Fishman Nashville reso pickup- active vs passive benefits?

Greg Gefell · From: Upstate NY

I have been using this pickup in combo with the JD aura pedal for a few years now. This typically works well enough considering its all passive. I would like to add an onboard preamp though to boost the signal before it hits the aura pedal. Its a bit noisier than I would like and the output is definitely weaker than a guitar with an onboard preamp would deliver. Even Fishman says the following about this pickup,"An impedance matching preamp is recommended, but not required."

So I'm considering something like the Fishman powerjack:

http://www.fishman.com/product/powerjack-1

However without a guitar sound hole this would be a PITA to change the battery when necessary, which of course would be 2 songs into a 2 hour set!

Pick-up the world offers this rechargeable MiSi option which seems promising:

http://www.pick-uptheworld.com/preamps.html

Just wondering if anyone else has gone active with this pickup and if so how.
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Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

I think Fishman is referring to a boost/impedance match after the Aura. I may have this wrong, but I use Nashville P/U>Aura>L.R.Baggs Venue D.I.>Amp and it sounds fantastic.

I believe some fellows use the Radial Tone-Bone Acoustic D.I./preamp. Same function.

I'm surprised you say it's noisy. I've never encountered that with my Fishman dobro P/U system.

There's a couple of fellows I expect will chime in with something more for you.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

To be clear, the original "donut" pickup that mounts under the cone to the tension screw?

If so Fishman IS recommending a preamp between the guitar and Aura.

Two thoughts:

My real recommendation/suggestion is to migrate to the "Nashville" bridge system. It is better in soooo many ways, one of which is the higher output and that the Aura pedal was designed for that pickup.

If for whatever reason that isn't in the cards then I would go to something like the LR Baggs or Fishman DI/EQ/preamps. They will help with feedback control as well as delivering a cleaner signal over longer distance.

Hope this helps.

h
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Howard Parker

03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
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Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

Greg, if it is the doughnut style P/U please disregard my post.

I thought the only Fishman P/U called "Nashville" was the bridge/saddle system.

Good luck!

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Let me amend my reply (to cover all the bases and my butt).

If we're talking the "Jerry Douglas Nashville" bridge pickup I don't see the need to add a preamp between the guitar and pedal. They should mate perfectly (and dead quiet) as is.

I'm confused by Fishman's recommendation.

h

-edit- I run a 20 ft cable between guitars and Aura so I can roam the stage. Dead quiet with tons of gain.

Greg Gefell · From: Upstate NY

It's the newer bridge saddle pickup into the JD aura. Maybe I need some gain after the aura pedal then. Currently after the aura I go into a passive DI and then to the house mixing console. It is often mentioned to me that the signal they get is much softer than the signal from an acoustic guitar with an active piezo going into the same DI. The noise I'm hearing back through the monitor is from the increased gain at the house board. I guess I'm really just trying to determine which part of the signal chain would be best to insert gain. I can try an external preamp after the pedal as a test.

Fishman does have the preamp recommendation for this newer pickup as well. What they don't mention is where in your signal chain to put it.
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Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

You'll get all the gain you need then with an active DI after the Aura. I've had sound techs ask me to turn down my signal when I've got the D.I. set to half output. They usually are engaging the -20db pad on the input of the board.

I really like my L.R.Baggs Venue model. Fishman, Radial and others make similar models.

I believe in taking care of resonant/peaky stage frequencies of my instrument prior to the signal to the sound tech for the FOH and several midrange bands of parametric EQ on the Venue help with that if needed.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

If you have both gains on the Aura at max then yes, something like the Baggs, Fishman or Radial after the Aura or last device in the chain.

h

Greg Gefell · From: Upstate NY

Thanks for the suggestions. I have access to an Ultrasound DI plus I am going to test before and after the aura to compare and contrast the results.

Hopefully an active DI will do the trick as I really shouldn't have to add anything more to the guitar itself.
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Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Just make sure you have the input gain trim pot on the side of the unit set to 100%.

h

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