Fishman Platinum Stage EQ/DI Analog Preamp

As a dedicated acoustic guitarist, I've always been on the lookout for ways to enhance my sound and performance. The Preamp Acoustic Guitar Box has recently become an integral part of my setup, and I'm thrilled to share my experience with this game-changing device. Right off the bat, the build quality of the Preamp Acoustic Guitar Box impressed me. The sleek and durable design seamlessly blends with the aesthetics of my instrument, and it's clear that every detail has been meticulously considered. The box feels sturdy and reliable, which is essential for gear that's likely to accompany me on stage and in the studio. The most compelling aspect of this preamp box is its impact on my sound. The difference it makes is nothing short of astounding. The onboard preamp enhances the natural tones of my acoustic guitar, adding depth, warmth, and clarity to every note I play. Whether I'm fingerpicking delicate melodies or strumming powerful chords, the preamp ensures that my sound is beautifully balanced and true to the essence of my instrument. The control layout is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing me to effortlessly dial in the perfect tone for any setting. The equalization options are responsive and effective, giving me the ability to fine-tune my sound according to the acoustics of different venues. The built-in tuner is an absolute game-changer, saving me the hassle of carrying a separate tuner and enabling quick and precise tuning adjustments on the fly. Installing the Preamp Acoustic Guitar Box was surprisingly easy. The instructions provided were clear and concise, making the process hassle-free even for someone who isn't particularly tech-savvy. Once installed, the box seamlessly integrates into my setup, and I appreciate how it doesn't interfere with the natural resonance of my guitar. The durability of this preamp box is evident not only in its construction but also in its performance. I've subjected it to numerous gigs and practice sessions, and it has consistently delivered exceptional results without a hint of degradation in sound quality. Additionally, the versatility of the Preamp Acoustic Guitar Box is worth highlighting. It's compatible with a wide range of acoustic guitars, and its ability to accommodate both passive and active pickups ensures that it's suitable for various instruments in my collection. In conclusion, the Preamp Acoustic Guitar Box has revolutionized the way I approach my acoustic performances. Its outstanding build quality, transformative impact on sound, user-friendly controls, and reliable durability make it an essential addition to any acoustic guitarist's toolkit. Whether you're a seasoned performer or a passionate enthusiast, this preamp box is sure to elevate your playing experience to new heights. I wholeheartedly endorse the Preamp Acoustic Guitar Box for anyone seeking to unlock the full sonic potential of their acoustic instrument.

UPDATE: The schertler BASIK set was a complete disappointment, feel free to check out my scathing review of that to see screenshots of the feeble output. I tried to make it work, and this preamp made it at least possible to use with drastic boost and EQ, but it was not easy. After 2 gigs I returned the Schertler, but this preamp is excellent (plenty of boost, nice sounding EQ, nothing else I know of has class a circuitry, 2 gain stages and useful mid sweep, all powered by a 9v battery, honestly I think it is the coolest thing Fishman makes). I'll be keeping it for the custom JJB electronics piezo I'm having made (for less than $30 by the way.) ORIGINAL REVIEW: Using it on a gig tomorrow so if I run into a problem I'll update. I bought this for my new koa Island ukulele that I don't want to cut into. I bought the "low end" schertler BASIK pickup (still $160 freaking dollars, not overly impressed for the price) which sounds quite good, but sends a VERY low level. Why go cheap(ish) on a very expensive Uke? Because it's the only stick-on pickup designed for 1/4 passive inputs, and I play through an assortment of preamps, amps and processors, most of which don't send 48v or have XLR ins for instruments. Someday if the situation calls I'll sink $500-$600 into a Schertler or DPA high end unit, but for now I want the never-fail 1/4" solution. And even with this preamp, it still costs less than the high end stuff. The low level of the BASIK led me to a preamp. I'm a fan of the brassy Fishman sound, I need it to be battery powered, and I'm also a bass player, so this seemed like a good fit. This preamp has a lot of parameters and takes some time to dial in. This is ultimately a good thing. Since I need a lot of amplitude, it was tricky to find a balance between the trim and volume that didn't introduce too much hiss. But I got a good tone after a while, and also determined the middle of the low cutoff choices was the best for my low g Uke. The eq is excellent and very easy to use. With this setup, and the Fishman cranked, I now get to the level of my Godin acoustic/electric nylon string guitar at half volume (the Godin onboard preamp is incredibly powerful and virtually noiseless so about half volume is what I usually use). It's a pleasant, vibrant sound, and the sweepable mid and treble controls dial down quack and brasssiness nicely. They're both cut quite a bit, and bass is left flat, I'm glad I didn't go with a simpler preamp since my tone needed a lot of shaping for my unique situation. I'm confident my tone will be good tomorrow, but I'm also sure I'll be tweaking plenty of knobs. I'm ultimately happy and impressed with this preamp for the time being.

