-
The Henriksen combo comes with a reverb, but I'v used much better reverb gear before. At the moment I need to cut my expenses (my son is a college freshman, so less bucks for dad right now). Sometimes I (need to) use the Henriksen reverb, but I realy prefer an external reverb / pedal
-
03-25-2012 07:52 PM
-
Btw Oldane I sure do like your rig! What kind of AI have you got, a Clarus 1 or 2R and series ...? and just curious what made you decide to go for this Redstone instead e.g. the RE ?
-
I use an Empress ParaEQ to fine tune any guitar with the Henriksen, and, with some work, I can get any one of my guitars to sound exactly like I want them to.
-
Maybe take a look in the used market . where I live you can score something like a Holy Grail quite cheap and that's a nice reverb.
Uncke Meat I bet the ParaEq sounds brilliant with the Henriksen, do you usually use the boost also?
-
It's actually the AI Chorus+ with the head detached from the Chorus cabinet (which IMHO doesn't work so well for magnetic PUs, but I was offered a good deal on it) and used with the Redstone cabinet instead. As far as I can see, the head is identical to the latest Clarus2 except it's painted dark grey and not black.
Originally Posted by henkkicken
As for Redstone, I choose it over RE because the Redstone cabinet was said to have a little tighter bass which should be a little less prone to boom. But I figure the difference is marginal and I would also have been very pleased with a RE cabinet. I also liked the more rugged appearance of the Redstone - it seems a bit more roadworthy.
-
The ParaEQ is a VERY good EQ pedal - one of the best. But it doesn't add tone breakup such as the ParaDriver DI can do. OTOH, the ParaDriver DI only has semiparametric EQ on the mid range band where the ParaEQ has it on all three bands and has adjustable band width in addition. If one doesn't need that tube like warm up / breakup, the ParaEQ will be a more versatile solution (but it has quite a learning curve). Originally Posted by Uncle Meat
-
With an ordinary guitar cable with 1/4" jacks. In addition to the XLR out, it also has a normal jack out. It can be powered with a 9V battery or an ordinary Boss type 9V "wall wart". It's very versatile little "swiss army knife" of sound. Originally Posted by Thelma107
Using the XLR connection when possible is useful though not necessary. It's useful because of the Phantom Power option through the XLR connection and because an XLR connection allows longer cables without signal loss/signal detoriation. Thus the Paradriver can be placed right besides the guitarist for immediate access during playing, while the amp can be placed farther away if this is desired for some reason. This is also useful if plugging directly into a PA system / recording mixer (which is possible with good results with the ParaDriver DI). Some musicians leave the amp at home and just bring the ParaDriver DI and cables if the venue has a good PA system.
The ParaDriver DI has very sensitive controls and even a small turn on a knob can mean a big change in sound. That is especially true for the all important mid range control. Tech 21 also has their "Character Series" Sansamp preamp pedals which are a little less temperamental but also less versatile (no semi parametric mid range EQ, no XLR connection, no Phantom Power) than the ParaDriver DI. The version named "Blonde" is intended to emulate Fender amps, and that too would be an exellent choice for clean - as well as distorted - jazz playing. I tried it out thoroughly before settling on the Paradriver DI and got a very good sound with it. If the ParaDriver DI hadn't been there, I would have used the "Blonde" happily. IMHO those Sansamp preamp pedals sound much better than digital multieffects / amp simulations units.
Finally I should mention that L.R. Baggs has a pedal which does much the same as the ParaDriver DI, but I have never tried it.
Check out the Sansamp pedals here: http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/index.htmlLast edited by oldane; 03-26-2012 at 05:03 AM.
-
FrankLearns nice to read about your experience with the Para Driver. Gives me the idea I'm on the right track, thanks !
Jorge, you're right about the used market; Craigslist or Ebay could be some options to check
Oldane, some of my friends use the Clarus 2R, awesome ! for magnetic PU's as well as for nylon string. I just love that sound. One of these guys got the RE cab. It's a bit fancy lookin' I assume the RS to be more roadworthy indeed.
-
Uncle Meat, If possible I'll try to check the Empress ParaEQ thanks for the tip. But I do want that tube like warm up Oldane mentioned.
Oldane I think there's a LR Baggs Youtube demo
-
Interesting that you mentioned the "Blonde" pedal for Fender sounds; for quartet work, where I need more than just "clean" all the time, I use a Boss FDR-1 Deluxe Reverb emulator pedal. I set the gain pretty much on bare minimum, treble/bass to suit the room with the Henriksen providing a Middle shape to the sound. Reverb on just a touch, though I don't use the tremolo. And it works nicely with either my Vestax D'Angelico or now, my EPI Joe P into which I've just had P90's installed (great sound but hum for days if you don't face the amp the right way - more to follow soon).
