Rane AP-13 Stereo Preamp

[edwardofhuncote]

I'm just posting this for discussion purposes... I used to have one of these back in my road days, but I honestly wasn't smart enough to get the most out of it at the time. Basically, it's a great acoustic preamp, for mixing two signals from a piezo and a microphone input. I mostly used it to tame gnarly upright bass sounds for bigger venues. Then I discovered easier ways. It was still great piece of gear I wish I'd kept.

https://reverb.com/item/67158555


So I'd love to have another, but I'm wondering if it could also be purposed with my Series basses? I'm thinking about some kind of way to take the two outputs of a DS-5 to the stereo input of this preamp, and use each channel for neck and bridge pickup, respectively. It would require some kind of RTS plug.

[lbpesq]

At that price it’s worth grabbing just to experiment.

Bill, tgo

[edwardofhuncote]

Used (they are all used now... discontinued decades ago) are often cheaper than this one, Bill TGO, I just grabbed the first one in my Reverb feed. They are getting harder to find.


I guess my question is more of a technical one. Can the two mono outputs of a DS-5 be combined into a type of Y with a stereo 1/4" ring-tip-sleeve connector this device can receive, then separate the two pickups back out? The way I understand/remember it, the flipswitch at the input sets whether the tip or ring is the mic or piezo source. In my scenario, that would be selecting bridge or neck signal.

[JimmyJ]

Interesting piece.  I never thought of Rane as particularly high-fi gear but I could be wrong.  Here's a manual:
https://www.ranecommercial.com/legacy/pdf/old/ap13man.pdf

I think of piezo pickups are very high-impedance and generally have an unusual frequency response - like, top-heavy?  I could see where a graphic EQ like this would be helpful to tame that.  And then to be able to blend in a mic is a cool idea.  Nice they include a phase switch because in my limited experience with acoustic bass I had two pickups which were 180% out of phase to each other.

So yes, a "backwards" Y-cable would work to get into this device from your DS-5.  Or if your instrument still has an old-style stereo 1/4" output jack, then a fully stereo TRS cable from the axe to the input would also work.

Again, I don't know what effect the impedance mismatch might have or if it would even matter, but it would be an interesting experiment.  Be careful to have the "mic phantom power switch" off so you don't inadvertently send some voltage up the line.

Jimmy J

[edwardofhuncote]

Thanks Jimmy J.   


Well, I'm kinda' watching for a decent one. It seems like lately I've somewhat returned to my upright bass roots, and there's an actual need for a suitable rig again. I got my pickup system mounted and working again last weekend, and it's just as quacky as I remember it. If one of these old AP-13 units could also be used for my Alembics, that'd be a bonus.

[kilowatt]

Greg,
There is one at the Louisville Music Go Round. Looks to be in great shape. $165.00 shipped. Let the testing begin!


Regards,
Pete

[jazzyvee]

Also one on Reverb UK.
https://reverb.com/item/53993812-rane-ap13-acoustic-preamp?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=53993812