batterypowered Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Howdy. I'm asking this here because y'all seem generally more knowledgeable on a variety of topics, 100% guitar-related or not. So, on with the question. I have a friend who is a fiddler. She has an electric fiddle. I don't know the make. She also has a pre-amp/effects unit for it, Behringer, I think, but don't quote me on that. It kind of looks like a blue Line6 Pod, but I did check it out enough to see a make and model. Now, the question is, what kind of amp do you run a fiddle through? She tried it through a Marshall once, and it sounded like crap, and doesn't sound much better through her guitarist's Peavey XXX..... though I guess whether or not ANYTHING will sound good through that is debateable. The guy actually traded the Marshall for it.... don't ask why. ANYWAY, a guy at the local shop told her to use a bass amp, but as usual with the staff there, I question their knowledge. Very much. So, I turn it over to y'all. Surely someone here has played with a plugged-in fiddler, and has some tips. Also, please keep in mind that she'd like to do this for not-a-huge amount of money. Thanks! twoblock.net batterypowered.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 I knew some guys at Berklee who used guitar amps for electric violin. The most elaborate guy had rackmount delay lines and stuff through a Roland JC-120. (remember when that was THE amp to have?) Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 SWR Strawberry Blonde.....cheap and effective. Its good enough for Steve Earle.......but of course he's playin guitar and mandolin through it. Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Jazz Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 bass amps have a tweeter, and are similar to acoustic instrument amps... so i can kinda see where thay are going with that. why not use a powered speaker like the JBL Eon 10" or the Mackie SRM350 ? otherwise, i'd go with something designed for acoustic instruments, like the Strawberry Blonde or the AER Compact 60 (my personal favorite). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennyf Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 Depends what kinda tone you want, but the tone I liked best was thru a blackface Vibrolux Reverb, no effects except for the amp reverb. The fiddler got a great smooth tone for western swing and country. Also got a surprisingly good guitar tone with a Guild flattop and a Dean Markeley Woody sound hole pickup. I know, doesn't seem likely, but it's true! band link: bluepearlband.com music, lessons, gig schedules at dennyf.com STURGEON'S LAW --98% of everything is bullshit. My Unitarian Jihad Name is: The Jackhammer of Love and Mercy. Get yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueZet Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 I suppose the fiddle is mic'ed with piezo's? I'd try an acoustic guitar amp, especially if you want lots of clean headroom (or the JC120 - that would be hard to beat for superclean...) - due to recent cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been SWITCHED OFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 You might find a deal on a keyboard amp too, or one of steel guitar amps might just do the trick but I agree that an acoustic guitar amp should be the best for that use. Then to throw another screw into the works a Hot Rod deVille on the clean channel with just a touch of reverb should be killer. Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batterypowered Posted June 4, 2004 Author Share Posted June 4, 2004 Well, the problem is just that it seems to sound like trash through all the guitar amps she's tried, and a Yamaha made specifically for violin didn't impress either. I'll have to tell her to try a better acoustic instrument amp, or a keyboard amp, which is what I told her in the first place. Thanks all. twoblock.net batterypowered.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave251 Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 Best fiddle amp I've heard was an old Blackface Super Reverb.... But it sounds to me like there's something wrong the fiddle pickup/preamp she's using. Have her try it with a simple tube mic preamp...such as the ART or the Barcus Berry...the Presonus Blue Tube would work too. Is probably an impedance mismatch. Another thing would be any of the outboard piezo preamps...Baggs, Fishman, etc...then she can plug right into the PA with good results. Dave Wendler Instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zachg Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 i'd go with a roland jc120. remember though, hte amp isn't that loud/has a reputation for some noise as well as distorting at high volumes. the new roland amps are great for multi purpose uses including the ac-60 and cube 30. my little cube amp works well for keyboards, guitars(has great clean jazz chorus modeling) miking acoustic instruments, and even my bass(at low--moderate volumes)!! it more than filled a school auditorium on the clean channel with my tele and sounded perfect!!! ending statement: i recomend a roland cube amp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batterypowered Posted June 4, 2004 Author Share Posted June 4, 2004 Well, she wasn't around to ask, but I finally did some digging and found the Behringer box: http://www.v-amp.com/V-AMP2/index.cfm Now, I just realized that she only got this about a month ago, so this isn't the cause of the problem. I think she was going direct into the amp from the fiddle, which could've been the problem in the first place! I think most times I've seen her play lately she's been direct from the V-Amp into the PA, and that seems to be working out. She just wants an amp of her own, so that if (when) she quits the band she's in, she has her own stuff. twoblock.net batterypowered.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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