Soo glad you mentioned that mid honk range you get with sone of the LR baggs soundhole pick ups . That’s exactly what I felt . I have got an LR Baggs anthem in my Eastman guitar which sounds great but as you know it’s not a soundhole pick up . The reason I brought the Belcat was cause I was intrigued how it would sound and it cost next to nothing . It from the samples I heard with the tone boss . I like the idea of having a volume control. To my ears just from the RU-vid demos it sounds really nice . I also have had other amps The Nux stageman ac 80 . I got it in a half price sale . It’s ok but doesn’t quite have the same head room as the AER . The tangle wood T6 sounds good in low volume but what you raise the volume it sounds a bit squashed . It’s an AER Copy . I Love using condenser mics the AER can handle them with thier phantom Power switch . Does the Loudbox performer have phantom power too ?
I was inspired with hearing the pick up . Wondered how it will work with singer/ guitarist . You gave a perfect demonstration. Sounding lovely . I have ordered one it’s coming tomorrow does it have a volume wheel ? Plus are you on Spotify ?
@@CoventGardenSinger Thank you! Yes it does have volume wheel despite being passive with no battery which is a big plus imo. I'm not on Spotify... I perform 4-6 shows a week and just don't have time for much else as I help two days a week with an elderly person with 3rd stage dementia. So let me know your thoughts on the Boss once you've had a chance to play with it a bit. Remember to adjust the pole pieces to achieve good string balance. I actually removed the 2nd string/B pole since it is the hottest string signal of the six. Best wishes!
@@uncaskillet thanks for the advice . I have several guitars and different pick ups . Last week I brought a cheaper passive soundhole pick up which wasn’t bad . It was useable . It was the Belcat SH 85 . Very easy to fit in my ashbury dreadnought . I use a AER compact 60 / 4th gen. There was no volume wheel so I had to crank up the volume a bit to be heard . I have tried the fish man soundhole pick ups the single coil one and the humbucker which are nice plus the rare earth blend too but that stopped working after a few years . Looks like this one has a nice hot signal and I love the fact it has a volume wheel . I’m glad you mentioned adjust the pole pieces . As I had never done that before with my soundhole pick ups . Now is a good time to experiment with them. I’m Really looking coward to when it arrives . I’m also looking at the Hayley Benton soundhole. Pick up . I believe that one is active . With this one they said if I paid yesterday it will come in the 31st January. I did have the LR baggs M1 active but I couldn’t quite dial in the right sound .
I will check out your other songs in this channel . I love the way you sing . It’s very expressive and soulful . Thier is a great timbre to your voice . Really enjoyable to listen too . I can’t wait until you record . 👍🏽
Hi Eric the more I’m using the Darmound Tone Boss . The more I’m loving it all the more . There is nothing harsh about it . Especially with my Yamaha LL16 M . That guitar is solid Siltka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides . The other day I tried out the LR baggs hifi and it didn’t sound like it did on the demo’s . I have it fitted in my `ashbury dreadnought . Maybe it will sound better on a different guitar . I keep going back to the Darmound Tone Boss . Definitely worth purchasing . Sorry if I keep going on about it. I’m like a little kid either a new toy. 😂😂
Yessir, 2 years ago I was inspired by you alone and your fishman sound. I got a performer and it’s just amazing. Then I find out we crossed paths back in the spindrifter days😃! Hope to see you out and about, Thx bud, Chris w JE
Thank you Chris for your generous and kind comments! So glad your enjoying the LBP, they have been my amps for nearly a decade now... Wow the Spindrifter, now that brings back memories! Hope to see ya Chris, thanks again!!
Do you have a more stripped down video with the Tone Boss? I don't personally use more than a tinge of verb on my acoustic. Wanting to see if it holds up "clean". Thank you!!
Hi Brandon, I don’t have another video and I’ve since flipped the Tone Boss to the back edge of the sound hole because it picks up harmonics sooo good and has a flatter and more balanced frequency response… btw what you hear is some delay on the amp, I never use reverb. This is my backup guitar to my Taks. I play full time around 200 shows a year and every now and then I pull the D18 out for some jazzier stuff. But for big stage and loud volumes I use 3 MIJ Taks. This Tone Boss is a pretty good mag and dials in easily. I used to have a M80 in this guitar but prefer the ToneBoss… best wishes!
Classic scenario with guy playing his heart out and sportsball on the screens behind him. I once did a gig in a tennis club bar..... the tennis was on the TV above my head....was quite bizarre playing while everyone's head was moving left to right in synch. I once saw my pal do a gig in a pub where the TV was on above him. Was driving him nuts. Put's guitar down, borrows some guy's barstool, stands on it and pulls the plug out the socket. Anyway, I digress,....v. nice version and playing. On the pickup....I wondered if it was a bit metallic ...saw someone do a gig with it in one of those little Guilds and wasn't massively impressed but most of the soundhole humbuckers sound like that anyway and need some EQ to take out the middy metal vibe.. I'm experimenting with a Baggs M1 at the moment. I like it but can't really afford another one for my spare guitar. How does it compare to Fishman, LR Baggs, DiMarzio ...anyone??
