Ok, so I'm playing rhythm guitar in a band right now, we are 7 pieces now; guitar, guitar, banjo, trumpet, clarinet, drums, and trombone...
Both guitars are Selmer copies and are heard quite well when playing rhythm however when the lead guitarist starts to solo we all have to drop down in volume in order to hear him, this take a bit of oomph out of the rhythm and we want to start playing for dancers soon...so I guess the only next option is to amplify...
Thing is I only think we should amplify when the guitars take a solo...what kind of options are we looking at here? Anything under the $300 range?
All input is appreciated and thanks!
Alex
Comments
Like this one: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=304005
I suggest going to your best supplied local guitar store and see what they have and take a test drive.
If after the "test drive" you're not convinced and want to get a bit more pro
For cheap amps:
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/navi ... 7c0&rpp=20
For pickups:
The less expensive I think is the Shertler Basik, sounds great and it doesn't require any mods to install. A little low gain.
https://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/it ... basik.html
We use one for rhythm through a Laney AC30 and it's good, though a little lacking in beef for solos, mind you we play pretty loud. If you get the Stat pre you could get more gain out of the Basik or use a bigger amp.
If the rest of the band is unamplified I think the Basik should do the trick.
If you stretch your budget look into Bigtones $250-300 and Schatten HF2 around $300 (with the required preamp). The BT is very loud and clear through most amps if somewhat artificial sounding.
If you already have an electric amp around you could try an Stimer pickup $350, it'll make the guitar sound electric but it's a cool sound and will be very loud.
What I basically want is an amp (I don't want to have to bring along a PA for practice) that I can call on when I solo, and so I'd probably want a foot pedal...I like how the Stimer pickup has that volume knob on the pickup but I'm looking for something kind of like that but since the Stimer's are very expensive and don't have a very natural sound maybe I should go with that Phil Jones Cub with a Shertler Basik pickup? Can that Phil Jones Cub amp even take a foot switch?
What do you think about a Phil Jones Cub/Shertler Basik combo?
The Cub/basik will probably be great. but would be closer to $700
If you want a volume control there's this:
http://schattendesign.com/blackbox.htm
and their pickups are endorsed by great players, like Denis Chang.
http://schattendesign.com/HFN-S-Series.htm
I'd get the passive one with an external preamp
With the Basik and it's stat pre you have a volume knob also, I think they sell as a combo for around $300 on this site.
You could also use one of those circuit breaker cables from Planet waves and just turn the signal on for the solos. Though I don't don't know if they're sturdy enough to survive that much use.
'm
Can't I use any volume pedal or footswitch with the CUB?
Those pickups you sent me look good but they all seem to be hard to install, I'd really rather just get one that I can just stick on and not have to drill a quarter input into the bottom of my guitar...
It's on the preamp....
Very few amps have inserts for volume pedal..Schertler is the only one I can think off. You'll have to use a volume pedal that is in the chain between your pickup and the amp...Ernie Ball is probably the best of the cheaper ones but they kill your tone. They cut a lot of highs. If you don't want your tone to get messed up you'll need an infrared volume pedal like the Hilton. They cost over $300 but work really well...
Then your only options are Schertler or Stimer.
'm
an excellent Volume Pedal is the Visual Sound "Visual Volume"
It has both Active and passive modes ( the active mode allows you up to a 10db boost) ,tuner out , Stereo in /Stereo Out , quiet travel, and 10 led's along the sidt of the pedal so you can actually see your level.
I had it on my Pedalboard for my Electric / amplified Acoustic/Mandolin setup. It's only about $150.00 cdn. I use their Route 66 compressor/Overdrive and their H2o Chorus?Echo religously with my Telecaster. Really great company with excellent customer service too
here's the website;
www.visualsound.net
Ian
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=151104
Dave
Can it act as a "kill switch" as well?
Dave