Jay Gaunt
12 posts
Jun 20, 2011
12:17 AM
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Hey guys,
I've been meaning to purchase a Kinder Anti-feedback pedal for years now. However, the extremely long wait and high price have constantly been hindrances. So, I was wondering if anyone owns one of those elusive stomp boxes and seldom uses it, or perhaps has an extra. External condition/appearance does not matter to me at all. As long as the guts, buttons, and knobs are in working condition, I will be happy.
I would be ecstatic to do business with any of you.
Jay
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gene
770 posts
Jun 20, 2011
2:18 AM
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I've been wanting one for a long time, too. I kept checking the "for sale" page here and kept checking E-Bay. It seems that if anyone has one, they want to keep it.
I finally gave up and ordered one (mailed a check)from Kinder Instruments on May 5. The check cleared my bank on May 11. I waited a while and called to see if they mailed it yet. They said they hold the orders 14 days to see if the check clears, and that they'd mail it by "the end of the week" (June 3 or 4). I waited 2 more weeks and called again to see if they mailed it. They said they've had some delay because of this or that and they would mail it at the end of the day.
They called me a few days later to tell me that it was "mailed today" (June 17). They were very apologetic and thanked me for my patience. They gave me a USPS Delivery Confirmation (tracking) number. I went to the USPS tracking page and plugged in the number. It says I sould get it today (June 20).
If you want one, I guess you'll have to pay the full price and wait a while, though I doubt you'll have to wait 7 weeks like I did.
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KingBiscuit
55 posts
Jun 20, 2011
5:15 AM
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@gene - your experience ordering an AFB+ is exactly the same as mine...but I ordered mine about 1.5 years ago. I'm guessing this is probably the norm for getting one but they (Kinder) say there are delays along the way to keep people from getting nervous or pissed off.
Once you have it, you will swear by it.
Dan
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2011 5:16 AM
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tmf714
681 posts
Jun 20, 2011
5:40 AM
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I have one for sale on ebay right now-I will let the auction run until the end-if I don't get what I want for it,I will contact you.
Tom Fiacco.
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2011 5:41 AM
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12gagedan
72 posts
Jun 20, 2011
6:47 AM
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My experience was similar. I was initially afraid of the "long wait" so I mentioned it to Rod Piazza at a show. He had an extra one for sale (prototype) and I bought that. Being the type of person who likes to have everything backed up, I sent my money for a new one. Had it shipped to my dad in CT, to avoid sales tax in CA. Anyway, it took a bit, but it came shiny and new, a few weeks later.
The feeling I get is that Kinder's not much for the whole "running an online business" thing. He seems like a good, fair guy, though, and to my knowledge nobody's been screwed, so I say send it in and wait it out.
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"12gagedan" on youtube
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harpdude61
860 posts
Jun 20, 2011
8:47 AM
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Can someone share with us how this pedal works and does it do anything to tone, volume, etc..? HOw well does it work?
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tmf714
682 posts
Jun 20, 2011
8:58 AM
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I can get a HarpKing like sound out of any amp I plug into-it's unreal. I own a 4x10 HarpKing as well,but I use the AFB with my Danelectro Maestro for smaller venues. It cuts feedback tremendously,but gives you that horn-like tone of the HarpKing amp,along with greater voulme control.
You calibrate the unit to a specific initial setting-the unit adjusts itself to the built in variables of amplifier and mic-you will need to make adjustments if you switch between crystal and cm or cr mics.
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2011 9:01 AM
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garry
59 posts
Jun 20, 2011
6:44 PM
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i have one that's been sitting on the shelf for a long time. hated the whole battery thing, and it never sounded very good with my old peavey bandit. i hung onto it because it seemed like it ought to be useful. guess i'll have to give it another try with my newer amps.
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gene
772 posts
Jun 21, 2011
11:16 AM
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"a 1.5 month wait for a highly sought after item?
doesnt seem like a wait at all!"