Thanks for comments and I get what you’re saying… all mag pickups I’ve used which include the M1A and M80 have a touch or tinge of mettalic tone. However I find the Tone Boss to have the least so far and much easier to eq, especially in the mids. Adjusted the poles and pickup placement is crucial to achieving the potential of mag pickups. I’ve since readjusted my Tone Boss in my D18 since this video and it’s a bit less trebly and warmer sounding. You have to play with it because each guitar has its own characteristics to adjust for. Cheers!
@@uncaskillet Thanks Eric. I'm about to pull the trigger on the Tone Boss based on your helpful info. They seem great value and a bit smaller maybe for getting into a small body guitar. Love yer music by the way.
I have been looking for a simple plug and play option that requires little tweaking and good feedback rejection. This is such a great tone based on your description! With so little doctoring it sounds clear, warm, and doesn’t have the magnetic honky sounds when you play it up the neck. I think these are passive too? Would you recommend based on my needs stated above? I play mostly fingerstyle with a thumbpick and very little nail on I, M and A. Great demo Eric, Merry Christmas!
Hi Sean, Merry Christmas and thank you for the kind words! I have to say that I’m very pleased with the Tone Boss for several reasons including as you mentioned; that it is warm, easy to dial in and doesn’t have the typical honking mag tone. Yes it is passive yet powerful enough to not need a preamp when plugged directly into my Fishman Loudbox Performer as heard in the video. Very much plug n play without a ton of tweaking. I used to use a Baggs M80 which gave me more guitar top percussion which I do, however, it was much more difficult to dial in. Since this video I’ve changed the position of the Tone Boss more towards the rear of the sound hole and like it even more. I do a lot of finger style as well, though with only my flesh and finger nails, but I think it sounds even better in that application. Once you get the pole pieces set, the tone is very balanced and responsive; every note pops out including the harmonics which I use a lot of. So I think the Tone Boss would be a good choice for your needs and style. Despite it being passive, it does have a volume wheel which is excellent. The key is adjusting the poles which takes some time, patience and a good ear. Best wishes Sean and let me know your thoughts if you get one… eric
@@uncaskillet Interestingly enough, the M80 and K&K Double Helix are also on my short list. Obviously the Tone Boss has my attention because of the low frills but also low cost aspect. The Double Helix is a bit heavy on the mids and the M80 sounds better to my ears (at least in videos), but the M80 is expensive! When studying the M80 I came to an interesting conclusion, it doesn't offer what I really want in a pickup. I've played in church bands and solo and really like the K&K Pure Mini for fingerstyle stuff but wow can it get nasty on a loud stage. The last thing I want is to have to fight that, but I'm convinced that I have an actual allergy to UST type pickups and haven't had a guitar with one in almost 20 years. So because of the above I became interested in sound hole mags. The M80, while having that "mic-like" floating coil is a great concept, it would really only be noticeable in quieter environments. But what also would sound "mic-like" in quiet environments? Your guitar lol. So, I wonder what value it really adds except in maybe loud atmospheres like the one you're playing at in this video. I like how you give your tone a bit of a microphonic vibe by adding a touch of delay. That gives the sound body and really sounds a bit more acoustic, not your D18 but louder...but certainly more than good enough. But the Tone Boss at literally 1/3 of the cost of the M80 has got me excited I found this. No knock on LR Baggs at all, my favorite Pre/ DI of all time is the Session. It's the only one I've kept after trying Fishman, Red Eye, and even the TRex SoulMate (which was twice the cost). Thank you for responding Eric. Your a very gifted and knowledgeable person- much appreciated!
@@smandez2023 Thanks again Sean for the kind comments! Having used both the M80 and Tone Boss extensively, I prefer the Tone Boss. The Tone dials in easier on a dread size. The M80 because of it’s resonance capability is too much with such a large cavity. That said it would be more suited in my opinion for say a Martin 000-15. But I do like the percussive ability of the M80. Overall though I prefer the tone, lighter weight and passive quality of the Tone Boss. Cheers!
@@uncaskillet Okay, I think I'm sold. Worst case scenario I could always flip it but I have a feeling I could make it work, especially shaping it through the Session and could purchase a pedal EQ. Thanks again Eric! This would go in a Taylor Grand Concert.
Thank you Dave and I hear ya on the screens... I'm just backround music in this particular sports bar, but the money is good LOL! I really just recorded this to listen back to the tone of this new mag pickup so thank you for the feedback, cheers!
Thank you Michael and most def SEMPER FI ...I got your FB too so I'll just answer you here. I only use the Fishman Loudbox Performer running both my vox and guitar directly in with no outboard gear. I set the amp's delay on just a tad to fatten it up and that's it! I'm a full-time solo acoustic artist and mainly use Takamine guitars but occasionally this D-18. I've been with Fishman for about a decade and love their versatility, great customer service and of course for my style the sound is just right for both vox and guitar! If you buy a Fishman amp, please let Fishman know you watched my videos... THANKS!!
