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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Singapore | Hi Guys,
Just thought I'd start the ball rollin' by asking everyone here, whats their typical set-up when their jacked in and playing. From guitar, to strings, effects and amps to get the sound they desire from their Ovation. Hoping to help any newbies here on getting the best out of their Ovation.
My set-up is simple as I often plug into a church PA system. Elite 1868, D'addario EXP19 and a ZOOM504II for some added punch. Often I go into the system dry as an Ovation sounds really good just as it is. The ZOOM helps out when I need some variety in a song and I pluck more than I pick!
What do you guys use?
Tim
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 30
| my O setup is a little pathetic compared to my start setup.
Ovation 35th anniv balladeer(elixer custom lights) > Boss dd5(digital delay) > Rockman chorus/sustainer > Rockman EQ > Fender twin reverb 1965.
Pretty classic rig for a guy my age(19). I love it. Rockman chorus/sustainer is insane. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | My acoustic rig has evolved over the years, the main components are a Boss AD5 & LR Baggs Para-Acoustic DI to handle My SMT, Legend & Mandolin. These go to a Behringer 602 mixer which takes care of any additional instruments, such as my lap-steel or Tiple. The signal from the mixer goes to an Alessis compressor & a Behringer Shark feedback destroyer. From there it goes to a Gallien Krueger acoustic amp, which is my personal monitor, then on to the main sound ststem. Theres also an Alesis Microverb & Boss tuner in there. It's all built into a camera case so it's portable & takes about 2 minutes to set up. My main goal is to achieve as natural an acoustic sound as possible without feedback, I'm nearly there. With this set up I can go into any sound system & tell the engineer to leave the channel flat, I can then get a killer sound, which is consistent from gig to gig, using my gear. Most sound engineers in the UK are clueless when it comes to acoustic instruments.
I've posted a pic of the set-up in the members gallery.
My electric rig is much simpler, Boss compressor & Boss Overdrive into a Fender Blackface Deluxe reissue.
For gigs I use whatever strings I can get the best wholesale price on, otherwise it's D'addario 12-52 for the acoustics, 9-42 for the electrics & 13-56 for the slide guitars. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Hmmm ... since I'm not really a gigging musician, my setup involves sitting on a padded stool in my play room with a deep bowl acoustic on my knee. Stool must be set within arms reach of the table which holds the cold frosty. D'Adarrio lights and Sam Ash picks. Dave |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | when I use the Ovation out it is plugged directly into the PA or a trace elliott acoutic amp.
funny lately my electric setup has been the same thing, although I have been known to have some elaborate electric setups. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | for acoustic i plug into the pa or my sound tech ar1. i use string this martin bulk phosphor bronze 12's.
for electric i almost always use my ukII plugged directly into any one of several amps. we dont play much that requires effects beyond the considerable number i can get from the ukII and its combo of pickups and the single coil emulation or humbucker options. it actually sounds great plugged right into the pa system too.
i use martin nickel 10's also in bulk from string this. i often use a .115 for the high e if we are playing allot of blues. i tend to really choke that high e. 009's dont last me through a gig most of the time. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Singapore | Thanks guys for discussing about your set-up. Some great ideas here for those who are just starting up. I forgot to add a golden bubbly as part of my rig!
Anybody here uses an AER amp? I heard one recently and the smallest model can really crank out loud with no feedback!! It seems like a great acouctic amp. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1
Location: Garson, Ontario, Canada | I am in fact as newbie as you can get. At the age of 44, I just started taking guitar lessons a year ago. Up until recently I had an Ibanez electric, but I just purchased a Celebrity (Ovation) C057, which is a lower budget accoustic/electric 6 string. I have been told that learning to play on an accoustic will improve my play on an electric. I told my wife that the best way to describe the difference is the difference between standard steering and power steering on a car...(does anyone remember standard steering).... I do find that it seems to help, as the electric feels "easy" after working with the accoustic. Would most of the people on this list that playing accoustic is good for skill building in general for the electric?
I plug it into a Behringer Blue Devil amplifier. |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 86
Location: ma. | before you get up to the plate you always wanna take a few swings with the donuts on. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Singapore | Playing and acoustic did help me with my electric playing a whole lot! It thought me pick control, built a stronger left hand, especially plucking skills! Something which I lacked some time back.
