ampage Tube Amps / Music Electronics	For current discussions, please visit Music Electronics Forum.

ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

Accoustic guitar pickup preamp

:

10/21/2002 12:10 PM
Stephen Giles	Accoustic guitar pickup preamp I have a Martin pickup on my Aria accoustic, the type fitted under the bridge. I have been using Craig Anderton's Clarifier as a preamp - can anyone suggest a better schematic for a preamp to match the pickup to a guitar amp? Stephen

10/22/2002 5:39 AM
Jeff Scott	Stephen: Go to the MIMF ( Musicians and Intrument Makers Forum) They are an excellent resource for all things related to stringed instruments. A group of the Luthieriers got together and specifically designed a preamp to be used with acoustic guitars. I build acoustics and us a modified AMZ Minibooster circuit. It works great and sounds very good for use with piezo pickups.

10/23/2002 4:16 AM

Try Ovation Preamp, the one with two inductors. I ran across it in several books on guitar making, it seems it's kinda "public domain"(?) The books were written in german, but I can imagine you'll be able to find it in english books, too.

It has tone ctrl and volume (output pot), and it's a single FET circuit. I made it some time ago, and it sounded quite OK. Now I made a new PCB layout (haven't tried it though), it can be squeezed to be very small. (2x 100mH inductors are the biggest components)

Greetings,
Marko M.

10/24/2002 2:27 PM

I have been in trouble for years with Acoustic guitar pick up, you know, noise, feedback (expecially during Gig ) but now I've found a super solutions...
http://www.schertler.com/guitar.html
It's no cheap but this is THE END OF THE PROBLEM!
I've started using a Shertler tansducer for Violino and Contrabbasso but it have XLR out and MIC type so it works great only live or studio , when you have the possibility to connect your transducer to a mixeing desk or a professional pre.
It has a Fz response that boost mid and low (it sound "nasal" because it is directly mounted on the top of your guitar and so it emphasizes "woody" frequencies) so you need to EQ it boosting at around 3Khz ) restoring the hi fz response and cutting low mid and mid (180-200 Hz and 800-1200 Hz) depending on the original sound of your GT.
Another cheeper way is to use the Schertler XLR transducer with a Beheringer DI BOX that has also unballancing facilities (you go in it with an XLR and go out with a jack with line type signal, perfect for a guitar amp).
I don't know where you can find Schertler transducer in he USA (I live in Italy)but try following theis link:
http://www.schertler.com/menuproduct.html
I hope this will help.
Aloha
Paolo

10/24/2002 7:41 PM
Stephen Giles	Many thanks for your help. Stephen

Page 1 of 1