Does the one dexter help with low end feedback from K&K

[markcrawford]

I have a mach 2 and it does pretty well with the notch filter. Still, I have to play close to my PA speakers and I have to get pretty loud at solo gigs. I use in ears so no monitor issues. Sometimes the low end coming off the back of those PA speakers gets me in trouble. I can usually notch out frequencies and get to a decent sound. Would the tonedexter be a better option than the k7K mach 2 I have now? I know about the ultratonic upgrade, just not sure I want to do that. Help a brother. M

[calvanesebob]

Originally Posted by markcrawford

I have a mach 2 and it does pretty well with the notch filter. Still, I have to play close to my PA speakers and I have to get pretty loud at solo gigs. I use in ears so no monitor issues. Sometimes the low end coming off the back of those PA speakers gets me in trouble. I can usually notch out frequencies and get to a decent sound. Would the tonedexter be a better option than the k7K mach 2 I have now? I know about the ultratonic upgrade, just not sure I want to do that. Help a brother. M

Do you have a way of switching the phase?

Being out of phase can cause feedback too.

[guitarman68]

Yes, the TD can help a lot to tame low register feedback of. a K&K. It heavily depends on the Wavemaps you create. If your K&K install sounds overly bass heavy from the start, the TD will "correct" this issue - no question. But I can not give a guarantee about your special needs. Ever tried a feedback buster in the sound hole of your guitar?

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by markcrawford

I have a mach 2 and it does pretty well with the notch filter. Still, I have to play close to my PA speakers and I have to get pretty loud at solo gigs. I use in ears so no monitor issues. Sometimes the low end coming off the back of those PA speakers gets me in trouble. I can usually notch out frequencies and get to a decent sound. Would the tonedexter be a better option than the k7K mach 2 I have now? I know about the ultratonic upgrade, just not sure I want to do that. Help a brother. M

Hi mark crawford
Yes, my ToneDexter (5 yrs old & all firmware updates are installed) earmarks several sensitive frequencies as I'm making the WaveMAP and designates them to a single knob which allows me to roll the 'prevention' in from 0-100%. It is quite effective & even in the most sensitive of situations I've never had it above 35%.

I've used preamps with notch filters, and the ToneDexter surpasses them as it isolates several sensitive frequencies (not just a single one). Even though my 'know' is labeled 'Notch' a firmware update vastly improved it. I think it's because now it notes sensitive (feedback prone) frequencies and turns them down when I roll it in.

It's far more sensitive than when I first got it (though I've never had issues with amplifying my guitars with K&K Pure mini pickups in them).

I'm not sure how the upcoming ToneDexter II is going to handle this (I assume equally well or better). I've not checked into the second model as I'm not going to replace mine. It DOES have an Anti-feed (the label) knob.

Hope this adds to the discussion…

[aschroeder]

My K&K equipped guitar requires extreme EQ adjustments to tame the boomy low end. I haven't tried the Tonedexter, but it does have tools for tone shaping and can definitely help. Many use it with their K&K pickup with good success. Basically any preamp with tone shaping and cut frequencies can help, but you want to be sure it is a preamp that plays nicely with the K&K's impedance (which the Tonedexter does). I use a Boss GE-7 pedal along with my Optima Air IR pedal to adjust the tone of the K&K. It takes two pedals for me to make the K&K usable.

In my opinion (in spite of all the love K&K gets on this forum) there are better soundboard transducer pickups. After a lot of EQ it sounds pretty good, but it is a beast to use in a live setting. I've debated on installing the UltraTonic upgrade to help make it more plug and play. But I've also strongly considered removing the K&K for a Schatten HFN pickup which is my current favorite soundboard transducer and much easier to work with. It's a breeze to install and I have had no feedback problems.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by aschroeder

I've debated on installing the UltraTonic upgrade to help make it more plug and play.

I've been thinking about this as well.

[poopsidoo]

Originally Posted by phcorrigan

I've been thinking about this as well.

