Fire-Eye Red-Eye

High-end tone

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.

Easy to use. Natural acoustic sound.

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!

Pure Tone. Simple to use. Battery only.

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.