I really appreciate Don's very complete and systematic way of going through the unit and its sounds. For me, this review left no questions unanswered - thanks! The only thing I'd recommend for the next similar review is to either use a piezo-equipped guitar for the demo, or else to double up and use 2 different guitars with different types of pickups towards the tail end of the video. Some folks just aren't accustomed to hearing a magnetic pickup and might dislike the Transit-A for reasons actually related to disliking the sound of the magnetic pickup.
Really sweet tones and options.. I almost wish it carried a looping function to keep my gear limited.. but loopers are ubiquitous and quality sound with fedelity is fleeting.. nice J-45 and an excellent review.. Namaste
Don, thank you! I always love your reviews of products. I personally own the Fishman TonedeQ and use it for my Tak 12 string and I have a Transit A I use with my Tak 6 string. the fisherman is a great product as well but the only disappointment is having reverb and delay tied to the same pedal switch. it works fine for my 12, but on my 6 string I need more flexibility. Don, are you going to review the new Line6 Pod Go? I would be very interested in your take on that new bad boy hitting the streets finally in May of 2020
I have several Trace Elliot amps (Velocette, Acoustic Cube, Power Cube, & a Combo Bass Amp), so clearly I like the brand. This looks cool and the pricing is comparable to similar units, but it is missing compression and an option to add an expression pedal. Not sure if I want to commit. TA sold three individual pedals (chorus, compressor, eq) in the 90s, I wish they would have integrated their compression unit into this pedal.
About compression (for me, too, that is/was the "missing piece"), I spoke with a guy at Trace Elliot and he informed me that there is actually certain amount of gentle compression (gain-setting-dependent) built in. I suggested he have that added to the specs, and he did. See www.traceelliot.com/#transit-a in the main copy ("built-in compression"). Obviously it would have been preferrable to have some knobs to set onesself, but having a small touch of compression is all I want, anyhow. So I'm thinking of giving this unit a try.
Actually, the gain control is a non-clipping circuit that includes a compressor. The higher the gain, the more the compression. It's set up with the boost before the gain, even though the knob is after it. That way, you can set the boost to hit the compressor a little harder to make your lead work come out a bit more and add sustain. It works brilliantly!
great sounding pre. Used aT Acoustic amp back in the naughties, it sounded quite natural and was easy to eq. These effects sound very good too, too often acoustic effects sounded cheap, but I like this.
The M1 is a great pickup, especially for easy install and removal. I have the LR Baggs Anthem in another guitar and I've had amazing results with it. Thanks, DC
Hi, Josh. If you're using the DI outputs on this it will need to run into a mic preamp anyway, so nothing wrong with using the ART if you like how that sounds. Thanks for your interest! Charlie Davis, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1320, charlie_davis@sweetwater.com
Hi, Leeallicat. The Transit A gives you a DI output so that you can run directly into a PA, but it does also have standard 1/4" outputs if you want to run into an acoustic amp. Thanks for your interest! Charlie Davis, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1320
Mains Blanches A great, very natural- sounding 2-channel preamp is the Red-Eye Twin made by Fire Eye. They can also customize it to handle a K&K Trinity system (internal mic with phantom power plus the Pure Mini transducers). I own a normal twin and a custom one, and love the sound for every guitar and pickup I have, including my mandolin.
There actually is compression in the pedal. It's set with the gain knob; when you turn up the gain, the knob turns from green to yellow as the compression kicks in, and then it turns to red when it distorts from too much gain. If you don't want compression, you just keep the gain in the green and turn up the output volume. You can't fine tune the compression ratio/attack/release, but the way it's tuned works great for acoustic guitar; I use the pedal all the time for my acoustic and wouldn't want to gig without it.
You'd have to also hear it with a good piezo pickup to truly judge the sound, since any magnetic pickup will sound a bit different (and perhaps unnatural) to those not expecting that sound. I checked out a couple other reviews of the pedal that reveal the sound to be quite fine, except that the effects are a bit digital-sounding.
I really appreciate Don's very complete and systematic way of going through the unit and its sounds. For me, this review left no questions unanswered - thanks! The only thing I'd recommend for the next similar review is to either use a piezo-equipped guitar for the demo, or else to double up and use 2 different guitars with different types of pickups towards the tail end of the video. Some folks just aren't accustomed to hearing a magnetic pickup and might dislike the Transit-A for reasons actually related to disliking the sound of the magnetic pickup.
