I wanted to wait a few weeks and do some gigs before I said anything. Let me say right from the start that I have been a fan of Grace Design from their preamps and recently Felix and now AliX. If I have a gig and I’m going to amplify with a pickup on my guitar, I won’t leave home with out the AliX. My flamenco guitars are equipped with the LR Baggs Dual source, UST Element and mic blend. I can adjust my bass so I have no low end feedback. Tame and boost my mid frequency (love the fully parametric eq) and I can pull my treble or boost to the liking of my ears and what the room needs. The elegance of the design just oozes pure beauty and grace with roadworthy strength. I waited for the AliX and put off buying other preamps. I wanted a small single Chanel preamp. I’m so glad I waited. Everyone who has heard this magic box is blown away with the clarity and precision of the tone sculpting. One of the best things is you a clearly defined tone. There is no loss of tone when you use the eq. And all of the knobs are functional. I have used gear where I can’t hear anything change when I move the knobs. The High Pass Filter allows for taming the bass in any situation. The preamp is so smooth and silky in the tone that is produced. Another one of the super cool things the design team did. and I think it’s a first, is they put an extra jack that allows you to power your pedals without wall warts or another power supply. I am able to power my Line 6G30, Strymon blueSky, and Digitech Jam Man, all from AliX. I just think this shows how the team at Grace is not just making a box with knobs but actually thinks what do musicians need their gear to do to make life easier and more musical. Then there’s the nice effects loop that is a TRS. For me all my gear mounts onto a pedaltrain pedalboard. When I get to the gig I just plug in my power and XLR out and I’m good to go. The boost switch is great for solos or when you need more this one does not just go to 11 it goes up to 10db of boost from where you are. I have used the AliX with my Bose Compact, Bose L1II w B2 sub, QSC Speakers, and House PA systems including TubroSound, JBL, QSC, Mackie and every time my gear sounds great, and I get complements, tips,and rebookings. If you are serious about your tone on your instrument and want to learn how to make it sound it’s best, then as far as your preamp search goes, look no further, it’s here, Grace Design. Sweetwater took care of the transaction and got the AliX to me. Thanks Grace Design
For me my microphone of choice when playing live is the DPA 4099G when I play my Lester Devoe Flamenco Negra. I have used it with the Bose L1 S system with great results only needing to cut a few decibels on the bass (4-6db) for live playability without feedback.
2/10/15
I just put a DTAR Ducan | Turner Acoustic Research Multi- Source Pickup and Microphone System into my Córdoba F7 Paco guitar and I really like it. I set the action on the low e at 2.7mm and on high E 2.6mm I left the preamp at 3db on bass and 0 on treble. My main purpose for doing this was to keep my Lester Devoe and Jorge De Zofia guitars safe from the cold and humid temperatures and have a good giging system. I will be using the guitar with a Line 6 Wirless to a TC Mico Tuner- TC Spark- DigiTech Stereo Looper out to either Bose Tone Match or Yamaha MG10XU. This setup can be split but for my desired purpose I blend the mic and pickup in the preamp and run it out mono. I am very happy with the woody tone and the blend of the mic. I will post more in a week or two.
To me this Córdoba F7 Paco is a fantastic find. For those of us who have beautiful instruments and find ourselves wanting to play in conditions where our prized guitars would be in danger of cold, heat, humidity or other environmental dangers. This guitar can possibly come to the rescue. The Córdoba F7 Paco looks and feels fantastic. Did I day looks good? The attention to detail that Cordoba did on this guitar really shines through to the matched back& sides (laminitis) and how they match each other in regards to the woods grain patterns. The finish is not so thick to dampen the tone. To the normal eye this looks like a fine flamenco guitar that is been handcrafted. The top is solid Cedar while the back and sides are laminate’s of Rosewood. The guitar has been decorated beautifully with trim (Maple Binding) that accentuates the two woods from Cedar top to Rosewood back and sides. The guitar is easy to play with low action 2.7mm on bass and 2.6mm on treble, and a very comfortable neck with a standard with 52 to 53 mm at the nut. The fretboard is a Rosewood fingerboard. Include gig bag is light and easy to travel with but does not offer the gigging or traveling musician good road protection. I did change the strings to the D’Addarío EJ25B. For my purposes I will be putting a pick up with a under saddle coaxial and a small microphone. I ordered a DTAR Multi-Source pickup coaxial 18v and Omni mic. DTar is now Seymour-Ducan. I’ve enjoyed playing the guitar over the last five days and I enjoyed hearing the guitar played by a friend who also enjoyed the feel and the tonal richness of this guitar. Córdoba did a fantastic job with this model and it’s worth checking out if you need a good travel/ student/ giging guitar for environments where you don’t want to take your real babies out. I will be taking it to play tonight in Long Island NY (it’s going to below freezing tonight)
I’ve used the guitar now live and really like it, with a mic such as a Shure KSM 141 or DPA 4099G I rolled of the bass and just a little on Mics to get a very usable tone live without feedback.
