#16
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Quote:
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#17
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Have you had occasion to use the Anthem sl pickup with the Bix? Im real curious as to whether they will play nice together.
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#18
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I started with an ART Tube, but got tired of needing a wall-wart. I went next to the trusty Behringer ADI21. Surprisingly suck-free, especially for the low price. But I didn't like to have to bend down to the floor to make adjustments.
Next I got a K&K Pure. I really liked having volume and EQ right on my belt and battery powered. I used it for years and still keep it handy as a backup. I finally went with a fire eye RedEye. Battery or phantom power, built in boost, nothing to futz with, good sound. I only need it, however, when I plug into a house or unknown system. When I play through my Carvin AG300 set on HI Z no preamp is needed |
#19
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Patrick 2012 Martin HD-28V 1984 Martin Shenandoah D-2832 2018 Gretsch G5420TG Oscar Schmidt Autoharp, unknown vintage ToneDexter Bugera V22 Infinium |
#20
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The Grace preamps are all fantastic studio-grade preamps. They put out exactly what goes into them, clean and uncolored. I'd say in this case, the Bix is accurately conveying a typical bad-sounding UST. That "compression" sounds like a typical plasticy UST to me. The only preamp I know of that can "fix" that pickup sound is ToneDexter, but not because of the preamp part, ToneDexter is a preamp+an IR effect, that can greatly improve the sound of a pickup like this. There is one more choice now, the Baggs Soundscape, which is also an IR device. But as far as straight preamps, I doubt any could really fix that pickup sound.
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Music: Spotify, Bandcamp Videos: You Tube Channel Books: Hymns for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), A DADGAD Christmas, Alternate Tunings book Online Course: Alternate Tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar |
#21
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For about 20 years, I've been using a Pendulum SPS-1 for solo fingerstyle and classical, internal pickup and condenser mic (usually external).
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#22
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To answer the question, I've most recently used the Grace Felix, ToneDexter, and Sunnaudio MS-2. Currently (if there was any current performing going on), using the Sunnaudio with ToneDexter as IRs.
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Music: Spotify, Bandcamp Videos: You Tube Channel Books: Hymns for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), A DADGAD Christmas, Alternate Tunings book Online Course: Alternate Tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar |
#23
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I agree that video wasn't very good.
Very mid low heavy. Not a good representation of what grace preamps can do. I dont own the Bix. But I've have and regularly use the Grace Felix. Superb high end Stuff in my opinion. That video was Odd in that it was a traditional Bluegrass song (Angeline the baker)done in a drop tuning With a dark ambience. Perhaps that was what the artist was going for. In which case he nailed it. Grace can do better. At least the felix can. I currently Use an hx stomp into the felix. And I also use a magnetic pickup So I dont get all the piezo woes mentioned Here. But Grace designs preamps are superb. The bix doesnt have a midrange eq adj. Which I like on the felix. I had a tonedexter for about 5 months and sold it. Just didnt work for me. But if I want to use IR's I can with the stomp. Last edited by varmonter; 12-02-2020 at 01:55 PM. |
#24
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I don't know if they are still being Mfg. , but my in gigging system (sitting unused ) I use the Manley --Langevin 2 channel DVC (Dual Vocal Combo)
Its the red unit with the analog VU's
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Enjoy the Journey.... Kev... KevWind at Soundcloud KevWind at YouYube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD System : Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1 Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1 |
#25
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I’ve had a Felix for years now. I’ve used it with multiple pickups and mics and various combinations. It’s probably the highest quality floor preamp you can buy. Just plug a vocal mic into it and it will blow your mind how much better it sounds. The difference between my anthem into the Felix and straight into the board is astronomical. Not subtle at all. That said, it’s taken a long time for me to get a grip on such a powerful true parametric EQ. Tiny adjustments make a huge difference. When your using both channels and blending sources it can get a little overwhelming. After enough time with it though, I can’t use anything else. I feel crippled by anything less. The EQ is so powerful you can really shape your sound. But it’s the combination of high and low shelf and the mid curve in between. The three knobs that shape the mids are critical, which the Blix doesn’t have, do I would personally avoid it. I will say that the anthem sounds great with everything close to noon on the Felix, so that alone tells me that they pair very well together.
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#26
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Preamp
I ve got A Félix grace design and it’s fantastic, I run a k&k in one channel with the adjustable impedance to 1mhom and I run my Seymour Duncan mag mic in the other channel with the right impedance , both got their own eq and run them stereo pan to 10 & 2 o’clock and it’s working great
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#27
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Also the NU-X Optima Air.
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Got some guitars, some keyboards, some melodicas, some skills and a little talent. |
#28
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I have been using the Fractal audio Axfx 8 , and the AXFX II for several year now on electric. I have IRs of a lot of acoustics and mics in the AX 8. It does a great job on electric, but acoustics just seem to be lacking something. I’m surprised that Fractal hasn't come out with an acoustic specific modeler. I am thinking I will try the AX8 in the loop of the Bix, for Reverb and such. I ordered the Bix last night, and am excited to get it plugged up.
Thanks everyone for all of the good info. I learned a lot in this thread! Last edited by S.bowman; 11-28-2020 at 07:07 PM. |
#29
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Good job! You can’t go wrong with Grace Design.
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#30
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I spoke wth my Sweetwater Rep before pulling the trigger, and he had had the opportunity to try many different acoustic through all 3 of the Grace Designs Pres. He said they all sounded fantastic, but he could not remember if any had the Anthem SL installed. I'm thinking that since I like the sound of the pickup through a DI and my Presonus board, I'm going to like the Bix even more.
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