Fishman AFX Pedal - Reverb Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is definitely a high quality fx pedal! It's built like a tank and you couldn't ask for better quality reverbs - they are rich and lush and very "tweak-able." There are three reasons I give this 4 stars instead of 5:
1. This thing eats 9v batteries pretty quickly, quicker than most pedals I've used;
2. It didn't come with an AC adapter; and,
3. For $250, it should have come with the adapter and the kitchen sink.
That said, it's a very worthy pedal for acoustic reverb.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fishman AFX Pedal - Reverb

With quality sound always at the forefront, Fishman starts with an all-analog, buffered bypass signal path to protect your signal from noise. The Fishman AFX Reverb pedal includes eight effect presets: Studio, Room, Plate, Chamber, Stage, Concert Hall, Cathedral, Canyon. Level, tone and decay time controls function for all effects, allowing you to dial things in just right for your instrument and amplification system. Make the most of your reverb effects with 1/4" stereo ins and outs. An input gain switch adds level boost, and the Fishman reverb pedal is housed in durable all-metal construction.

Get 28% OFF

Click here for more information about Fishman AFX Pedal - Reverb

Read More...

Schertler DYN-M for Mandolin Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've only played one gig with this pickup but I'm very impressed. Mandolin pickups tend to over-accentuate the highs I find, giving a brittle, harsh sound. Not so this pickup - it really does sound very true to the acoustic sound of the instrument.
I went direct from the instrument to the mixer, and I'm not sure that I'd bother with a preamp. The signal is strong enough to not really require a preamp, and the tonal balance is so good that I don't feel the need for any further control.
I had some reservations about the method of affixing the pickup to the instrument top, but it works surprisingly well. On my first attempt I had no problems putting it on, and it seemed quite solidly fixed. Plus, if someone does trip over the cord, it might be just as well if it comes off the instrument. Yes, it's a little fiddly to have to go through fitting business this every time you play in public, but the upside is that:
- You don't need to modify your instrument at all
- You can easily switch the pickup from one instrument to another
All in all, yes expensive but it does exactly what it claims to do.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Schertler DYN-M for Mandolin

Get 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Schertler DYN-M for Mandolin

Read More...

LR Baggs Venue DI Direct Box Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I would have given this product five stars if the tuner stomp function was 100% reliable, which it isn't.
Otherwise, Baggs has created a great update to it's classic Para-Acoustic D.I.
I love the easily accessible knobs, in contrast to the Para's harder to reach (especially the gain control) knobs. However, the Venue does have one out-of-reach knob, and that is the adjuster for the 0-9db boost "stomp" function, which is a great feature on this pedal and one I use frequently during performance. I just wish I could adjust the db setting more easily; it's the one knob that is hard to access. Bummer.
The tuner issue I mentioned is the following: about 15% of the time (which is way too often), when I stomp the mute/tuner switch, the signal indeed mutes, but the tuner does not light up and engage. I have to stomp and re-stomp several times to activate the tuner when this occurs. Lame and annoying onstage.
Overall tone of the Venue is meaty and strong -- as good if not better than what I had with the Para, which I used for years before acquiring the Venue. I am happy with this product, but I really could use a stomp tuner that activates when it's stomped, 100% of the time.

Click Here to see more reviews about: LR Baggs Venue DI Direct Box

Click here for more information about LR Baggs Venue DI Direct Box

Read More...

Radial Tonebone PZ-Pre Acoustic Preamp Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned and gigged with the Radial ToneBone Acoustic for two years now and I think it still fills a niche that no other pedal I've found has. It allows the musicians to run two instruments up a single channel to the PA (either pre or post EQ) with independent mixes. In addition, the pedal has a Boost button you can kick in to fairly dramatically up your volume in the mix.
I almost always play with two instruments - I do this because I play in alternate tunings and its quicker on stage to just drop an instrument and pick up a second. Combine this with the Boost button I discuss above and I can now fairly easily manage both my instrument volumes and allow for volume control between the rocking loud stuff and the quieter finger picked stuff. This pedal was in so many ways made for me!
But, the versatility comes with a price. Compare the sound of this Preamp against its Acoustic competitors, mainly the LR Baggs Para Acoustic D.I.or Fishman Aura Spectrum D.I.models and there is a clear difference in sound quality. This has been very disappointing. After two years, I may finally break down and purchase the Fishman DI I've been lusting after and start counting on the sound-guy to take care of my levels.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Radial Tonebone PZ-Pre Acoustic Preamp

Get 25% OFF

Click here for more information about Radial Tonebone PZ-Pre Acoustic Preamp

Read More...

