Harley Benton Custom Line Acoustic Preamp

141

Professional Preamp / DI Box for Acoustic Guitar

  • With reverb and chorus
  • Volume, bass, treble, gain, shape, phase controls
  • Ground / lift
  • Separate controls for reverb and chorus
  • Status LEDs
  • Instrument input with 510 kOhm
  • Line input
  • Outputs: jack / headphone / balanced DI XLR
  • Power supply via 9V battery or 9V DC power supply (not included, suitable power supply available under Art. 409939)
  • Power consumption: 110 mA
  • Dimensions: 128 x 93 x 58 mm
  • Weight: 435 g
Available since January 2018
Item number 420194
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Chorus Yes
Flanger No
Phaser No
Battery Operation 1
input/output configuration Mono in / mono out
Headphone Output 1
Show more

Try out the effects live

Test the actual effects in real time with our exclusive technology.

Start Stompenberg
$81
The shipping costs are calculated on the checkout page.
In stock
In stock

This product is in stock and can be shipped immediately.

Standard Delivery Times
1

Great sounds straight out of the box

Players of acoustic instruments don't always need a lot of gear to get the sound they want: Effective EQ controls, a few effects, and most importantly a good connection to the rest of their equipment is all it really takes. The Acoustic Preamp from Harley Benton's Custom Line checks all of those boxes, making it the ideal device for musicians to always have with them. First and foremost, the Acoustic Preamp ensures that the signal from the electrified acoustic instrument reaches the next stage in the chain, whether it's an acoustic amplifier or a mixing desk connected via the XLR output. An effects section with chorus and reverb, controls for bass, treble, and gain, and a "Shape" switch are also on board, allowing musicians to sculpt their sound just how they want it. And Harley Benton has packed all of this into a highly compact package.

Harley Benton Custom Line Acoustic Preamp

Comprehensive and compact

The Harley Benton Custom Line Acoustic Preamp is a compact, pedal-format preamplifier for electrified acoustic instruments (e.g. guitars, mandolins, violins, and cellos), which can be connected via the preamp's input jack. The two-band EQ section gives the player plenty of tonal flexibility, while the "Shape" switch provides that classic attenuation of the mids while simultaneously boosting the bass and treble frequencies. The chorus and reverb effects can be activated and deactivated via dedicated footswitches, and the phase switch inverts the signal phase, which is an effective tool for eliminating feedback in many situations. The Harley Benton Custom Line Acoustic Preamp also provides impressive connectivity: Alongside the 6.35mm input and output jacks, a line input and headphone output (both in 3.5mm mini-jack format) are provided in addition to a balanced DI output in XLR format. Power can be supplied by means of a 9V battery or an optional 9V adapter, the input for which is located on the pedal's rear side.

Harley Benton Custom Line Acoustic Preamp

Piezos a speciality

The Harley Benton Custom Line Acoustic Preamp can be used to enhance the sound of any acoustic instrument with a piezo pickup, since it optimises the signal from the instrument for further processing by the devices placed next in the signal chain. The "Shape" switch adds plenty of transparency and shimmer to the sound, which works particularly well when playing chord-based guitar or mandolin parts. When used live on stage, the Acoustic Preamp's effects and phase switch in turn also ensure a full sound and prevent feedback, respectively. The pedal's extreme portability means that players can have their sound with them wherever they go, so all that remains is to amplify the signal to sufficient volume. And as an added bonus, the line input allows MP3 tracks to be integrated, e.g. from a smartphone.

Harley Benton logo on the Custom Line Acoustic Preamp

About Harley Benton

Since 1998, the Harley Benton brand has been catering for the needs of numerous guitarists and bassists. In addition to an extensive range of stringed instruments, Thomann's house brand also offers a wide choice of amplifiers, speakers, effect pedals, and other accessories. In total, the range includes over 1,500 products. Built by established names in the industry, all Harley Benton products combine quality and reliability at attractive and affordable prices. The continuous expansion of the range ensures that Harley Benton always provides new, exciting, and innovative products that keep players perfectly in tune with the musical world, day after day.

