Acoustic pre-amps
- Thread starter Honkridge
- Start date
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
I started with the Radial Tonebone PZ pre for several years... but the Tech 21nyc Acoustic Flyrig had effect like tap delay and compression. I agree with Honk that it's probably not the best acoustic pre though.
My new favorite is the NUX Optima Air for under $190.
it has a built in acoustic amp with EQ,... but it also has a variety of IRs that are usable right out of the box, and are customizable, and are footswitchable... but the best feature is that the IR can be BLENDED in with the rest of the acoustic sound. Most of these make a quacky piezo sound very realistic, but there are also some in there designed to make a magnetic pickup sound more like an acoustic guitar. This alone made many of my piezo equipped guitars almost unnecessary.
There's also a pretty decent sounding built in reverb, but there's also an FX loop if you want to add in more of your own FX pedals before the two outputs... a 1/4" if you need to run to an acoustic amp or such, and an XLR on the side to run to the PA.
My new favorite is the NUX Optima Air for under $190.
it has a built in acoustic amp with EQ,... but it also has a variety of IRs that are usable right out of the box, and are customizable, and are footswitchable... but the best feature is that the IR can be BLENDED in with the rest of the acoustic sound. Most of these make a quacky piezo sound very realistic, but there are also some in there designed to make a magnetic pickup sound more like an acoustic guitar. This alone made many of my piezo equipped guitars almost unnecessary.
There's also a pretty decent sounding built in reverb, but there's also an FX loop if you want to add in more of your own FX pedals before the two outputs... a 1/4" if you need to run to an acoustic amp or such, and an XLR on the side to run to the PA.
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
If you're not familiar with Jon... he was John Mayer's guitar instructor.
Basically, the NUX was my answer instead of buying the Fender Acoustisonic... because the big push of the Fender was all of the different Acoustic Profiles that are available, BUT you can't do acoustic and electric at the same time. This allowed me to change up the acoustic sound used on that output of my Taylor, but then I run the magnetic pickup to it's own electric preamp and chain so I can control both sounds separately or layer them live.
Basically, the NUX was my answer instead of buying the Fender Acoustisonic... because the big push of the Fender was all of the different Acoustic Profiles that are available, BUT you can't do acoustic and electric at the same time. This allowed me to change up the acoustic sound used on that output of my Taylor, but then I run the magnetic pickup to it's own electric preamp and chain so I can control both sounds separately or layer them live.
LittleSnakes
V7alt
I used the Fishman Pro EQ for years and it was great. Recently upgraded to the Grace Designs Alix, and it’s significantly greater. But honestly you couldn’t go wrong with either. I found the Fishman’s tuner to be unreliable for the D and G strings, but that may have had to do with the fact that I was using it with Selmer-Macaffieri style guitars.
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
I had a comparison pop up in my Youtube feed. Right out of the box with everything flat he got a great usable tone from the Optima Air. This may have been one of the things I listened to before I bought mine. Obviously blending the direct and IR tone along with a little EQ makes it sound even better.
Honkridge
UNACCEPTABLE!
Hey Y'all here's the follow up. I ended up with the LR Baggs Venue DI.
I play on large theater stages where it's easy to get muddy real fast. The Venue delivers a nice, natural but detailed sound that sits in a stage mix great. The IR type pedals sound great for solo or small ensemble work but just get lost in the mix in my situation. I just slap a Baggs reverb (another great pedal) in the effects loop and I'm set. Seems to be a solid well made pedal...they ran over one with a truck...lol. Very comprehensive and QUIET eq.
Cons...The tuner is good, not great, but it's better by far than the Fly Rig stuff. Not quite as fast as a Boss TU 2 though. Its a board hog at about 8"x8" and can't be powered by phantom. I use a Voodoo Labs or One Spot for power and it's fine. I wish it had an adjustable high pass filter to knock off some of the low end thump... If it had that and a nice reverb built it it would be PERFECT.
Anyway so far so good...check it out! I like it.
I play on large theater stages where it's easy to get muddy real fast. The Venue delivers a nice, natural but detailed sound that sits in a stage mix great. The IR type pedals sound great for solo or small ensemble work but just get lost in the mix in my situation. I just slap a Baggs reverb (another great pedal) in the effects loop and I'm set. Seems to be a solid well made pedal...they ran over one with a truck...lol. Very comprehensive and QUIET eq.
Cons...The tuner is good, not great, but it's better by far than the Fly Rig stuff. Not quite as fast as a Boss TU 2 though. Its a board hog at about 8"x8" and can't be powered by phantom. I use a Voodoo Labs or One Spot for power and it's fine. I wish it had an adjustable high pass filter to knock off some of the low end thump... If it had that and a nice reverb built it it would be PERFECT.
Anyway so far so good...check it out! I like it.
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Modern Saint
Starve your Fear, Feed your Dream!
I use the Fishman Aura. Used to run pedals and a looper in Aura's loop but have gone without any of those things.
Gary Blanchard
beloved, local musician
Hey Y'all here's the follow up. I ended up with the LR Baggs Venue DI.
That is what I have, though I don't use it since all my guitars have preamps.