We need some sort of amplication

Rock & Roll

Myself and a friend have been trying to form a band for a while, to no success. But we rather want to start getting experience of playing live, so have reincarnated for now as an acoustic duo

while these concerts will be on a smaller scale, I have realised that we need some sort of amplication. the ideal sort of thing would be

£250 max (preferably around £200)

at least two inputs for acoustic guitars (which can also handle other electro acoustic instruments such as a banjo)

A few inputs for vocal mics, at least one (better 2) for vocals, and one for my accordian (not essential, but would be nice.

also, it would need to be fairly compact (enough to fit in a car boot), and not weigh an incredible amount.

and it needs to have an adequate sound as well.

I know that is rather a lot, but there is always a chance.

Thanks very much in advance.

Unknown

Hmm. How big would the audience be? Oh, and with all the features you seem to want, I'd reccomend looking into just DIing your instruments up to the house P.A., if there is one? You could probably rent a P.A. anyhoo. Maybe you'd be better off with a keyboard amp (to a PA what a combo is to a stack), and a mixer in front, and obviously some DIs.
Probably expensive, but you'd get the flexibilty and portability you need.
If you don't mind going with the bare minimum of your specs, you could go for a Marshall AS50R, might not have everything though. There's better value elsewhere, basically.

Unknown

The Marshall AS50R has two channels, one of which works very well for acoustic guitar, the other will take a mic and amplifies vocals or an instrument (I've tried mandolin, concertina and accordion) well. With one of these, you'd either need a mini mixer or some real imagination. Two might do it and they're about £180 each. 50W isn't incredibly loud but then again, I use mine for on-stage amplification and foldback while DI'ing it to PA for larger venues.

The other option for about £300 would be one of the Peavey or Carlsbro PA systems that fit in their own case. Both give reasonable sound reproduction for vocals and guitar and mic'd instruments too, they have four channels and come with the speakers and stands within the package. 150W should be enough volume for a duo anywhere. Any married man will tell you they weigh about the same as the wife's case when you go away for the weekend..... about 50kg!

Hope this helps.

Rock & Roll

the audience probably wouldn't be that huge, but enough to require an amp. this is only a fairly small-scale thing to gain some live experience, so we don't really want to spend a fortune...

Unknown

The other option if it's a one-off would be to rent PA.

I've hired a full 1kW system, mikes and stands, for about a ton and that came with a small six-channel mixer amp and speakers for foldback which the guy said could be hired separately for about half that fee.