#16
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This! ALWAYS use the mic settings on my S1's, far superior to the guitar setting. |
#17
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Hi guys,
Thank you all for your inputs and sharing the experience! So, I've just got myself a Grace Design BiX and I'm finding it does make the K&K Pure Mini in my Eastman sound better. It's like there's more flesh and clarity in the notes. The closest analogy is the feeling I got when I upgraded from my Shure Beta 58 vocal mic to Neumann KMS 105 - there's more detail and it sounds better. I don't know if I should try out the Alix. I think for now, I'll keep the Bix and see whether I truly need an Alix. If any of you have had experience with Alix vs Bix - please share. Interestingly, I don't feel like Bix is adding much to my Cole Clark guitar. There's actually some humming noise with the Cole Clark's active pickup that goes away if I reduce the volume/gain on either Bix or Cole Clark. I think Cole Clark can stand on its own without an external preamp. Thanks again and happy holidays! |
#18
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Hi guys,
Thanks for all your inputs and advice! I've decided to do a short gear review/test with K&K Pure Mini + NUX B5RC 2.4Ghz Wireless system and Grace Design BiX preamp. https://youtu.be/-4sRp3TDEM0 Let me know what you think. I'm gonna keep them all, but am also pondering if I should try out the Grace Design Alix ))) |
#19
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Is there no Mid control on the Bix preamp? That seems really weird. One of the things the k&k often needs is a mid-cut. And a sweepable mid control is one of the most important controls on a preamp for acoustic guitar, I would say..
Are you using the preamp with a converter to get the right 1m input for the k&k? Like this one: https://gracedesign.com/product/bix-...edance-adaptor |
#20
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Thank you for the link to the converter, didn't know about it. They don't have shipping to Australia on the website, I just sent them an email asking about it. I believe the wireless transmitter pack does act in some way as the impedance converter - I watched a Youtube video where it was mentioned that the wireless packs provide 1 Ohm impedance. |
#21
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So I got myself an Alix Now I have a BiX and an Alix. To my ears, acoustically the difference is very small, but Alix does offer more flexibility when it comes to dialling the bass and getting rid of feedback. I need to spend more time with it to really see how I can further tweak it. I like the variable impedance switch as well. Quick follow up question regarding further pedals: what reverb and compressor pedals do you use, if any? Actually, what other pedals do you use in combo with Alix? Many thanks in advance! |
#22
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Those are great preamps, but justifying the cost of those, vs James Mays Ultratonic upgrade, is almost impossible for me to understand. I hope someday to get a chance to play a nice K&K equipped guitar thru an Alix, but it would have to seriously blow me away to make me feel that I wouldn’t have been better served with an Ultratonic and maybe a nice effects pedal for a similar cost. One thing I’ve taken for granted is the ability to plug into a board, an amp, or a powered speaker and have a great sound without feedback and without having to even really think about it -
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More than a few Santa Cruz’s, a few Sexauers, a Patterson, a Larrivee, a Cumpiano, and a Klepper!! |
#23
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Thank you Tadol,
If you get a chance to try one at a store or a friend's, I'd recommend it. I think the quality jump is quite noticeable to my ears even with BiX. Actually, I haven't noticed a significant increase in quality from BiX to Alix. It's like the sound is more high fidelity, notes are more separated from each other and there's no boominess. The sound is very pleasant to listen to. My justification is that if I get another good acoustic guitar down the line and install a K&K in it, it'll work out cheaper than installing something like LR Baggs Anthems in each. I'm still not decided whether I need/want to keep both. I got both on a used market in very good condition. I'd recommend you look into that too. I'm curious about Ultra Tonic and may get one still as my Eastman E10SS is a keeper and I want to get the most out of it. It's my first really good guitar and I have emotional attachment to it more than to my 2nd guitar - the Cole Clark, which looks great and sounds great plugged in, but I still feel more at home with Eastman. |
#24
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I'm glad you have found that. I considered the 'alteration' but with the ToneDexter have found it unnecessary. I also didn't want to mess with updating 5 instruments. They all have a passive K&K dual source (K&K Mini plus K&K old-style mic) already. Since the ToneDexter works great with just the K&K Pure Mini (especially after the update which identifies and gives one control over feedback prone spikes) it is more amazing than two years ago when I received it as a Christmas gift. Actually with my dual source K&K passive rigs still installed, I can pop the mic into place and using any of my preamps (Raven PMB II, DTAR Solstice, belt pack K&K dual source preamp) nearly instantly get very natural acoustic tone without feedback. It doesn't come up to the level of the ToneDexter, but it's better than most other systems I've listened to. There are many ways to accomplish the same (or similar enough) end results. And when I'm honest, my live sound is first for me, second for acoustic players who know the difference in the audience.At age 73, the ToneDexter is likely my last attempt to get my guitar to sound more like my guitar live. The vast majority of people who hear me play don't care as long as it sounds like a guitar.
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Baby #1.1 Baby #1.2 Baby #02 Baby #03 Baby #04 Baby #05 Larry's songs... …Just because you've argued someone into silence doesn't mean you have convinced them… Last edited by ljguitar; 01-02-2022 at 09:46 AM. Reason: touched a couple thoughts a bit… |
#25
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I was using my D41 and it’s K&K/Ultrasound DI Plus, at church this morning and no matter what I did, my guitar sounded Quacky through the monitor. I grabbed and then ran my Boss AD2 in between my Volume pedal and DI and it immediately warmed up the guitar and took the quack out of it. Those two in sequence seem to work really well to tweak the sound of a K&K.
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Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2 |
#26
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I've used both together: K&K + Anthem
You'd run both signals out a stereo jack, then mix them with a Felix or Helix or something like that. I been using a Helix and/or Stomp to mix dual sourced guitars for 5+ years.
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'10 Wechter 5712c - Fishman Rare Earth '13 Jaffrey #26 - Malaysian Blackwood! '21 Gretsch 5622 '22 Furch Red Pure G-LR - Barbera Soloist ST-300 Mini + DIY mic preamp |
#27
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I also have an Eastman E10SS.
My K&K mini sounds great, WHEN paired with a Redeye preamp, that is. The Eastman only really came alive with a new setup that also had me now using Medium D'Addarios.... the guitar is incredibly more resonant and live than it was prior to this (my tech said, 'this isn't a guitar yet'). SO much better, it became a true keeper The thing also for me about the UST pickups like the Anthem is I think they really can rob acoustic tone. I had the full Anthem on my Santa cruz OM/PW - and when final tore it out (to replace with K&K) the acoustic tone was noticeably better for not having that UST pickup under the saddle. |
#28
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Id rip out that kk install the anthem.
And buy a Grace felix. The anthem Being a dual source ..if you use a stereo Cord and plug it into ch 2 of the Felix it will split the mic and pickup signal To ch 1 and 2. You can eq each independantly And blend..more mic in quiet settings More pickup in louder settings. I love the sound of the kk until things get loud ..it (kk) never worked For me in a band setting..and never Worked for me at open mics. Just my opinion but i dove down the Kk rabbit hole for years and bought felix And all sorts of outboard gear to No avail..just couldnt get it consistant At gigs...drove me nuts. Then i read One day about the exponential response Of a soundboard pup and realized once it got loud my guitar top was vibrating To the bass and drums and anything Else in the room crowd etc..and the kk Would pick that up as well..just a nightmare. I still think they have a great sound Just has to be quiet.. |
#29
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This is a fascinating discussion, but I must say, way over my head. Most days I have trouble finding the power button.
sm |
#30
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