double-duty vibrolux reverb

[rosett]

i play both electric guitar and amplified acoustic mandolin in a band. i would like to try running both through my trusty 70's vibrolux reverb. (mandolin through it's preamp and into the normal channel)
our soundman (lead singer) is extremely doubtful about it-he says it would be a nightmare to try and adjust levels.
is anyone doing anything like this, and what tips do you have.
thanks, john

[Ringo]

a VR has two channels, so why not one for each? That should cover any "volume" issues.

[Falstaff]

I played mandolin through a Boogie .22 a while back and a volume pedal helped me adjust between my guitars and the mandolin...you shouldn't have a problem, and the separate EQ on the non-vibrato channel will really help you dial in the mandolin.

Good luck!

[Wally]

If your preamp has EQ controls, that would be a plus. IMO, the Fender amps that have a mid control...Super Reverb, Twin Reverb...are better suited to acoustic/electric instruments than the amps that have only treble and bass controls. Outboard EQ's alleviate this problem.
If you are micing the amp, I might agree with your soundman that he will have some issues with levels. You could avoid that by using two mics...one for electric and one for acoustic on the amp in order to give him two separate channels with independent settings for each instrument. Just kill the channel not being used.

[jjmantele]

Maybe your lead singer isn't aware that you would/could use the 2 separate channels as they were intended-for 2 separate instruments. Just make sure you balance the outputs between the 2 channels.

[rockycreeker]

I've run my Takamine acoustic/electric into the normal channel of my Fender Twin, and it gives me added punch to help my Tak "cut through" the mix. I also have the Tak into the PA directly and thus also the monitors, but our band has a less than perfect monitor set up, so the extra punch from the Twin helps out. By itself, it's not the most "acoustic" sound, but combined with the what the monitors and pa are doing, it sounds fine and keeps me from having to have a separate acoustic amp. Just my $.02.

[rosett]

thanks, everyone. while reading your suggestions, i realized the answer that should have been obvious to me. i'm going to buy a baggs para-acoustic d.i. you can run a line to the pa (balanced lo-z, and a 1/4" line to the amp. thanks! john

[Showman]

I found that any acoustic instrument should go straight to the board.I recently had a Parker Fly guitar which the signal comes out of the guitar in stereo letting you use the magnetic pickups in an amp and acoustic in the pa.Great blending the two together too.A/B/Y switch is a good thing too.

[Robin Nahum]

My experience with electric acoustic guitars has been that they need to go to the board via a pre-amp to boost the low end. If they go straight in, they sound tinny.

RN