The BEST Acoustic Pedalboard Setup For Solo Artists

[@TomButwin]

Fishman Aura Spectrum DI: www.zzounds.com/a--3980673/item--FSMAURSPC?siid=83830

[@joancroker8612]

Wow! The idea with the AB switch is ace! I've just said goodbye to my paranoia around signal dropout (when using wireless). Thank you.

[@TomButwin]

It’s saved me quite a few times!

[@dansegal1254]

Thanks for the video Tom. I use a NUX Optima Air for my preamp/IR modeler. It was less expensive and has reverb which allows me to control that versus the soundman. But that Fishman is a really nice unit. I play both electric and acoustic during our shows and was using that Shure wireless system for my electric and a Line G50 for the acoustic. Pretty much all those 2.4 gHz wireless systems are highly prone to interference. Especially at theaters and PAC venues. I had so many drops with the Shure and some drops & interference issues with the Line 6 I ended up going back to using a cable on the acoustic and replaced the Shure with a rack mount Sennheiser EW 500. Have had zero drops with Sennheiser. Thinking of going back to wireless fro the acoustic using the Sennheiser portable EW 112 system that uses 2 body pack units (1 transmitter and 1 Receiver) versus another rack mount. Thanks for your video!

[@commonsensemillennial985]

Just buy the voicelive play acoustic with the added switch-3 pedal. Everything you need

[@felipe81303]

This is exactly what i need 🙏💪🏼

[@TomButwin]

Awesome! Let me know if you have any questions.

[@JohnDoe-xr5is]

I have the Aura...but I wouldn't buy it again. Two of my guitars have the LR Baggs Anthem pickups, a third has a K&K mini. The Anthems are the best I've ever used, so they don't need any of the Aura saved sounds. Honestly, the Anthem sounds better without ANY of the Aura internal sounds. And just like you, if I do want to use any internal sounds, 70/30 is best. This can be a really good unit if you have undersaddle piezo pickups with the terrible 'quack'. You can almost dial it out with the Aura. (I have a 12 string with a piezo...ugh..) But the real reason I keep using it (besides being paid for) is the compressor is great (especially for a 1 knob) and I like to have eq at my feet. So most of the time, I only use the Aura for the eq and compressor. Edit: I do have a K&K in a ukulele...so I do have a patch in the Aura for that.

[@TomButwin]

With an under saddle, which is what I use with the Aura, I agree it works really well. I actually love it and, like you said, a lot has to do with that one knob compressor. It's amazing. I've never tried an Anthem, but to me, it seems like the ultimate and best of all worlds. I've got one of LR Baggs new HiFi systems in another Martin and I actually really like that as well. Appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@tlb2732]

Nice approach. Great for a throw and go or for busking as well.

[@TomButwin]

Yes! Definitely.

[@nikhilfranco7241]

I was just thinking about solutions for my acoustic in church because it sounds so dull connected to the church speakers, unfortunately the fishman alone costs near 800$ in my country, which is more than my acoustic and electric combined 😂

[@TomButwin]

What kind of acoustic do you have? I might be able to help suggest something else that’s cheaper!

[@TomButwin]

Grab a Boss EQ pedal or check out the Behringer ADI21!

[@nikhilfranco7241]

@@TomButwin I have a GB&A and thanks for the recommendation ! i already use a behringer ,i think it's a 7 band eq i need

[@TomButwin]

There are lots of great EQ pedals out there that won’t break the bank. It can seriously help an acoustic electric.

[@luckym8749]

Great idea a/bing the wireless and chord. What type of a/b switch are you using? Did you have to specially rewire it to be 2 in and 1 out as opposed to 1 in and 2 out?

[@TomButwin]

Thanks! It’s a One Control Minimal A/B box. No rewiring necessary. It works in both directions. I just have the cable going into one output and the wireless going into the other output. Things are backward (output is actually input snd vice versa), but it works! Most A/B boxes work this way. Having the hard wired backup has saved me a ton of times.

[@michaelmaris7]

I'd say the setup is nice, but IMO not the "best" for a solo player, of course that's subjective. I run a Boss VE-8, an LR Baggs Session DI, RV-6 and a MXR clean boost for fingerstyle bits. This is all battery powered as well with the mission engineering 529. This handles my vox affects & guitar while giving me great control over both of them.

[@TomButwin]

Subjective for sure. It’s the best for me lol. Great call on the clean boost for finger style stuff! I was just playing a gig last night where the thought crossed my mind for finger style stuff. Might have to add one to the board for that. Thanks for watching.

