Members Mr. Kent Posted March 25, 2005 Members Posted March 25, 2005 Okay, I'm an ex-lead guitarist (electric) who is making the transition to doing acoustic singer/songwriter shows. I'm trying to figure out the different nuances of acoustic gear; please be patient. I have two wonderful Taylor acoustics w/ the 'expression system' so they can run a balanced signal straight into an XLR connection, but here's my problem... I want to run a Boss TU-2 stage (or similar) stage tuner, and I can't run into that with an XLR. Should I get a direct box and use a regular 1/4" cable or try to figure something else out? The Aphex Acoustic Exciter pedal looks like it's pretty cool, and it does DI duties...what do you guys think? I have my first real show this coming Wednesday, so I really need some advice! Thanks... Sean
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted March 25, 2005 Members Posted March 25, 2005 1st choice - Baggs PADI 2nd choice - Countryman DI Absolutely DON'T get a passive DI of any brand...they suck your tone dry, used w/ acoustics.
Members Mr. Kent Posted March 25, 2005 Author Members Posted March 25, 2005 Hey thanks! I've looked at the Countryman DI and I've heard a couple good things (nothing specific), but it seemed pricey for its simplicity...is it worth it?
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted March 26, 2005 Members Posted March 26, 2005 Originally posted by Mr. Kent Hey thanks! I've looked at the Countryman DI and I've heard a couple good things (nothing specific), but it seemed pricey for its simplicity...is it worth it? Well, the Countryman is an excellent, almost impossible to break piece of gear, sonically very transparent...but the PADI also is those things, plus has a great semi-parametric EQ/feedback suppressor and both, as I recall, are around the same $$$...$150 bucks or thereabouts.BTW, both can be grabbed off of Ebay at reasonable prices used...my spare PADI I snagged for about $60 + s/h, and I've seen Countrymans going for that from time to time.Really can't go wrong with either.
Members heymelbs Posted March 26, 2005 Members Posted March 26, 2005 Thumbs up on the Baggs Padi for acoustic guitars! You can really control the sound.
Members Telefonic Posted March 26, 2005 Members Posted March 26, 2005 I've used Countryman DIs at church for a few years now, and they do a very good job. Built like a brick (or steel) outhouse and they get the sound from my guitars to the house with no snags. The sound guys are the ones who picked these out, and I definitely trust their judgment. BTW, we've got some new ones of a different brand that seem nice; I've used them a few times, but can't recall the name. I'll check this weekend and post back.
Members rh2d Posted March 26, 2005 Members Posted March 26, 2005 I have two but the Para DI is the one I plug in.
Members unsunder Posted May 26, 2005 Members Posted May 26, 2005 did you ever find a solution. i'm going through the same thing with a taylor. i've contacted brian and indyguitarist.com and he's checking into seeing if he can mod the tu-2 to balanced.
Members RainsongDR1000 Posted May 26, 2005 Members Posted May 26, 2005 Originally posted by unsunder did you ever find a solution. i'm going through the same thing with a taylor. i've contacted brian and indyguitarist.com and he's checking into seeing if he can mod the tu-2 to balanced. Why couldn't you run the tu-2 tuner in the effects loop of the PADI?
Members Singin' Dave Posted May 26, 2005 Members Posted May 26, 2005 Why couldn't you run the tu-2 tuner in the effects loop of the PADI? That's what I do....just by a send/return Y cable ($7). Easy as can be and works great (i.e. mutes your signal etc.)
Members unsunder Posted May 26, 2005 Members Posted May 26, 2005 Originally posted by RainsongDR1000 Why couldn't you run the tu-2 tuner in the effects loop of the PADI? Because the output on the guitar is balanced and the input is not. you can run the tuner through the fx loop but you loose the balanced signal from the input.
Members Preacher Will Posted May 27, 2005 Members Posted May 27, 2005 i play a Taylor, though not equipped with the ES. i use a Baggs PADi on mine. A buddy of mine plays a Taylor with the ES and using the PADi on it seems to be redundant. if it were me, i'd buy a simple passive Di like the Whirlwind EDB-1 or the EWi (Unlike Terry, i don't think they suck your tone out) and use the 1/4 TS unbalanced out for my tuner.
Members Mr. Kent Posted June 17, 2005 Author Members Posted June 17, 2005 Just for the record...I ended up getting a BBE DI-100x active direct box with built in sonic maximizer. I can now run my tuner in front and not only maintain the original tone, but beef it up with the sonic maximizer. I LOVE IT!!!! The cool thing is, since I'm working at a music store part time during my summer off (I'm a schoolteacher), I got it at 10% over cost...WOO-HOO!!!! Thanks for all of the input; hopefully other people will find this helpful as well.
Members FingerBone Bill Posted June 20, 2005 Members Posted June 20, 2005 Ooops - should have got the Baggs
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