-
Actually, I have a Boss FDR-1 lying around. I find that the ParaDriver DI and the "Blonde" sound much better. As compared to those, the sound of the Boss seems to hide somewhere at the back of the speaker cabinet, whereas the sound of the Sansamp pedals are let out freely right from the front - if you get the picture. However, the Boss sounded good to me - until I tried the Sansamp pedals. Originally Posted by mangotango
As for the hum from the guitar, try a noise gate in front of the FDR-1 (the Boss NS-2 works well and to my ears it doesn't color the tone at all).
-
Hey Jorge. Once i got used to the frequencies on the Jazzamp tone stack, the Para EQ made so much sense in figuring out what else I wanted and how to get it. After years of modding amps and buying speakers, that made everything else I tried obsolete. I use the boost mostly with my strat, but I comp quietly compared to my leads, so it could help there. It doesn't break up, but a Barber LTD SR sounds really good with it.
-
In my quest for good tone (almost ended and almost two years old now) I realized how important an EQ pedal is... All the time / money one spends with certain things usually are just easier to achieve with an EQ pedal.
The ParaEQ seems aewsome but I got a deal on Shape EQ I couldn't refuse and I really love the pedal - less versatile than the Para EQ but it seems perfectly designed for electrig guitar...
What are the settings you usually use on the Henriksen's knobs and on the Para EQ? Are you using the Beta stock speaker? Sorry to bother you but I am curious.
-
No disrespect to the Tech 21 folks, but I wonder if a tube emulator is the only way to get what the OP is after. Originally Posted by oldane
I own and use the L.R. Baggs Para Acoustic DI. It's a useful pedal and really improves the sound of my archtop, whether through an acoustic amp (SWR California Blonde) or a tube amp (Mesa Boogie TA-30). It may be solving different problems than the OP's, because it is not advertised as a tube preamp emulator, or it may be solving the same problem differently, because sometimes an EQ can warm up a guitar.
In any case, the notch filter and phase inverter switch are very helpful, and for me, sweeping the mids to about 1.3K and cutting them helps enormously. OTOH, the notch and the EQs are not very tight, which only bothers me because cutting the notch also cuts the bass more than I like. Also, while the battery only power is livable, the battery doesn't last as long for me as the LR Baggs people say it should, and it gets noisy before it craps out completely.
I have an Empress Para EQ on order, and we'll see if it does better than the Baggs for me. In each band, the Empress allows you to choose from tight, medium, or wide Q and then set the frequency and level of cut/boost. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
-
Between all my guitars, I usually have the amp set with 100hz at noon, 300 hz at 0, 1kHz around 4, 3kHz almost at 10, 10kHz all the way down. I use the Para to try to boost the lows below 100hz (as much as the speaker allows), cut around 300hz a little more, and mellow out the highs that the Jazzamp knobs don't touch. I am using the stock speaker, but I tried a Kappa Pro before I got the Para, and while it tamed the highs a bit, it was hard to dial in a clear sound. It did extend the range of the lows, so I'll have to try it again soon with the EQ.
Last edited by Uncle Meat; 03-26-2012 at 11:22 AM.
-
Great that was the sort of thing I wanted too - cutting more in the 300hz area and having any control over the highs. If you can survive the price and the weight the EV is awesome in that amp
-
I noticed you often refer to the EV speaker ( I guess it means Electro-Voice) Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
Great that was the sort of thing I wanted too - cutting more in the 300hz area and having any control over the highs. If you can survive the price and the weight the EV is awesome in that amp
Did you try it yourself?
-
Yes - I had one in there for quite some time (an EVM-12L). Made the amp sound much fuller and guitaristic. Meanwhile I got my jazzmaster ultralight and a used convertible 1x12 Dr Z cab that has the EV inside - and sold the Henrilksen combo. Wouldn't mind having a used Henriksen head for the right price...
-
How much would cost a speaker like that? Originally Posted by jorgemg1984
-
In Europe 200€ and they are hard to find used (and the Henriksen put some 20 kgs with one). Worth it FOR ME... in the US I guess it's easier find them used.
Reply With Quote
1988 Heritage Eagle Classic - Potential Purchase
Yesterday, 10:46 PM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos