Acoustic Guitar Preamp

DoNotResus · 28th March 2008, 9:28am

I currently use a Jim Deacan electro-acoustic which has a "Shadow P7" preamp. At my last couple of gigs with a PA, the sound has been poor quality, with a boomy presence and crackles here and there. Last night when playing I decided to lower the sub-bass range which caused the guitar to fail to give out any sound. I managed to get it to give out some again by moving the sub bass slider around, but still the sound was very "tinny".

My question is, are ACoustic Pre-amps a standard size so I can take ou the ShadowP7 and replace it with a new one in the same hole. How much will one cost? Or, is it possible to repair a pre-amp? From what I can see it's a closed unit with just the one digital circuit board inside.

Dave

**Kenny Everett** · 28th March 2008, 12:11pm

My tech replaces them all the time, but to be honest I'd think about just changing the guitar. You could put a really good Fishman or L R Baggs system in it but at the end of the day a Jim Deacon is always going to be a cheap guitar. A bit like putting a Rolls Royce engine into an old Mini.

I'd cut your losses and get saving for a new guitar, you'll get something better than anything Jim Deacon have churned out for les than £200 I'd wager.

TheFallenAngel · 28th March 2008, 6:41pm

Yamaha CPX and APX ranges are good ranges for the working musician.
Give them alook.

DoNotResus · 28th March 2008, 7:03pm

Cheers for the advice guys, I'll check it out. My pre-amp seems to be working at the moment when plugged in to my 8track, which is strange.

GarryHoax · 5th May 2008, 3:11pm

My acoustic live setup right now is an old Yamaha F-310 with a Fishman Neo-D single coil and it sounds amazing. The guitar was about £50, you can buy them brand new for about that price but I like my guitars played in, and the Fishman was £40 brand new from ebay. So a gigable acoustic for £100 all in. Bargain. So yeah I'd definitely recommend Yamaha acoustics also, I've never played one I haven't liked.

I also just picked up a 90's reissue Danelectro 56 (the U2 one) for £110.

It's a cracker.

TheFallenAngel · 5th May 2008, 3:43pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarryHoax

My acoustic live setup right now is an old Yamaha F-310 with a Fishman Neo-D single coil and it sounds amazing. The guitar was about £50, you can buy them brand new for about that price but I like my guitars played in, and the Fishman was £40 brand new from ebay. So a gigable acoustic for £100 all in. Bargain. So yeah I'd definitely recommend Yamaha acoustics also, I've never played one I haven't liked.

I also just picked up a 90's reissue Danelectro 56 (the U2 one) for £110.

It's a cracker.

and that guitars about as useful as a kick in the nuts!...

sorry.

GarryHoax · 5th May 2008, 6:42pm

That's quite alright, I enjoy Danelectro guitars. They really are love or hate though. It's going to get used as a backup.

Yorgo · 5th May 2008, 6:51pm

Tried my mate's new Martin and the fishman pickup that came with it was something else, really natural sound.

Takamine tend to have decent preamps and the APX series is a great sounding guitar all round, if a little "rock-a-billy" in it's amplified sound.

Another friend let me try 3 of his new pickups for his acoustic (Taylor baby) and the AER wooden effort was great, not a lot of gain, but seriously nice sound.

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