Wireless recommendations

[gibsonjunkie]

I have 4 Guild acoustics all with the DTAR Multisource pickups (As well as a couple non-Guilds with the same). I've had little luck finding a wireless system that works with this system. Has anyone found a setup that works? I got the Line 6 G10 and that ended up being a disaster for a bunch of reasons, starting with it not working on acoustics, and ending as a piece of junk.

Thoughts?

 

[plaidseason]

Hopefully this doesn't come across as excessively negative or snarky, but I mostly hate wireless. I think if you're a touring musician with your own crew, it's probably a great way to go. It's my opinion that for the rest of us, it's just opening up more room for trouble than its worth. I've heard more than a few statements of similar hatred from in-house folks in the 150-1500 cap room, for the the same reason.

Plus, I'm Catholic/catholic, and when I plug in a guitar, I like that I'm participating in the ancient traditions of the church.

 

[fronobulax]

I have 4 Guild acoustics all with the DTAR Multisource pickups (As well as a couple non-Guilds with the same). I've had little luck finding a wireless system that works with this system. Has anyone found a setup that works? I got the Line 6 G10 and that ended up being a disaster for a bunch of reasons, starting with it not working on acoustics, and ending as a piece of junk.

Thoughts?

Help me out here.

My understanding of a wireless system is that it just replaces the cord. You plug your guitar into an amp or you plug your guitar into a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver into your amp and you basically get the same thing.

So when you say "doesn't" work with the DTAR, what do you mean? There is a physical problem connecting a wireless transmitter to the endpin? It sounds better with the cord? The DTAR picks up "interference" when wireless that it doesn't pick up when corded? The DTAR preamp generates interference that interferes with the wireless? Something I have not thought of?

Thanks.

 

[gibsonjunkie]

It is my understanding that "Active" or preamp style pickups don't always work. I found that to be the case with my G10 - it just didn't work on my acoustics. When I tried to use a different brand transmitter at a studio a couple weeks ago, that one did notwork either. We had to plug in hard-wired in order to make things go. I've taken to reading reviews to see if there is a better one for these pickups, but have not heard much good, so I thought I check here to see if anyone is actually using a wireless system that is proven to work.

Oh, and I realize I'm showing my ignorance in this... I'm not necessarily even asking the right question; hence my post.

 

[fronobulax]

I asked because I know of no technical reason why a wireless system should not work. This is a chance for me to learn.

The general question "do wireless systems work with active pickups?" seems to have Yes as an answer which is not your impression.

Some active systems are "too hot' for the wireless and so the active system needs to be attenuated in some way. That is usually adjusting lowering the volume or sending the output through another preamp.

Some active systems interfere with the wireless and the solution seems to be better shielding.

Specifically on your G10 is seems as if there is sometimes a polarity issue that can be fixed by swapping wires on the guitar's output jack.

https://line6.com/support/topic/20888-attention-g10-owners/ and read until you see

I rewired the output jack on the RGIR27FE (basically switched the audio ground and battery ground) and solved the issue.

I'd like to think you could make the G10 work for you although it might not be a "plug and play" solution.

 

[ReevesRd]

I used a Boss WL-20 when I was teaching my guitar class. I never had a problem. However, I read that some guitars are not compatible.
https://www.boss.info/global/products/wl-20_wl-20l/





Wireless can pick up interference from other wireless devices. I once had a wireless microphone taken out by wireless communication devices at an event. Both were using the same signal. I didn't make that mistake again.

 

[Maguchi]

Hopefully this doesn't come across as excessively negative or snarky, but I mostly hate wireless. I think if you're a touring musician with your own crew, it's probably a great way to go. It's my opinion that for the rest of us, it's just opening up more room for trouble than its worth. I've heard more than a few statements of similar hatred from in-house folks in the 150-1500 cap room, for the the same reason.

Plus, I'm Catholic/catholic, and when I plug in a guitar, I like that I'm participating in the ancient traditions of the church.

Help me out here.

My understanding of a wireless system is that it just replaces the cord. You plug your guitar into an amp or you plug your guitar into a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver into your amp and you basically get the same thing.

So when you say "doesn't" work with the DTAR, what do you mean? There is a physical problem connecting a wireless transmitter to the endpin? It sounds better with the cord? The DTAR picks up "interference" when wireless that it doesn't pick up when corded? The DTAR preamp generates interference that interferes with the wireless? Something I have not thought of?

