The Para Acoustic D.I. is a studio quality direct box combined with a feature packed, state-of-the-art preamp and equalizer. The proprietary Quasi-Passive EQ circuitry is totally transparent and allows control over voicing without sacrificing tone – a big advance over conventional equalizers.
Price: $159.00 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Overall:
The LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI is an awesome preamp for electro-acoustic instruments, and comes with so many valuable features! Since early 2004 I’ve used it in conjunction with a McSpadden SH12KK Custom mountain dulcimer with custom LR Baggs piezo bridge pickup, and the LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI makes it play like a dream! The most useful features for me have been the equilizer, gain control, volume control, effects loop, and its dual output of both a 1/4″ and an XLR jack. I’ve played in venues where I’m lucky if someone knows how to turn on the sound system, let alone operate it; so the advantage of having so much personal control over my sound through this gem of a product is wonderful! Some house systems I’ve played through have had a horrible buzzing sound, but simply pressing the reverse polarity button on the LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI has been the quickest and easiest remedy! This unit can run on phantom power through the XLR, although I prefer to use 9-volt batteries in it. Battery life in this preamp is quite long, as it doesn’t use much power while it’s operating (less than 3mA!). The discrete pure class A field effect transistor input gives the very best sound possible and virtually no noise. If you play any electro-acoustic instruments, be sure to pick up this awesome product! It’s well-worth the investment, gives you more control, and improves your sound!
The Feedback Master features a phase inversion control and two precise Garrett Null sweepable notch filters to accurately locate and eradicate feedback from top and air resonances without destroying your tone. The circuitry is all-analog pure class A from end to end to provide great tone quality. It works with virtually any pickup (active or passive) and includes a belt clip and mic stand adapter.
Price: $99.95 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
It features exactly what they said it will. No EQ — just gain/volume and two notch filters that WORK, plus a phase inverter switch that give you even more control over feedback.
Quality:
Seems very well made and road worthy.
Value:
What are you waiting for? If you have bad feedback issues, GET THIS! Totally worth $100.
Desirability:
Don’t let excessive feedback ruin your gig. If you play an acoustic instrument (any), this will save your nerves. A must in the tool bag for any serious acoustic instrument player. I got it for Upright Bass (works great). I’ve also used it for acoustic guitar, resonator and ukulele. Works great on all of them.
Sound:
The sound is excellent. If you add more gain, you’ll get more noise, but that’s true of any pre-amp.
Ease of Use:
Easy – just plug in, turn up JUST UNTIL you start to hear feedback. Then, turn the first notch filter until it goes away. Then continue to turn up until second feedback frequency occurs. Do the same with second noth filter.
Support:
Don’t know, but I hear they’re easy to deal with.
Overall:
It works as advertised. I’m happy with it.
As a guitarist, you know that iDea’s come and go. Retrofit your guitar with the iDea preamp/pickup and never worry about losing another inspired riff. The iDea Pickup is perfect for both writers and beginners, finally offering the ability to both Record and Play mp3 files. With this preamp installed, you can record and save musical inspiration on-the-spot or jam along to files saved into the guitar to aid in practicing licks or learning songs. Ovations iDea gives you the ability to learn songs at your own speed, thanks to a built in preamp that has a pitch-stable speed adjust function allowing change tempo of the mp3 files without changing the key.
Price: $299.00 Buy now!
The Radial Tonebone PZ-Pre is the most powerful acoustic preamplifier ever to be put inside a pedal. And when we say acoustic, we do not just mean acoustic guitar; we mean ANY acoustic instrument including banjo, violin, cello, mandolin, contrabass, bouzouki or lute.
Price: $299.95 Buy now!
BBE is at the forefront of audio technology which allows amplified music to sound more natural, and the latest generation of BBE High Definition Sound technology is a vital element to the new Acoustimax acoustic preamp.
Price: $199.95 Buy now!
The Fishman Pro EQ Platinum is premium preamp/DI, dialed-in for just the acoustic player. Fishman packed the Pro EQ Platinum with a rack’s worth of serious acoustic processing, all in a stompbox-sized package.
Price: $139.95 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
Some reverb and/or chorus would make this a 12…
Quality:
Injection molded plastic top, metal case bottom. Definitely tough enough
Value:
Definitely worth the price!
Sound:
I’ve been searching high and low for a setup that will make a plugged-in acoustic sound acoustic–THIS IS IT! Sounds better than the onboard piezo/mic Fishman I had on my Rainsong. I use it on a non-electric Rainsong DR1100 with a Fishman passive humbucker soundhole pickup and I can get anything from sweet, warm rhythm sounds to crisp sounding finger picking without any harshness. This combo definitely sounds better than any piezo under saddle pickups I’ve ever heard …wonder what the Mexico City guy had his hooked up to?
Ease of Use:
Very straightforward…especially if you read the User’s Guide!
Support:
Haven’t had to use it.
Overall:
If lost or stolen, I would definitely buy another one.
Equinox is an audiophile quality 3 band parametric equalizer preamp with low noise components and circuit design making it ideal for studio and live use. The frequency sweep control, bandwidth control, and boost/cut control allows musicians to correct or enhance very specific tonal problem areas. Dual notch filters can be used to control or eliminate acoustic feedback.
Price: $259.95 Buy now!
Solstice is a high quality two channel preamp mixer that blends virtually any type of sound source. The low-noise hybrid circuitry and internally adjustable gain from 0 to 24db make it suitable for both live and studio use. Solstice is the perfect solution for musicians looking to live-mix up to four sources such as piezo pickups, magnetic pickups, standard mics, and high output condenser mics.
Price: $329.95 Buy now!
The Gigpro is a single-channel belt clip preamp that will work with most pickups. It also provides 9V phantom power for mini-mics and other phantom powered onboard electronics. We have pared the features down to the bare essentials but you will find everything you need to get the best sound possible from your pickup.
Price: $99.95 Buy now!
The UltraSound DI Plus is a very powerful tool for any musician. This is not only a DI but a full featured preamp designed after UltraSound’s famous AG-series amps. Whether at a local open mic night or at a major concert venue, you will be able to dial in the clear natural acoustic sound that our amplifiers are known for, and route it to the stage PA through a balanced XLR output. Sound engineers will appreciate the versatile controls and the optional 48-volt phantom power operation. Therefore, no more wall warts or batteries if your mixer has phantom power.
Price: $129.00 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
XLR out, Line out, guitar out (for a tuner), EFX loop, phantom power capable, it’s got it all.
Quality:
Heavy steel case. Looks great. Should last forever.
Value:
No Preamp – DI comes close to this price point for the features…
Desirability:
It really is a God-send to acoustic guitarists who employ K&K pickups. Of course it works with any piezo pickup and the shape control helps sqaush the quack of UST pickups.
Sound:
Actually, I have the AG-30 amp which includes this DI. If you check out the Ultrasound site, they describe the DI as an AG-30 without the amp and speaker. If you run K&K pickups the 1Meg Ohm input of this DI is a perfect fit.
Ease of Use:
Very easy and intuitive to use. The shape control takes some experimenting but overall it is simple to use.
Support:
I have emailed Ultrasound at least a dozen times and they are always responsive and detailed in their answers.
Overall:
Even though I have an AG-30, from which this circuit was taken, I am ordering the DI to have the tone control/shaping ability that fits in my guitar case. However, the AG-30 is a great deal. For $70 more than the DI, it has the DI plus an amp and speaker that work great in their own right and can serve as a stage monitor if you’re connecting to a PA.