Fishman Platinum Stage

MAY 2017 TOTAL GUITAR
If you’re heading out to gig with your electro-acoustic
these four could give you more control over your sound
103
W
e’re initially confused by the AD-2.
It’s called a preamp but there are no
EQ controls. Instead you get Ambience
(reverb) and Acoustic Resonance (processing)
controls with a notch fi lter. The Resonance is
is similar to the Xvive Mike and TC Bodyrez in
that it aims to add a natural acoustic character
back into your sound. It certainly warms and
rounds off higher end piezo tone for mellower
solo players – if that’s what you want – and
the reverb and notch are useful, along with
dedicated TRS balanced out for going to a desk
without a DI box, but the processing doesn’t
feel quite as organic as the competition.
A
nother rugged design, with a metal and
plastic construction (no, those sides
aren’t actually wooden), the AA has its
own approach to give your passive and active
pickups more life and EQ control, with a
balanced XLR to send to two sources. There’s
no mid EQ but instead low and high and the
intriguing footswitch marked Pre-shape. This
is a preset that can be activated adding bass
and treble, but cutting mids for warmer tone.
In practice it’s useful to have another sound
on tap and it really does give your presence a
boost. Just be careful with the input levels (it
will glow red to warn you to turn down).
Boss AD-2
Acoustic Preamp
NOT TAKING CHARGE
Ashdown
AA Preamp
PRE-SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
TYPE Preamp pedals
POWER REQUIREMENTS All
9V DC or battery
Fishman and Hotone offer
phantom power
CONTACT
Fishman - John Hornby Skewes
01132 865381
www.jhs.co.uk
Hotone - MusicPsych
0207 607 6005
www.hotoneaudio.com
Boss - Roland UK Ltd
01792 702701
www.boss.info
Ashdown Engineering
01621 857853
www.ashdownmusic.com
AT A GLANCE
£99
£99
PEDAL ROUND-UP
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
If you’re heading out to gig with your electro-acoustic
TGR292.gear_pedals.indd 103 29/03/2017 09:38