SamuelBLupowitz Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Curious if anyone has any DIs, preamps, or effects boxes they like to use as secret weapons for electromechanical keyboards. I"m prone to carting my Wurlitzer 200 and Clavinet D6 to gigs, because it brings me joy and because my back can still take it (for now, anyway!). I used to bring a Fender tube amp (Hot Rod Deluxe combo) in addition to my Motion Sound KBR-3D on those gigs, because the Wurli and the clav both sounded flat through a clean, solid-state amp. They needed to be brought to life a bit, like an electric guitar. When I started bringing my laptop to gigs, I started using Mainstage"s amp sims to process the old keyboards instead. Saved me bringing more heavy gear, and gave me a lot of tonal flexibility. I like it, but it has tradeoffs â a hair of latency, some occasional digital sonic weirdness, and the usual risks of using a computer to process audio. I have a SansAmp Bass Driver DI in my bass rig, and I"ve messed around with that with the Wurli â it"s cool, and quite powerful for tone shaping, but definitely tailored for the frequencies of a bass guitar more than a midrange keyboard instrument. Still, curious to try it with the clav... I"d love to hear about other folks" experiences and preferences, now or back in the day, onstage or in the studio! Quote Samuel B. Lupowitz Musician. Songwriter. Food Enthusiast. Bad Pun Aficionado. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Mike Metlay Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Curious if anyone has any DIs, preamps, or effects boxes they like to use as secret weapons for electromechanical keyboards. I"m prone to carting my Wurlitzer 200 and Clavinet D6 to gigs, because it brings me joy and because my back can still take it (for now, anyway!). I used to bring a Fender tube amp (Hot Rod Deluxe combo) in addition to my Motion Sound KBR-3D on those gigs, because the Wurli and the clav both sounded flat through a clean, solid-state amp. They needed to be brought to life a bit, like an electric guitar. When I started bringing my laptop to gigs, I started using Mainstage"s amp sims to process the old keyboards instead. Saved me bringing more heavy gear, and gave me a lot of tonal flexibility. I like it, but it has tradeoffs â a hair of latency, some occasional digital sonic weirdness, and the usual risks of using a computer to process audio. I have a SansAmp Bass Driver DI in my bass rig, and I"ve messed around with that with the Wurli â it"s cool, and quite powerful for tone shaping, but definitely tailored for the frequencies of a bass guitar more than a midrange keyboard instrument. Still, curious to try it with the clav... I"d love to hear about other folks" experiences and preferences, now or back in the day, onstage or in the studio! You need to get to know a quiet and humble genius in Texas (Arkansas?) named Greg Lounsberry. He specializes in keyboard-friendly mono and stereo overdrive and line boost pedals that are just exquisite. I have the Tall Fat and Wide as a secret weapon to effectively salvage the tone of any 1980s-era synth with wimpy output gain. Works wonders. Learn more at his website. Tell him "Dr. Mike" Metlay sent you. Quote Dr. Mike Metlay (PhD in nuclear physics, golly gosh) Musician, Author, Editor, Educator, Impresario, Online Radio Guy, Cut-Rate Polymath, and Kindly Pedant Editor-in-Chief, Bjooks ~ Author of SYNTH GEMS 1 clicky!: more about me ~ my radio station (and my fam) ~ my local tribe ~ my day job ~ my book ~ my music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 effects boxes they like to use as secret weapons for electromechanical keyboards. Agree with Dr. Mike about the Loundsberry pedals. I don't own any but JA uses/endorses them and Lachy Doley uses them on B3/clonewheels. My not so secret weapon stolen from Danny Louis (Gov't Mule) is the Line 6 M13. I have a Line 6 M9 on my Wurlitzer 200. Sounds fantastic and can be had used for about US $200. I'm more pickey with my Clavinet. I use analog pedals. I also have the Vintage Vibe pre amp replacement. This is worth every penny.PM me if you want more details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 For recording I like to use DI straight off the harp RCA connector on Rhodes pianos. The pickups are extremely sensitive to input impedance of receiving devices (which is why I bypass passive controls on stage pianos), enough that the wrong box can screw up the tone. Noise can get worse with the wrong DI too. After experimenting with different DIs I settled on the Countryman type 10, quiet as a mouse and great tone. I reamp the Rhodes signal into an old British guitar tube amp - Selmer "croc skin" Truvoice Twin Thirty with original alnico speakers. Why should guitar players have all the fun? For gigs I plug straight into a Fender Dual Showman Reverb - head version of Twin Reverb, lighter and cheaper - into speaker cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedKey Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 When going direct with Clav & Wurli, I've used the Tech21 (Sansamp) Flyrig 5 with a Vox Wah. Reverb, Tap Delay, 2 Ch of shaping and drive, speaker emu. Weighs a pound and fits in the lid of the Clav. Looks like V2 has XLR DI built in. Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEB Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Attachments won't upload .... I prefer my May 1965 Twin Reverb. I unfortunately can't recommend modern reissues. Money would be better spent on used Silverface faces that can be easily serviced, repaired and rebuilt and used good components and proper construction methods. Quote "It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne "A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!! So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 I grabbed a Fender PA-135 head and had it serviced and modded by a local legend. But access to guys like this is fading as the years go by. Quote Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianomike Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 ! do not know if there still around but I have a Speakeasy 1000watt pre amp I would like to try on a wurly if I had one . In the seventies when I played in acountry rock band I had a Wurlitzer 200 a and a Ampeg Vt 212 not sure that's the right number ,but it had two 12inch speakers and a 100 watt tube amplifier which weighed 95 pounds but the wurly sounded beautiful through it . Wurlitzers used to cost $650 brand new , the last one I bought was $500 new because they were doing a gone out of business sale . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 I'd be curious to try the Audient Sono that I keep seeing advertised here. Tube preamp with classic speaker/amp modeling. Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Coda Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Kemper ? A.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJUSCULE Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Dan's Heart rig rundown also has the Tall & Fat into a Radial Space Heater into his Leslie/back-up Vent. Quote Eric Website Gear page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJUSCULE Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 And yeah, Kemper/Axe FX/Helix are all very viable solutions. Quote Eric Website Gear page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 The Lounsberry WurlyGrinder will solve the problem for you. And you can use it into standard powered speakers / PA, etc. Quote Keep it greazy! B3tles - Soul Jazz THEO - Prog Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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