No, it really isn't, but when you send $360 and are expecting prompt shipment, it seems like forever. I would not have minded the wait if I had gotten an e-mail, or a message up front on the website saying "Expect 6 to 8 weeks for delivery." But instead, I send the money and hear nothing. Questions arise:
Did the guy croak?
Did package get lost in the mail?
Have I been scammed?
A little communication would go a long way.
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Albey
11 posts
Jun 21, 2011
12:39 PM
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"I don't like the battery thing, either. Here's a tip I read somewhere: Buy a 1Spot power supply. It comes with two 9v battery adapters. Cut a notch in the case and attach those adapters to the battery wires."
I tried the 1Spot with the battery clips and it didn’t work with mine. I ended up getting four rechargeable 9 volts. I keep two in the unit and two in the charger and change batteries on Thursdays before I go to the club to setup for the weekend.
I am also looking for one also if any body is selling one. I would like to have a backup.
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Thanks,
Albey Scholl
The Shadows
Blind Willies Blues Club
Atlanta, GA
http://www.blindwilliesblues.com/
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timeistight
72 posts
Jun 21, 2011
3:43 PM
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I believe the AFB needs a bipolar power supply so two clips attached to one supply won't work.
I have heard of people using two supplies successfully.
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tmf714
684 posts
Jun 21, 2011
3:50 PM
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An e mail I received from David Brown-
The key here, AND THIS IS CRITICAL, is that the AFB+ MUST have the battery terminal leads run into power channels that are ISOLATED from each other. Other than that, you should be aware that altering the case, clipping the existing battery leads, or otherwise altering the AFB+ voids it's warranty. I found that there was enough space between the top and bottom sections of the case to allow me to run the cables out of the unit's metal case. I then connected 9V battery leads (purchased from the Voodoo Lab. See note below * ) to the leads hanging out of the AFB+. I wrapped them in electical tape nand then connected them into (2) 9 volt power outputs on my Pedal Power 2 unit.
Now I just use the unit as part of my effects chain. I still disconnect the AFB input&output 1/4" jacks out of habit.
*http://www.voodoolab.com/cables.htm
9V Battery Snap (straight)
PPBAT: $3.50 - Approximately 21” long, end-to-end.
Power Pedal 2 link: http://www.voodoolab.com/pedalpower_2.htm
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 3:54 PM
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gene
773 posts
Jun 21, 2011
10:43 PM
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Well, I got a bad tip, didn't I? I just got my AFB+ yesterday and voided my warrantee today by notching the case. I hooked up the 1Spot and sure enough, it didn't work. Makes no sense to me.
But thanks a zillion for the information about having to use two power supplies. I tried it and it works. I'm now battery free!!
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 11:19 PM
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gene
774 posts
Jun 22, 2011
12:39 AM
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I spoke too soon. I briefly plugged into it and saw the blue light come on and thought it was working. I plugged the thing into the amp and the blue light stayed on and I was getting no sound. I put the batteries back in...Same thing. I've already ruined the damn thing.
Edit:
Now I see what went wrong. One of the power supplies I used was 18v.
Last Edited by on Jun 22, 2011 12:45 AM
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Jay Gaunt
13 posts
Jun 22, 2011
11:43 AM
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Ugh, so I lost the ebay sale. (experienced ebay buyers r monsters). So, does anyone else have one for sale, or do I have to buy one from the man himself?
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Albey
13 posts
Jun 22, 2011
11:50 AM
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@tmf714
Thanks for the information on the Voodoo Lab Power supply. I will try that out when these batteries I bought go bad from recharging. I wonder if the Voodoo Lab will power my Boss Analog Delay DM-3? They don’t make the right power supply for them any more, it take an unregulated power. The power supply I am using now gets it working but the light is so dim you can’t see if it is on or off. Kind of sucks since I don’t use enough Delay to actually hear it, just enough to fatten the sound. I guess I will find out sooner or later.
