As I have gotten older, more experienced and easier to get tired I’ve learned a lot about gear and what works for me. I won’t compromise tone either. So what I have come to learn. If I don’t require body taps, glopes for my performance I’m using the Yamaha SLG200NW guitar.
Yamaha SLG200NW
if I do need body percussion then the Yamaha NCX3.
Yamaha NCX3
From there I plug into my simple pedalboard which gives me a high pass filter and eq with limiter and tuner it’s the Source Audio EQ2 with a Source Audio Tap/Temp Switch for the Tuner and Mute functionality, A Boss Reverb RV-6, Boss Loop Station RC-5 all housed in a Boss Pedalboard BCB-30X.
Simple Pedalboard
Now for amplification I am using 3 various stems depending on needs of clients. I can cover audiences from 50-500 with the gear I have. For 70% of the gigs I do I use the EV 30m I have been able to use this system with no problem for 250
EV 30m
I also like the QSC CP8 in Mono or Stereo and can cover 100-300 people with this setup
QSC CPS on Ultimate Support TS-110B Extra Tall Lift-Assist Speaker Stand with a K&M Speaker Tilt Adapter – Black
Then for intimate performances or where no AC is easy to access I use 1 Bose S1 Pro. I’ve also used a Bose S1 Pro as my monitor and preamp w reverb and then an additional speaker like the QSC CP 8.
2 Bose S1 Pro Speakers
I have other gear that I use when I add a mic like the DPA 4099 G to use with my Culpepper. The Grace Design FeliX 2 when I just use my guitar and preamp out to a Front Of House (FOH) set up
Grace Design Felix2 Grace Design FeliX 2 with EV30mGrace Design Felix2
I also like the sound of a saturated preamp like Neve 511 or Chameleon Labs 7603 but this moves out of the easy set ups.
Chameleon Labs 7603 and TC Electronic MOne-XLNeve 511 Preamp, 551 EQ, 545 Primary Source Enhancer. Rupert Neve RNDI
For a DI nothing beats the Rupert Neve RNDI
I’ve tried lots of gear and guitars but for the daily giging nylon string guitarist this is what I’ve concluded in 2022 works best for me and I hope it helps you get you best Nylon Live Sound. I purchase my gear at Sweetwater Sound, American Musical and Russo’s Music Store.
Yep the Line 6 HX Stomp can be used as a single preamp/effects/DI with a flamenco guitar like my Culpepper equipped with the LR Baggs Dual Source Element pickups & mic. #line6hxstomp #line6helix #line6 #lrbaggs #andyculpepper #nylonstrings #flamencoguitar #flamencomusician Line 6 HX Stomp Update on knobs and switch’s Knobs (pink) from Tesi Switch http://www.helixknobs.com and Pedal Swich Stomp buttons from: Gear by CEBA http://www.gearbyceba.com and power cord from Gator Cases Doubler Cable for Line 6 Pedals. #line6helix #russomusic #sweetwater #tesiswitch #gearbyceba
For live playing I have come to rely and trust the Grace Design Felix2 for my nylon playing. I have the LR Baggs Dual Source Element and mic system in Chanel 2 and a DPA 4099 G in Chanel one. I use a Peterson Tuner and for reverb the LR Baggs Align Reverb. It’s all mounted on a Daddario Pedalboard.
I have a bunch of gear all for specific purposes however. I do have my favorite tried and true set up. That’s what I’m sharing in this post. For my tried and true quick and easy beautiful sounding system for up to 200 people. I prefer my Andy Culpepper #83 with Daddario XTC45TT strings and LR Baggs Dual Source Element and mic system with a DPA 4099g mic. I run it into a Grace Design FeliX 2 with a Peterson StroboStomp Tuner. Then out to a Electro Voice EV 30M. That’s it.
The compact travel rig for train rides to NYC and Philly. QSC, Ultimate Stands, Grace Design, DPA, Neunaber, Peterson, Andy Culpepper, DPA , LR Baggs, and DAddario.
