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Post by alexanderreay on Aug 6, 2016 16:25:36 GMT
Hi Everyone, Two weeks ago I finished the Custom Bouzouki I have been building for myself. I am pretty happy with how it has worked out and have been learning to play it since. Strangely, this hasn't come as naturally as I had hoped. Partially because I am returning to a flat-pick and whilst I use quite a few altered tunings on the guitar, I have found I am less intuitive with GDAE, for some reason. Anyhow, I am getting there with it, it's a real pleasure to play. I said I would share some pictures once it was complete, so assuming I can manage to do that, here you go (I appreciate this is just showing off, but, they're pretty pretty and I am pretty proud of them). Thread is 2-4-1 as it seemed rude if I was sharing pictures of the Bouzouki not to share some pictures of the Custom Ariel I completed this time last year. One a year, that is the plan... It's my pension!
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Post by alexanderreay on May 22, 2016 15:51:35 GMT
No problem. You are indeed correct, the anthem has the extra crossover control over the sl, I wasn't sure if it was a different feature or just a different way of adjusting it.
How do you find it paired with the venue Di? I was very close to buying one, but, I heard mixed reviews about the tuner and the fishman had built in compression so it won. Also, price.
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Post by alexanderreay on May 20, 2016 1:23:31 GMT
I have an sl and I love it. The piezo and mic are the same on both, I believe the anthem has a phase switch and an easily adjustable volume and blend control; whereas, the sl has only a volume and the blend requires an adjustment tool.
I found it very easy to dial in a blend I was happy with, almost full mic, in my case. The sound is excellent, zero problems with feedback.
The smaller control panel looks neater in my opinion. The sound quality is the same on both systems, as far as I can tell from the specs.
I use a fishman platinum pro eq after the guitar, for slight compression, hi pass filter, tuner and mild eq. I am very pleased with the sound. I was very pleased with it with just the pickup, but the extra control on the di is nice.
I would have loved to try a baggs venue Di side by side with the fishman unit, but I am happy with the fishman.
Anyhow, off topic. For me, the price difference between the two units wasn't justified for essentially a battery check and a phase switch (fishman Di has a phase anyhow). Having said that, I have not tested both units, although I believe their sound quality to be identical.
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Post by alexanderreay on Apr 28, 2016 21:33:58 GMT
I wonder if they kept all the broken pieces... I would be inclined to rebuild it like a 3D wooden jigsaw with superglue, rather than splice in new timber. It is never going to be perfect and you have a better chance of keeping the original finish that way.
Alex
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Post by alexanderreay on Apr 28, 2016 21:19:58 GMT
Thanks again, I shall do some research!
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Post by alexanderreay on Apr 25, 2016 23:52:07 GMT
This is all very insightful into the bose system, many thanks. It sounds excellent. I would love to be able to buy the system with the tone match, but price wise it gets expensive quick. I think if I do go down this route the compact and a seperate mixer would be the way to go. Can always add the tone match at a later date, I presume? Just doesn't come with it?
I liked the idea of having a small mixer and headphone amps on my pedal board for an in ear set-up, so I can turn up with nothing but my guitar and board, only and decide whether to monitor or not depending how things are sounding, or even start mid set if it is a problem. Not lugging loads of gear appeals to me.
I am not a professional musician, nor do I intend to be, it's a serious hobby to me. Because of this, out of interest, does anyone have any experience with cheaper equivalent systems? If it is night and day with the bose, fair enough, I have a feeling this may be quite a pro-bose crowd!
SOunds like some enjoyable non-science to me scorpiodog! I would love to hear one in action, looking at the pictures I can see the speakers all pointing at different angles, but, you are right, its does seem a little witch-crafty. Bose have always had systems that project sound in unfathomable ways, though, haven't they? It's pretty much their trademark.
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Post by alexanderreay on Apr 24, 2016 22:32:32 GMT
the entire set! I bet that was a fun discovery when you came to put the guitar away! I really don't know how it happens so often, soundchecking sounding fine, then playing and hearing nothing. I know people absorb sound, but the monitors are pointing right at me, or there abouts, usually. I really had hoped moving from electric bands to acoustic stuff this wouldn't be a re-occuring issue, but, it seems so. To be honest, I care much more about how it sounds to me on stage than the FOH, I am playing for my enjoyment, firstly, and if I am enjoying it, I play much better. That bose system looks pretty excellent, although not cheap with the mixer, however, which it looks like we would need for multiple mics. Very interesting stuff, I know their reputation is excellent, as well. I had never heard of 'line array' before. A grand is more than I wanted to spend, but, if it truly solved the problem, it would be worth it... Time for some research, I think! One of the problems with in ear monitoring (apparently) is feeling disconnected from the audience. Because of this I feel traditional monitoring would be a more audience friendly option, especially for acoustic music, should it actually work and be repeatable. However, In ear has the benefit of repeatability, regardless of venue and zero feedback concerns over traditional monitoring. Sounding exactly the same during rehearsals and performing really appeals to me as well. That bose system seems a more than capable PA for small venues (I am only looking at the lower end of the range). Which would be nice to have the capability of providing easily. Have you personal experience with one of their systems? Listening, or playing through.
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Post by alexanderreay on Apr 23, 2016 19:57:01 GMT
Hi, Everyone.
I have been getting annoyed about the age old problem of on stage monitoring.
After playing various shows simply unable to hear myself play, sing or both, I decided to buy myself a small personal monitor, to take along in an attempt to create a simple and repeatable monitor mix for me to lift out for myself, regardless of whether the venue had it's own monitoring, before sending unmixed signals on to the FOH desk. A mix I was used to rehearsing with at home, basically allowing me to enjoy playing as much as possible, play, pitch and sound better.
I bought a TC-Helicon VoiceSolo FX150 and it is a nice little monitor, a little gimmicky, maybe, excellent for practicing with at home and even though I have my mix dialled in and EQ'd as I want it, the same problem persists when playing venues. Room acoustics vary and drastically affect sound, sometimes people listen, sometimes people talk over you (can't blame them, they are there drinking), in short it isn't repeatable and in circumstances where I really can't hear myself, I encounter feedback sooner than I can.
So, I have decided to have a look at in ear monitoring. There are pros and cons which I have read up on but my question is more a case of which gear do people use and rate if they are experienced with this stuff?
There will be acoustic guitar, keyboard and 2 lines of vocals running into it, as well as occaisional bass drum on one of those wooden block things with a mic in it.
I was thinking an 8 channel mixer, so I have spare channels, small would be a bonus. It is important to be able to send each signal unmixed, Ideally completely dry, on to the front of house desk. The mix is only for our monitoring and nothing else. A fast compressor to protect ears from loud cracks and pops etc. Headphone amps - wired is fine as we're both sitting.
Does anyone have any knowledge about this type of stuff or any experience using any products recommendations etc?
Many thanks,
Alex
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