On another note it looks like you made a killing ($375.00 plus shipping ) on your AFB+ auction. If I had to pay that much for one used I would have bought a new one just so I would have the warrantee. I guess they didn’t want to have to wait for John to get them one. LOL
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Thanks,
Albey Scholl
The Shadows
Blind Willies Blues Club
Atlanta, GA
http://www.blindwilliesblues.com/
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KingBiscuit
57 posts
Jun 22, 2011
12:02 PM
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@Gene - I have the Gator Powered Pedal board. The power supply has multiple 9V outputs. I have two 1 spot adapters and hope to convert from batteries to power. I'm assuming I will take up 2 X 9V ports on my power supply. Are you saying this hosed your AFB+?
I've wanted to do this for a while but just have not gotten the nerve to try it.
Thanks,
Dan
Last Edited by on Jun 22, 2011 12:09 PM
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LSC
1 post
Jun 22, 2011
12:12 PM
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I was keeping an eye on the AFB+ and kept revising in my mind what I'd pay for it. Thought it might be useful for when I have to use a strange amp. IMHO, it seems like one would have to have more money than sense to pay more than a new one cost, wait or not. But is it really going to actually make you play better? When it got to $350 I decided to pass.
Of course, there is an argument that as these things become legend they become an investment. Ferrari collectors will wait years for a new model. The damn thing is worth more than the purchase price the day you take delivery.
I've been playing pro and semi-pro for over 40 years. Played through all kinds of amps and PAs. Usually any problem with feedback vs volume has been cured by either moving from where I was standing a bit, turning something down, or giving the guitar player a clip 'round the ear hole.
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gene
775 posts
Jun 22, 2011
12:36 PM
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"Are you saying this hosed your AFB+?"
I was trying the suggestion above about using two different 9v supplies--one on each battery connector. I goofed. One of the power supplies I hooked up was an 18v supply. (I had forgotten I even had an 18v, so I didn't read the lable on it.) If not for that, I believe it would have worked fine.
QUESTION FOR ELECTRONICS PEOPLE:
If I put too much voltage into it like I did, is it predictable which resistor, diode or doodad I may have fried? Might this be an easy fix?
Last Edited by on Jun 22, 2011 12:38 PM
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tmf714
686 posts
Jun 22, 2011
12:39 PM
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I am happy with the price my AFB sold for-you can buy them for less than retail every once in a while-ebay is my preffered selling tool.
@LSC-it's not about making you a better player-it's all about feedback reduction and rounding out tone.
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KingBiscuit
58 posts
Jun 22, 2011
3:12 PM
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@Gene, thanks for the clarification.
I agree with TMF, the AFB is all about feedback control. In my case, I'm sure some, if not a lot of my feedback problems come from inexperience/poor cupping technique. The AFB takes care of a lot of feedback. I won't say it eliminates it, but I can get much louder with it than without it.
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Blueharper
183 posts
Jun 22, 2011
3:19 PM
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Any players out there use the AFB for harp specific amps? Namely the ones I own~Cruncher~Super Sonny 410.
Does this device enhance thier characteristics?
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garry
62 posts
Jun 22, 2011
7:44 PM
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i tried the one spot thing, but it didn't work, for reasons tmf mentioned above. john kinder told me i was lucky it didn't fry the thing. adding a pedal power 2 to power the thing adds another $150 to the cost, making it ridiculously expensive. i now just lower the stage volume and mic my amp when i need it to be louder than it can handle on its own.
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HarpNinja
1481 posts
Jun 22, 2011
7:50 PM
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So long as you unplug it when not in use, the batteries last for months. I've left it "on" for a day or two at a time on accident and it has still worked. I would never, ever, ever mod it for anything other than the battery use! I've had mine for at least 5 years, it looks like new, and it works perfectly.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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12gagedan
86 posts
Jun 22, 2011
8:21 PM
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I just got an HG35, and there is definitely a tone difference with the AFB+. I like it. I think the AFB+ enhances the awesomeness of the amp.