Finished repair on cracked back on a 2014 August Jorge De Zofia (JDZ) guitar should be good to go, thanks to John Stein and Bill at ” It’s A Set UP”. This guitar is had its fair share of bumps traveling from Florida both times they were a few mishaps with the shipping USPS and packaging of the guitar. This may have caused the crack to start both Luthiers that looked at the guitar said that it was not due to humidity (I keep my home at 45% and 68-72 in the case I use a Planet Waves Humi Pack in a BAM Case) or problems in the case we’re playing. The guitar is young one a few months old. I don’t play hard on my guitars. I do tap in the style of Ottmar Liebert and a few other flamenco techniques but none of these should harm or start a crack in the back of the guitar. For the repair the wood was pushed and glue was put inside the crack and then leveled and sent to dry.
Recently with some travel gigs I’ve wondered if I could strip down my pedal-board and get something very small to fit on the pedal train-nano pedalboard I’ve been able to do so coming in from my guitar cable I go into a TC electronics poly tune then the TC electronic spark then the Neunaber Wet stereo reverb then the Digitech jam man solo XT out to my Bose tone match mixer.
I’ve also come across a new string that I’m really enjoying on my DeVoe Negra and my JD Z Blanca they are the D’Addario Pro Arté Composite Core EJ 205B strings they are silverplated wound on a copper core, and black treble strings. I think they feel great they look great especially the black trebles with the cedar top guitars. The strings are very smooth and the tone is very warm with the base being very snappy and bright with a quick response. Thanks goes to my friend Yannakie Arrizzia for sending me a set of D’Addarío EJ49 That set made me want to try the D’Addarío EJ25B.
I have for years been looking for that usable tone live that excites me as well as the audience, I have found that sound that inspires me to “Just Play” and push the limits. The new gear that is helping so much is the L.R. Lr Baggs Lyric (Classical) and LR Baggs Venue DI. On my Córdoba 45FP and Bose L1S system the sound is just amazing.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the sound of this fantastic pick up (L.R. Baggs Lyric). When placed and tuned properly it truly depicts a true sound as a microphone would of a nylon string guitar in my case in Córdoba 45FP, the glops and taps sound good too. (Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto (650) 493-2131 211 Lambert Ave Palo Alto, CA 94306) has always treated me wonderfully. This morning I was greeted by none other then Frank Ford then James Hingston who did a fantastic install as well as explaining to me the benefits of this pick up. As I got back to Fresno by 3:30pm I was able to try the pick up with my system and it sounds fantastic looking forward to my 7 o’clock start time this evening. Since my return back east I have been able to try the Lyric with my home studio set up Pro Tools 11 on Mac Pro and Dig 002 Rack, awesome results and then to my Bose L1S with Tone Match mixer are fantastic, I also attached my pedalboard and line 6 Wirless with great results.
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Below are pics of the location of where the Lyric is attached
Pedal Board is Complete, from the input from the guitar it’s the K&K Trinity Preamp, BBE Acoustimax from the FX Send on BBE 1. TC Electronic Spark, 2. NT Neunaber Wet, 3. Didgitech Jam Man Stereo, back to return send. And a TC Electronic PolyDrive Tuner that runs from jack on BBE. I will be mounting this all on a Pedaltrain JR and to power it all will use the Decibel Eleven Power Brick. Once all the stuff is hear I will hook up a power jack on the side as well as a XLR and TRS input on the side of the pedal board. I will be mounting some jacks on the side of the pedal board that will make it cleaner looking from the side and front as well as easier to hook up to whatever system I am using.
