Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 15 Oct 2009 7:23 am |
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I want to pass on my impression of the FreeLoader to people who may be interested.
http://www.sarnomusicsolutions.com/products/fl.html
My understanding is that this little box controls the resonant peak of the pickup--thus acting like a tone control-- and also buffers the impedance similar to what a Matchbox does. I was looking for something to shape the overall tone of my guitar, and the buffering was something I wanted, so long as it interacted well with my effects pedals (I use a pedal board with stomp box effects on it).
I've been using the Freeloader for about a week at home and with my band, and I am really happy with the results. This is not a dramatic effect, but it has really cleaned up the sound of my rig, and the tonal variations sound natural to the pickup, as opposed to sounding like highs are being rolled-off or highs are being added with gain. Again, it's a subtle improvement in that my guitar sounds natural, as opposed to buffered or attenuated, but at the same time it's a major improvement because the sound is better overall--better string separation, clarity, note definition.
I use an Emmons and an EMCI (both with single coils pickups) and a Fender Twin Reverb and a Peavey Session 400, and the Freeloader sounds good with both guitars and both amps. I use a Goodrich 120 pedal with the Dunlop pot. One of the things that I really like about the FreeLoader is that while it cleans up my sound it doesn't make my Goodrich 120 volume pedal sound like an active pedal. I like the sound of the 120, especially with the Dunlop pot, but when I've used Matchboxes they have changed the good character of my pot pedal, making it sound like it's active, which is something I personally do not care for. The FreeLoader interacts fine with my pedalboard, unlike some matchboxes and buffered pedals I have tried. I have used Matchboxes in the past, but I stopped using them because the buffering sounded a little harsh and unnatural to me, too gainy. I have also noticed this on some buffered pedals.
To me the FreeLoader sounds natural and adds clarity and little warmth, and the tone shaping sounds natural and works great. Overall this box has given my rig a better sound. I am really happy with the FreeLoader, and I think it's a keeper. I go through a lot of gear, but it's great when I find something that does what I want, sounds great and is easy to use. The design and build quality are excellent, and the red finish is very nice and looks really cool, especially against the black mica and chrome legs of my guitar. This is a very good, high quality, and elegant product. Thanks Brad! |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 15 Oct 2009 8:22 am
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Dittos to what Cliff said. I have a BL-712 (12-string version of the BL-710) on my Mullen U-12. The higher piched unwound strings can get a bit harsh and "bightey" sounding. Turning down the treble on my amps fixed that problem, but made the wound strings sound a little dull. Using the FreeLoader, I can control the resonant peak of the pickup, thereby controlling the harshness I was experiencing, without changing the tone of the wound strings. Allowing the low wound strings to ring clear without needing to turn down the treble to tame the unwound strings is such a huge factor to have control of. I, too, am using the FreeLoader with a Goodrich 120 pedal with one of Tom Bradshaw's Dunlop pots installed.
It's a great product.
_________________
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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