Players' Comments
- If the Solstice was a box of Crayolas, it would be the 64-pack.
Danny Flowers
- Just used the Solstice for an acoustic show last night. It sounded fantastic.
We have been doing "last minute" acoustic shows (Al, Rob & myself) once a week for three weeks while we have been in NYC recording our next full band disc. It's a fun diversion and our fans really dig it. After the first two shows went so well, we decided to record one to see how it turned out. I played my Gallagher Doc Watson model straight into the Solstice and split the sends: the XLR out went to the PA mains and the 1/4" out went simultaneously to a MOTU Traveler (A/D converter) into Digital Performer on a Mac G4 Powerbook. It sounded very full and 3D for a piezo-only recording! The house engineer made a point of telling me how wonderful it sounded in the venue. I had a great time playing solo in dropped D tuning - what a sound!
I will let you know how the recording turns out. We only checked our soundcheck and Al had a short listen at setbreak to make sure the levels were groovy, but we may actually mix and release this as a disc or download.
Thanks again!
Chuck Garvey / moe.
- "In a world where more and more is making less and less sense,
the Solstice runs against the grain. If you have a pickup in your
acoustic guitar, plug in, if you like a microphone on your guitar,
plug that in too. You'll like the way you sound. Tell the man in
the black T-shirt where to take his XLR from, and then relax. If
you start to feel warm and fuzzy, don't worry, it's normal."
Colin Hay, Men
At Work
- "The Solstice Preamp replaced a huge rack of outboard gear
that I used to lug around and the Solstice sounds better. Way better.
I got a lot of comments on how clear I now sound. I was really surprised
at how flexible this setup is. Bigger is definitely not better in
this case."
David
Lindley
- "I believe I'm on my way to a full recovery from a recent food-induced
coma.
I made the gravy and the Brussels sprouts for TDay dinner. They
both kicked ass.
The Solstice™ kicks ASS! Did I mention that? I've used
it with my 60-year-old German upright bass which sports both a Fishman®
Full Circle piezo and a K&K® condenser mic. The phantom
power and phase features are crucial when using this particular
set-up. The blended tone of these two devices is quite good...clean,
full, and dynamically responsive.
Last month I took the Solstice on tour thru the southeast.
For all gigs where air travel is required I bring an Eminence® electric
upright bass, currently fitted with both the stock Realist pickup
and the Fishman Full Circle. I've always had a love/hate
relationship with this instrument and its amplified tone; it's a
well-built bass which plays nicely and is very easy to travel with
but I've always felt a bit handcuffed playing it. Now that I can
blend the two pickups on the bass I'm much happier with her tone.
Band members and several sound tech nerds commented favorably on
the new and improved tones on this last tour.
I'm able to leave the EQ settings on the Solstice just about flat.
I've never been able to do that before with the Eminence...
One suggestion -- perhaps future versions of the Solstice could
include a -10db pad for the balanced XLR out. The combined signal
from two piezos on my EUB is a bit too hot for some mixing consoles.
All in all, consider me extremely satisfied with the performance
and tone of the Solstice.
Thanks!"
Joe Kyle (Joe Kyle lives in San Francisco and plays upright bass
in the Waybacks!)
P.S. Has anybody designed a padded bag or case for the Solstice?
Editor's Note: It's
in the bag!
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