Just reset the gain and eq settings in my K&K Trinity Preamp. I have the pickup at 80% gain 85% treble flat mid cut 8:00 and bass flat mic at 50% gain treble flat, mid cut 9:00, bass 10:00. Into my Bose L1S with Tone Match preset 80Hz Highpass all eq on Bose is flat and no Q. No compression and just 35 hall reverb. I wish some one would make a two channel guitar preamp that has two 5 band eq with sweepable mids on both a Highpass filter, phantom power on 1 mic Chanel, phase, effects loop, aux in 1/8 for iPod (battery or 48v) phantom power and small engulf to clip on to a guitar strap. Headway EB2 came so close but only really one channel can be eq. I know you can assign it to both but I like to eq the bass on pickups differently than the mic or sensor in guitar. I’m very happy with my Zofia Cedar Blanca and working with Jorge was an absolute pleasure, if your in the area next Sunday I will playing this guitar at Unionville Winery in Ringos NJ as they release Foxy Lady.
I received my BAM Colors case today from Trilogy Guitars in LA. I really like how light and easy to carry the case is, it also opens very easy too. It looks great and the 2014 Zofia Blanca is suspended in the case on very nice pads.
Best guitar I’ve had the privilege to own or play, I like it more than my two DeVoe’s much more responsive, tight tone but not constricted I can play sad melancholy to roaring expression with no bass muddies or treble harshness. The mids are fantastic.
I picked up a TC Electronic M One XL Reverb unit on eBay to encorporate with my Rane AP 13 Rack, I will be running RMC Pickups, K&K Pickups and a DPA 4099 mic when playing live. It’s going to be used as a dedicated unit for primarily nylon string guitars. DeVoe and Zoffia.
I have been looking for a nice sounding portable battery powered amp to use for outdoor gigs or small settings wine bar, lobby, reception area. My primary use will be for nylon string guitar and playback do backing tracks. The Roland Cube Street EX is sounding pretty good with Shertler DYNG. On my DeVoe Negra. This is a new product from Roland 50 watts 2 8in speakers, 2 tweeters and yes battery power or AC. 4 Channels, one in for a iPod or iPad, one stereo in for keyboard, one microphone and one Guitar. There are two combo jacks that take XLR or tip ring sleeve or ring sleeve. It has built-in reverb and Chorus and delay. very light and easy to carry. I have had it for two days, I purchased it new from Sweetwater. I’m looking forward to the ease of use and can’t wait to use this with some of my other guitars and my soon Zofia Blanca with K&K Pickups. One of the best things about this amp/pa is it battery powered if you want to use it or you can run on AC as well. It’s smaller than the Roland BA 330 and lighter but to me has more useful features two Chanel’s with Bass, Mid, Treb, eq, reverb on mic channel, and reverb chorus and delay on guitar, iPod iPad in (and record and playback with app) and a stereo line in channel, useful for synthesizer, keyboards, drum machines. I really like using my Bose L1 S but this is a much more streamlined simple portable solution for where I don’t need as much power. I am very happy with the purchase and acquisition of this new smaller Roland Cube Street EX.
Hi, I’ve had my Roland Cube Street Ex for a few days giged with it and it works great. I like it’s light and can be used with batteries. I have used a DPA 4099 G mic and supplied it with phantom power. That’s my favorite, then I’ve used it with a Schtler DYNG, a Beyerdynamic Mic and the set up on my Cordoba GK Studio, and DeVoe w RMC pickups. I mainly purchased this for small indoor outdoor gigs where my Bose L1S was too much. My only thing with the amp is that you hear a little bit of his when you first hit a note (not very audible to a listener) but to those who have good ears you will hear it if your near the amp. It’s kind of like a compressor/gate opening up. It’s not a deal breaker for me as I really wanted to be able to play small outdoor gigs that may not have a power jack near or small wineries that would just need a little bit more than what my guitar alone would do acoustically. It’s a great amp to me smaller than the Roland BA 330 that I did own but was to big to travel with. I also like the 3 bass, mid, treb eq on two channels. I hope the gig bag is out for this soon. It’s going to get a lot of use this summer.
I have noticed that if I have the low-power consumption switch on or when economy power switch on there is this, this of course is when using batteries only.
The Looper is Loop-in DigiTech Jam Man Stereo Looper/Phrase Sampler. Will take some time to get it all in my head but at the moment seems to be working well and not degrading the tone. My older model changed the tone. Getting it up and running was very easy and it’s much easier for loops to be in synch.
