Fire-Eye Red-Eye

I’m really impressed. Played my 97 Taylor with Baggs IMix & M80 through countless DIs and preamps, including an Avalon U5 (amazing but not compact by any stretch). For live, this will be it for me for a long time, I’m completely happy with the Red-Eye. Top quality tone and build, 5 stars. Worth every penny.

As usual, John is the best when it comes to information without spin and all around customer engagement and service. The Red Eye itself is simple, clean, takes 48v phantom power from a board or a 9 volt, and tames the occasionally hot passive pickup's beautifully. The boost button is very handy, and the treble helps with any stage induced bottom heaviness or old string dullness. Daren at Fire Eye is also extremely patient with noobs and was very helpful in understanding the "why" behind impedance, XLR vs 1/4, how to best connect to a small pedal chain, etc. Would be nice to have a mute button and an AC jack, but as Daren says, it either get's bigger or something else goes away. I guess I'll give the sound guy the cut sign, or walk to my amp and hit the mute button. And have a spare nine volt.

I'd been eyeing a K&K Mini pickup for some time, after buying a Larrivee from Shoreline. Shoreline's write-up for the K&K was encouraging the use of a Red Eye to bolster the pickup's sound, and my own ignorance of these matters led me to follow this advice. Boy, am I glad I did! The pickup is great, but the sound is subdued, muffled even, when used without a preamp. However, when I plugged into this Red Eye, what a difference. It sounded just like my Larrivee (high praise) only amplified. The natural sound and clarity came through crystal clear - and that with a mediocre amp. Frankly, it produces better sound quality than I ever expected, and I am playing with the sound on far more than I'd anticipated. I'm giving it all the stars!

I use the Red Eye with a LR Baggs M1A soundhole pickup. Previously I used a DI with low, mid, and high adjustable EQ, but still couldn't get a sound I liked. The Red Eye with only it's treble knob gives me a much truer sound. I also play lead as well as rhythm, and the adjustable boost gives me plenty of extra volume with room to spare. The only reason i am giving it 4 stars is because it is powered by 9 volt battery only. No option to use AC power without altering the unit. Except that it is a great sounding and easy to use unit.

Great for my acoustic guitar. Sound perfect.