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Post by jackorion on Sept 22, 2015 13:16:37 GMT
Hey guys,
So I'm starting to get out gigging now and I think I've decided that my Headway EDB-1 is a bit 'complicated' and I want something a little simpler to use live so I'm not tempted to fiddle with the settings too much!
Been looking at the Orchid Preamp as it looks nice and simple,and it's made in Exeter so very local!
Does anyone have any experience with one?
Cheers!!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 22, 2015 13:58:52 GMT
jackorion - Yes Ben, I do! I love it. It is, as you say, very simple, but it does a better job on all my K&K equipped guitars/mandos for me than Baggs PADI or K&K Pure XLR preamps. Very easy to use - I normally start off with the mid at around 9o'clock, treble and bass at 12o'clock and tweak a little if necessary. The frequencies must be really well chosen/suited to my pickups/instruments. Usually use it via phantom powered XLR lead into mixer and/or AER combo, but with a bit more faff (ie a small cheap plug in phantom power supply for a tenner or so)it's perfectly usable with non-phantom-powered gear if necessary. The mute button is great if changing instruments - I find that my guitars don't need anything different for eq if changing mid-set, though sometimes a slight volume tweak helps. Very sturdy, almost agricultural, casing and the clamp to fix it to mic stand is v handy - would be even handier if this were attachable to either side of the unit though - might be poss to get them to do this for you....? I'd deffo give one a go, Ben. If for some strange reason you don't like it I'll buy it from you - another would be v useful! Keith
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Post by jackorion on Sept 22, 2015 14:47:18 GMT
jackorion - Yes Ben, I do! I love it. It is, as you say, very simple, but it does a better job on all my K&K equipped guitars/mandos for me than Baggs PADI or K&K Pure XLR preamps. Very easy to use - I normally start off with the mid at around 9o'clock, treble and bass at 12o'clock and tweak a little if necessary. The frequencies must be really well chosen/suited to my pickups/instruments. Usually use it via phantom powered XLR lead into mixer and/or AER combo, but with a bit more faff (ie a small cheap plug in phantom power supply for a tenner or so)it's perfectly usable with non-phantom-powered gear if necessary. The mute button is great if changing instruments - I find that my guitars don't need anything different for eq if changing mid-set, though sometimes a slight volume tweak helps. Very sturdy, almost agricultural, casing and the clamp to fix it to mic stand is v handy - would be even handier if this were attachable to either side of the unit though - might be poss to get them to do this for you....? I'd deffo give one a go, Ben. If for some strange reason you don't like it I'll buy it from you - another would be v useful! Keith Well, can't get a better endorsement than that can you?
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andrewjw
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Post by andrewjw on Sept 23, 2015 15:31:19 GMT
jackorion - Yes Ben, I do! I love it. It is, as you say, very simple, but it does a better job on all my K&K equipped guitars/mandos for me than Baggs PADI or K&K Pure XLR preamps. Very easy to use - I normally start off with the mid at around 9o'clock, treble and bass at 12o'clock and tweak a little if necessary. The frequencies must be really well chosen/suited to my pickups/instruments. Usually use it via phantom powered XLR lead into mixer and/or AER combo, but with a bit more faff (ie a small cheap plug in phantom power supply for a tenner or so)it's perfectly usable with non-phantom-powered gear if necessary. The mute button is great if changing instruments - I find that my guitars don't need anything different for eq if changing mid-set, though sometimes a slight volume tweak helps. Very sturdy, almost agricultural, casing and the clamp to fix it to mic stand is v handy - would be even handier if this were attachable to either side of the unit though - might be poss to get them to do this for you....? I'd deffo give one a go, Ben. If for some strange reason you don't like it I'll buy it from you - another would be v useful! Keith Well, can't get a better endorsement than that can you? Possibly only one....Steve Knightley has been using one for years!
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Sept 23, 2015 16:19:38 GMT
Wasn't SK involved in its development somehow or other? I seem to remember him mentioning that in a SoH gig many years ago (but could well be wrong)
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Post by jackorion on Sept 23, 2015 17:27:32 GMT
Yeah I think Steve Knightly was involved in the design, or commissioned the first one perhaps...
Anyway, I've order one from John and should hopefully have before my gig on Friday so I'll let you know how it goes...
Oh, and if anyone wants a excellent condition EDB-1 give me a pm
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Post by mandovark on Sept 23, 2015 17:44:04 GMT
You can't go wrong with the Orchid. I've been using one for about 8 years with everything from budget instruments to handmade. It's got a good sound out of everything, and the simple controls make it really easy to tweak your sound mid-set - I like a bit of extra treble for slide, and a bit less bass for fingerstyle than I would use for rhythm.
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Post by jackorion on Sept 25, 2015 17:51:12 GMT
Well John delivered my preamp today and I'm gigging with it tonight!
First impressions are it's very robustly built - the knobs seem much sturdier than the headway.
Had a little listen through my computer interface and headphones and it doesn't have nearly as much output as the headway and seems to cut off a bit more low end but the three way eq seems to add or subtract just enough to make a difference without boosting or cutting too much...
We'll see how it goes down later...
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Post by Andy P on Sept 30, 2015 16:05:53 GMT
I just ordered one.
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Sept 30, 2015 18:26:59 GMT
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Post by jackorion on Sept 30, 2015 18:42:04 GMT
Will do, once I've had a chance to use it in anger - it wasn't really needed for the gig last Friday in the end as it was a small restaurant gig and the host provided an small acoustic amplifier rather than a PA so only one XLR input. Got another gig coming up a week Friday though so I'll hopefully try it then...
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Sept 30, 2015 19:30:49 GMT
Will do but don't expect anything demonstrating one iota of techy know-how Maybe I could do multiple choice?
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Post by martinrowe on Sept 30, 2015 19:41:57 GMT
How does that go? Have you got the chords? Does it have a chorus? etc, etc
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Oct 9, 2015 20:45:15 GMT
Well.......I had a K&K pick-up fitted to my Lowden today. It sounded great through the amp in the workshop, even without going through a pre-amp. Got it home, connected it up via the Orchid into the Acus One-8 and....disappointing. I've tried all combinations of EQ but basically the treble is well top-end heavy, jangly and tinny sounding even at fairly low level, and the bass is thuddy and dull. I'll try again in the cold light of day tomorrow but initial impression is not good, not at all good in fact. It looks like it's money wasted as my Breedlove (with active pick-up) sounds magnificent through the amp. In fact, I'm now wondering why I bothered electrifying the Lowden (at a total coast of £300 inc the Orchid) at all!
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Post by andrewjw on Oct 9, 2015 21:06:30 GMT
Hmm...disappointing.
Have you got the phantom power on the Acus turned on? The Orchid preamp needs that I seem to remember.
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