Acoustic pre-amp

[PeterJ]

(Sorry - I accidentally put this in For Sale -- this is a repost from there)

Amplifying a banjo is sometimes more trouble than it's worth (I know, I know... why do you want it louder?). I'm using a passive magnetic pickup (made by Jones, similar to the original Fishman). It goes to an MXR micro-amp for lead boosts, then a Boss chorus, then to a DI to the PA mixer.

Problem -- we need to crank the fader on the mixer to just about maximum to keep me balanced with the rest of the band. I'm thinking a simple, clean pre-amp -- something I can wear on my strap -- will give me enough gain for playing rhythm. All I need is a volume knob and 2 jacks.

Any ideas on what would do the trick -- should I build another microamp, or is there something even simpler that could do it?

Thanks in advance,
Peter

[smoguzbenjamin]

Try an LPB-2 for a good clean boost. Jack Orman's MOSFET booster is good aswell

:mrgreen: lol

[Darren N]

Can you get the two levels you need out of the microamp? maybe you could switch between two gain pots. If modding the microamp is not an option then maybe a switchable volume control (a la "the pot") after the microamp.

What I'm trying to say: Having 2 preamp levels only reqiures one preamp and a way to switch between levels.

Having said that, building a clean boost will be more fun and will probably have other uses in the future so take your pick,
Darren


Disclaimer: the contents of this post should not be taken as implication of the author's endorsement of the use of a volume boost with a banjo

[PeterJ]

Ben, Darren --

Thanks, these are both good ideas. I've been toying with building an LPB-1, so this is a good excuse. It also means that I can always have it in my case for occasions when I sit in with other groups and don't have my pedal board (I keep the pedals for my lap steel on the same board).

Darren -- the volume control idea is a good one - very simple and elegant, which is probably why I didn't think of it. I may do it anyway - put that on the board and build the LPB-1 for use without the pedals.

Disclaimer: the contents of this post should not be taken as implication of the author's endorsement of the use of a volume boost with a banjo

Hey! Waitaminute...

Peter