juliant
C.O.G.
Posts: 335
My main instrument is: Lowden L23
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Post by juliant on Sept 6, 2023 14:49:34 GMT
While on the subject of preamps, has anyone tried the Headway EDB 2 HE? Looks like an interesting device with a lot of useful features.
(And speaking of K&K, I've got a stereo preamp that I'm wanting to sell. It came with the Trinity Pro I got installed in the Lowden, but I want something that gives me a little more control, so it'll be in the small ads soon)
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Post by forestdweller on Sept 6, 2023 15:05:33 GMT
While on the subject of preamps, has anyone tried the Headway EDB 2 HE? Looks like an interesting device with a lot of useful features. (And speaking of K&K, I've got a stereo preamp that I'm wanting to sell. It came with the Trinity Pro I got installed in the Lowden, but I want something that gives me a little more control, so it'll be in the small ads soon) Yes, I owned the EB2 (not sure it was the HE version) before lock down, but then sold it when I wasn't gigging. It has a good sound, and the ability to use a stereo cable to assign a dual source to the 2 channels is absolutely brilliant. Have you seen there is a valve version now? Robbie
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Post by forestdweller on Sept 6, 2023 15:11:05 GMT
I've gone pretty deep down the pickup rabbit hole over the years and here's what I've learnt: Also have just had a look at your amp - is Prodipe somehow related to Schertler or Acus? If so that might be where the problem lies... This is a slightly controversial opinion of mine as I really like the shcertler/acus amps but I found that they sound amazing in the store/home but get completely lost in a live environment. They've got a very rich and full sound which feels very articulate and inspiring, really good. Then you get them in a room full of people and they just turn to mush and you end up with a very boomy and uninspiring sound. It's weird, I've never experienced it with any other amplifier and I found it particularly noticeable with the K&K which is not exactly the clearest sounding pickup in the world. AER on the other hand are the complete opposite - kinda harsh and non-forgiving in the shop or at home but, in a room full of people, they come alive - just enough bass to be heard but not get boomy and good coverage - easiest setups I ever had were the LR Baggs Anthem SL into the AER - sounded great everywhere. Anyway, this might not have helped! Really useful info Ben, thanks. Yes the Prodipe is very similar in looks and build to both Schertler and Acus. I was the opposite opinion to you- absolutely loved my Acus One 8, best sound I've ever got, k&k plugged straight in, never any issues. However AER was awful- always a strange mid range honk that was difficult to dial out without more surgical EQ. I'm beginning to think though that I could end up wasting money on equipment when my gigs are only ever playing to people who never listen anyway (mainly cafes, museum open days, weddings, that sort of thing). Its only me who is ever concerned about what the guitar sounds like live! Robbie
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 6, 2023 16:03:00 GMT
I'm beginning to think though that I could end up wasting money on equipment when my gigs are only ever playing to people who never listen anyway (mainly cafes, museum open days, weddings, that sort of thing). Its only me who is ever concerned about what the guitar sounds like live! Robbie ... I quite agree, Robbie. Chasing ever more expensive gear is no guarantee of a solution. Cheapest thing to try is a Boss eq pedal - available used and easily sellable if it doesn't work out. www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=boss+ge-7+equalizer+guitar+effect+pedal&_sacat=0&LH_ItemCondition=3000&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1Also worth trying someone else's K&K equipped guitar through your amp, firstly with the same cable, and then a different one. Also worth trying someone else's amp similarly. In each case get the other person to listen to you sound in a decent sized room from 20 feet away and adjust controls as necessary. It can be very deceptive sitting close to an amp as I and others have said. You may need to compromise on your own ear experience of course, but you can always set things to sound good fromyour own position and get the other person to tell you how that might sound from the punters position. Keith
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Riverman
Artist / Performer
Posts: 7,348
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Post by Riverman on Sept 16, 2023 8:50:12 GMT
BTW, I have been trawling my way through youtube videos of various pickups as options for the Brook, and to be honest they all sound awful, apart from the Fishman Rare Earth Blend- anyone use this one? I could in theory use this in any guitar then. Robbie As has been said already, this is a terrible rabbit hole. I’ve settled on the Rare Earth Blend as my standard choice (love the simplicity of K&Ks but just don’t like the sound, for my playing). I only dial in a little of the mic, just enough to make a difference. There’s an indent at the half way point between mic and magnetic and I never get anywhere near that - maybe a quarter mic at most and three quarters magnetic. Never had a problem with feedback, but adding the mic element does reduce the volume somewhat, as it seems to draw a lot of power from the rather weedy batteries. So it’s not perfect by any means, but I prefer a slight magnetic edge to a piezo one. But choosing the pickup is just the start of it… I speak as the past or present owner of at least half a dozen preamps. The dedicated K&K one did nothing to change my feelings about their pickup. The Headway can be noisy and has stupidly small buttons. The Baggs Venue is very flexible but the tuner is rubbish. And so on. The Orchid has the benefit of simplicity and to my ears sounds best, but needs phantom power which can be a nuisance. In some ways I think the preamp is the most important factor, unless there’s a skilled and sympathetic sound person involved (usually not the case at my now infrequent gigs). In theory it gives you the opportunity to shape the sound how you want it, but there are two problems: first, you’re almost certainly not hearing what the audience is hearing (not that they’re always listening anyway!); second, you have to understand how to get the best out of them. I’m the first to admit that I struggle to identify what it is I don’t like about guitar tone - for me it’s often about a thuddiness in the mids, or a shrillness in the trebles, but how to dial those out often eludes me. I did a couple of (pub) gigs the other week where I was happy with the sound during the (very brief) soundcheck but, as the evening went on, it seemed to get worse and worse and I couldn’t identify why. Endless tweaking of the preamp settings (I was using the Venue) didn’t help. I’m sure this was all down to operator error/stupidity (which has given me an idea for a possible discussion at the Huddersfield meet - Martin, I’ll post something in that thread later), but it sure as hell was frustrating, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds poor sound tends to lead to a less than satisfactory performance overall. I’m not sure any of that helps forestdweller!
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Sept 25, 2023 11:31:00 GMT
Hi I have k and K pickups on most of my guitars and always had problems when playing through a house PA.Tried various di and eq systems with mediocre results and eventually bought the K and K one for around £130...no more problems..I set the eq and the sound engineer sets everything flat!
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Post by forestdweller on Sept 26, 2023 15:09:23 GMT
BTW, I have been trawling my way through youtube videos of various pickups as options for the Brook, and to be honest they all sound awful, apart from the Fishman Rare Earth Blend- anyone use this one? I could in theory use this in any guitar then. Robbie As has been said already, this is a terrible rabbit hole. I’ve settled on the Rare Earth Blend as my standard choice (love the simplicity of K&Ks but just don’t like the sound, for my playing). I only dial in a little of the mic, just enough to make a difference. There’s an indent at the half way point between mic and magnetic and I never get anywhere near that - maybe a quarter mic at most and three quarters magnetic. Never had a problem with feedback, but adding the mic element does reduce the volume somewhat, as it seems to draw a lot of power from the rather weedy batteries. So it’s not perfect by any means, but I prefer a slight magnetic edge to a piezo one. But choosing the pickup is just the start of it… I speak as the past or present owner of at least half a dozen preamps. The dedicated K&K one did nothing to change my feelings about their pickup. The Headway can be noisy and has stupidly small buttons. The Baggs Venue is very flexible but the tuner is rubbish. And so on. The Orchid has the benefit of simplicity and to my ears sounds best, but needs phantom power which can be a nuisance. In some ways I think the preamp is the most important factor, unless there’s a skilled and sympathetic sound person involved (usually not the case at my now infrequent gigs). In theory it gives you the opportunity to shape the sound how you want it, but there are two problems: first, you’re almost certainly not hearing what the audience is hearing (not that they’re always listening anyway!); second, you have to understand how to get the best out of them. I’m the first to admit that I struggle to identify what it is I don’t like about guitar tone - for me it’s often about a thuddiness in the mids, or a shrillness in the trebles, but how to dial those out often eludes me. I did a couple of (pub) gigs the other week where I was happy with the sound during the (very brief) soundcheck but, as the evening went on, it seemed to get worse and worse and I couldn’t identify why. Endless tweaking of the preamp settings (I was using the Venue) didn’t help. I’m sure this was all down to operator error/stupidity (which has given me an idea for a possible discussion at the Huddersfield meet - Martin , I’ll post something in that thread later), but it sure as hell was frustrating, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who finds poor sound tends to lead to a less than satisfactory performance overall. I’m not sure any of that helps forestdweller ! The the contrary, very helpful indeed Just to update, I did my most recent gig, but this time used a tiny little Orchid micro DI box I had. I did not need to add ANY gain on my acoustic amp, and I have to say the sound was wonderful (but still way too bass heavy). It has at the very least confirmed in my mind that I do indeed need a preamp and am still hoping to possibly buy Wild Violet's Red Eye. Robbie
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 26, 2023 15:14:13 GMT
........................................... Just to update, I did my most recent gig, but this time used a tiny little Orchid micro DI box I had. I did not need to add ANY gain on my acoustic amp, and I have to say the sound was wonderful (but still way too bass heavy). It has at the very least confirmed in my mind that I do indeed need a preamp and am still hoping to possibly buy Wild Violet's Red Eye. Robbie ... so what happens when you turn the bass down on your amp? Keith
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Post by forestdweller on Sept 26, 2023 18:10:44 GMT
........................................... Just to update, I did my most recent gig, but this time used a tiny little Orchid micro DI box I had. I did not need to add ANY gain on my acoustic amp, and I have to say the sound was wonderful (but still way too bass heavy). It has at the very least confirmed in my mind that I do indeed need a preamp and am still hoping to possibly buy Wild Violet's Red Eye. Robbie ... so what happens when you turn the bass down on your amp? Keith Indeed I did have to do that Keith, but....I am very much of the opinion that to have to remove bass from such a tiny guitar is counter intuitive! However, I guess that's what EQ is for! Robbie
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 26, 2023 18:22:31 GMT
I agree - that's exactly what tone controls are for. Extreme settings don't matter one bit if the end result is what you want - which I get the feeling it was... maybe... almost?! Good to hear the Orchid micro DI worked well - I keep thinking I might get one of those ... Keith
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