Len_derby Posted May 30, 2012 Posted May 30, 2012 The percussionist in the blues/gospel/Americana trio I play with is taking a break for family reasons. I've been thinking about getting one of those stompboxes of the kind that Seasick Steve and others use as a temporary 'drum' for the band. Anyone on here used one or got one?
oggiesnr Posted May 30, 2012 Posted May 30, 2012 Make one, it'll take about ten minutes! Find a cigar (or other suitable) box (car boot sales are best for these). Cheap piezo pickup (couple of quid from Maplins). Tape inside box, I used the cabling from a defunct pair of ear buds to connect it up (already wired to a jack ), use a jack adapter to connect to amp and hey presto! If it costs more than a fiver you was robbed! If you want to get fancy then you can add brass bells or whatever to the inside (or build two, one as a bass, one as a hi-hat). Have fun Steve
Len_derby Posted May 30, 2012 Author Posted May 30, 2012 Yes, you're right Steve, I should 'man-up' and make one! When using yours how do you run it to amplification? Do you jack-it straight into an amp/cab or combo? Or do you DI it into a PA? If the latter, do you go through a DI-box. Purely passive, or any pre-amping before the PA? Len
EdwardHimself Posted May 30, 2012 Posted May 30, 2012 [quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1338383322' post='1673607'] Yes, you're right Steve, I should 'man-up' and make one! When using yours how do you run it to amplification? Do you jack-it straight into an amp/cab or combo? Or do you DI it into a PA? If the latter, do you go through a DI-box. Purely passive, or any pre-amping before the PA? Len [/quote] Quite honestly, if you're going to make something that simple you shouldn't overcomplicate things by worrying about this sort of thing! My advice would be try hooking it up to one of the line inputs on the PA, if it's not loud enough, use a preamp
oggiesnr Posted May 30, 2012 Posted May 30, 2012 Straight into whatever combo happens to be unused at the time. Never played one in a venue where we needed to run it through the PA so you're on your own there. Once (out of pure devilment) we ran it through the guitarist's pedal board. Fuzz/phase and delay with a touch a wah. The look on punters faces as they tried to work out what was happening was great fun. Steve
xgsjx Posted May 31, 2012 Posted May 31, 2012 My singer has one of [url="http://log-jam.co.uk/"]these[/url]. You plug it in to the PA or 2nd channel on the amp & roll off all the top end so you just get a thump. It's just 2 lumps of wood with a piezo wired into it. You get a bit of 1/2" board with it to sit it on, but my singer usually sits it straight on the stage floor. Makes no odds.
Len_derby Posted June 4, 2012 Author Posted June 4, 2012 Well, I've bought a cheap transducer. After rummaging aroung the garage I've located what I think will be a suitable box. It's one of the bits of junk I inherited from my dad, and as today would have been his 87th birthday I think I'll name the stomp-box 'Herbert' in his honour. I'll report back later on progress, with photos.
Len_derby Posted June 5, 2012 Author Posted June 5, 2012 Here is 'Herbert'. I've been testing with a crabby little 10watt practice combo but so far, so good. Thanks to Steve and others for their help and advice.
oggiesnr Posted June 5, 2012 Posted June 5, 2012 Nice one Steve PS and it's a lot more satisfying than buying one isn't it?
Len_derby Posted June 5, 2012 Author Posted June 5, 2012 [quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1338930813' post='1681397'] Nice one Steve PS and it's a lot more satisfying than buying one isn't it? [/quote] You bet! I've been driving the family mad trying to find the 'sweet spot', while singing 'Postman's Knock' (saw Ashley Hutchings and Morris On do it at Southwell Folk Festival this last weekend)
Hodge Posted June 6, 2012 Posted June 6, 2012 Grand job Len. I used to live in a box just like that....in t'middle o' t'motorway.
Truckstop Posted June 6, 2012 Posted June 6, 2012 Bah, luxury! etc etc Looks good! I have an old cigar box that might make a suitable thump-producer! Truckstop
rOB Posted June 6, 2012 Posted June 6, 2012 (edited) If you ever want to get a little more complex there are a few videos of people having 2 sounds in one stomp box, a snare/rattle type sound and a bass drum sound. E.g. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2uYzhk7Ps4&feature=related[/media] Edited June 6, 2012 by rOB
KiOgon Posted June 6, 2012 Posted June 6, 2012 That home made 'Herbert' looks great! Mustard Good job Len - far better than the 'proper' thing I had for a while [url="http://www.log-jam.co.uk/logarhythm.html"]http://www.log-jam.co.uk/logarhythm.html[/url] now I just use a block of wood 10x6x2" with a bit of carpet on top & wooden floorboards
uncle psychosis Posted June 30, 2012 Posted June 30, 2012 Anyone got a GDI21? Any good? How does it play with other pedals? I want something I can plug into my mixer so I can play with headphones. Preferably something that I can put my other pedals before too. The cheaper the better. I was also looking at the Joyo JF-14, the "american sound". Any ideas how it would perform going straight into a mixer?