Fishman Prefix Plus-T Preamp - wide format Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had this pre-amp installed into a Tacoma Thunderchief acoustic electric bass. It sounds awesome and works great. My only complaint is that the sound is a little weak on my G and D strings up high on the neck. But I'm a bass player and I don't spend very much time up there. I give this pre-amp an A. Very Happy Fishman Prefix Plus-T Preamp - wide format

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fishman Prefix Plus-T Preamp - wide format

Get 39% OFF

Click here for more information about Fishman Prefix Plus-T Preamp - wide format

Read More...

Radial JDI Duplex mk4 Stereo Direct Box Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are better boxes out there, but they come with that tradition "better price" which could easily push you over $1000. This is Radial's top of the line stage class passive DI. It's the JDI (Jenson DIrect box) Duplex (for stereo applications.
What is it?
If your not familiar with DI's (aka Direct Boxes) they are a device that electricaly isolates an unbalanced line level input to a balanced line level output. It does this thru a transformer and (without getting into the physics) as such protects both lines from one another while at the same time elemintaing the possibility for problematic ground loops.
Why do you need one?
If you were to just "plug" an instrument such as a guitar (which uses unbalanced line level) into a mic line (which is a balanced AND in many cases POWERED line) the best thing that can happen is you'll get noise, hum, distorsion, ect. The worst that could happen is a powered line could cook your output on your instrument. This often the case where people plug iPods or laptops into powered stage or PA lines. The small voltage of a small electronic device becomes overwhelmed and shorts out due to the MUCH higher voltage and current of the PA's Phantom Powered lines.
This box is part of Radial's JDI line that uses genuine Jensen transformers for soft and subtle sound curves. Radial makes more affordable models that also sound terrific. However I wanted an "Any Situation" type box. This box is a stereo box which fits that bill nicely. It is acutally two seperate mono JDI's, each with their own transformer, in a single case. You could run two individual mono inputs and outputs if you wanted. But by pluging the individual right and left channels of a stereo device into each half of this box then running two output lines to the PA you preserve the stereo signal.
I/O
On the rear of the box each channel has a 1/4" input jack and a 1/4" thruput jack (for running a thru line to stage monitors). There's a "mix button" that will allow the thruput line to become a second input line for mixing stereo signals to mono. Each channel also two RCA inputs for mixing auido out of digital devices line CD/DVD, ipod, laptop, ect. The pairs for each channel are mixed to mono at output. Being a stereo box you might wonder why you would mix back to mono. Perhaps you only wish to run one line back to to PA mixer. The front of the unit has one XLR output and one XLR input for each channel. So as I said this can work as two standalone mono boxes. What if you want stereo? One the L channel to an input on channel 1 (1/4" in or RCA doesn't matter) then R channel to channel 2. Then run two XLR outputs to your PA mixer or console.
Other nice features
This unit features all metal construction which creates an electromanetic cage to shield it from outside interference. NICE if you standing next to HUGE stage moniters driving enormous magnets with tons of power. Each cannel has a high pass filter switch and a pad switch for devices. The pad is nice for digital devices like CD, ipod, ect. It also has a polarity flip switch for each output to eleminate hum caused by import sound devices. And lastly a ground lift switch to further isolate ground loops.
As I said this unit is about as good as it gets for passiv DI's. There are such things as Active DIs but that's a whole different animal. For most users, a passive is going to be the best choice. And as I said there are other models that aren't quite so pricey. I'll recommend a few. If your application like mine is primarily AV presentation then this box is actually a bit overkill. But like I said I wanted that "super utility" aka swiss army knife ablity coupled with true stereo and mono options. For just mono AV work I can recommend the Radial ProAV1. That line also contains several inexpensive stage type boxes. A step between this model and those I just mensioned is the Radial JDI. (Again this is the JDI duplex) It's the same technology and construction but at th same time is a mono box. It still has the stereo to mono mix feature as well. All will suit you well and sound great on systems big and small.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Radial JDI Duplex mk4 Stereo Direct Box

Get 12% OFF

Click here for more information about Radial JDI Duplex mk4 Stereo Direct Box

Read More...

Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic Active Acoustic Guitar Pickup Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have a Martin acoustic guitar without a built in amplifier. There are times it's needed and started researching new or used acoustic/electric guitars. A few things happened. 1) Couldn't find a guitar that sounded as good as my Martin 2) The price of a new guitar was beyond what I was willing to pay and 3) I didn't want to have two guitars. So...what to do. Heard about sound hole amps and started researching. Bought a name brand at a guitar store and just didn't like the sound. Research and reviews led me to this Seymour Duncan SA-6. Didn't like the price and no discounts anywhere. Finally decided to give it a try through Amazon to save taxes and free shipping. Have not been disappointed. Easy to install. I did not install permanently to the pick up jack so I can remove it later. It's a little unhandy with the cords from the sound hole, but routed to my guitar strap and not a big deal. I play using a Roland AC-33 Acoustic Amp and like the sound. I am not a professional player and mostly play for my own enjoyment, with friends and occasional coffee house. Perhaps there are better sound hole amps, but for about $225 this works very well for me and I now only need one guitar. There are individual string adjustments that I don't use. I like the two volume adjustment on the sound hole without having to go back to the amp. If you're looking for a sound hole amp, give the Seymour Duncan SA-6 a try, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic Active Acoustic Guitar Pickup

Get 44% OFF

Click here for more information about Seymour Duncan SA-6 Mag Mic Active Acoustic Guitar Pickup

Read More...

Fishman Aura Spectrum D.I. Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this on the reccommendation of reviews on line, here and elsewhere. And the reviews were right, this little box does everything I need.
I was looking for a DI that would provide: a tuner, E.Q., feedback suppressor, and a pre-amp. I play a variety of acoustic instruments and needed
a way to change instruments onstage without the noise associated with unplugging a guitar cable from a DI. The Fishman automatically mutes the signal when
the tuner is engaged, cool! Now I can change from my guitar to mandolin or dobro without having to go to the PA to mute the channel. I wanted something that had
all these abilities in one unit, having too many little boxes on-stage is a drag during and after the performance.
Now for the images the unit provides. I don't have any of the guitars imaged, my stage acoustic is a strange cheap Korean guitar that I hotrodded,(tired of dragging expensive guitars to bars), so I just choose the image of the "Concert Guitar" and found a mic image that sounded the best. They all sounded pretty much the same, which all are actually very usable sounds. I knew and expected I wasn't going to make my guitar sound like a vintage Martin, or my cheap but very cool(vintage) Harmony
electric mando sound like a Gibson, but my instruments sounded great and were pre-amped just right, all with just one box!!!
CUSTOMER support, I had a problem with the first unit the vendor sent, it quit working a week after I bought it, just before a gig I was planning and needed it for.
I went to the Fishman website and wrote a letter describing my problem and need (the gig was in one week), they understood my panic, sent me a new unit without requiring me to send the old one in first (Trust and belief in customers is a new experience for me), THIS was WAY cool and the new one came a day before the gig.
In using the Aura Spectrum on the gig, I was pleased to find the feedback suppressor worked miracles, the sound man had me way loud in the monitor, with a loud low frequency making everyone nervous, I just stepped on the feedback button, and POOF!, it was gone. I could tune up various instruments and get levels very easily, all without leaving my chair (I have to sit down to play dobro). This was a new day for me, life was good, I am a happy customer!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fishman Aura Spectrum D.I.

Get 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Fishman Aura Spectrum D.I.

Read More...