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Mine was "A Boy Named Sue" (Johnny Cash's definitive version of Shel Silverstein's song), played on a baritone uke to entertain my Dad's drinking buddies down at the American Legion. Followed closely by "American Pie" from Don McLean on an old Stella 6-string with cheese-slicer action.

Howdy!

A combo amp refers to having the amp head and electronics housed within the same cabinet as the speaker(s), for instance a Fender Champ or Twin Reverb, Vox AC30, and like that. As opposed to having a separate amp head and speaker cabinet(s), such as the Marshall stacks Hendrix played.

There is (or was?) an amp manufacturer named 'Acoustic', but you're probably thinking of amps that are marketed as "Acoustic" amps. These are simply amp rigs that are optimized for use by acoustic guitarists, usually by the incorporation of a horn speaker in addition to the standard cone-type speaker(s). There are usually 2 inputs, one for guitar and another for a mic, so you can play coffee houses and the like pretty easily. Often, reverb and/or other effects are included, so you don't need to haul a rack case or pedal board around if you don't want to. I've only seen acoustic amps in the 'combo' style.

I have a Fender Acoustasonic 30 (the smallest of the Acoustasonic line) which I like a LOT. It's pretty light and relatively easy to carry; has a tilt-back cabinet for better projection; 2 channels  -- (1) 1/4"input for guitar and (1) XLR input for a mic; a line out; and here's the kicker -- individual effects and effects levels for each channel. I can choose from a variety of plate, room and hall reverbs, alone or in useful combinations with delay and chorus. Bet you'll find a sound you like.

When I play out, I usually just use straight plate reverb on both channels, set the effects level at about halfway so it's not too ostentatious, and let'er rip.

I hope this helps!

Is it true what my friend told me, that down East you have 5 seasons? What would be the 5th one?

Also...

Allison Road - Gin Blossoms
On The Road Again - Willie Nelson
Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad – Traditional (love the Dead’s version from Skull & Roses)
Red Dirt Roads At Night – Jimmy LaFave (this song ROCKS, in an acoustic sort of way)
Gaslite Street - Hermans Hermits (does that count?)

I went to school with a girl named Candy Kaine. And howzabout Roger Mudd, news anchor. Or Dick Butkus, football player. (Bet nobody made fun of him twice.)

11

The Eleven by Grateful Dead
(It was named after the unusual time signature, 11/8)

My Advice: In a nutshell, try D'addario EXP instead. Available in Phosphor (!) Bronze, and 80/20 Bronze (also Mandolin and Bass strings).

My Experience: The coating makes a BIG difference, and coated strings DO last me much longer than non-coated (easily 3 times longer; I play a lot). I suppose because the finger-sleaze doesn't clog up the windings causing uneven decay after the string is attacked. I've never tried boiling my strings to clean them up, but some of the old-timers (older than me!) swear by this practice.

I have tried the Elixir, both Nano and Polyweb, and experienced the dreaded shredded coating scenario previously mentioned. I have NEVER had this problem with the D'Addario EXP coated strings. Perhaps because D'Addario coats the wrap wire BEFORE winding it around the core...maybe Elixir doesn't do that, so bending the string snaps the coating after awhile.

My Opinion: D'Addario Acoustic Phosphor Bronze Guitar Strings are the finest strings available on the planet at any price. And now, they're COATED!!!

Over the last 35 years or so, I've tried countless types of strings, looking for "that sound" (this is, admittedly, a subjective quality), preferably at an affordable price. I've tried $3.00 Darco strings, ridiculously expensive Gold-plated strings, and everything in between, including Dr. Thomastik. Some years back, a bluegrass player I admired suggested I give the D'Addario a try (he used the 80/20 Bronze), and I was really impressed. Then they released the Phosphor Bronze, and I was ASTOUNDED at how good they sounded to my ears (warmer than the 80/20), and by how long they lasted (we're talking uncoated here - it was years ago). At one point, I had month old D'Addarios on a plywood Yamaha, and that guitar sounded better than my friend's Guild with 3 day old Martin Marquis strings. I wish I could recommend Martin strings, but they're just not as good as their guitars.

Anyway, when I saw that D'Addario had made a coated string, I was pretty excited, but wondered if they would shred like the Elixirs had, and more importantly, if the beautiful tone I had fallen in love with would be compromised. I am happy to report that the tone is REALLY still all there, and as I mentioned, no shredded coating to report.

I'm currently running the EXP-26's (gauges: 11-15-22-32-42-52) on my Martins, and the EXP-17's (gauges: 13-17-26-35-45-56) on my Resonators. Slightly heavier for the Resonators, as more slide tone is derived that way, and custom light on the Martins (top 3 strings a little lighter than their normal Light Gauge set), to improve bendability (is that even a word?). I order mine from Musician's Friend; currently $12/set. They also have the J-16 Light Gauge for $6.00/set, or $50/10 sets, which is a fabulous price, and even uncoated, the D'Addario Phosphor Bronze last a long, long time.

Anyway, that my 2 cents worth, and yes, I accept PayPal.