Shure ULX and ULXS4 with DPA 4099-G and micro dot adapter. I personally am so tired of how pickups sound, I understand why we need them, however given the chance I will always go for a mic to capture what I am trying to do when playing a quality flamenco guitar. I have come to like what the DPA 4099 can do when positioned just right you can capture a very nice tone with out too much proximity effect or low bass/ boom frequency. I also like adding the Schertler DYN-G attached to the bridge on treble string side. Thanks to Marija Temo for sharing this system with me. And Mark Magdich at Sweetwater.
I’ve been using the DP4099-G and Schertler DYN-G on my guitars with my Bose L1S system. I’ve had the DPA4099-G on a wirless system but there is a bit of static/ white noise with the system. So I pulled the trigger and purchased a Shure ULXS4 system. I have heard it used when I saw Marijia Temo use it with her guitar and it sounded great and when I was able to ask her she told me about the Shure ULXS4. It should be hear by Wed this week and I hope to try it out this Thursday at a small reception 150+ in attendance.
I’ve really been enjoying the ease and tone as well as the complements from patrons/ fans who have been giving me positive feedback and re bookings. For me I do like the sound of the QSC series but last year with over 100 shows I was getting sore and tired from the set up and tear down as well as playing 3 to 5 hours. Not to mention the set up time. Last year I met a famous Guitar Player at Guitar Center and we talked for about two hours and he introduced me to the Bose L1 system. He encouraged me to try it and having use the Bose years ago I was hesitant but it did decide I would try it. It’s really imperative that you also get the tone match. Now set up as about 2 to 3 minutes I press one of my pre programed presets and turn everything on plugging in and I’m ready to go with live sound sounding excellent in less than five minutes. When I’m playing straight Flamenco Guitar I use a DPA Microphone 4099G wirelessly and a Schechter DYN-G transducer microphone. They go in channel 2 and three. Channel 1 is MP3 playback, backing tracks iPad running One Track app. Channel 4 is a wireless speech vocal microphone. I have a seven presets for various size rooms and various inputs and outputs. I use very little reverb and some of the parametric graphic equalizer and some mid cut on the Guitars. The Bose L1 gets transported in SKB hardshell case is on wheels and then the other gear is packed in a rack roller or small bag and I have 2 to 3 various bags with extra cables extensions and such. Below is the most current picture of what everything looks like when it’s packed. And a picture of my current live set up.
Switchcraft 318 1/8 to XLR Mini SumBox from iPhone out running One Track (for backing tracks, percussion, and sounds) from Switchcraft XLR to Blose L1 Tone Match (Stereo to Mono) signal sounding very nice.
The Luithier Jorge De Zofia in FL is making me a custom made flamenco Blanca with wider neck 55mm at nut and a bit wider at the side of the body. He is great to chat with and work with. We’re also going to put a K&K Trinity system in it.
I wanted to see how the Bose L1S & T1 ToneMatch would work with a mic Beyerdynamic M 201 TG and Cloudlifter CL-1. Wow I’m about 3-5 feet in front of L1S and no feedback or ring.
“To be Flamenco is to have another skin, other passions, other desires. It is a different way of seeing the world, with music in one’s nerves, a fierce pride, happiness mingled with tears; it is a loathing of routine and sameness; it is to be intoxicated in song, wine, and kisses. It is the translation of life into an art of caprices and freedom.” – Tomas Borras
I love the MOTU Track 16 the below first file is with the Track 16 into my MBP (Mac Book Pro) running OS 10.7.4 to Pro Tools 9.0.6 and I used the API plugins from Waves. Mic used was the DPA 4099. The one thing that I did do was a fresh restart and power up on the Track 16 and now there’s no hiss or noise in any of the signals. The second track is with my (MP) Mac Pro OS 10.6.7 and Pro Tools 9.0.6 running on fire wire. The Motu Cue Mix sounds great too and I will be using it when I head out to CA later in the month to use as my live set up. Im going to try using the MIDI in line with my Roland GI-20 Interface to use to trigger synth sounds such as Spectrasonics Omnisphere.
