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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 14
Location: florida | Last fall I started learning guitar. I always wanted an Ovation and in December I picked up on eBay the 35th Anniversary Model (AN35-5, I think) which is like an 1861. After studying this site I decided I needed an acoustic amp and picked up a used SWR Strawberry Blonde which works fine except for the inoperative reverb. My playing is NOT developed to the stage of virtually all members here but I am coming along. I am mainly a strumming type player who throws a few little licks here and there (e.g. Norwegian Wood, Here Comes the Sun, Layla) and some simple fingerstyle songs (Blackbird, Dust In the Wind, Landslide). (You can tell I am just learning!) I tell you this because I realize my technique (or lack thereof) effects the quality of the tone I get from the guitar. But I am not entirely satisfied with the tone I do get.
Part of my problem may be I do not know how to properly dial in the amp because I seem to either dial in too much bass (which shows itself with more aggressive strumming parts of a song) or if I down play the bass the tone seems too thin sounding. Most of my amp settings are near 12:00 though I tinker between 11 and 2 on each of the treble, mid and bass controls in search of the ideal tone. I tend to leave the EQ on the guitar at neutral and not engage the pre-shifter. I lack the ability to dial in a consistently lush tone.
So I have an interest in an acoustic effects processor of some type. I will likely never play through a PA and likely never for anyone other than myself and a few friends. I do enjoy the fullness of the sound when my O is plugged in. I am just striving to get the best possible sound.
My quandry is whether given my technique level, and the equipement I have whether there would be any "value added" by getting something from Zoom, Boss, Korg, Yamaha, D TAR etc. I would appreciate your candid comments and suggestions as what might help, if anything. I have searched and read prior posts and could not really find teh answer I seek. I hope you can help. Thank you. |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I use a cheap Digitech RP100 that I bought as a scratch n dent 4 years ago for my electric. I take a clean channel, add a touch of chorus and eq it to taste.
If nothing else, buying a cheap multi-effects box will allow you to explore some different sounds for your O. I found the diversity is nice in a multi-song set of varying types of music.
I don't think it matters too much what you get as long as it has some clean channels that you can tweak. I have had Zoom, Korg and Digitech and found them all fun and unique. Never have tried a dedicated acoustic box (matter of fact, seems hard to find them) and I sometimes really wake up the room when I punch some metal overdrive in through the Adamas....kind of fun that it will take that stuff and get pretty loud before feeding back.
Oh...and your slam on how well you play compared to some of us 30 year guitar players who CAN'T play the "licks" you are using is duly noted (just kidding, but goodness, don't knock yourself too much, cause I am not sure I can do some of the stuff you are and I consider myself to be pretty darn mediocre). |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I have the Aphex Acoustic Xciter and I find that it's great for enhancing the sound. It's not a true acoustic processor in that it does not emulate acoustic models, but it is probably the best $99 that you can spend if you want a fuller, richer tone thru the amp. |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 14
Location: florida | Jeff and Mitch--thank you for the prompt responses. I think I just may go pick up something this afternoon and see what happens over the weekend. Thanks a lot for the help. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I am a fan of BBE equiptment. I have an 882i in the rack but before that I used their now discontinued stinger pedal. I think a newer version has been reissued but not sure about the cost.
If interested, I have the old stinger pedal available for sale. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 616
Location: cincinnati, ohio | First of all, Wabcol, as Jeff said, if you're playing songs like Norwegian Wood, Blackbird, Here Comes the Sun, Layla, and Dust In the Wind, and claiming to be mediocre, you are either:
a.) severely underestimating yourself
b.) too humble for your own good, or
c.) a smartass!
I've been playing 37 years, and of all the songs you've mentioned, the only one I do that I'm really happy with is Landslide. I don't even bother with Here Comes the Sun; why humiliate myself?
As far as effects boxes go, I've used a Zoom 504II multiprocessor. It has really great sounds for the money. I've found, though, that since I got a Roland AC 60 Acoustic Chorus amp, I hardly use the 504; I have chorus, reverb, and delay built into the amp, and various settings of those effects will take you a long way. Just my two cents worth. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Like Jeffrey D, I, too, often use an inexpensive Digitech RP100 which MF has on sale right now for about $84, power supply included. It has a lot of options and custom variables, but I prefer simply using a number of the factory presets (Classic Crunch, Texas Blues, Dirty Boogie, Studio Clean, etc.) for home practicing. |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 14
Location: florida | Thank you so much to everyone for the suggestions. I am researching the processors you mentioned. And thanks for the encouragement on the playing! I really appreciate this forum, which I visit almost daily. And I really appreciate my Ovation. |
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Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 231
Location: N.J. | Hhmmm, I did notice in your posting that you said you are having some problems dialing in your amp to achieve a tone,your striving to get the best possible sound your satisfied with and you want to pick up an effects processor.Unless you are going use some type of exciter,BBE, or an external e.q., than I dont think an effects processor is really whats needed here. You can have a beautiful sounding chorus effect but if your bottom end is booming that chorus effect wont really help.I would possibly try a compressor {which many fx units have built in},but again, thats something you have to dial in or you'll lose most of your dynamics.Effects can sound fantastic but they should be used as the icing on the cake.Once you have a sweet sound from your amp then that will only enhance aything a multi box can do. Good luck! ;) |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | I've tried lots of acoustic processors but I keep going back to my trusty Boss stomp boxes. A little chorus, a little reverb, and I use an EQ pedal for fingerstyle stuff as it serves as a volume booster as well. I run everything through the Aphex Acoustic Exciter. I like the Aphex because it not only serves as a D.I., but it enhances the sound without "coloring" it. As Mitchrx said, it's great deal at about $100.00. |
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Newbie Question About Acoustic Processors