[@danielplantus71]

You should trademark the phrase “finger style bits.”

[@thinjay]

Do you have a video of how does this set up sound like?

[@TomButwin]

I used this exact setup for this entire concert: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4SuoXSaoc9piKc

[@alanduncan3986]

Thanks for the info! This looks like the direction I'm going as well. What PA are you using for your acoustic and do you have any recommendations? Thanks again!

[@TomButwin]

For solo acoustic gigs where I have to bring my own small PA, I use a Fishman SA330x tower. Super convenient, sounds great, built in mixer/reverb, carry case has wheels. The perfect gig setup, imo. Any of their smaller combo acoustic amps are great too. I have an older Loudbox that I love.

[@alanduncan3986]

@@TomButwin Spot on again! The SA300x is what I was thinking about getting. I have a Loud Box mini as well, but not so sold on how the mini handles vocals. I'll probably add a TC Helicon Mic Mechanic to what you've got and call it a day. Thanks for info the confirmation!

[@TomButwin]

I have an old (black metal grille) Loudbox Performer that is brilliant for guitar and vocals, but I will say…the newer combo amps aren’t great for guitar/vocal gigs were any sort of real projection is necessary. They are all great if you’re just using them to monitor and then send a line to the PA though. The SA330x has served me very well. I have yet to find a situation (indoor or outdoor) where it’s not adequate. Obviously, it’s not going to cover a bigger stage or outdoor area, but anything like a coffee shop, bar, patio, etc. it’s more than enough. I do have the extension sub as well, but I rarely bring that out…and only outdoors if I do. Happy to help and keep me posted if you have any other questions!

[@TomButwin]

Here’s an affiliate link that supports the channel if you’re looking for somewhere to grab one! www.zzounds.com/a--3980673/item--FSMSA330X?siid=192273

[@alanduncan3986]

@@TomButwin Thanks!

[@AhmadShaadSafwi]

Hi Tom, thank you so much for simplifying and the suggested board. I have a question though I own a Baby Taylor BT1e and my problem is even after watching a number of videos I am still trying to design a pedal board for myself as whenever plugged in it has a very thin sound because of the 3/4th size and as directly plugged in PA it makes it worse any suggestions what pedals to use and how best I can improve the sound. Thanks Reply

[@TomButwin]

No problem! Some compression and EQ can definitely help a thinner sounding undersaddle pickup. The Fishman DI in this video has both, but it's certainly not the only option. LR Baggs Align, Fishman AcoustiComp are some other options. However, like you said, it's just in that guitar/pickup's nature to be a little thinner sounding.

[@AhmadShaadSafwi]

@@TomButwin That's great, thanks a mil Tom for the explaining it well, I am definitely going to use it

[@danielplantus71]

I love and celebrate Fishman products and I have heard you play this setup live and it truly does sounds great. I’d like to hear you play your guitar direct versus through the pedalboard and see what it sounds like in a studio setting. Would you still play through the Fishman pedal or would you go direct/mic?

[@TomButwin]

I’ve actually got an upcoming video where I do this (focused on something else entirely, but it’s there). Are you asking if I were to record an acoustic direct, in a studio setting, would I forego the Fishman Aura? If so, my answer would be “No.” The air/realism the mic modeling adds is incredible for studio stuff where you can’t mic an acoustic. Check out my “I Dreamed A Dream” cover. That’s the Fishman DI. (Side note, a surpassingly small amount of guitar bled into the vocal mic in that session. So, it’s almost 100% the mic model on that recording)

[@spencer5914]

The volto has always tempted me but I would never trust it lol

[@TomButwin]

It hasn't let me down yet! The only downside is they no longer make it.

[@icarocosta4302]

What u think about tô have reverb on a pedalboard? Useless? Just got The fishman aura, but thinkg tô buy a hall of fame reverb. Thank, man! Good vídeo!

[@TomButwin]

I’ve been thinking about adding a reverb pedal for a long time, actually! So, I think it’s a cool idea and would definitely be useful. Line 6 makes some interesting stuff for this I’d consider. Thanks for watching!

[@bennyhill1105]

Stryman blue sky or Stryman Flint Both are awesome with acoustics…

[@icarocosta4302]

@@bennyhill1105 got The bluesky hehe

[@bennyhill1105]

@@icarocosta4302 That’s the one i purchased as well my friend! 😂

[@joelhenry4643]

Meh

[@ronaldmendes1768]

Rubbish.

[@TomButwin]

Thanks, Ron! What’s your setup?