Thanks.

I asked because I know of no technical reason why a wireless system should not work. This is a chance for me to learn.

The general question "do wireless systems work with active pickups?" seems to have Yes as an answer which is not your impression.

Some active systems are "too hot' for the wireless and so the active system needs to be attenuated in some way. That is usually adjusting lowering the volume or sending the output through another preamp.

Some active systems interfere with the wireless and the solution seems to be better shielding.

Specifically on your G10 is seems as if there is sometimes a polarity issue that can be fixed by swapping wires on the guitar's output jack.

https://line6.com/support/topic/20888-attention-g10-owners/ and read until you see



I'd like to think you could make the G10 work for you although it might not be a "plug and play" solution.

I have a Carvin WG5 wireless system that I use at home for the convenience of being able to walk around the house when I'm plugged in and am wearing the guitar on a strap. It runs on 5.8 GHz band. It works great with all the passive electric guitar pickups I've tried it with so far, and also works fine with my three older acoustics and one classical with active piezo pickups. However it doesn't work (no sound) plugged into a newer Martin D-16 with Fishman Matrix VT Enhance electronics. Tried the Martin with a instrument cable and it works fine. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but I've tried the Martin 7 ways to Sunday and the cable works but the wireless doesn't work (no sound). And the wireless works fine with the other older acoustics. Conclusion, not all active piezo pickup systems work (no sound) with all wireless systems.

 

[GGJaguar]

Go old school (1965)!

 

[JohnW63]

Looks like the two above fixes just combine the two sections and have both grounds on one part of the plug. no more TRS, just TS, I guess.

 

[fronobulax]

I have a Carvin WG5 wireless system that I use at home for the convenience of being able to walk around the house when I'm plugged in and am wearing the guitar on a strap. It runs on 5.8 GHz band. It works great with all the passive electric guitar pickups I've tried it with so far, and also works fine with my three older acoustics and one classical with active piezo pickups. However it doesn't work (no sound) plugged into a newer Martin D-16 with Fishman Matrix VT Enhance electronics. Tried the Martin with a instrument cable and it works fine. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but I've tried the Martin 7 ways to Sunday and the cable works but the wireless doesn't work (no sound). And the wireless works fine with the other older acoustics. Conclusion, not all active piezo pickup systems work (no sound) with all wireless systems.

I wonder if you have the polarity problem cited above and thus a fix could be as simple as an adapter, if you choose not to rewire.

 

[Maguchi]

I wonder if you have the polarity problem cited above and thus a fix could be as simple as an adapter, if you choose not to rewire.

Well the example cited above was converting a TRS to TS. Both the output jack on the guitar (female) and the input on the wirelss (male) are 2 conductor TS. A two conductor TS instrument cable works. I think there's something more to why it doesn't work. But I don't wan't to spend time or money experimenting or buying adapters or parts, so I'll just use a cable.

 

[The Retro Rocker]

I've been using wireless for my live shows since the 80's. My first was a Nady unit that lasted me 20 years! (I met John Nady when we played at a club he opened in an old warehouse in Oakland in the 80s.) Then, when that finally died, I bought an Audio Technica unit that worked well for a a long time, until recently when I wanted to just simplify my entire set up. (I play acoustic and electric) So I bought a Katana Artist 100 MK II amp that has different amp channels, including one dedicated acoustic guitar channel, and it's already pre-loaded with all the Boss effects I would ever use. And I researched the "new wave" of wireless for guitars and thought this one was the easiest, and the best, for my needs. Simply plug the little transmitter into the guitar, and plug the little receiver into the amp. It pairs automatically and it sounds great. And it has it's own little case that will charge it. They have either 2.4 GHz or 5.2GHz. I recently did a solo show where they just plugged the reciever into the D.I. and ran it to the board, and it worked great.

 

[MLBob]

As the user of a multi source, passive acoustic pickup system, what I’m hearing as the OP‘s problem is how to adapt a multi source signal to a wireless 1/4” stereo jack that doesn’t allow the blended signal to transmit - as one TRS ring is going to be carrying the wireless signal. If one needs to use a TRS instrument cable with such a system, pretty much all of the 1/4” plug, receiver/transmitter options are out.