Greetings,

After struggling with stereo mode on my teak 10 string for several years I bought a Railboard with the Villex pickup. I run this in mono mode through a Hartke KB12 bass amp and I love it.

I really have no interest in going back to stereo mode. Being able to plug a regular guitar cord in, having only one effects chain, etc. makes everything so much simpler and reliable.

Just wondering: Are there any other fans of mono mode out there? What type of setup are you using? Are there any alternatives to the Villex pickup? Apparently they are no longer available. Has anyone heard if EMG will incorporate mono mode into their pickup any time soon?

Jerry

Well I know one who should be receiving his new EMG equipped Railboard just about now & who is looking for ideas about how best to get mono output from it, so I'll be interested to see what replies you get so I can pass them on!

Congratulations!. I'm envious. I ordered a RB, before I bought mine used, but cancelled the order because there was no mono option available.

Would this be any use?

ART SPLITMix4 – Four Channel Passive Splitter/Mixer?

I don't have one but I thought of it as when I got my bamboo Grand #5826 the seller included a few bits & pieces with the deal, one of which was an ART PowerMIX1. It seems to be an earlier model (& is a passive 4 channel mixer, despite the word power in the name).

you can always use TS to TRS adapter

like this

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-GPP-419-Fem ... r=8-3&th=1

Or SE sell a "Stereo-to-mono Practice Cable by CBI"

The description from that page in the shop is:


Maybe that "Not intended as a recording cable, this cable does have excellent shielding and noise characteristics" puts people off?

Some people want more than a simple device. I assume there's a reason for that? I'm no audio expert (but am always happy to be educated).

SPLITMix4 about 75 bucks. A stereo to mono jack, you can't really do any balancing in volume unless the vol. pots are full-out, been-there-done-that.

Not a fan of mono when it comes to Stick. The output impedance always takes a hit and you lose the fullness that each of the outputs has when output separately. With an outboard mixer it's not so bad in that respect but I like certain EFX on the melody strings only - and the bass strings only. And you can't do that in mono, especially if you're taking mono right off the pickup block. I'd actually like to take it one step further and have the 3 highest bass side strings and the 3 lowest bass side strings have their own 3 string pickup. There's such a wide spread of not only note range on the 5ths tuned bass side but also a huge difference in string gauge and therefore ferrous mass that with a single magnetic pickup, certain EFX like compression don't react across the bass side strings evenly. Also because of the way bass + accompaniment can be played on those strings with the left hand, if they were divided, the 3 high strings could be EQ'd and processed to have their own voice. True, a triple output instrument would add another layer of worms as far as EFX and routing but it could still be done with a small mixer and 2 powered speakers. Emmett actually talked about the "3rd voice" idea a lot and he achieved it with a pedal that could selectively sustain stuff as he played and then he'd play over it almost like a momentary looper. When I told him of my imagined three way split pickup. He said: "Great - go build it - and make me one while you're at it."

I'm very happy with the Helix Floor for my Railboard.

I'm using a stereo to mono cable with the Fender Mustang Micro for the Stick.

Hey Captain: Being a 12-string DBR player I've thought about that. A lot. Make me one too.