tuner, line and
DI outs, plus an effects loop.
Sounds
Crisp, clean and highly detailed
are all terms we associate with
AER, and this is no exception:
a superb acoustic amp. It’s such
a well-sorted amp that getting
a sound from virtually any
instrument we had to hand was
easy. It doesn’t have a huge
number of bells and whistles in
the EQ department, but the
colour switch adds an instant
modern edge to steel strings and
the EQ overall sounds very
guitar-specific.
It’s worth mentioning the
effects, too: two clean and
spacious reverbs – the second
with a longer tail, a delay with
a 320-millisecond repeat, ideal
for adding a little ‘air’ to solos,
for example, and a perfectly
usable ‘rock’ chorus. Via a
footswitch, you can switch the
effects (either the internal
effects or any you have in the
external effects loop) on or off.
The wedge format proves
highly useful. It’s ideal as an
onstage monitor (you don’t have
to suspend your amp on a mic
stand or chair), as it’s throwing
the sound to your ear. On bigger
stages, it proved handy to
complement the onstage
monitor mix. We used it as a
personal monitor and adjusted
the volume when things got
louder without affecting the
out-front balance or bothering
the soundman. Having an
accurate, quality sound helps
your playing, too – not always
the case with a PA’s monitors!
Overall, then, it’s an easy amp
to use, either as backline or
a monitor, or both, with an
excellent sound. Being picky,
a channel mute would be handy
on channel one if you’re
changing instruments a lot. Just
a thought…
Verdict
Many of us are perfectly happy
to plug into a PA and trust its EQ
and monitors to produce the
sound we want to hear. But if
you want more control over
your sound, an acoustic amp is
definitely the way to go.
Placement of any acoustic amp
is always important to prevent
feedback, but in this wedge
format the Slope really could be
a life-saver on stage as both a
powerful amp and monitor in
one. Be heard! [DB]
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: Reconfigured
wedge version of AER’s Compact
60/3: an essential stage buddy!
The Compact 60 gets a wedge-shaped makeover
CONTACT: Westside Distribution PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.aer-amps.com
AER Compact 60/3 Slope £799
GIT391.rev_quick.indd 136 21/01/2015 17:49