Just bought this great video
Really sweet tones and options.. I almost wish it carried a looping function to keep my gear limited.. but loopers are ubiquitous and quality sound with fedelity is fleeting.. nice J-45 and an excellent review.. Namaste
Don, thank you! I always love your reviews of products. I personally own the Fishman TonedeQ and use it for my Tak 12 string and I have a Transit A I use with my Tak 6 string. the fisherman is a great product as well but the only disappointment is having reverb and delay tied to the same pedal switch. it works fine for my 12, but on my 6 string I need more flexibility. Don, are you going to review the new Line6 Pod Go? I would be very interested in your take on that new bad boy hitting the streets finally in May of 2020
I have several Trace Elliot amps (Velocette, Acoustic Cube, Power Cube, & a Combo Bass Amp), so clearly I like the brand. This looks cool and the pricing is comparable to similar units, but it is missing compression and an option to add an expression pedal. Not sure if I want to commit. TA sold three individual pedals (chorus, compressor, eq) in the 90s, I wish they would have integrated their compression unit into this pedal.
About compression (for me, too, that is/was the "missing piece"), I spoke with a guy at Trace Elliot and he informed me that there is actually certain amount of gentle compression (gain-setting-dependent) built in. I suggested he have that added to the specs, and he did. See www.traceelliot.com/#transit-a in the main copy ("built-in compression"). Obviously it would have been preferrable to have some knobs to set onesself, but having a small touch of compression is all I want, anyhow. So I'm thinking of giving this unit a try.
Actually, the gain control is a non-clipping circuit that includes a compressor. The higher the gain, the more the compression. It's set up with the boost before the gain, even though the knob is after it. That way, you can set the boost to hit the compressor a little harder to make your lead work come out a bit more and add sustain. It works brilliantly!
Michael Smith Thank you for the valuable clarification.
i agree- no compressor is a deal killer
great sounding pre. Used aT Acoustic amp back in the naughties, it sounded quite natural and was easy to eq. These effects sound very good too, too often acoustic effects sounded cheap, but I like this.
Now what do you guys at @sweetwater think? This or the Tech 21 Acoustic Flyrig?
great demo
i just bought a LR Baggs Para DI / PRE / EQ. I need effects.. how would this affect me with 2 pre amps?
How do I get this pedal? I'm from Peru
Can u show me how u have this set up and setting ??? What sound system
Can these only be used through a pa or are there other options? TIA
Don....I also have a J45. Do you like the Baggs M1 in it as opposed to a piezo like the Baggs Element?
The M1 is a great pickup, especially for easy install and removal. I have the LR Baggs Anthem in another guitar and I've had amazing results with it.
Thanks,
DC
Sweetwater Thanks. Would the Anthem also work for the J45?
Nice review. Would it be dumb to run this into a Tube MP tube preamp before going into the mixer?
Hi, Josh. If you're using the DI outputs on this it will need to run into a mic preamp anyway, so nothing wrong with using the ART if you like how that sounds.
Thanks for your interest!
Charlie Davis, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1320, charlie_davis@sweetwater.com
Xounds amazinggg :o !
can it be played through a normal amp or speaker cabinet?
Hi, Leeallicat. The Transit A gives you a DI output so that you can run directly into a PA, but it does also have standard 1/4" outputs if you want to run into an acoustic amp. Thanks for your interest!
Charlie Davis, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1320
Price?
Don you sold me.
About $400.00...good pricing!!...to bad we can't mix two pickups!!...hard to find good external dual source preamps!!...
Mains Blanches A great, very natural- sounding 2-channel preamp is the Red-Eye Twin made by Fire Eye. They can also customize it to handle a K&K Trinity system (internal mic with phantom power plus the Pure Mini transducers). I own a normal twin and a custom one, and love the sound for every guitar and pickup I have, including my mandolin.
costs 300
Why choose a guitar with a magnetic pickup, most acoustic guitars have a piezo pickup system.
Bummer no compressor!
There actually is compression in the pedal. It's set with the gain knob; when you turn up the gain, the knob turns from green to yellow as the compression kicks in, and then it turns to red when it distorts from too much gain. If you don't want compression, you just keep the gain in the green and turn up the output volume. You can't fine tune the compression ratio/attack/release, but the way it's tuned works great for acoustic guitar; I use the pedal all the time for my acoustic and wouldn't want to gig without it.
Its pronounced Peeyetzo, not Paizo.
sounds distorted
To sterile sounding. Un-natural.
You'd have to also hear it with a good piezo pickup to truly judge the sound, since any magnetic pickup will sound a bit different (and perhaps unnatural) to those not expecting that sound. I checked out a couple other reviews of the pedal that reveal the sound to be quite fine, except that the effects are a bit digital-sounding.