Busking

[Richard Nelson]

Guys and Gals, anyone out there busking with your steel? i'm thinking of doing a bit and I want to ask about gear. Like what battery powered PA are you using? How can you get your steel to sound like an amp without using a power supply?

[D Schubert]

The battery-powered Roland MicroCube is an old favorite. Small, light, loud for only 5 watts.

[Lee Rider]

I have a couple of Vox DA5 amps. Great little amp with some good effects and very clean sound channel. I've even used them as preamps/effects into a larger amp:

https://voxshowroom.com/uk/amp/da5.html

I got one for $50 on eBay.....

[Richard Nelson]

Im going to sing a bit too so I was thinking the JBL eon compact or the Bose S1 pro. Its expensive but I'm sure its worth it. I just need a passive or battery powered amp sim for the steel.

[D Schubert]

Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge, two channels for guitar & vocal

[David Becker]

Another vote here for the Vox DA-5. I've also used the Microcube; the Vox has a mic channel with separate volume control.
More recently for outdoor play, I've gone to a Peavey Solo portable PA used with a Sonicake Pocket Master multi-effects processor. The Peavey has 4 input channels, each separately controlled, 90W output, separate tweeter and woofer, and a rechargeable battery. The Sonicake give absolutely amazing control for the sound you want.

[Richard Nelson]

Thanks for all the input.I ordered the jBL eon compact with a backpack. i can use it with my Kemper player for gigs too. I'll see how it goes. Still looking for a battery operated amp sim.

[Dave Grafe]

I have done it a couple of times using Roland's CUBE Street on battery power.