Update:
After a week of use. 8.7.12 I have to say this really is one great pice of gear. I have been using the MOTU Track 16 with Cue Mix and for Live its awesome. I have in mic channel one my DPA 4099 G mic and in Chanel 2 from the RMC Pickups and Poly-Drive II to the Fishman Aura Spectrum DI then in to the input for ZERO (0) Latency with EQ and Reverb, Then I run Pro Tools 9.0.6 and use Omnisphere and Stylus RMX and run them thorough the MOTU Track 16 and out to my main monitors for an amazingly great live sounding set up.
What some of my friends are saying about the MOTU Track 16 after listing to the finished result:
Vic
I think you have found a winner
Sounds great very clean and I think there is a tad.of high end detail not
Heard since you had the ensemble
(Silver Sound Taz)
Hello Victor,
Sounds lovely. I was more taken by the sound of the guitar…which tells me
the quality is great.
(Mike)
Sounds excellent! I would not have guessed that is was recorded on such a small device.
Peace
(Jay S)
The folks at Sweetwater were great in helping me get the MOTU Track 16 Mark Magdich 1800-222-4700×1265 and the flex pay makes it easier on the wallet.
Track 16 in Pro Tools I received my MOTU Track 16 it looks nice. I am using it with my 2011 MBP (Mac Book Pro 13) and Mac Pro. I found the install to be a little tricky in that the cd did not have the drivers that were needed so the Track 16 would be recognized. After about 10 min I was able to get the MBP to recognize the Track 16. I found that using Fire wire to hook up the Track 16 works on both computers but while using buss power on MBP it seems that the mic and line in are a bit nosey, may be the drivers I have a tech support question in the cue. I am waiting a bit before I conclude my opinion. Check back later.
Ive been recently streamling my live set up. Im using the Fishman SA 220 amp, with my DeVoe Blanca that has the RMC Pickups with a Ploly Drive II preamp (off board not on the guitar) I was using the Fishman Aura Spectrum DI but this weekend I tried using just the Poly-Drive and the DPA 4099g mic and really liked the sound. I will be using the MOTU Track 16 as my mixer with the Waves API plug ins and run that to the Fishman SA 220. The RMC Ploly Drive will conect to a Roland GI-20 gutiar midi interface that will Triger Spectrasonics Omnispher running on a Mac Book Pro using Apple’s Main Stage.
I’ve started to use silk wrap (3 layers) on my thumb, index, middle and ring finger on my right hand when I know I’m going to be playing allot of flamenco style technique on the guitar. I use 3 layers of silk wrap on 30-50% of the nail. Between each layer of silk wrap I put on a thin coat of crazy glue. The below first pic is before they are trimmed and filed. The second pic is three layers and trimmed and shaped.
I’m now using on my DeVoe Blanca RMC Acoustic Gold Tall Pickups RMC Poly-Drive-II, Fishman Aura Spectrum DI, Roland GI-20, Roland XV 5050 and a Ernie Ball Volume Pedal and a Roland EV-5 Volume Pedal all of this goes to a Fishman SA 220 amp. I am very happy with the sound of the pickups from RMC and the Aura Spectrum. It really sounds very (mic) like with out feedback problems.
I picked up my DeVoe Blanca that I had outfitted with RMC Tall Gold Pickups and a out board Poly-Drive II. The install of the pickups was done by Paul Schwartz at PeekamoosePeekamoose in NYC
The install looks good guitar sounded good at the shop. Looking forward to running it through the Roland GK-20.
This week I hope pick up my DeVoe Blanca that has been outfitted with new RMC Acoustic Gold Tall Pickups and a Poly-Drive II Preamp that is a remote polyphonic active electronics for acoustic guitar. RMC Pickup Co.The Preamp is not installed on the guitar. The pickups are being installed by Paul Schwartz of Peekamose Guitars in NYC Peekamoose
This should be able to work very well with the Fishmam Aura Spectrum DI as well as the SA220. I will also be using the Roland GI 20 to act as a interface between the RMC Poly-Drive II and the world of midi. I will be using Spectromics Omnisphere and a Korg Trition Rack.
Picked up the Fishman SA 220 to use for smaller solo or duo gigs for easy in and out with great sound. I’ve used the SA 220 with the DPA 4099 G mic and it sounds great. On my Yamaha Flamenco with Fisman Maxtrix and Aura Spectrum it sounds great. Looking forward to trying with RMC pickups too. Little bit of his when phantom power is on but nothing to distract able. Can be tamed with gain down just a bit. Over all for me this is a easy solution.
victor tarassov 