Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Nikki and I recently played a three-hour acoustic gig in a surprisingly large banquet hall — and we did the entire job without a conventional PA system.
Instead, I ran my Crafter Big Mino Macassar acoustic through a Fender Mustang GTX100, while Nikki sang through an older Fender Acoustasonic amp with a microphone. I also used the GTX100's footswitch and looper for instrumental backing and live loops. The result surprised me: plenty of volume, a really nice acoustic sound, and a much simpler load-in and setup than hauling a full PA.
The key with the GTX100 was NOT using a traditional guitar amp model. I started with an empty preset and built an acoustic sound using the studio preamp, EQ and plate reverb. Once I got that dialed in, the GTX100 handled the Crafter beautifully — even in a room this large.
This was background music for an annual barbecue event in Burke County, North Carolina, so we weren't trying to overpower the room. We wanted good, clear live music that still allowed people to eat, visit and talk. That's exactly what this little rig delivered.
In this video I talk about the setup, the guitars and amps we used, live looping, what worked, what I'd change, and why I think small acoustic/background gigs like this can be some of the most enjoyable work a musician can do.
And yes — live music is still alive and well!
If you've ever played a large room with a minimalist rig — or used a guitar amp in place of a traditional PA — I'd love to hear what worked for you.
Nikki and I recently played a three-hour acoustic gig in a surprisingly large banquet hall — and we did the entire job without a conventional PA system.
Instead, I ran my Crafter Big Mino Macassar acoustic through a Fender Mustang GTX100, while Nikki sang through an older Fender Acoustasonic amp with a microphone. I also used the GTX100's footswitch and looper for instrumental backing and live loops. The result surprised me: plenty of volume, a really nice acoustic sound, and a much simpler load-in and setup than hauling a full PA.
The key with the GTX100 was NOT using a traditional guitar amp model. I started with an empty preset and built an acoustic sound using the studio preamp, EQ and plate reverb. Once I got that dialed in, the GTX100 handled the Crafter beautifully — even in a room this large.
This was background music for an annual barbecue event in Burke County, North Carolina, so we weren't trying to overpower the room. We wanted good, clear live music that still allowed people to eat, visit and talk. That's exactly what this little rig delivered.
In this video I talk about the setup, the guitars and amps we used, live looping, what worked, what I'd change, and why I think small acoustic/background gigs like this can be some of the most enjoyable work a musician can do.
And yes — live music is still alive and well!
If you've ever played a large room with a minimalist rig — or used a guitar amp in place of a traditional PA — I'd love to hear what worked for you.
