Crowdster Plus 2 question

[GASMAN]

For Tom , or anyone who may know.

Can you run a stereo cable out , to the Fishman Powerblend Pedal to split the signal to two separate amps?

I love this ability with my electrics , and have my eye on a Crowdster.

Thanks for any info.

[pipedwho]

Yes you can. There's a recessed button on the top that lets you select between a blended signal and separate 'stereo' outputs with the magnetics on the tip and the piezo on the ring of a TRS cable.

When the recessed button is pressed in, the signals are blended so whatever you have selected comes out on the tip / mono cable. There's a mag/both/piezo switch on the top for selecting the combo, and a separate neck/both/bridge switch for the magnetics.

When the recessed button is in the up position, the signals are split to tip and ring, and the mag/both/piezo switch effectively mutes the unselected pickup(s). That way you can control which pickups are being run from the guitar, while the piezo always goes out one 'channel' (ring), and the magnetics go out the other (tip).

The C+2 is extremely versatile.

[GASMAN]

Wow. Thanks for all the info.

Sounds like a really fun guitar!

I do believe I want one.

[GASMAN]

So how are the CLEAN electric sounds? I've yet to play one.

[tom]

i'm not sure of this, but the powerblend pedal may have the acoustic and electric backwards from the crowdster. someone who uses the powerblend can check me on this. if that is the case, you'd have to reverse the tip and sleeve on one end of the trs cable to have it work correctly.

when i use mine i just use a Y cable and split to pedalboard and sep acoustic DI and verb.

[tom]

clean sounds are mini humbuckers so not too hot, not too cold. they also respond really well to gain. keep in mind you'll be playing with a wound third so you won't be bending that much.

[GASMAN]

Thanks Tom. I'll check in to that.
What DI do you use, if you don't mind me asking?

[tom]

i got the fishman one with the aura stuff, but i don't use that. the compression does come in handy.

i'd like to try the latest baggs di, i've always liked their stuff.

[brokenvail]

Are those M's in the C+ and C+2? I love my Crowdster and sometimes get tempted at the C+2 but I keep thinking if any day Tom will release a piezo option for the other electric models

[GASMAN]

Are those M's in the C+ and C+2? I love my Crowdster and sometimes get tempted at the C+2 but I keep thinking if any day Tom will release a piezo option for the other electric models

I've wondered the same thing. I use my piezo option alot.

Tom? Any new news?

[GASMAN]

Yes you can. There's a recessed button on the top that lets you select between a blended signal and separate 'stereo' outputs with the magnetics on the tip and the piezo on the ring of a TRS cable.

When the recessed button is pressed in, the signals are blended so whatever you have selected comes out on the tip / mono cable. There's a mag/both/piezo switch on the top for selecting the combo, and a separate neck/both/bridge switch for the magnetics.

When the recessed button is in the up position, the signals are split to tip and ring, and the mag/both/piezo switch effectively mutes the unselected pickup(s). That way you can control which pickups are being run from the guitar, while the piezo always goes out one 'channel' (ring), and the magnetics go out the other (tip).

The C+2 is extremely versatile.

So, have you actually used the Crowdster with the Powerblend?

If so ------is the "issue" Tom mentioned, an issue?

[pipedwho]

So, have you actually used the Crowdster with the Powerblend?

If so ------is the "issue" Tom mentioned, an issue?
I've never used the Powerblend pedal. I send the piezo output direct to my AER Compact 60 and the electric side to my Mesa Mk5/25. Separate volume pedals for each side.

I do a similar thing when I use the Line6 Helix where I send the magnetics to the guitar input and the piezo to the aux input. Then I set up patches to route things appropriately with only a bit of compression and EQ on the piezo, and all the fun stuff on the electric side.

From the Powerblend manual, it looks like it expects the Magnetics on Tip and the Piezo on the Ring, which is same as the C+2 (at least that's how my C+2 came wired from the factory). So in theory there shouldn't be a problem.

[GASMAN]

Ok , cool. Really appreciate your help on this.

[pipedwho]

So how are the CLEAN electric sounds? I've yet to play one.
They are very clean if you're not overdriving your amp, like the M-series pickups in a standard electric guitar. But, it's a magnetic pickup with acoustic strings, and acoustic phosphor bronze and 80/20 bronze sound a bit 'harsher' than soft nickel plated strings on a true electric guitar with M series pickups. The attack/decay profile of the notes is quicker/sharper like an 'acoustic', as compared to the more even long sustain notes that come out of a pure electric guitar with softer nickel plated steel strings. The wound G-string may be contributing here too.

Think of it like an acoustic guitar with magnetic pickups, rather than an electric guitar with a piezo pickup. The magnetic pickups are voiced so it sounds like an electric guitar (more in the country twang 'Super-Tele' camp rather than the glassy single coil 'Strat' camp if that makes sense), especially the magnetic bridge pickup. So it's obvious when you change from piezo to magnetics.

These don't sound anything like acoustic guitar magnetic sound hole pickups that still sound very 'acoustic'. The magnetic neck pickup is closer to the jazzy sound of a semi-hollow guitar, but less 'smooth'. Although, you could probably turn down the treble to get it sounding like a smooth jazz pickup. But, the tone controls on the guitar only affect the piezo pickup, so you have to use an outboard EQ/tone shaper of some sort if you want to do that.

[GASMAN]

Interesting. Didn't realize that about the tone controls, only on the acoustic side.

Mainly be used for blending anyway ( I think ).

[Pietro]

The magic you can make with a C+ is astounding. Mine has been my main guitar for 11 years now!

The description above is spot on. It’s an acoustic with electric pickups, but because of those heavy strings, the electric sound is POWERFUL. Very Gretsch-ey imho, and sounds fantastic clean or dirty imho. Super high gain is possible but not ideal imho (probably because of the hollowness of the guitar).

Here it is with Helix. Crowdster Plus 2 and Helix are a marriage made in heaven imho.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EFCbOgKPaHw

[Pietro]

Another example.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xYnG_jeOQHc

[GASMAN]

That's awesome Peter! Love your stuff.

[Pietro]

Crowdster Plus is my secret weapon. And with Helix and great acoustic IR (I use 3 Sigma and some I made from DTAR Mama Bear), I don't even mic up my guitar in the studio much anymore.

[gibson5413]

Sounds fantastic! I want a Crowdster so badly!