Preamp use with acoustic amps?

[CharlesT]

I have a Fishman Loudbox Mini, but am thinking that the extra features and control on a good preamp would still be great to have (Fishman Aura Spectrum DI or Fishman Platinum Pro EQ).
Would a preamp improve the sound through the amp, or would it only be useful going into a PA system?

[syrynx]

Whether a preamp would improve the sound depends almost entirely upon whether the preamp's input impedance offers a better match to your pickup(s) than the Loudbox Mini's.

[Tomm Williams]

In my limited experience with this, the pre-amp (LR Baggs/K&K) into the amp (Genz Benz) helped in both cases. What i was after was to EQ the guitar at the pre and not at the amp.

[TNO]

Preamp can make a big difference with the Mini.

[akafloyd]

It can make a big difference or it may not. If the preamp offers features that you need that the amplifier's preamp doesn't have (i.e. Aura Imaging) it may be essential. An external preamp may have tone shaping abilities that fit your guitar/pickup better, it may have some feedback reducing features like a notch filter or phase switch, it can give you the ability to split your signal to the mixing board and allow you to use your amp as a stage monitor, it may have an effects loop or mute switch or boost or some other feature that will be nice to have at your feet. Can you borrow one?? Can you get one with a good return policy?? I wouldn't worry too much about input impedance, if it sounds good it is good.

[RockerDuck]

Yes it can. I use a Zoom A3 with my mini and it improves my Martin's sound.

[Mr Blues]

Interesting subject. I use a AER Compact 60/3. I use a Martin DX1 Dreadnought.
The LR Baggs Para DI works lovely with the Martin .
I a few months ago I brought a Sigma DR 45 . That didn't have a pick up. I had another guitar that I wasn't using much which had the same on board pick up as the Martin .So I took it to a Luther and got that Fishman Sonitone pick off the JN Guitar that I wasn't using much and got that fitted on the Sigma DR 45.
Now when I use the Sigma with the LR Baggs Para it doesn't sound so good.
The Sigma sounds better with just the newly fitted Fishmen Sontone pick up .on its own without Baggs Para DI.

The Sigma is a copy if a Martin D 45. It's very well built but doesn't quite sound as good as a Martin.
I thought the Para DI would also add spice to the Sigma but that wasn't the case in this situation.
With my Martin it sounds beautiful.

[Irish Pennant]

I've been a big fan of the PADI but also took it off of my pedal board. The latest guitar I acquired and now my main player sounds better without it.

[Andy Howell]

I also use a preamp with my AER Compact 60/3.

My preamp (Headway) has a 5 band EQ while the AER only has 3 bands. I simply se the AER flat and adjust tone on the pre. Works perfectly.

I also find that my vocal mic (Sennheiser 935) is good enough allow the AER channel to be set flat for that input.

Depending on the room I might have to change the global settings a little but usually not very much.

[Gypsyblue]

I have a USA made SWR California Blonde acoustic guitar amp.

K&K pickups in my gigging guitars.

RedEye preamps.

My guitars sound bigger and better plugged into a preamp so I always use one.

But they sound very good without it too.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by CharlesT

I have a Fishman Loudbox Mini, but am thinking that the extra features and control on a good preamp would still be great to have (Fishman Aura Spectrum DI or Fishman Platinum Pro EQ).
Would a preamp improve the sound through the amp, or would it only be useful going into a PA system?

Hi Charles…
An Aura is an emulator not a preamp.

The Fishman Platinum, Baggs venue (or ParaDI), or other preamp often improves guitars through Pa systems and acoustic amps.

Some of us have no choice. I play a dual source rig (K&K Pure mini plus internal mic) as the external preamp is what powers my internal microphone, and allows me to mix and send both ¼" and XLR signals simultaneously.

Preamps (better ones) also permit other adjustments such as phase reverse, ground lift, effects inserts, tuner output, mute etc.

I find them indispensable for amps or PA systems.

[Br1ck]

If it sounds good with an impedance mismatch, it will sound better without one.

My amp has an input impedance of 500K, my RedEye has an impedance of 1 Meg. In every instance a piezo of any kind sounds better through the RedEye.

Could I live with the amp's 500k? Yes, but why would I want to?

[Vancebo]

I find that my guitars will sound best with a device (preamp) that has some sort of sweepable midrange control at least. The Fishman mini does not. Otherwise there is no rule that says you can't use a preamp in between your guitar and your amp.

[Mking]

I have an Ultrasound DS 4 and my guitars have K&K pickups. Whether I use my Venue DI or the K&K XLR DI the sound and signal is greatly improved. Around the house playing I don't always have a preamp/DI in the chain, the DS 4 by itself is very good.
They work great through my Allen & Heath mixer into my Bose system.

[CharlesT]

Thank you for the good info! Sorry for the delay in seeing this.

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi Charles…
An Aura is an emulator not a preamp.

The Fishman Platinum, Baggs venue (or ParaDI), or other preamp often improves guitars through Pa systems and acoustic amps.

Some of us have no choice. I play a dual source rig (K&K Pure mini plus internal mic) as the external preamp is what powers my internal microphone, and allows me to mix and send both ¼" and XLR signals simultaneously.

Preamps (better ones) also permit other adjustments such as phase reverse, ground lift, effects inserts, tuner output, mute etc.

I find them indispensable for amps or PA systems.