K&M Speaker Stand Adapter Grace Design FeliX 2, Neunaber Wet, Peterson StroboStomp and to stream Radial Engineering BT DI
Simply the best sounding Acoustic Preamp “Grace Design Felix2” I was dialing in my tone for the L.R. Baggs dual source and running it direct into the EV 30m or Bose S1 Pro (set flat no eq or ToneMatch) and this is the best most accurate transparent non colored tone. It’s so warm and pleasant on the ear. I love that it is analog no a/d d/a converter. The tone is in your face what your pickup gives this puts out. My tone is so pleasant non hyped and no strange artifact or high hiss. This is now my primary preamp for all gig with my Culpepper, DeVoe and Córdoba guitars. Thanks Grace Design and Sweetwater- Chris M x1628 not so much FedEx. #gracedesign #sweetwatersound #sweetwater #newgeardaysweetwater #newgearday
In the BoxOut of the BoxPlugged inBy the Christmas Tree
I could not be happier that I was able to get back my original commissioned number 83 Guitar from Andy Culpepper last week. Shout out also goes out to Yannaki Arrizza for hanging out with me for the 9 Hour drive up and back. I reset the pick up and did a few adjustments and was able to get it to sound exactly as I had when I shipped it to a new owner. The guitar became available and through luck and hope I was able to get it back and it sounds freaking amazing. I’ve been playing it non stop almost since it’s return to me. I put a set of Knobloch SN 200 ADN strings and it’s fantastic. The tonality in the woody sound just sings in the upper registers not nasally but just that beautiful warm open vibrant tone that unfortunately my other guitars are not able to duplicate except for my very high-end guitars. I’ve made a decision to put the Culpepper back into rotation for my general performance and even high end performance gigs the only time I won’t take it out is when it’s high humidity or high heat especially outdoors. I’m just glad that this Guitar is back home.
Andy Culpepper makes fantastic instruments if you were looking for or need a custom made a Flamenco, or classical guitar or custom nylon string instrument contact him talk it through and I’m sure you will not be disappointed. Check him out at: http://www.andyculpepper.com
*** Update*** After using the Looper and talking with Singular Sound A few times about the firmware and issues I was having with storage, SD cards sink and a few others I decided to send the looper back.
What I wrote on social media:
Tried both loopers and I prefer the Boss RC-300, RC-3,and RC-1 over the Aeros Looper. The pedal layout (on off) on Areos is on the top left. The synchronization with Beat Buddy is glitchy and can come out of time making it useless and non musical. The Areos has firmware still in production- NO SD Card, No Bluetooth, No WIFi Apps, No iPhone of iPad apps, No USB functions. No ability to save on SD cards. It’s to finicky and unstable to trust for live performance in my opinion. Sending it back! Unless you have lots of time and you want a headache and you know that it’s going to glitch out on you and fail I would stay away from this product for now maybe in a year or two they work out the kinks and it will become stable. This seem like a promising product but for my uses it does not deliver. The only functionality that was positive was that you could start the Beat Buddy and that would trigger the looper. However if you try to start the loop or from the Beat Buddy I could not get that to work . I contacted Singular Sound and they could not say when the updated firmware would be available could be a month could be longer at any rate the functions that are promised in the disclosure on the webpage and it Sweetwater are not currently usable. #singularsound #beatbuddy #singularsoundaeros #singularsoundbeatbuddy
Demo Aeros Looper. This was recorded using a nylon string guitar with an LR Baggs dual source pick up (Element & Mic) to the L.R. Baggs Align Series EQ and Reverb our to the Aeros Looper. Drum Sounds from Beat Buddy synchronized by 2 cables via midi.
For quick in and out gigs and playing background music in restaurants and such I have a nice quick easy set up. Only the speaker and Blue tooth Bose Receiver need ac they are QSC CP 8 and Bose Bluetooth receiver.
The pedalboard and Wireless do not need ac they run on rechargeable batteries. The paddleboard is powered by the pedal train Volto 2 system, and the Sennheiser XSW instrument transmitter and receiver or rechargeable via USB type three cables.
The Pedalboard Settings to QSC CP 8 speaker.
L.R. Baggs Align Series Equalizer and Settings in blue (what I start with)
TC Electronic Spark Booster
Kokko Space Reverb (Hall)
L.R. Baggs Align Series Active DI
Sennheiser XSW transmitter and receiver.
Transmitter plugged into a Córdoba 45 FP With L.R. Baggs lyric pick up
What comes with the purchase of the Sennheiser XSW digital instrument transmitter and receiver package.
Nylon Live 