Acoustic solo shows - need advice

[6L6]

Here's what I use to add a little fun and variety to songs.

The Mosaic gives a decent 12 string guitar sound with an acoustic guitar and a great 12 string sound with an electric guitar/amp.

[guitargabor]

[QUOTE=BlueStarfish;7459020]Y
So if it were me, I’d drop the Yamaha mixer, and instead get a preamp/DI pedal with good EQ and feedback tools. Something like a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ or Boss AD-10 or similar. Low-cut, multiple bands of EQ with a parametric mid, notch filter. Ideally a noise gate as well, I find that is surprisingly useful to manage feedback (the Boss unit has a noisegate).


Yes,
Unless your active pick up is of high quality an outboard pre amp is very useful.

Gabe

[JGarofalo3]

PA set up aside I also run an LR Baggs Session Chorus and a Fender Smolder OD pedal in my chain simply for some fun adds, crunch and nuances to certain songs I might play.

[JGarofalo3]

I do similar and even though my system has a built in reverb I use a stomp. I use the following pedals:

Fishman reverb (I think called "acoustiverb) - has spring, hall and plate all sound great with acoustic

LR Baggs Session Chorus - again genuinely built for acoustic and has flexibility to dial up, down across

Fender Smolder OD - also built just for acoustic I use this whenever i want some dirt/grit for a rock-ish vibe and adds a nice layer tonally for acoustic solo/duo shows

I play/loop this all through my Alix premp that runs directly into my mixer, etc

[nostatic]

Some are purists who want to go direct (though are willing to use onboard reverb on a PA/amp which usually is marginal at best). Others find that certain effects used correctly improve the sound and the feel. No single right answer, but every solo gig I do uses a small pedal board:

guitar -> Turbo Tuner -> Harmonious Monk (trem pedal) -> Ibanez MiniChorus -> Diamond Comp/EQ (new version) -> Strymon ElCapistan -> Empress ParaEQ Dlx -> EHX 720 looper

The Diamond Comp/EQ is always on, and gives me quick/easy volume and eq tweaks as needed. The El Capistan is also always on, has some spring reverb and a bit of delay. Those two pedals give me a great sound that plays well in most rooms and feels good - I don't have to overplay, nor am I fighting the instrument.

The Harmonious Monk is always on when I play squareneck resonator. I use that as a backing/comping instrument for vocals, and the trem gives it a nice bit of movement and rolls off some of the edgy highs that can sneak in. The chorus gets used on a couple of songs for guitar, usually when I'm playing some 80's or more current cover song. I probably use it 2-3x during a 3 hour set.

The ParaEQ is to fix room issues, or if I bring a different guitar other than my 002.

I've done the experiment many many times. It sounds and feels better to me with judicious effects. Ymmv.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Originally Posted by txa99ie

. . . What do I need in a pedal board besides a tuner?

Nothing. You're there.

Originally Posted by txa99ie

If reverb and delay are needed, which are your favorites?

Electric guitar usually benefits from reverb. Some players like delay, too. Neither adds a thing to acoustic playing. Same for chorus and overdrive. They just muddle your sound.

Some people like using a compressor, but to my ears they denature an acoustic guitar's sound. Just running through a mixer is compression enough.

Originally Posted by txa99ie

Any other suggestions? . . .

Rather than trying to create variety via effects, focus on putting variety into what you play and how you play it. Audiences aren't entertained by pedals. They're entertained by musicians.

[goodtimeshow22]

If you are a solo player you def need to consider some or all of the following : a tc helicon harmony singer , a zoom a1xfour multi effect unit , an ehx bass9 , a digitech Mosaic 12 string pedal and a decent looper wit a dedicated stop button ......

[Chriscom]

One of my favorite effects--apologies if it's mentioned above, maybe by me--is an electric guitar effect over an acoustic loop. Anything can be done to excess but when used sparingly it has great impact. Takes a lot of musicianship to pull off.

At my simpler level I l love throwing a Baggs Chorus into songs every now and then for variety. Gotta choose your spots but when done right it's tasty.

[Br1ck]

Hey, a good pair of QSC speakers is great. Add their mixer and a good sound guy and you are good to go.