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Amplifying an Acoustic help needed


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Posted

Trying to get my wife's Seagull S12 12 string to sound good amplfied.

 

We tried a dean markley pro mag with a behringer ADI21 DI/preamp into our monitors and she doesn't like the tone.

 

Thinking about the K&K pure western passive pickup system and using the behringer DI.

 

Do you think an acoustic amp is something she needs? There's a used Peavey Ecoustic 112 in town for a good price. I can always take the XLR out on the amp to the mixer.

 

I was also looking at the Baggs I-beam or a Fishman piezo but the KK looks like it might be a better system.

 

THanks.......

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Posted

The Markley isn't one of the better mags for sure. That said, if you have any kind of EQ on the PA a rather steep cut around 500K will likely help a little.

 

I think the K&k Mini is a winner, but I'd spring for the K&K XLR Pre too. I've tried it with a few different pres and this was far and away the best.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by telemike

I was also looking at the Baggs I-beam or a Fishman piezo but the KK looks like it might be a better system.......

 

 

No need to go by "looks"........why not hear what they sound like? I checked all the clips on this page:

 

http://www.dougyoungguitar.com/pickuptest.htm

 

and I found that the K&K and the Pickup The World #54 sounded the best. Listen before you leap.....

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Posted

 

Originally posted by telemike

....There is no KK pickup dealer in my city. The only reputable place (music barn) installs fishman piezos.......


....What about acoustic amps?

 

 

You can buy the K&K Mini online ( I recomend http://www.shorelinemusic.com/ ) and put it in yourself. It's really not that hard. You can also get the K&K XLR Pre from them. ( I tried the Baggs with the Mini and didn't have that great of results personally ).

 

As for amps, I'd say Ultrasound is a LOT of bang for the buck. AER is a lot of bang if bucks is not an issue.

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Posted

I don't want to drill the endpin hole for the 1/4" jack.

 

I figure if we get an amp $250 is all we can spend after getting a pickup.

 

The behringer is pretty good for the $30 it costs. Has a good warm sound to it. Probably a copy of the Tech21 DI.

 

I saw a used Peavey Ecoustic112 that I think I might have her try and see if it sounds good to her.'

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Posted

 

Originally posted by min7b5



You can buy the K&K Mini online ( I recomend
) and put it in yourself. It's really not that hard. You can also get the K&K XLR Pre from them. ( I tried the Baggs with the Mini and didn't have that great of results personally ).


As for amps, I'd say Ultrasound is a LOT of bang for the buck. AER is a lot of bang if bucks is not an issue.

 

 

+1 this is good advice.

 

Ultrasound also makes their own preamp/DI that is pretty comparable (and $60 cheaper) to the Baggs. I think the Behringer unit seems to be your weak link right now- I really don't care for those (too noisy and the EQ's aren't musical at all).

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Posted

 

Originally posted by telemike

Would the ultrasound 30 watt one with the 8" speaker be enough for playing with a drummer?

 

 

No

 

Even the 50 would be close. You'd have to run a line out to the PA for sure. But if you're sure you'll always be gigging with a PA, skip the amp and put the money into a better pre.

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Posted

This is what I have been using in my Seagull M12:

iBeam Active System - it worth the $

& Rivera Sedona Lite (great amp but will cost you) Great tone of sound w/this combo.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by telemike

It's hard to have the acoustic sound good thru the monitors we have (old peavey 115's) so I though having an acoustic amp would help her hear the guitar better.

 

 

 

it sounds like your mind is made up and you want an acoustic amp.

 

 

Good DI/PRE into PA is the way to go.

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Posted

a rather steep cut around 500K....

 

I just want to point out here, that I believe what is meant is 500HZ, not 500K.

 

500 cycles per second, or 500 HERTZ, 500HZ.

 

500KHZ would be 500,000 cycles per second.

 

The average 30 year old can hear up to about 8,000HZ, or 8KHZ, same thing. Most people can hear down to even 20HZ, or so.

 

As one ages, that lessens by varying degrees.

 

Most 30 year olds have blown their eardrums to smithereens at rock concerts and with IPOD headphones, so they probably can't hear over 5KHZ, or so, if that much.

 

 

 

:)

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Posted

Originally posted by djsrc



I just want to point out here, that I believe what is meant is 500HZ, not 500K.....

:)

 

Right.

 

On just about any little graphic pedal, let alone any rack unit... a cut around "500" makes a big difference in tone. Every acoustic magnetic pickup I've ever used was pretty radically improved to my ear with that cut.

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Posted

Not sure if amp is gonna help. Its the same thing as having monitor on you PA. I reckon you should get the best pickup you can afford and be done.

 

I have a Cole Clark with their pickup and it is the most natural sounding acoustic pickup i've ever heard. It has a undersaddle peizo as well as a face piezo, and when mixed together it sounds very natural. so maybe you should look into a system like that.

 

Ben

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