I did it with my J-45. Never looked back

[markcrawford]

Thanks for the comments. My PA is a Mackie 808s into two 10-inch Mackie nonpowered speakers. I went from 12s to 10s and never looked back. The Mackie has a ton of power which gives me good headroom. I run a wireless in ear (cheap) from the monitor out so I have no stage noise. I do have one of the new Mackie Thump Eights that I can use for an open air monitor if I choose but it actually does not seem to cause me that much grief. I have not had many issues on large PAs but I am frequently pretty close to mine depending on the venue. I use the K&K Mach 2 pre amp which is actually very good as far as clarity and high end compared to the regular pure mini xlr. I have both, no comparison. The Mach 2 does a **** good job, but I still get into trouble sometimes. I do have a sound hole cover and that does help, but I have a feeling that there is a better way. I do NOT find that my three guitars (two CEO-7s and a Collings CJ35) need more volume on the high end like the ultratonic add on adds, but I also know that you don't have to use that transducer. I would much rather get a different pre that would help me more than to add on the ultratonic "add on". I am searching for an easier answer I guess.

The Tone Dexter does intrigue me. Which model do you have? Thanks, Mark.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by markcrawford

I am searching for an easier answer I guess.

H.L. Mencken once said: "For every difficult and complex question there is an answer that is simple, easily understood, and wrong."

Originally Posted by markcrawford

The Tone Dexter does intrigue me. Which model do you have? Thanks, Mark.

I believe there is only one model now, with a new one on its way. I have the latest firmware installed.

[shufflebeat]

Originally Posted by markcrawford

…My PA is a Mackie 808s

Great amp, I used one for years then when I went to powered speakers reluctantly sold it to a mate who’s still using it.

…but I have a feeling that there is a better way.

Yep, there’s always a better way.

I do NOT find that my three guitars (two CEO-7s and a Collings CJ35) need more volume on the high end like the ultratonic add on adds, but I also know that you don't have to use that transducer.

The U/T system doesn’t add top end so much as it provides a way of controlling the bottom end by (as far as I understand) introducing an “equal and opposite” (polarity reversed) signal and allowing you to control that.

The Tone Dexter does intrigue me.

Me too, and I’ve been using it since it was released.

[FingahPickah]

Originally Posted by guitarman68

Yes, the TD can help a lot to tame low register feedback of. a K&K. It heavily depends on the Wavemaps you create. If your K&K install sounds overly bass heavy from the start, the TD will "correct" this issue - no question. But I can not give a guarantee about your special needs. Ever tried a feedback buster in the sound hole of your guitar?

I was about to make the same suggestion.

A feedback buster in the sound hole of my 12 fret SS dread (w/ a K&K) resolved the heavy bass feedback issue I experienced.

[fwphoto]

Originally Posted by guitarman68

Ever tried a feedback buster in the sound hole of your guitar?

That will probably do it. I play in a large, very loud band & had a lot of trouble controlling feedback. The only thing I found that reliably eliminated feedback was a soundhole cover (feedback buster :-). It worked with my old D-18 but I got tired of putting it in & then taking it out when I played "unplugged." First tried the Ultra Tonic K&K conversion & was so happy with it that I ended up replacing it with the OEM version when I had the original, oversized bridgeplate in the D-18 swapped out for a small maple one. Not only has the Ultra Tonic totally gotten rid of feedback but also gives the guitar super string-to-string balance & just sounds better than the K&K ever did, even with generous EQ adjustments.

Anyway, I'm sold on the Ultra Tonic. No, I'm not affiliated in any with with James May Engineering. Just a very happy customer. :-)

Frank

[markcrawford]

Which tonedexter model do you have? I’m not really interested in waiting for the newest one if the one that is for sale now is great. I know there was a tone Dykstra 2.0 or something like that is that the model that y’all are referring to? I’m about to step on a credit card.

[rmp]

I use a 7 band EQ with the TD.

I can dial out anything.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by fwphoto

That will probably do it. I play in a large, very loud band & had a lot of trouble controlling feedback. The only thing I found that reliably eliminated feedback was a soundhole cover (feedback buster :-). It worked with my old D-18 but I got tired of putting it in & then taking it out when I played "unplugged." First tried the Ultra Tonic K&K conversion & was so happy with it that I ended up replacing it with the OEM version when I had the original, oversized bridgeplate in the D-18 swapped out for a small maple one. Not only has the Ultra Tonic totally gotten rid of feedback but also gives the guitar super string-to-string balance & just sounds better than the K&K ever did, even with generous EQ adjustments.

Anyway, I'm sold on the Ultra Tonic. No, I'm not affiliated in any with with James May Engineering. Just a very happy customer. :-)

Frank

I realize changing the bridge plate had an effect, but, in your opinion, is there a significant difference between the "complete' Ultra Tonic and the conversion kit?