I went back and forth between this Fishman Platinum Pro, the LR Baggs Venue DI, and the Zoom AC-3 Acoustic Creator. The mandolin player in our band uses the LR Baggs and he has gotten great service out of it and it sounds good. There are complaints on the web about the tuner on the LR Baggs unit but he does not seem to have any issues. Some of these units are a bit slow to pickup on the tone when you switch it to tuner. You just have to be patient and let it find your note. But, I went with the Zoom AC-3 unit initially and it was working good and I had it all dialed in with my Taylor 414 playing through it into a Bose L1 system. After 1 month and a few days it started squealing through the PA and we could not get it to stop with any adjustments. Something failed in the unit. I was like 5 days past the return period but Amazon came through and allowed a refund on return! Amazon is the best :) So, with the refund I purchased the Fishman Platinum Pro as it really had the features I wanted and came with compression which is useful at times. I did have to order the Fishman power supply, which I would recommend, as some 9v supplies have different polarity than what is required so best to be safe for like $10. This unit has been really good. My Taylor 414 sounds outstanding through it and I also play a Guild M120 and a Taylor 510 through it that are not active pick-ups and it adjusts great and with the guitar lift switch and frequency/notch filter adjustments I can eliminate about any hum that I may get with any of these guitars. It is a bit more money than the Zoom unit and about the same as the LR Baggs but I would recommend it as the unit works great and is reliable (and the tuner seems spot on to me).

I write and record commercially licensed music under performance rights organization BMI, Inc as a songwriter/composer. The good: I was looking for a pre-amp like this to boost my fishman soundhole pickups (I have both the rare earth humbucker as well as the single coil neo-D). I have the pre-amp going into a small analog mixer, then into a USB interface to my computer and recording software (DAW). This pre-amp is AWESOME! It pushes and also has some tone shaping and db limiting in regards to acoustic guitar. I'm trying to finish an acoustic electric album this year, and this pre-amp is just what I need. I also have both an ukulele bass and a guitarlele (guialele/guilele) both with active and passive piezo element pickups, and again both of those sound BRILLIANT! I also tried the pre-amp with an electric Fender Telecaster just to see out it would sound with out effects, just plain.. and again there is a notable difference in volume and tone. In my studio, it fits right in.. I don't have any problems with the size. What you need to know: I did not see this post around here. The unit does not come with a power adapter. The power adapter that you need is a nine volt (9v) NEGATIVE POLARITY power adapter, "not positive polarity". I have a multi 9-volt power adapter the kind with five plugs in a daisy chained for guitar effects pedals, I have the pre-amp also hooked up as well, and I have had no issues. If I ever play out again (when this virus pandemic ends), the pre-amp would be really useful on the end of the signal chain on a effects pedal board before going out to an acoustic guitar amp. I hope my review is helpful.. again.. I "really" like this pre-amp! Stay safe out there - Tom

My daughter uses this for stage performances on her cello which has a Fishman piezoelectric pickup on the bridge. The pre-amp works pretty well with the few adjustments it offers for shaping the tone and providing a stronger line-level output from a passive pickup. I really dislike that there is no power switch or even an LED to indicate that the amp is powered on. There is an indicator when receiving 48V power through the mic jack, but not when running on a 9V battery. There is an indicator when the battery power is low. Basically, if the battery is installed, it seems to be on unless the amp turns off when there no line-in signal detected, but there is no indication to tell if it is or not. To err on the side of caution, we just simply take the battery out when we're not using the amp and toss it in the same box as the amp itself, but be aware that it just rattles around inside the box with nothing to hold it in place in there. At the last show where we used this, one of the other musicians borrowed this for his mic and it worked really great, but he recommended using a distortion pedal for acoustic instruments (he was playing some classic rock and old pop songs on acoustic guitar) because he felt that it offered a wider range of adjustments for tone-shaping than this pre-amp does. Maybe, maybe not. Depends on the pedal, I suppose. I guess the point is that your mileage may vary and may be dependant on the instrument and type of music you're playing that will determine how useful this pre-amp will be for you. For my daughter on her cello playing mostly classical and some pop music it works well enough. Just wish it gave better feedback on the status of the power.

This makes my upright bass sound amazing! I highly recommend this for all upright bass players.

Use with double base and Fishman Full Circle transducer. Excellent sound and control. Still have the older Fishman Pro EQ Platinum (gray plastic) but this one is more controllable and has more features like boost preset among other things. LOVE THE BUILT IN TUNER. Only wish the tuner ran continuously - foot switch turns it on, but cuts off output. Probably an electronic noise thing or something. Fishman has the best stuff!

This thing is so good that I wish that I had spent the extra money for the upgrade. I enjoy my gigs more just because I can always dial in the best sound for the space I am in. Any instrument (within reason) can be made to sound with it.