getting a warmer acoustic sound through PA

[jayp5150]

This was discussed briefly a while back, but I didn't see quite what I was looking for.

My cousin has an Ovation acous/elec (the thinner bodied one) and was complaining about it sounding thin through a PA, but stellar through an acoustic amp.  I know a DI might solve this for him, but he is budgeted.

Is there a booster that would warm up his tone (and I could maybe add a tone section too), or should he just get an EQ pedal?

I appreciate your help.  Please share any of your experiences.

[downweverything]

mic the amp.

[bwanasonic]

What do you mean by "through a PA" ? Direct from the guitar's 1/4" plug into the board? There are a number of reasonably priced DI's on the market in the $25-$50 range (see Rolls, ProCo). The Aphex series of pedals (exiter, compressor, etc) also offer a serviceable DI in the $150 range. Miking the amp is worth trying, but is not a guaranteed success either (feedback, etc.).  I've heard my friend Johnny Young get great results with just an EQ pedal  into a crappy PA however:

http://www.bloodroot.net/home.html

Kerry M

[petemoore]

This was discussed briefly a while back, but I didn't see quite what I was looking for.

My cousin has an Ovation acous/elec (the thinner bodied one) and was complaining about it sounding thin through a PA, but stellar through an acoustic amp.  I know a DI might solve this for him, but he is budgeted.

Is there a booster that would warm up his tone (and I could maybe add a tone section too), or should he just get an EQ pedal?

I appreciate your help.  Please share any of your experiences.

Can you describe the chain briefly from source to amp/speakers?

[jayp5150]

My bad for not clarifying--long day yesterday.

He's pluggging the guitar directly to the PA, 1/4" unbalanced.

He doesn't own the amp, but when he bought the guitar, that was what the judgement was based on.

I guess we thought DI's were more than $40, but I found some inexpensive ones yesterday.  So, a DI get's rid of the thinness, then?

Thanks guys.

[AL]

Boss makes an Acoustic Simulator that works well with electric/acoustic guitars. They can usually be found used for around $60.

AL

[Mike Burgundy]

A DI does not solve the thinness ingherent to an ovation, unfortunately. It's the piezo sound.
You can do a lot with a compressor and a good parametric EQ. Make sure you have a high-Z input first. Oddly enough, this will help to brighten up the sound, but it will also leave you with a lot to work with and helps dynamics.
I'd say high-Z preamp (if the guitar is passive, otherwise leave it out) into compressor into EQ into DI. Should be very workable.

[jayp5150]

Thanks.  I'll relay the feedback to my cousin.

Thanks again, guys.

[bigjonny]

You can do a lot with a compressor and a good parametric EQ.

A compressor really helps, but can cause major feedback.  Best to get a compressor/expander (compander).  A.R.T.'s TCS product does this beautifully for a reasonable price, and has a Hi-Z input specifically for cases like yours.

It's also a dual-channel device, so use the other side to tighten up vocals.  This has been show-tested by me, and I loved it!  Easy learning curve thanks to presets.

[dpresley58]

A Baggs preamp would probably be the best bet for this guy. They run around 120-140 bucks, come with parametric eq's and notch filters, run off phantom power and deliver the goods on acoustic guitar through a PA... I've worked with them for years, and tend to see them frequently on other stages as well.

A DI box would get the signal balanced on it's way to the board and make up -some- of the lower signal some acoustics have coming off their pickup system, but you wouldn't have any tonal control through a DI.

Acoustics can be handled tonally at the board by soundtechs worth their salt, but some folks just don't have the ear for fattening them up.

For what its worth.

[dpresley58]

mic the amp.

And, then again... There's always the simple approach.

Good call. :wink: