The Fishman Loudbox Micro Acoustic Amplifier is a Singer-songwriter’s Dream Come True
The Fishman Loudbox Micro acoustic amplifier is the most compact and portable member of the acclaimed Loudbox family, and re-defines what you can expect from a small combo amplifier for acoustic instruments and vocals. Here at No Fear Gear, we’re always on the lookout for better solutions for acoustic musicians, singer-songwriters, and vocalists, and at first glance the Fishman Loudbox Micro looks like it should appeal to them all. We tasked our No Fear Guides — Tom Butwin and Jay Leonard — to put the Fishman Loudbox Micro to the test with guitars and vocals. What they discovered was big acoustic tone in a conveniently compact format: here’s what we learned.
Fishman Loudbox Micro — Big Acoustic Tone in a Compact Combo
Countless acoustic players and singer-songwriters choose Fishman’s Loudbox series of amplifiers when they hit the stage, offering rich and detailed acoustic guitar tone along with must-have connectivity and sound-shaping capabilities. The Loudbox Micro packs the essence of the Loudbox series into an ultra-compact combo: weighing in at around nine pounds, this is one of the lightest acoustic guitar amps you’ll find from any manufacturer, period.
While the Loudbox Micro is capable of plenty of volume, its small size is perfect for home practice and band rehearsals. Thanks to its closed-back design the Loudbox Micro delivers impressive bass and rich midrange, even at practice-appropriate volume where many larger amps will struggle to sound exciting. For practicing at home, rehearsing with a group, and coffee shop gigs, the Loudbox Micro offers big acoustic tone you can carry in one hand.
- 40-watt, 2-channel acoustic amplifier for guitar and vocals
- Ultra-compact and lightweight (just over 9 lbs.)
- Closed-back cabinet design enhances bass response
For practice purposes at home, this is the perfect size. — Tom Butwin
The Ideal Acoustic Amplifier for Singer-Songwriters, Acoustic Musicians, and Vocalists
Whether you play an acoustic instrument, sing, or both, the Loudbox Micro could be your ideal solution for practice and performance. One channel features Fishman’s acclaimed acoustic preamplification for your acoustic guitar, with its own dedicated 3-band EQ as well as Chorus and Reverb effects: everything you need for epic guitar tone. The second channel has an XLR input for a dynamic vocal microphone like a Shure SM58, with dedicated 2-band EQ and Reverb.
As our No Fear Guides point out in the video, the Loudbox Micro is particularly appealing to singer-songwriters for practicing vocal inflection and nuance. Vocalists in particular need a great-sounding vocal monitor to accurately refine their performance, and the Loudbox Micro offers vocal fidelity and tone that few amplifiers or speakers of this size can achieve. In other words, if you normally practice your acoustic guitar and vocals "unplugged", you’re missing out: a quality acoustic amp like the Loudbox Micro will allow you to fine-tune the nuances of your technique, and you’ll be better-prepared for an amplified performance.
It’s also worth noting that the Loudbox Micro’s balanced XLR output makes it super easy to record your voice and instrument simultaneously. Just use a standard microphone cable to connect the Loudbox Micro to your audio interface or portable recorder, use the onboard EQ and effects to optimize your guitar and vocal tone, and hit record.
For someone that sings and plays guitar, you can do basically anything with these. — Tom Butwin
- Acoustic instrument channel with 3-band EQ, Chorus, and Reverb
- XLR vocal microphone channel with 2-band EQ and Reverb
- Perfect practice amp for improving the nuances of your instrument and vocal techniques
Loudbox Micro: At Home, On Stage
Both of our No Fear Guides point out how well the Fishman Loudbox Micro transitions from home practice to stage performance. While you may be tempted to hit the stage with as many watts and speakers as you can muster, the reality is that big amps are heavy (and generally too loud to practice with at home). With the Loudbox Micro, you can easily fill a small- to medium-size room with sound, and most gigs that would require more volume will generally have a PA system anyway—and the Loudbox Micro is equipped for that too.
The Loudbox Micro’s balanced XLR output makes it easy to pass your guitar and vocal signals to a mixing board, while also using it as your stage monitor. In other words, the Loudbox Micro is completely at home on stage.
Speaking of performance, the Loudbox Micro also makes it easy to learn new songs and play along with music from your playlists. An Aux input on the rear panel allows you to connect your smartphone or music player, while a headphone output allows for silent practice sessions. In all, you’d be hard-pressed to find another acoustic combo amp that transitions so smoothly between practice and performance applications.
If you’re in a bigger room you could take this: it could be your monitor for your voice and your guitar while you’re performing. And it can be the PA in a small enough room. — Tom Butwin
- All you need to play and sing in smaller spaces
- Use the XLR output to connect to a larger PA system while using Loudbox Micro as a stage monitor
- Aux In for playing along with your music library, Headphone Out for private practice sessions
Find Your Sound with Fishman Loudbox Micro
One thing our No Fear Guides agree on is that if you really want to improve your vocal and acoustic guitar techniques, you need to practice with your sound being projected back at you: singing in the shower or strumming un-plugged on the couch is not going to give you the sonic detail you need to analyze and improve the nuances of your technique.
The Loudbox Micro lets you hear how you’ll sound in a performance, with richness and fidelity even at low volumes. And when you are ready to hit the stage, the Loudbox Micro can fill small rooms with ease, and connect to larger PA systems when needed.
It’s everything an acoustic guitarist or singer-songwriter could ask for, and it weighs less than 10 pounds. Whether you’ve been looking for a better acoustic amp for home practice, or you’re searching for the missing link between practice, rehearsal, and stage performance, you’ve found it in the Fishman Loudbox Micro.
