What are you folks using for preamps?

[S.bowman]

I have been looking at, and listening to several different model acoustic preamp/direct boxes, and would like to hear from anyone that has experience with them.
The first one I looked at was the Grace design Blix. All of the examples Ive heard had an unnatural sound that was emphasized in the low end. Almost sounds like the low strings are wound nylon. The guitar used in the example was a vintage Martin, and they don't sound that way in real life. Could this be the result of that players personal set up of the Blix? EQ? What is your experience with this preamp?
Second one I am looking at is the Radial engineering PZ-PRE Direct box/preamp. I am leaning toward this one, as examples sound real natural, but would like to hear the opinions of anyone that has used it before I pull the trigger.
This will be for use with my Huss & Dalton CMR, with anthem SL.
Thanks to all that offer input.

[buzzardwhiskey]

I own neither, but I'm going to suggest that the difference you're hearing has less to do with the pre and more with "the other variables" entailed in creating YouTube videos.

[jklotz]

I'm currently using an LR Baggs venue. It's pretty good, but the tuner stinks. When I upgrade, I'll probably take a good look at the Sunnaudio MS-2 stereo preamp. It has some unique features and all the demos sound really good. Plus it has 2 channels so my drop tune guitar can have it's own eq.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by S.bowman

I have been looking at, and listening to several different model acoustic preamp/direct boxes, and would like to hear from anyone that has experience with them.

Hi S.b

ToneDexter.

My backup are Raven PMB-I & II or DTAR Solstice.

I left my K&K dual source microphones installed in all my main guitars even though the ToneDexter only uses the pickup in the event of emergencies or equipment failure.

[S.bowman]

Originally Posted by buzzardwhiskey

I own neither, but I'm going to suggest that the difference you're hearing has less to do with the pre and more with "the other variables" entailed in creating YouTube videos.

I realize that Youtube compresses audio, but we are talking about a pro made video by the manufacturer. I would think it unlikely that they would compress the source before letting you tube have its way with it, which could cause what Im hearing,but you never know. The sound on that example, and a couple more that I have heard all had that overly compressed sound, and I am sure some of it could be contributed to Youtube, but just wondering if the Blix is playing a role. Unfortunately there is nowhere near me to try one out in person.

[buzzardwhiskey]

For the video I saw, they mic'd a PA speaker and blended the direct out with that, and added reverb.

[Chipotle]

Grace makes high quality, very clean preamps. I doubt anything you heard that was that bad was due to the Bix. Can you post a link to the videos you're referring to?

I have a Grace Alix, the "middle brother" of the Grace acoustic preamps, and it's fantastic. Great sound, highly adjustable EQ.

Remember that the rest of the signal chain--especially pickup--is important too, even before YouTube wreaks havoc on the audio. Even a Grace preamp will only be able to do so much with a crappy undersaddle piezo.

[S.bowman]

Originally Posted by Chipotle

Grace makes high quality, very clean preamps. I doubt anything you heard that was that bad was due to the Bix. Can you post a link to the videos you're referring to?

I have a Grace Alix, the "middle brother" of the Grace acoustic preamps, and it's fantastic. Great sound, highly adjustable EQ.

Remember that the rest of the signal chain--especially pickup--is important too, even before YouTube wreaks havoc on the audio. Even a Grace preamp will only be able to do so much with a crappy undersaddle piezo.

Yes, I am starting to think that I may have jumped the gun installing the Anthem SL. I have seen videos of the Felix and Alix, and both sound awesome, even on you tube. The Tone Dexter looks great as well, but I am reading that it doesn't play well with the anthem.
I appreciate the input from everyone. Now Im thinking that I am going to change out my pickup before proceeding.The anthem sounds decent straight to my board with a DI, but I need more control for live. Didnt realize that it would pose a problem with many of the preamps I am considering.

[S.bowman]

Originally Posted by buzzardwhiskey

For the video I saw, they mic'd a PA speaker and blended the direct out with that, and added reverb.

This is one of the videos I watched. For demo purposes they should have killed the verb. The low end just sounds awful.(Sorry if this is a board member playing this demo. The playing is great, just not a tone I'm after.
https://youtu.be/iqIoJ0fwH9c

[SpruceTop]

If I'm not depending solely on the onboard electronics in several of my guitars, and I may use some external preamps even with these onboard ones, I have these external devices that I can add into the mix: ToneDexter, Fishman Aura Spectrum DI, LR Baggs Session DI, Rolls PB224, and a Steel Guitar Black Box.

[fingeryoga]

I have a bix and felix , both are amazing. Bix for the price is fantastic.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

ToneDexter.

Same here.

[Peter Z]

HX Stomp - my all in one box
variable impedance -> input level -> compressor -> EQ -> IR -> (EQ)

Sometimes the IR on a parallel path.
Reverb is set and ready but sometimes I use the one from the mixer. Then I just turn it off.

[ballynally]

Deleted post

[Br1ck]

Let me use the analogy of my totally analog stereo system. The signal starts with a stylus riding in a groove, which is translated to an electronic signal by the cartridge. People spend a lot of time and money getting this right. If you don't like the sound coming off your cartridge, you spend a lot of effort trying to modify the signal so you do. If you do like this sound, you will want everything down the stream to reproduce this faithfully.

The cart is analogous to your pickup. Now take the much loved K&K. Reproduce this faithfully and you will have more mud in the low end than anyone would want, and probably too much high end, and a peak in the mids, so you need as much EQ as you can get.

So I have a decent cartridge I like the sound of, and a series of gain stages, the first to replicate the signal, and later gain stages to color the sound to please my ears. How is this accomplished? Buy choosing tubes and the basic design topography then speakers for the sound I want. Tone controls? EQ? I have none. The first tube in my pre does everything I want. Telefunken? A bit bright. Mullard, a bit warm. Amperex Bugle boy is just right.

For my guitars, I take the proper Dazzo pickup into the simple SunnAudio pre. Simple not describing the circuit, but the lack of all the unneeded bells and whistles. It takes a signal and reproduces it in a very linear fashion, without the peaks and valleys most consumer pres produce. Now when you get to Grace level design you are buying good gear, but I would not use most of the features it provides.

Now the Tonedexter take this I don't like the sound of the pickup, and replaces it with the mic sound, a very cleaver approach. So the need for a K&K is to make the tone usable and thus four bands of EQ, enough to compensate for the pickup and the gain stage in the pre. The RedEye is another linear gain stage product. The designer added a treble knob for marketing more than anything. When I talked to him, he called it the dead string knob. I am not saying that given the correct equipment like a Grace pre, you can't make a K&K sound good, you can. But the signal coming from my guitar is something needing no EQ. I don't use the EQ on my SunnAudio Stage DI except when I need to fatten up the tone of my cheap JJB equipped archtop. Then I crank the bass. But I wasn't willing to put the right Dazzos into a really cheap guitar. The simplification of my rig is rewarding.