I may have finally used up the batteries currently in it. At least, I hope that's what happened. During my last show, the amp started making some gnarly noise. Only three possible culprits (AFB, BBE 2time, HG35). I'm going to have to troubleshoot next time I can get some time at home alone. You can hear the noise a bit on my latest (Ice cream Man) video. It almost sounds "cool" but something was definitely wrong.
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12gagedan's YouTube Channel
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gene
776 posts
Jun 22, 2011
8:35 PM
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"adding a pedal power 2 to power the thing adds another $150 to the cost..."
Two 9v adapters would cost about $20.
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KingBiscuit
59 posts
Jun 23, 2011
11:36 AM
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@12gagedan - you're probably right about AFB batteries. When the batteries started going low on my AFB, it started doing strange things. Cutting in and out, strange noises, etc. New batteries fixed it right up.
Dan
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garry
63 posts
Jun 24, 2011
8:05 PM
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@gene: maybe i'll have to give that a try sometime.
regarding the battery life, that's not the issue for me. it's that inside my gig case i have power strip, wireless receiver, and sometimes digitech, all lashed in place, and all preconnected. this way i can just plug in power strip, plug into amp, and i'm good to go. with the afb+ battery powered, i have to connect/disconnect its cables, no good. plus changing the batteries is not simple; you have to take the whole thing apart. it may be a great device, but its usability was poorly thought out.
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tmf714
689 posts
Jun 25, 2011
5:21 AM
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@garry-let me know if you are interested in possibly selling your AFB-thanks.
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KingBiscuit
60 posts
Jun 25, 2011
6:39 AM
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The battery life on an AFB+ is supposed to be very long. When my batteries went dead, I was unplugging the input side, but not the output side. I found out you need to unplug BOTH sides. Once I started unplugging both sides, I had batteries in there for a couple months or more. I started getting nervous and put new batteries in to be cautious. I put a volt meter on the batteries I pulled out and they still had 9.4 volts! When I saw that, I decided to just stick with batteries rather than fool with the 1 spot adapters and chance destroying my AFB+.
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2011 6:41 AM
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KingoBad
775 posts
Jun 25, 2011
9:25 AM
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Can someone sell the poor Jay a pedal?!?
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Danny
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2011 9:26 AM
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hvyj
1456 posts
Jun 25, 2011
9:56 AM
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"I just got an HG35, and there is definitely a tone difference with the AFB+."
This aspect of the AFB+ is either a blessing or a curse depending on the sound you are after. According to Kinder, the "+" is a circuit that's intended to enhance "crunch" which is okay if the player is into "crunch."
If a player prefers to set up clean, the AFB+ will mess with your tone and interfere with articulation. The bullet mic aficionados and those who like a dirty Chicago sound will find the AFB+ very appealing. Those who like to set up relatively clean will find that the AFB+ interferes with clean tone.
It all depends on what sort of sound the player is after. The AFB+ is very effective at contollling feedback. Whether or not you will like what it does to your tone is a different question.
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gene
782 posts
Jun 25, 2011
12:08 PM
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The minutes I had my AFB+ before destroying it, I could use one of the knobs to get that crunch or turn the knob down for a clean tone. How clean? I don't really know, but it seemed pretty clean to me. I used an SM57 and an Audix Fireball V. Of course I could tell the Audix was cleaner.
BTW:
I've been in contact with John. (The last I heard from him was two days ago.) I'm hoping he will sell me some replacement parts to fix my AFB+. Those parts don't cost but a dollar or two each.
Last Edited by on Jun 25, 2011 12:11 PM
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hvyj
1457 posts
Jun 25, 2011
1:48 PM
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You can adjust it so it's kinda sorta fairly clean, but clean is apparently not what it is designed to do, and it is certainly NOT optimum for that particular application.
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gene
848 posts
Aug 04, 2011
2:19 PM
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I thought I said this, but it ain't here. Maybe I posted in the wrong thread, but anyway:
I FIXED IT!! Works great!
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