Pre amp fails

Subject: Pre amp fails
From: Pete from seven stars link
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 06:16 AM

Wondering what best course of action. I play a lot of plug in open mics , but pre amp failed. New battery and connections to it checked. Replacements hard to obtain due to new models! Tempted to buy a new guitar but hate to be wasteful.....or is that heresy !

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: Will Fly
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 06:46 AM

Is that a pre-amp actually installed in the guitar? If so, and it can't be mended or replaced, I would suggest bypassing it and buying an external pre-amp. Cheaper than buying a new guitar...

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: Stanron
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 06:57 AM

I put 'guitar pre-amp' into the search bar in ebay. This was the first result.

ebay pre-amp

It comes from Hong Kong so it will take forever to arrive but there will be others that come from closer to home.

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 10:47 AM

I had the same problem when I was on with the young'uns in Devon. Double check that your pre-amp does not reject phantom powered D.I. if it's an older guitar then that might be the problem. Plug in a guitar amp and if you still get a signal then you need to upgrade. Like I haven't managed to yet!

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: Pete from seven stars link
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 10:55 AM

Thanks will and stanron . I am now considering upgrading guitar anyway , but the e bay ones look a bargain if they fit.

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: Stanron
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 12:19 PM

This one has some measurements on it.

another one

It's in the UK. I'm not sure where you are.

Cheers

Stan

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 02:32 PM

temporary / maybe permanent cheap fix

A decent soundhole pickup with the cable gaffa taped to the side of the guitar...

Looked cool back in the 70s..

would look well retro cooler now in the 21st century...

Schaller still do that shiny chrome pickup for about 40ish quid.... 😎

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: GUEST,Bob Schwarer
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 02:43 AM

I've gotten stuff from China in 7 tp 10 days.

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 07:56 AM

"A decent soundhole pickup..."

Shome mishtake shurely, Miss Monepenny? An oxymoron if ever I heard one!

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 07:01 PM

... or even one of those ultra cool 1970s home made beer bottle top pickups
gaffa taped or bodged on with chewing gum near the bridge of yer favourite Martin or Gibson... 😜

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 07:11 PM

ps.. I've just chanced on a ridiculously too good to resist cheap bargain of one of these ,
[brand new boxed for less than quarter of average retail price]

Waiting for it to be delivered, but I expect it'll be fairly useful for my needs....

The other more acoustic oriented preamps in the range look maybe interesting, though not quite so inexpensive..... 🙄

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Aug 16 - 07:21 PM

..eg...

http://www.tonebone.com/pzdeluxe.php

"PZ-Deluxe Acoustic Preamp

Combination instrument preamp and direct box
Exceptionally quiet audio performance
Works on all types of pickups and transducers
Footswitches for muting and power booster
The Radial PZ-Deluxe is a studio quality instrument preamp that jam-packs a full array of features into a compact pedal for live stage use.

And like most studio preamps, the PZ-Deluxe begins with a low noise front end that is capable of exceptional dynamics to adapt to all instruments including acoustic guitar, upright bass, mandolin and violin no matter what type of pickup system is being used. For piezo transducers, a special PZB gain stage may be engaged that increases the input impedance to 10 meg-Ohms to eliminate squawk and explosive peaks that are common with other systems. This eliminates the need for a separate preamp - which is of particular importance for those that do not want to cut a hole into their vintage guitar.

The control panel is well appointed with input gain, 3-band semi-parametric EQ with variable mid-frequency, three position low frequency resonance filter and 180 DEGREE polarity reverse switches to eliminate acoustic hot spots that cause runaway resonant feedback. A guitar level output delivers the sound to the artist's stage amp while the built-in Radial direct box feeds the PA system. This balanced low impedance output enables the PZ-Deluxe to drive long cable runs of over 100 meters (300 feet) without noise. A separate tuner output enables quiet on-stage adjustments by depressing the mute switch. And for solos, a variable power booster with set & forget level control lets you punch through the mix when needed.

The Radial PZ-Deluxe is compact for easy transportation, made tough to handle the road, plug & play easy to use and delivers exceptional studio quality audio."

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 03:28 AM

Or one of these - made in the UK from the highest quality components, built to WW3 standards and absolutely bomb-proof steel case, superb crystal-clear sound. I have one, and it's the Dog's Cojones.

If it's good enough for Show of Hands, it's good enough for...anyone.

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 03:46 AM

thanks for the reminder... Orchid made something I wanted...

but that was a good few years ago... and I've forgotten what it was and if I still 'need' it...

But time for a refresher browse of their products...

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 05:29 PM

The orchid one looks simplicity itself so perhaps just the thing for a technophobe like me. But sounds a little pricey for what it does, or does it dramatically improve the sound quality as to compare with a guitar built in one? The tonebone looks to have a lot to offer but might be wasted on my tech abilities and understanding!.

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 06:04 PM

Pete - lower priced entry level acoustic preamps are readily available..

Check the products stocked by the big UK internet music gear shops,
or Amazon & Thomann...


I don't know if Bosss still manufacture the AD series acoustic preamps, or if discontinued...???
10 to 15 years ago I used a Boss AD3 to try to tame a very unpleasant sounding piezo mandolin, which worked ok enough,
and not too pricey second hand these days off off ebay.

Or maybe check ebay for the occasionally sold Award Session Gordon Giltrap pre amp. which was well respected in it's day...

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: Stanron
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 06:06 PM

Pete

It seems to me that you have yet to establish exactly where the fault is. It could be in the under saddle tranducer, it could be in the pre amp and it could be in the Jack socket or in the leads. It could be something as simple as a loose jack socket twisting and shorting out the contacts. That has happened to me in the past. If it was me I would rig up a lead to connect the pickup directly to an amp, by passing the pre amp. That would help locate the problem area.

In the meantime how does playing through a microphone suit you?

Stan

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: GUEST,Mark Stevens
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 11:14 PM

I made my own pick-up for my round-hole (home made) guitar in the school metalwork shop.
3 wound coils from old RAF headsets, were screwed into a mild steel bar which was under slung in the guitar's 'round hole'.
Some small round magnets were placed on the mild steel bar to increase the electro-magnetic signal - when they didn't fall off, that is.
A wirewound pot'meter for volume control with a nice big round brown bakelite knob, wired to a bakelite backed phono socket. Cream coloured pick-up cover was fashioned from a carved out yogurt pot and Airfix glue - very Fender-like.
Summer 1970. Shame the guitar's neck was too badly warped to play, though...

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: GUEST,mooman
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 05:34 AM

My Taylor has an internal preamp which still fortunately works well after 15 years. For all other instruments I use the Radial Tonebone Acoustic Preamp previously mentioned by punkfolkrocker.

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 12:18 PM

Ok.. I just had a quick look on Amazon out of curiosity.

Searching "Acoustic Preamp" resulted in over 40 pages - many pages of cheap plastic tat before I found definitely useable products

The Radial Tonebone PZ-Deluxe Acoustic Preamp is £203

below that, here are some viable products that stand out...

The very affordable Behringer ADI-21 at £25 [35 five star reviews / 2 one star]

Ashdown AA-Pedal - one available at £79 - average price in internet shops £89

Laney Audiohub Freestyle instrunebt mixer/amp/monitor speaker £119

Zoom A3 £139 - hi tech digital acoustic modeler / preamp / DI [probably the product the cheaper Behringer might be most 'inspired' by...???]

loads of other variations on a product theme, but I got bored looking....

and saw too many temptations, so had to pack in looking... 🙄


btw.. my well below retail price bargain Radial Tonebone PZ Select is being delivered thursday,
and is earmarked for my electric autoharps - one piezo, and the other with a bar magnet pickup...

Doubt if I'll ever play them out live at a gig, but this preamp will fit in nicely in the recording chain...

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 12:44 PM

oops... forgot to type Fishman PRO-PLT-301 6 in stock at £124

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 01:10 PM

Artec 3 band acoustic EQ pedal £34...

just noticing all sorts of acoustic gear at the bottom of the pages that didn't turn up under "Acoustic Preamp" search...

The point is, there's probably more affordable reasonable quality entry level gear than many folks realise....???

Not all of us can afford to be gear brand name snobs...

Subject: RE: Pre amp fails
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 01:52 PM

ok.. one more before I nip out to Tesco...

L.R. Baggs Paradi Para Acoustic DI Box £177

so... a fair bit of choice at various price points below 200 quid...