preamp for dobro and banjo

Cody Russell · From: Arkansas, now in Denver

After reading a couple of recent posts on the forum here I finally broke down and ordered a schertler pickup for my dobro. Let me just say first that I am beyond satisfied with this unit. Great dobro tone and very few feedback problems at a high volume. The only feedback issue that I had was quickly fixed with the soundman doing a little EQing. I also play banjo in most of my projects and I need a dual channel rack mountable preamp to run both through. I currently use an Avalon that works great but I can not afford another and I don't want to run both through the same pre. Does anyone have any ideas or opinions on a good rack mount pre for either dobro or banjo?
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carter pro, 66 twin revrerb, steel king, tut taylor dobro, gibson rb 250

Mark Eaton · Posted 12 Feb 2008 6:03 pm

I'm a little confused...what are you running the Schertler into now?

Do you unplug the banjo from the Avalon then plug in the dobro?

Are you running both instruments into an A/B box then into the Avalon?
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Mark

Cody Russell · From: Arkansas, now in Denver

I've only played one show since I got the schertler. Before that I didn't play much dobro live and when I did I used a mike which doesn't work very well in a five piece band with drums. So the other night I ran both instruments through the schertler preamp, then boss eq pedal then avalon preamp direct to the board. Had to unplug to switch. Both instruments sounded good through this setup but it's alot of stuff and I hope to have seperate eq and preamp for each instrument. Plus, with a rack system I won't have to plug so many different things in at each gig.
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carter pro, 66 twin revrerb, steel king, tut taylor dobro, gibson rb 250

Jerry Erickson · From: Atlanta,IL 61723

Here's a possibility for you. It's list is $400 but will street for less. Hi quality products!
http://www.tonebone.com/tb-pzpre.htm

Curt Langston · Posted 13 Feb 2008 7:27 am **Just the ticket**

Cody, I have a Yamaha preamp that has a lot of tone options, as well as a built in reverb tank. It is a one rack space unit in very good cosmetic and functional condition. Forgive this shameless plug, but I saw your post and thought I would bring it to your attention. This preamp will work for ANY instrument, especially steel, with the parametric EQ section. It is very quiet and super clean. If you google it, you will see some very good reviews. Anyway, thought I would mention it before going off to eBay. I go to Ft. Smith, Ar. every other weekend to get my daughter, if that is any help.

Check it out, if you like:

Yamaha PG-1 Preamp

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

For most mic and/or pickup systems on acoustic instruments, I've found the Baggs Para Acoustic DI to be the most valuable tool around. From EQ to feedback reduction, and whether running direct-inject or into an acoustic amp, it's worked for me on guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin...even upright bass.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Mark Eaton · Posted 13 Feb 2008 8:36 am

I'm going more into Jim's neighborhood on this, and I will make some suggestions this evening, but I have to get to work.

Cody, it seems like you have an open spot in a rack and feel a need to fill it, but there are less expensive alternatives to get the sound you want.

Later.
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Mark

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

I find acoustic preamping a very difficult thing, except in that rare case where the instrument and pickup need very little EQ to sound balanced. I've tried lots of stuff. The new Radial PZpre looks to be as good as it currently gets for a very tweakable analog preamp. But if you have to switch instruments, it becomes impractical with all the necessary changes. I've honestly had more success all around with this:

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%25253D2344%252526CTID%25253D225100%252526CNTYP%25253DPRODUCT,00.html

I don't use much of it's mic modeling, but maybe a little. What's great is the deep EQ functionality. It's got 4 bands of EQ and you can set the frequency of each band. Then there are 5 notches that can either be pre set to notch out the offending barks, or you can cancel feedback on the fly. The reverb is adequate, and it has delay or chorus if you want. The digital quality is pretty good, and really, as much of an analog purist as I am, this box really delivers a nice tone. There's really nothing out there on the market that can touch it as far as full features merged with programability. The limiter is really good too. Each instrument can have its own preset. These things are cheap on Ebay. Quite rugged and reliable in my experience. Yamaha was crazy to have dropped it from their line. Bad move on their part.

Brad

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Well, OK, there is this now. But I haven't heard it. It's probably really good.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GNatural

Brad

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I agree with Jim! Great tool. But,,,,, It also works really well on electric guitars. Love it with my Teles and Danos.

Bari Smith · From: Spartanburg SC USA

Been using em for banjo and dobro...absolutely no issues.........Just had a chance to use the Fishman Aura system....sounds pretty impressive but users tell me they still got some bugs in em,especially with the switching.
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SHO-BUD LDG(Cooperized),MULLEN RP SD-10,Webb 614E,'73 Vibrosonic,Mesa-Boogie Pre,Stewart 1.2,TC Electronic M-300,JBL's,Black Box,Walker Seats'84 Dobro,'69 Martin D-28,and assorted other goodies!

Tim Harr · From: Dunlap, Illinois

LR Baggs Para DI will do it in most typical situations. I have one that works like a champ.

Extremely variable and user friendly

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

Ultrasound Ultra DI Plus - preamp and direct box -- have used so far with pickups on acoustic guitar, Oahu hawaiian, mandolin, tricone, bass fiddle -- and they all sounded good. A decent alternative to the LR Baggs unit --

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

LR Baggs paracoustic DI is what I use and what guys I tour with use. Great little boxes. They do exactly what they are supposed to do and are built like tanks.
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Bob

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

How does the Baggs compare to the Fishman Platinum, which is what I use? I can't seem to get a decent fiddle sound out of it. Anybody A/B these?
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Mullen RP D10, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. Hound Dog reso. Piles of other stuff.

Keith DeLong · From: Dartmouth NS Canada

I use a Fishman Pro-EQ preamp with a Samson Airline Wireless-good for fiddle, resonator, acoustic, or mandolin, there's a 3-band EQ and a presence boost plus aphase switch which can fatten up your sound. It clips on my belt and I can turn down the volume and just change the inputs with a cord long enough to reach from the instruments to the preamp. I'm using a Schatten pickup fastened to the bottom of the cone on the Regal resonator.

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