Well, the quest for "the sound" continues - I found another way to boost the signal a bit in the internal mic pre without the expense of that Joe Meek unit that I liked alot. ($250)
I have a small Rolls monitor mixer (PM350b) that boosts the gain through the HP out ... it's a tad dirty in the recording, but it sounds much better live. I'm taking it for a whirl tonight to lighten the load, and see if it helps enough.
Here's a rough (very rough) recording of Zac Brown's "Colder Weather" - I don't really know it well yet ... still brand new to me, but a cute waitress at work loves the song, so I try to oblige.
The overall level does have hints of distortion, but I didn't notice it as I was playing. I think in a live setting, it might be OK for these small cocktail jobs.
It's a simple "Standard 8 beat" played in full kb mode with bass inversion on - just piano and strings.
Please comment, but be gentle on arrangement, chords an such - like I said, I hardly know the tune, and I'm reading it it as I recorded it... and STILL managed to juxtapose a few lyrics ... grrrrr (HATE it when that happens!)
Enjoy!