Coil EQ Acoustic/Electric guitar/bass recording channel

[shikawkee]

Hey gang-

Some of us here were talking about acoustic guitar DI a few weeks ago and we have three Coil EQ boxes ready for retail. There are the hand-built proto boxes but have every feature of the production model which will be available later this year. The are $600.00 each U.S. plus shipping. We've added a top boost (as well as cut), 1/4" tuner out and a switch for XLR or 1/4" I/O. Here's some info and photos of the boxes-

http://www.edpettersen.com/edpettersen/Coileq.html

Also:

www.valvotronics.com

If you have any questions please feel free to ask or e-mail us through Gearslutz.
Thanks a lot.

[EngineEars]

Come on D.M. spill the beans....how is it?

[shikawkee]

Before Dave answers maybe I should start by addressing what it does-

It low cuts below 60 Hrz. As many of you know if you you're playing in a variety of clubs there are a plethora of hums and noise that can inhabit your signal. With the low cut it will eliminate the hum without killing the low end. In addition there is low boost centered near the bass fundamental at 88Hrz. With low cut enabled you will be surprised what only 2db of bass booost will do for acoustic guitar low end without booming with feedback but you can boost to +16db. There are also three selectable mid bands chosen for their musicality and based on my EQ settings for acoustics, electrics and bass in the studio and live situations for the last 7 or 8 years (I kept a log). Thus, you can select to cut at either 200 or 400 Hrz, 600 or 800Hrz, or between 1.6 or 2.7Khrz. We also have a hight cut switch which cuts at 10K or 8K at 6db per octave (I call this the 'Olhsson switch' as Bob O. was instrumental in its addition to the project) and a high shelf boost above 12k which works well on vocals and snares. The 1.6/2.7 mid switch is what seems to help resolve a little of that piezo 'quack' that is so often bothersome in live situations. For more aggressive music you might want to add boost there for electric guitar but that's not what this box does. It works really nicely as a professional master-quality recording channel that is class-A, point-to-point discrete all the way and is quiet as all get-out (My partner Robert at Valvotronics is particularly proud of that). I have used mine in many gig situations and through many revisions for over a year and it has truly has improved my sound and made it all a breeze for me finally. The box has a good bit of front end gain (+45db) before the EQ section (sorry, no make-up gain) but it's a simple filter-based cap and resistor box with custom transformers I/O. I use it a lot as a recording channel for whatever stringed I'm playing and sometimes for just the EQ's on whatever. For electrics I go straight into the box to my converters into Pro Tools as a DI track (or for reamping if necessary later) and the same for bass. Best damn signal I've ever recorded. I also sometimes split another line to an amp. I think it works and I hope you like it.

[shikawkee]

Originally Posted by EngineEars

Come on D.M. spill the beans....how is it?

Yeah Dave, I wanna' know too!

[Dave Martin]

Well, I was playing with prototypes, and I gather that a few minor changes have been made since I had the chance to play with them. And worse, it was long enough ago that I don't have a good recollection of the sound of the unit, other than the fact that I liked it and found it to be a most useful box.

Ed, I'd be happy to be more specific, but I'm afraid that I'll need you to drop one back off for a day or so. I'd HATE to write something about the box and then realize that I was thinking of a completely different product. (It sucks when your memory goes - at least, I think it does. I don't remember.)

[shikawkee]

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

Well, I was playing with prototypes, and I gather that a few minor changes have been made since I had the chance to play with them. And worse, it was long enough ago that I don't have a good recollection of the sound of the unit, other than the fact that I liked it and found it to be a most useful box.

Ed, I'd be happy to be more specific, but I'm afraid that I'll need you to drop one back off for a day or so. I'd HATE to write something about the box and then realize that I was thinking of a completely different product. (It sucks when your memory goes - at least, I think it does. I don't remember.)

Ha! No problemo Dave. I'll get another one out to you in a day or so.

[shikawkee]

P.S.-If anyone wants to demo a unit we can probably work something out where we'll charge you only if you keep it.

[shikawkee]

One of the three protos is sold. Thanks.