Fishman Aura... for electric guitar (with piezo-saddles)?

miketheman · Joined: Oct 12, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Gothenburg, sweden

Hey all!

I have a electric guitar with Graphtechs GHOST system installed (both Acoustic preamp and Hexpander preamp). But I think the acoustic sound possibly could be improved in one way or other. Some ideas are below, but I´m wondering if someone has done anything similar and have some thoughts to share...

Really cheap option: use whatever EQ/filter thats around and add more of an "body" to the Ghost character. "Fatness" will probably come, but I´m also seeking the "hollowness"...

Cheap option: use a Boss AC-2/AC-3 pedal. Long time since I tested a AC-2, but from what I remember that pedal could actually be useful. My guess that these pedals are using perhaps some combination of different filters (bandpass and combfilter maybe?) to acheive their sound.

Not cheap option at all: use any of the Fishman Aura pedals, which have multiple "soundselections" thanks to its use of convolution processing. Even though that electric guitar have been tested thru Aura pedals (as stated in a review). The difference is that it were the magnetic signal of that electric guitar which were tested, whether I´m thinking about the Ghost acoustic preamp signal. Which is piezo based and also voiced towards a more acoustic/warmer sound.

Question is, how much does that differ... and is that in a good way or bad way?

Anyone who tried/knows?

/Mike

Oskar · Joined: Jul 29, 2004 Posts: 1751 Location: Norway

Mike, I've tried one of those, and frankly, it wasn't worth the price, even at the discount I was offered. Mind you, that was the first generation, maybe they've improved since...

miketheman · Joined: Oct 12, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Gothenburg, sweden

Ok, thanks Oskar. I guess you´ve tried it with both acoustic and electric, and it still wasn´t worth the price (even just for the acoustic)?

Perhaps, there are any Boss AC-2/AC-3 on the second hand market. Gonna think about it. In the meanwhile I´ll start doing some experimentation with eq/filter in my G2 engine. It´s always fun to try new ideas in any gear for solving something it weren´t "meant" to do. Perhaps the solution is closer than I´ve thought of...

Thanks for your thoughts!

/Mike

Oskar · Joined: Jul 29, 2004 Posts: 1751 Location: Norway

No probs, Mike! Oh, I forgot to say, I used it mostly with my trusty Takamine PT05E, a guitar I knew inside out, although some thieving bastard has since forced me to upgrade. Didn't try it with an electric, as I didn't own an that type of plank at the time.
My best mate used to play with one of Norway's major touring artists, and he used to split the piezo signal, routing one signal straight to the board, the other went via a little Fender amp or a Roland Jazz Chorus, whatever was available. The "dry" signal had the mids scooped out, the "amped" signal had all highs and lows filtered out. Combine these two with a minimal panning, and you got a very nice total sound. Ry Cooder and David Lindley apparently do similar tricks.

BobTheDog · Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:44 am Post subject:

Hi Mike,

Does that guitar have 13 pin output?

If so the VG99 provides some steel acoustic simulations. It also has a nylon one that works quite well with a nylon guitar feeding it but not so good from an electric.

Andy

miketheman · Joined: Oct 12, 2009 Posts: 56 Location: Gothenburg, sweden

Hi Andy!

Yes, 13 pin that is. I´m aware of VG99, the plan were though to rip out the inner of the Boss AC-2/AC-3 pedals (if I ever decide to get one of these) and mount it into an rackcase. Since I´m gonna need an "interface jackpanel" anyway for other reasons as well.

/Mike