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Post by Larry Madsen on May 24, 2021 21:48:46 GMT -5
I have three guitars I'd like to be able to amplify. I have a few of the basics and then I have some ideas I'd like to get clarification on. I have this pre-amp, which includes some "modeler" features. DSC_2594 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr I've checked the reviews and as with most YouTube reviewed items there are a few demos that say it's crap and some that say it is just dandy. Not really looking to debate how good this pedal is, just trying to learn what there is to know about amplification of an acoustic guitar which has no pre-amp built in. I assume I can just plug this into my PA using the XLR balanced output from the pedal and go for it. YAY or NAY on that? If I were to run a volume pedal in the chain, does it need to go after the preamp and before the PA. If so, the XLR direct to the PA is a problem. Help me get a bit smarter. I have two acoustics I intend to put Piezo PUPs in ... My 73 J200 (top left corner here) had a PUP in it when I bought it, but it had fallen loose inside the body, so I removed it. The other being an Epiphone J200 twelve string This is the third one I have right now. It's a Christian bridge "saddle" PUP. It's switched using the mini toggle. The volume and tone pots control only the AH Duncan humbucker. DSC_2597 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr I've built this Epiphone with this PUP assortment over 20 years ago. From what little I have messed with this one it sounds pretty authentic as acoustic. I never had an acoustic amp and didn't have the PA until recently either. The two PUPs are wired individually using a stereo jack. With the toggle in the center position (and a Y-cable) the PUPs can be used simultaneously as individual PUPs on separate amps.
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pdf64
Wholenote
Posts: 553
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Post by pdf64 on May 25, 2021 2:37:49 GMT -5
Putting a vol pedal between the guitar and preamp would , to a significant extent, negate the benefit that the preamp provides in regard of the pickup’s electrical performance.
I suggest to use a unbalanced output from the preamp, and feed that into a low impedance vol pedal, something with a track resistance of about 10 to 25k. Maybe a suitable type that’s intended for keyboards?
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Post by Larry Madsen on May 25, 2021 9:04:29 GMT -5
I thought that would be the case on the volume pedal. I have a Dunlop "High Gain" volume pedal now. I don't see any indicators regarding track resistance. For my purposes in my music room ... The way I now have it set up I probably won't need the volume pedal anyway. I built a small mount that puts the preamp about three feet up off the floor and extends it out toward the player right in front of the PA control panel. All the controls will be within easy reach by hand of the player. I have a 1 foot long XLR cable on the way to make the short jump from preamp to the PA DSC_2587 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr DSC_2589 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr
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pdf64
Wholenote
Posts: 553
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Post by pdf64 on May 25, 2021 9:21:08 GMT -5
Ok, that’ll work Vol pedal track resistance should be noted somewhere in the detailed product spec.
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Post by Larry Madsen on May 25, 2021 10:13:29 GMT -5
Another angle I have on it (with the true acoustics) is this AKG P420. I realize I also need a preamp with it if going to my Peavey PA. Side note: My Focusrite 18i8 has the preamp built in. DSC_2598 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr I do not currently have a proper preamp for use with this one.
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Post by hushnel on May 25, 2021 10:29:41 GMT -5
Only one of my 5 acoustics has a pickup, I didn’t know it had, until I got it home and noticed the lower bout strap button. Everything else is bass, well and a few ukulele. So I plugged it into a bass amp to check it out. The guitar sounds good through any of the bass amps, and the Phil Jones Double Four is exceptional. The Double Four is battery powered.
It’s Highly unlikely I’ll ever play a guitar on stage, though I have been told I don’t suck. I do have one guitar amplifier I purchased after I bought a Telecaster back in 2000, got the old silver face Vibro Champ as part of a trade.
What transducers are you thinking about? I’ve used the JJB and the K&K, I’ve also purchased the transducer disks and wired them up. I can’t tell any difference. The disks are cheap $7 or $8 for a dozen or so, wiring is simple, positive and negative leads straight to the phone plug.
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Post by Larry Madsen on May 25, 2021 11:07:16 GMT -5
This is what I have always figured for the J200 and the 12 string. Simple and completely clean visually. puremini-guitar by Larry Madsen, on Flickr
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Post by hushnel on May 25, 2021 11:42:14 GMT -5
Yeah, looks great. When I installed the JJB set on the Guild B50 I made a jig with guide bars, dowel pin, that aligned with two of the bridge pin holes, the transducers attached with double sided foam tape to the jig, pulled the jig into place then applied pressure with my hand in the sound hole. Gave it a few minutes for the adhesive to set then later removed the jig/clamp, transducers neatly attached to the bridge plate. These instructions came with the JJB transducers.
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Post by jhawkr on May 25, 2021 11:50:34 GMT -5
I had EM Shorts install K&K Transducers in my Martin 00028EC. It was an expensive guitar and didn’t want to risk screwing it up. Great luthiers at EM Shorts. In retrospect I probably could have done a good job myself. I bought the K&K through them and the install was only about $25.
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Post by Larry Madsen on May 25, 2021 12:06:20 GMT -5
I made a jig with guide bars, dowel pin, that aligned with two of the bridge pin holes Great thinking on your part there ... as usual I am figuring to install mine myself and that idea makes it about as close to fool-proof (err, I mean Larry-proof) as it gets. Edited to add: This is about a $7.00 item. uxcell 10 Pcs Piezo Discs 20mm Acoustic Pickup Transducer Prewired Microphone Trigger Drum CBG Guitar Piezo discs by Larry Madsen, on Flickr
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Post by Larry Madsen on Jun 3, 2021 16:02:08 GMT -5
I had mentioned my J200 had a PUP in it when I bought the guitar and I removed it because it had come loose. I was just digging through my guitar repair kit box and stumbled onto it. *barcus-berry* DSC_2608 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr Back side: It felt like it still had adhesive on it. DSC_2610 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr I did a few nice level scrapes across the surface (with a sharp razor blade) to clean it up DSC_2611 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr Would it be worth my effort to re-install this? How would I go about testing it before an install?
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Post by hushnel on Jun 4, 2021 10:16:51 GMT -5
Plug it in and tap it with a pencil. If the transducer appears kind of fragile tape it to a block of wood.
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