I've since gone unplugged for 3yrs now! Nothing beats plucking a song and crooning those around you, especially the gals!
:D |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Paul Templeman, good pic of your set-up box in the gallery! Do you have the stuff on the top velcroed on or what? Using that camera box is sweet! I don't see any pictures of your mandolin, is it an Ovation?
Another question somewhat out of the Ovation realm: Musician's Friend has a Chandler Lap Steel for $349.99. Familair with these at all? I was considering one to add a extra "sound" to our fledgling band...
Thanks |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | www.chandlerguitars.com
I remember them being around in the mid 70's, but up in San Francisco instead of Chico.
They also used to make pickguards for Ovation electrics, don't know if they still do. |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Timothy and all
Our bluegrass band has devolved into playing totally acoustic in the manner of mariachi bands, we even do at least one set walking around from table to table playing acoustic sets. We work on a very aggressive style and our instruments are as loud as we could find for acoustic playing, our bass is a standup of great quality but poor appearance, the bass player is our true musician as he also plays excellent piano and does sets in a big band on a horn. My son plays as big a guitar as he could find, the banjo, of course, is loud enough, my mandolin is scruffy but loud enough to cause the banjo player to complain, I never use a light touch but play at the highest level of sound I can get, lots of double and triple string melody where I can do it. Medium strings all around. 3 and 4 part harmony also for volume.
Bailey |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 28
Location: Singapore | Hey Bailey,
Cool set up for a band. Totally acoustic is great! Reminds me of when I did a few gigs like such around a office pool party. I have to say that having such a band is fun, great and everyone is in synch with each other! Your bass player is very talented. A few such musicians do reside here in my country and they are an inspiration to behold.
All the beat to the band and your son! Acoustic is the way to go. No studio cost and better arrangements. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Mr Wagg, yes, the whole lot is vecro'd into the case, sometimes when I need to travel light I can just pull out the AD5 & Baggs pre-amp. The Mandolin is an Ovation, there's a pic of it sitting in front of my Adamas & SMT.
The Chandler lap steels are fine, but for that kind of money you can get a 50's or 60's Magnatone, Supro, National, Oahu or possibly even a Gibson, Fender or Rickenbacker. My '57 Ricky 8-string cost around $200, my '46 Ricky 6 string cost $240. It's worth getting a 7 or 8 string guitar and for some reason they seem to go for less money than 6 stringers. Also watch out for scale lengths, some of the earlier guitars have shortish (20inch) scales, 22 inches is about right.
Try an ebay search on lap steel, theres usually a few dozen cool guitars at sensible money.
Tim, AER are great amps, Ashdown are worth a look also, though as both are European brands I guess they're pricey in the US |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | P. Templeman - thanks for the info. A Rickenbacher lap steel would be very cool...
I still don't see the Mando - is the Adams the blue finish one??? I have an Applause mandolin that I bought for learning a new instrument.
I'm very new to playing in a band and setting up through a PA and all. I'm using my good old Celebrity with Earthwood Extra Light strings and plugging into the second channel of my co-band members Fender Acoustisonic Jr. amp - then into the PA. I was using another co-members LR Baggs Para-Acoustic DI and plugging directly into the PA, until the Fender amp was added. Soon as I pay off a new Legend I'll have the preamp (and tuner!!) on the guitar. Then I'll be looking to get an "acoustic" amp.
Bailey, that totally acoustic sounds great for what you are doing - we started out in a very small BBQ restaurant and only amplified the electric bass, electric guitar and mandolin - leaving two acoustic guitars unamplified. The Celebrity never has problems being heard and I have a booming voice for the vocals!! |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | 5th pic down, '78 beige Adamas wideneck, Mandolin & graphite-burst Adamas SMT. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | '76 Custom Balladeer
A.R.T. "Acoustic" effects pedal
Peavey 150W 5-channel P.A. driving a pair of Peavey speaker cabinets w/a 12" and horn in each.
AudioTechnica mics (for my SlotHead - when I use it "out").
D'Addario PhosBronze (lights)
Dunlop Tortex .50mm picks |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 255
| My small set up is my O into a Morley ABY box to make 2 signals into an ART multiverb III stereo into 2 $800 each JBL powered monitors. I Cant afford an amp now. :confused:
My big set up at home involves a mixer, a PC and lots of wires that connect to I am not sure. |
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Whats your set-up?