An unbeatable practice companion

As described above, the Harley Benton Custom Line Acoustic Preamp is an excellent choice for live musicians looking for a universal signal processor for their acoustic instruments that provides the right connections to perfectly bridge the gap between instrument and amplifier or instrument and PA system. The Acoustic Preamp also comes into its own when used as a home practise amp, however: Alongside their instrument, the user can connect a pair of headphones and use the line input to play along to their favourite backing tracks while taking full advantage of the onboard effects.

141 Customer ratings

4.3 / 5

You have to be logged in to rate products.

Note: To prevent ratings from being based on hearsay, smattering or surreptitious advertising we only allow ratings from real users on our website, who have bought the equipment from us.

After logging in you will also find all items you can rate under rate products in the customer centre.

handling

features

sound

quality

98 Reviews

MM
My review on the HB Acoustic Pre.
Matias M. 05.03.2019
I needed something to raise the volume on my newly installed passive inexpensive shadow double piezo pickups on all my Gypsy Jazz guitars for a seamless non-intrusive no mod amplification solution for these instruments. Also I wanted it in pedal form for my portable pedalboard.

Piezos are generally very quiet, my Headrush pedalboard has some amplification at the input but it was not enough.

I decided to go for the HB Pre since it packs all the features I would need such as Gain, Tone, Volume plus DI balanced out and it has chorus and verb, which I won't be using much but is nice to have.

The quality of the pedal is good, the knobs feel very good, they have a bit of resistance when you move them. The box itself is metal, very sturdy pedal, as any other from Boss etc...

The sound quality is very good. Only if you raise the High tone all the way up you hear some noticeable hiss, but at 3/4 or less is silent (I have it at 3 o clock)

The unit's signal (tested with studio headphones) is very clean, is certainly usable. Every Pre amp in general will introduce a tad of hiss and I would say this unit is certainly clean enough to use Live and even in the studio.

The verb sound is not "the best" but it can be a fun FX if you're creative. Would work wonders in reggae since is kinda grainy.

The Chorus is VERY usable. Quite cool to use with an acoustic when set slow and almost not there.

The phase switch works, is just a phase switch.

I like you can switch everything in and out of the signal, in that way you can be sure the sound is clean and unprocessed if you need.

So, there you go. Give it a try if you are wondering. I will keep mine.
handling
features
sound
quality
11
1
Report

Report

G
I wasn't impressed
Gurteen 24.08.2018
Didn't like it. I'm sending it back!
I don't like the quality of the knobs. They feel cheap and move too freely.
I'm getting a very high pitched hum, which is irritating. it's soft but gets to you after a while.
I bought it because it has lots of features like Reverb, Chorus, EQ , Line in, D.I. out, headphone out. Too good to be true? It was! Reverb and Chorus are unusable, bad sound! I guess you 'gets what you pays for'. I'm gonna save up for a better D.I. I shop a lot with Thomann and have no complaints about their shop. I just don't like this product,
handling
features
sound
quality
9
1
Report

Report

mm
fair for the money
miguel mike 27.01.2022
silent pedal with a fair and balanced equalization but with a very poor quality chorus and distorts the sound when used. the reverb works ok but with a low quality sound. a very good construction pedal with good extras included. I use this pedal with an acoustic guitar and the reverb too connecting later to the front house using DI
handling
features
sound
quality
2
1
Report

Report

2
headphone "echo" and sounds
2bitwo 16.07.2023
Works nice with XLR and 1/4" output.
The headphone output makes a kind of echo and annoying sounds (not a hum or static). Obviously the headphone amp inside is defective.

I do not use the headphone output of the item but another one behind the XLR. But this is a stopgap.
handling
features
sound
quality
0
1
Report

Report

YouTube on this topic