Headway EDB1 preamp

bassinstincts · #1 08-25-2009, 07:11 PM

Just arrived. The greatest I have ever heard at making piezo pickups sound musical.

I will be selling my Fishman Platinum and my Sans Amp Para.

The EDB1 is just the best, most natural sounding preamp I have encountered. Makes my Wes Lambe ABG sound like an upright. Maximizes the sound from every piezo I own. Its the best.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #2 08-25-2009, 08:45 PM

Here's a link to the product for those interested. I couldn't find any links to where it's for sale, however. Where did you find it? It looks like exactly what I'm looking for to go with the Phil Jones amp I'm using when I want to add a mic.

shwashwa · #3 08-25-2009, 09:30 PM

this looks interesting although the phantom power to the mic channel is only 18v. dont most condensers need 48v?

flatback · #4 08-25-2009, 11:04 PM

the gents at Nova Strings are going to send me one for review here. i believe they are for sale thru Nova. yea they look pretty dang good and I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Scott McC · #5 08-25-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shwashwa

this looks interesting although the phantom power to the mic channel is only 18v. dont most condensers need 48v?

Its 48 milivolts I believe, or something along those lines. I think they mean it is an 18volt power supply. I am sure I will be brutally corrected soon.

bassist14 · #6 08-26-2009, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

. I couldn't find any links to where it's for sale, however. Where did you find it?

here is a link for german/european buyers:
http://www.jonaslohse.de/amps_e.html

gcordez · #7 08-26-2009, 02:46 AM

These things are excellent,

I got one about a month ago and been using it to blend my
Realist with the DYN-B or a ATM 350 mic. Best sounding preamp that ive come across so far. One thing though, its a bit annoying that the EQ settings arent for the seperate channels, but just the final output..

Brent Nussey · #8 08-26-2009, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shwashwa

this looks interesting although the phantom power to the mic channel is only 18v. dont most condensers need 48v?

No, this is a little more flexible than you're thinking:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar0...condensers.htm

Read the section "All about Phantom Power."

The mics I like to use live for bass are the AKG C3000 and the ATM35

Happily, the AKG will operate at 9-52 volts
http://www.akg.com/site/products/pow...iew,specs.html

and the ATM35 is good at 11-52 volts
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wi...c98/index.html

You have to check the specs for your mic.

This looks like a box worth checking out.... I await the review.

Brent

bassinstincts · #9 08-26-2009, 07:00 AM

I bought mine direct from Headway in the UK. They have dealers here, but it was available on the website and the shipping was cheap and quick (4-5 days...if you are prepared to wait a few weeks, transit is free).

gcordez · #10 08-26-2009, 08:29 AM

Me too, i called him up and ordered it direct. Funny chap though, he actualy sounded pissed off that he had to go to the post office to send it to me...

Grumpy fellow, but he sure makes a good preamp.

bassinstincts · #11 08-26-2009, 08:38 AM

If we are talking about John Littler, maybe you caught him on a bad day. I didn't actually talk to the guy but we traded numerous emails and he was very helpful and forthcoming with information...and thanked me for the order which was shipped the next day. He certainly is knowledgeable. The manual for the product reflects this.

On the strength of the preamp, I am giving thought to one of his pickups, too.

gcordez · #12 08-26-2009, 08:41 AM

thats the guy. i quite liked him, even if he was a bit grumpy.
(hows chapel hill music these days? i used to spend a lot of time in Asheville. miss north carolina loads..)

ive heard his pickups on violin, and they were alright. havent heard anything good nor bad about his double bass ones. they look like a tricky fit.

bassinstincts · #13 08-26-2009, 09:02 AM

Actually, I am a transplanted Brit, to NC via a long time in Canada.
The music scene here is better than most, but very crowded. I don't spend much time in Asheville, but I love the place.

Did you go 360 from Britain and back?

I now really love the sound of my uprights (Full Circle on one, Realist on the other) through the EDB-1. Also, the best sound I have ever had from my archtop fretless ABG. I should probably just stay with what I have on the latter (a Pickup The World piezo under one of the bridge feet, which sounds suitably woody).

Little says the Headway bridge and pickup would make for less handling noise on the ABG and give me a more "focused" sound and I believe him. But I am afraid it would also be more hard or brittle sounding. And I would know until I am a few hundred bucks into it.

flatback · #14 08-26-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassinstincts

If we are talking about John Littler, maybe you caught him on a bad day. I didn't actually talk to the guy but we traded numerous emails and he was very helpful and forthcoming with information...and thanked me for the order which was shipped the next day. He certainly is knowledgeable. The manual for the product reflects this.

On the strength of the preamp, I am giving thought to one of his pickups, too.

yea John was quite nice when I communicated with him.

geoffbassist · #15 08-26-2009, 04:30 PM

love the look of his bridge foot pickups, would love to give them a try with the pre amp and a mic.....

gas...gas..

bribass · #16 08-26-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Here's a link to the product for those interested. I couldn't find any links to where it's for sale, however. Where did you find it? It looks like exactly what I'm looking for to go with the Phil Jones amp I'm using when I want to add a mic.

http://www.headwaymusicaudio.com/purchase.php

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #17 08-27-2009, 05:15 AM

Thank you!

Ric Vice · #18 08-27-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcordez

These things are excellent,

I got one about a month ago and been using it to blend my
Realist with the DYN-B or a ATM 350 mic. Best sounding preamp that ive come across so far. One thing though, its a bit annoying that the EQ settings arent for the seperate channels, but just the final output..

G Cordez,
Are the lack of independent preamp settings for each channel just inconvenient or does it create problems that can't be resolved because the mic and piezo actually require different equalization? Unfortunately, there are no units that offer , dual channel, blending, with variable notch, phase, and lo cut filters. I would also prefer to be able to set the low cut myself rather than have it set at a fixed frequency.

Ric

flatback · #19 08-27-2009, 12:59 PM

I just talked with Gordon at Nova Strings who distributes the Headway products. We talked about the EDB1 and its EQing of both channels rather then independant EQ...in the end we're just going to have to try it. But I also got some more information on Headway and John Littler who seems deeply committed to creating superior amplification products for string instruments. His bass pick up which like a few other has the disadvantage of needing to be routed into the foot of the bridge, is of a different type of piezo element and very intriguing.
I

Johnny Atomic · #20 08-27-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

G Cordez,
Are the lack of independent preamp settings for each channel just inconvenient or does it create problems that can't be resolved because the mic and piezo actually require different equalization? Unfortunately, there are no units that offer , dual channel, blending, with variable notch, phase, and lo cut filters. I would also prefer to be able to set the low cut myself rather than have it set at a fixed frequency.

Ric

Rane AP13