GEAR JOHN JORGENSON “I’ve tried to get a good acoustic sound onstage for 25 years, and this rig is the most consistent.” JURY OF PEERS JOHN JORGENSON ON THE SCHERTLER UNICO ACOUSTIC AMP WHO? Currently one of the foremost channel for dynamic contact mics proponents of acoustic Gypsy jazz, such as the Schertler DYN-G, a chan- Jorgenson also played acoustic and nel for piezos, and one for magnetic electric guitar with Elton John for pickups. many years. He was a founding mem- “The Unico also has multiple out- ber of twang kings the Hellecasters puts. There are aux and line outs that and country-pop-rockers the Desert can be used for recording or go to a Rose Band, and has performed and tuner or another amp, and an XLR recorded with dozens of major stars, direct out for going straight to the including Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, house board, so I don’t need a direct Little Richard, Sting, Bonnie Raitt, box. There’s also an insert for a volume Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., and pedal or effect. k.d. lang. Jorgenson also sings and “I use a Schertler DYN-G dynamic plays mandolin, violin, piano, and contact mic mounted on the face of saxophone. the guitar, combined with a small WHAT? The Schertler Unico is a Audio-Technica condenser mic 180-watt, bi-amplified acoustic mounted between the bridge and the combo amp with an 8" woofer and a 1" tailpiece. The DYN-G captures much dome tweeter, spring reverb, a lim- more of the character of the instru- iter, three outputs (DI, aux, line), and ment than any piezo or bridge pickup an insert. Its four inputs can accom- I’ve used before, and the combination modate nearly every type of mic, provides a really natural and warm transducer, or line-level signal. sound. I just plug in two things and JORGENSON’S GEAR Saga Gitane send the output to the house, and the DG-300 Modele John Jorgenson guitar, amp serves as a personal monitor. Takamine JJ325SRC John Jorgenson “I’ve been trying to get a good guitar, Gibson F5 mandolin. acoustic sound onstage for 25 years, TESTING ENVIRONMENT Touring and this rig is by far the most consis- the world for nearly two years, prima- tent. I’ve used it for 18 months, and rily with the John Jorgenson Quartet, now it’s like, ‘Where have these in support of his latest CD, Franco- things been all my life?’” American Swing [J2/FGM]. BEEFS “I don’t love the spring CHEERS “One of the things that I reverb. Schertler is very proud of it, like most about the Unico is that it but I would prefer digital reverb. It has four channels and functions like would also be great if the amp were a little mixer. There’s a channel lighter [laughs] because the new specifically for microphones, with airport regulations are more phantom power for condensers, a restrictive.” —Barry Cleveland • CONTACT INFO: Schertler USA, (866) 724-3785, schertlerusa.com 86 FALL 2005 • FRETS.