I just got hold of my Holy Grail of boxes - an Artdesanos de Obelisco - and want to build something very special with it. I don't want to spoil the top with a mag pup, so I'm planning to use a rod piezo under the bridge. I've read mixed comments about the effectiveness of tone controls with piezos - worthless with a disc, so-so with a rod? On one of my earlier builds I used one of those PS-900 passive vol/tone controls with a rod. I didn't think much of it. Has anyone used Gitty's Pre-Amp Unit? https://www.cbgitty.com/cubecart/guitar-electronics/pre-amps/great-pre-amp-unit-for-acoustic-and-cigar-box-guitars-model-eq-7545r.html? If so, how did you like it, and do you have a sound clip going through it's paces?
I've not yet done an active powered on-board pre-amp and wonder if there would really be any noticeable tone adjustment difference, or should I just forgo any tone control.
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It works well - It is also really easy to add a smokey mini amp so you can have it as a battery mini amp with preamp controls, or by using a switchable jack socket have it bypass the miniamp and send the signal to an external amp.
I have seriously been considering putting one of these in my smallest cigar box, with in and out jacks, and using it for an external preamp/eq for my instruments with passive pickup sysems. Anyone try? Any reason why it wouldn't work?
I've done it and it works fine
I think the pre-amp/EQ units work well with the rod pickups. I have built them into smaller boxes when they won't fit well into the body of the instrument. You just need to add a 1/4" jack for the input.
I used one of these on a non-descript box and was VERY happy with the performance of it, but must agree with Suspect Device it's rather ungainly looking. I would only use it on a player's piece, not a beautiful box such as yours
Thanks, Don. How would you describe the sound/tone? Any pics of the install?
I find it hard to describe sound but I guess I would say it's smoother and ballsier. The signal is also increased to a level that I think is probably matched better with an amp than the straight piezo signal. Like you said you might do I also cut off the mounting flange so it would sit flat. That was a bit of a pain and then I had to glue it in. It looks kinds ugly and hacked in but sounds good and is now my "player" when I plug in to play with others.
No offense -and I don't have any experience with the onboard pre amps- but man, if you don't want to spoil the look of a beautiful box, keep that ugly plastic thing away from it!
Yup, it's ugly! Didn't expect it to be so BIG! A 4-pole mag pup with a hardtail bridge will look and (I'm sure) will sound much better. The pre-amp/rod piezo will go on something else. Which brings me to a new discussion......
No offense taken. If I use an on-board pre-amp, it'll be mounted on the side of the box where it won't really be seen. I might also re-do the mounting plate.
BTW - this is the box:
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