DjangoBooks.com

Amp settings for Stimer pickups

ShawnShawn Boise, Idaho✭✭✭✭
Hi all,

I have a Stimer pickup I bought from Michael here on Djangobooks years ago, but I've never really found an ideal setting for it through the amp. In lieu of this I'm wondering what other Stimer owners set their amps to for an ideal classic Django sound? How much overdrive should I have, if any? What do you guys set your treble, bass, mids to? Do you use chorus effects, etc.?

I only ask as I have a gig coming up with about 200 people listening to me, and this is the first time I've needed to amplify the guitar in such a setting.

PS- I'm running the guitar through a Fender Princeton Chorus 2x10 Solid State Amp.

Thanks,
Shawn

Comments

  • MichaelHorowitzMichaelHorowitz SeattleAdministrator
    Posts: 6,151
    I sometimes cut some mids but generally the Stimer sounds so overwhelmingly good I just run it flat.
  • jscook777jscook777 ✭✭✭✭
    Posts: 106
    Michael is right about running eq flat, the Stimer should sound great with that Fender amp.

    In my opinion the correct use of EQ is to fix problems not improve the tone. If I were you I would setup everything flat with no verb and adjust the volume to roughly performance level. Then I would play around the fingerboard, low to high, and only make an adjustment if one of the ranges (low,mid, or high) is louder than the rest. Every room is different and some stages will couple with your amp and cause some extra bass to happen. Conversely, some rooms will have hard surfaces that cause the treble to come out a bit. After you've fixed the problems for the environment then add some verb.

    Theres an audio engineer adage "Eq is gain". Basically when you are eq-ing you're just taking volume or adding volume in certain registers. Often when I work as an audio engineer I'll be amazed at how musical an instrument will sound if I only fix the problems and don't try to improve the tone. And the best times I have playing are when the amp or sound system is adjusted so the notes across the fingerboard are balanced.

    So that's my two cents. Break a leg!
    -Jason
  • StevearenoSteveareno ✭✭✭
    Posts: 349
    Don't own a Stimer, but think they sound awesome. You might want to try a small, old Fender tube amp, like a Champ to get a more "vintage" tone. The silverface Chanps and VibroChamps from the 70's can be picked up fairly cheap and sound just like the blackface ones from the 60's, or even the tweed 50's. Don't know if they would give you enuff volume an audience of 200 (depends on the venue and acoustics), but you could maybe mic it? Michael, are you mainly using a Stimer in your live gigs?
    Swang on,
  • MichaelHorowitzMichaelHorowitz SeattleAdministrator
    Posts: 6,151
    jscook777 wrote:

    In my opinion the correct use of EQ is to fix problems not improve the tone.

    Thanks for saying that!
  • MichaelHorowitzMichaelHorowitz SeattleAdministrator
    Posts: 6,151
    Steveareno wrote:
    Michael, are you mainly using a Stimer in your live gigs?

    Yes, that or the peche a la mouche pickup through an Acoustic Image/Raezer's Edge or for the more vintage vibe through a Peche a la mouche or Stimer tube amp. Been using the tubes more lately...they're very addictive!

    I do use mics or just play acoustic for the more intimate or concert type gigs. But when playing in bars and such the Stimer is the way to go.
  • StevearenoSteveareno ✭✭✭
    Posts: 349
    Thanks Michael, yeah...the setting makes all the difference. A Stimer thru a small tube amp is the tone that seems to fits in a noisy bar environment. I guess you need to play over the din of conversation, kids, cellphones and clanking plates & glasses. The audience is probably not dialed into subtlety. Kinda fits nicely into the overall mix of audio bombardment....maybe even spur them into hitting the dance floor if the mood arises. :wink:
    Swang on,
Sign In or Register to comment.
Home  |  Forum  |  Blog  |  Contact  |  206-528-9873
The Premier Gypsy Jazz Marketplace
DjangoBooks.com
USD CAD GBP EUR AUD
USD CAD GBP EUR AUD
Banner Adverts
Sell Your Guitar
© 2024 DjangoBooks.com, all rights reserved worldwide.
Software: Kryptronic eCommerce, Copyright 1999-2024 Kryptronic, Inc. Exec Time: 0.023039 Seconds Memory Usage: 1.062393 Megabytes
Kryptronic