Ancient Mariner Posted June 30, 2012 Posted June 30, 2012 I'd not expect that Joyo to be good used that way TBH - just another tone-shaping stomp box as far as i can tell. Digitech did a number of units with a separate 'direct to PA' output, but they really sound poor used that way.
EdwardHimself Posted July 1, 2012 Posted July 1, 2012 I didn't think the bass unit sounded too bad when shoved through the mixer output but I think really you don't have quite as much flexibility in terms of DIing a guitar sound like you do with a bass.
charic Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 My guitarist is looking at moving over to a guitar amp modeller and completely losing having an actual amp on stage. A very brave move I'm sure we would all agree. Now obviously he would love an Axe Fx or Kemper unit but that's well out of reach at the mo unfortunately. He's been looking at : Roland G55 : [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/roland-gr-55-guitar-synthesizer-pedal--82562"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/roland-gr-55-guitar-synthesizer-pedal--82562[/url] Boss (I think GT-100) [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/boss-gt-100-guitar-multi-effects-pedal-bundle--99822"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/boss-gt-100-guitar-multi-effects-pedal-bundle--99822[/url] I've thrown into the mix : Line 6 HD-500 : [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/line-6-pod-hd500-guitar-amp-modelling-effects-pedal--76074"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/line-6-pod-hd500-guitar-amp-modelling-effects-pedal--76074[/url] We play drop C tuned death metal. Any other suggestions?
oggiesnr Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 Er, don't do it? I would always keep an amp on stage and use the modeller through it. It gives you that bit more control over your sound (and is easier to adjust if the hall acoustics throw a curve ball at you) and it means that if something fails in the modeller at least you can still play. As far as modellers are concerned I've always liked the Line 6 stuff. Steve
charic Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 [quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1347958606' post='1807039'] Er, don't do it? I would always keep an amp on stage and use the modeller through it. It gives you that bit more control over your sound. [/quote] Actually a modeller through a PA gives us MUCH more control over our sound and levels as the drums are sequenced as well and the stage balance levels will have much less impact on the FOH mix We've thought this through a fair bit
BigRedX Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 If he's into wacky effects he should also look at the [url=http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/adrenalinn-iii.html]Linn Adrenalinn[/url] which includes amp models as well as a whole lot more. IMO to get the best out of any modeller, you need to spend some time with it in a band situation. You also need to ignore the descriptions in the manual and use your ears. Stop worrying about whether it authentically sounds like your favourite amp and just listen to how it makes the guitar sound in the band context. I have a Bass Pod and several of the amp models that I use as starting points for my sounds are ones that I would never have picked, if I'd used my eyes over my ears.
charic Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1347960241' post='1807077'] If he's into wacky effects he should also look at the [url="http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/adrenalinn-iii.html"]Linn Adrenalinn[/url] which includes amp models as well as a whole lot more. IMO to get the best out of any modeller, you need to spend some time with it in a band situation. You also need to ignore the descriptions in the manual and use your ears. Stop worrying about whether it authentically sounds like your favourite amp and just listen to how it makes the guitar sound in the band context. I have a Bass Pod and several of the amp models that I use as starting points for my sounds are ones that I would never have picked, if I'd used my eyes over my ears. [/quote] Not so much into wacky effects atm although we'll put it on the list of modellers to look at if we can find one to try
charic Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 Hmmm maybe a pre-amp could work instead... ENGL e530 straight to desk? Any thoughts? Sounds pretty epic from what I've heard but would PA speakers do it justice without a cab in the loop?
LiamPodmore Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1347966942' post='1807214'] Hmmm maybe a pre-amp could work instead... ENGL e530 straight to desk? Any thoughts? Sounds pretty epic from what I've heard but would PA speakers do it justice without a cab in the loop? [/quote] Throw a cab simulator in before it hits the PA and you're sorted. Liam
charic Posted September 18, 2012 Posted September 18, 2012 [quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1347967463' post='1807229'] Throw a cab simulator in before it hits the PA and you're sorted. Liam [/quote] This is the only one that comes up on a quick search [url="http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/behringer-ultra-g-gi100-active-di-box-with-guitar-cab-simulator--6950"]http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/behringer-ultra-g-gi100-active-di-box-with-guitar-cab-simulator--6950[/url] Any other suggestions? I just thought... This would mean I could just DI live too (although I would miss the thump behind my back...)
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