|
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Of all the O's I've played through PAs, some of them are by far more susceptible than others to feeding back when playing an open A chord with the tone shift pushed in. Yes, I can undo the tone shift button, get some (but not all) of that brightness back with EQ, roll off more bass than I want, or lower the volume (yeah whatever), but these don't compare to having the tone shift activated with no feedback (which for whatever reason is cake on some models but not others).
I couldn't help wondering about the preamps that have notch filters, and if that would kill the undesired feedback without killing the desired tone. So, your feedback please (pun intended):
(1) Do you find the notch filter pre's effective without sacrificing tonal quality?
(2) Is it as easy as swapping out one preamp for another, or do you have to swap out the whole pickup system?
Thanks!
(I know I can get an external notch, this or that EQ, etc. I'm trying to circumvent that so I can plug my O into any sound system and kill that open A chord feedback without killing my tone) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | My personal take on it . . . there is so much going on in the signal chain that I am simply not qualified to figure out what needs adjusting and how much. I've read the directions and horsed around with notch filters, but as you pointed out, some guitars just feed back more than others, and I find the open A string to be the primary culprit when it does happen. Other times, it may be something else in the chain. As much as I love the ADD Cub for size and handling convenience, I couldn't control the feedback in my environment, which is to use the amp as a monitor and run an XLR out of the pedal board to the house system. When I switched back to the Genz Shen Jr., the feedback problem disappeared. Another occasional issue is using the Trace SMX compressor. It works well for some models, like my SSBs, but not others like the Tak EF75 and Opry. I could surely use some private sound engineering lessons with Paul or other professional who really understands this acoustic amplification stuff. Our sound engineer is good at what he does at the house board, but I've never bugged him about my personal sound set-up. He prefers that we use this complicated personalized monitor system with an earbud, which I tried for a few months, but it wasn't for me. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I love feedback |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | If by tone shift you mean the pre-shape function on certain preamps, then when this is activated it is more likely to promote low-end feedback. The pre-shape is a classic smiley-face EQ curve (a boost of the low and high EQ with a cut in the mid) This can sound good at low to moderate volume but can sound thin and promote feedback if you need to get loud. Personally I hate the pre-shape sound and never use it, but then I'm always going to high-end professional sound systems.
The Ovation onboard Notch filters work well, and will get you maybe an extra 2dB of headroom before feedback at that frequency, without sacrificing tone noticibly. Soundhole bungs help a little too. If you have a mixer with swept-mid EQ set it to 110Hz and cut by no more than a couple of dB. That should help tame the A-note feedback, but you really need fully parametric EQ which does a more precise job and won't screw your tone. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Thanks, Paul. Yes, I mean the pre-shape function, which I actually like. I do prefer a built in notch function over an external parametric EQ (and I cannot control what sound systems different venues have) so I was just wondering what the notch would do the tone. I notice the OP40 and OP50 have the notch filter (and that the OP50 has 2 mid controls) so maybe that's what I need to hunt down.
Do you know if using one is as easy as popping out the OP-PRO and popping in the OP40 or 50? Or are pickups and wiring involved? All 4 of my ovations use the OP-PRO. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | Originally posted by alpep:
I love feedback wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The OP-X, Optima, OP50 and OP40 all have notch filters. I can hear a very slight difference with the notch engaged, but the only time it gets used is in a band situation when we're cranked, so the extra headroom is worth the tiny payoff in tone (which I doubt anyone in the audience would be aware of)
I've just tried putting an Op50 into an Op-Pro can and vice versa. Not compatible. You'd need to change the can. |
|
| |
Feedback about feedback
