Electric guitar straight into mixer PA. Question/help

[Citrus]

So really tight rehearsal space, and to get a good sound out  of an amp in the small basement is tough.  We have 2 acoustic guitars, a bass and drums.  My Takamine acoustic electric  sounds great straight into the mixing board/Pa Nice and full.  I've tried to use an electric guitar through it and it sounds really thin and wimpy.  

Would some sort of preamp pedal cure this?  Like a tech 21 Sans amp??

Or better off using something like a Boss Katana amp and use the line out into the board??

Not looking to spend more than a couple hundred.   Cheaper the better.   Thanks

 

[Jimbilly]

There's quite a few things made for direct these days, I've only got experience with two of the older ones: 

 The first I remember was the Hughes and Kettner Red Box, I have an ancient 'mark ii', I think it's better than nothing, but I haven't messed around with it in a while. There's a lot of those in the used market for well under $100.  Maybe someone else has more experience with those?

 I like most of the tech21 stuff, they were also early into DI with their sansamp, I remember taking lessons in '91 or '92 from a recent GIT grad who just got a sansamp, he was super excited and was playing it plugged right into the board and out the studio monitors in his home studio, I have the chrome 10yr anniversary version, but I remember him sounding better than I can ever sound!   I played "out" about a week ago using the Trademark 60 amp (which has a xlr direct out, intended to go straight to the board), I used to play out with one of those a lot.  I've been eyeballing the tech 21 Fly Rigs for guitar, I have the bass version and I really-really like it. You can find those used for $250 or less, new they're only a bit above $300.  With the built in tuner and basic effects, those look very handy.  When I get one, I will point one of my low wattage amps at me from the side of the stage for my monitor, and let the house do the house thing.

 That new Boss IR-2 modeler pedal might be just what you're looking for, loads of reviews are on youtube right now.  Those appear to be priced at $199. Their older GP-20 'amp factory' is cheaper used, I have no idea if it's any good.

[Dutchman]

I've been using the R15 from JoYo. My buddy has the Iridium at twice the price. We compared them thru a full PA/monitor set for a gig at stage levels. At the end my buddy had R15 envy. It just sounded better. We plugged  into our effects. Then the amp sim. I preferred the dirt I got from my Barber DDrive as did he thru his also(same Barber DDrive) just found the best clean( Blackface for me Vox for him) and stayed on it all night.

Seriously good stuff cheap!!

 

 

[JGale]

How about this? DI, Cab Sim, phones  

$150 new on the ‘verb. 
 

https://www.tcelectronic.com/product.html?modelCode=P0EB7

[BadgerDave]

Headrush MX5 LINK

If you don't mind spending $400, you can have a lot of fun with one of these. Sounds great plugged into a PA input. You can probably find a used one for less.

[HSB0531]

On 1/27/2024 at 12:08 PM, Citrus said:

So really tight rehearsal space, and to get a good sound out  of an amp in the small basement is tough.  We have 2 acoustic guitars, a bass and drums.  My Takamine acoustic electric  sounds great straight into the mixing board/Pa Nice and full.  I've tried to use an electric guitar through it and it sounds really thin and wimpy.  

Would some sort of preamp pedal cure this?  Like a tech 21 Sans amp??

Or better off using something like a Boss Katana amp and use the line out into the board??

Not looking to spend more than a couple hundred.   Cheaper the better.   Thanks

 

I'm guessing that the Takamine has an onboard preamp.  This would have an output that is line level, whereas an electric guitar would have an output closer to a mic level.

If the mixer input channel has a Mic/Line switch, try setting the switch to Mic, plug the electric guitar into the input, and adjust the Input Gain to just below clip level (Red LED).

You can also use a powered or passive Direct Box.  This will convert the guitar level to Mic level and transformer balance the guitar signal going to the mixer.

Set the mixer channel to Mic level if you use one of these.

[hamerhead]

On 1/27/2024 at 11:08 AM, Citrus said:

...Or better off using something like a Boss Katana amp and use the line out into the board??....

I used my Katana 50 for direct recording (not quite the same, but close) and it sounded great. Plus it's a great lightweight 'grab-and-go' amp. New it was around $230.

[scottcald]

These are pretty cool: https://reverb.com/item/78670838-atomic-ampli-firebox-mkii

Boss GT-1 is also pretty cool and cheap used.  Oh, and the Boss IR-2.

Original Flyrig for $120 at MusicGoRound: https://www.musicgoround.com/product/41117-S000034845/used-tech-21-fly-rig-5-guitar-effect-multi-fx

[Citrus]

Thanks all.  Will be testing out a couple of these ideas at next rehearsal.   Sadly band on hiatus till March.  We have a couple skiers and a surfer who use Fwb to take trips for those hobbies.  

Will report back.

Cheers.

[gorch]

Have tried to equalize the signal on the mixer? Usually you could add bass, mid, and highs. Also lift the volume.

A cheap old/used line6 pod should do otherwise too. Just like above mentioned solutions.