#16
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Maybe the LR Baggs Lyric would fit the bill.
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#17
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I had thought about the Lyric. The price of it in the UK tends be be a touch higher than I wanted to spend, but it turns out there's an eBay seller with a better price.
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Gibson G45 Standard 2020 Eastman E1OM 2021 Cedar/Rosewood Parlour 2003 (an early build by my luthier brother) Also double bass, electric bass, cittern, mandolin... |
#18
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I had very good results with a Trance Amulet M in my J45. But I'm a fanboy of that pickup regardless of instruments. I run them through a Grace DI and find I can pretty much amplify my acoustic tone as close as anything I've ever tried.
Did you remove the Elements wire from under the saddle and replace it with a new full contact bone saddle? That'll help your acoustic tone in my experience.
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Steve |
#19
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Quote:
And I did take out the undersaddle pickup and fit a bone saddle, it's definitely done good things for the acoustic tone. I've just ordered a Schatten HFN as there are several demos of those sounding good on Gibson style guitars, so I'm hoping that works out for me,
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Gibson G45 Standard 2020 Eastman E1OM 2021 Cedar/Rosewood Parlour 2003 (an early build by my luthier brother) Also double bass, electric bass, cittern, mandolin... |
#20
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It's more natural sounding than the K&K but probably less reliable. Let us know once you get it installed you if you like it. |
#21
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Quote:
The Schatten just misses the bridgeplate alignment hole, and I used the tape to install it. I've only had a quick listen in headphones so far, but nothing stands out as bad in terms of string balance or extraneous noises. The highs are a little crispy, but headphones are a very unforgiving way to listen and it would probably be fine through speakers in a room. Now to figure out which of the preamps I have around works best with it...
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Gibson G45 Standard 2020 Eastman E1OM 2021 Cedar/Rosewood Parlour 2003 (an early build by my luthier brother) Also double bass, electric bass, cittern, mandolin... |
#22
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I like your method of troubleshooting. Sensible.
If HFN doesn't work, you could consider the process below that I made up on the spot. Give the 4 sensor K&K a try. 1. Sand the bridge plate flat with the 220 grit sandpaper. 2. Install 3 discs in the customary location and leave one hanging. 3. Listen through headphones and the PA for string balance. If you like what you hear, tie up the 4th and quit! 4. If one of the strings is weak, you can install the 4th where needed to supplement. I have a D-28 Marquis that needed a 4th disc for the high e. Worked great. or Get an LR Baggs HiFi and turn the treble down. The sound is a bit better than the sonitone/element. Some LOVE it. I found it "good." or Get a Fishman Matrix, Baggs LB6, Barbera, or the new Go Acoustic pickup/mic. Passive is fine if you have preamps. They are either harder material, or imbedded within the saddle and sound better acoustically, and amplified to my ears.
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"Lift your head and smile at trouble. You'll find happiness someday." Last edited by martingitdave; 05-02-2024 at 02:19 PM. |
#23
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I've been tweaking things with the HFN.
-I tried mounting it with tape on all three legs, which was much too bright and the low E was quieter. -I then tried putty on all three legs, which mellowed the high end but kept the low-E imbalance. -Right now I'm trying putty, but mounting with the outer two legs only, which sorts the string balance, but is now lacking a little clarity in the high end. It's promising though, it recognisably has some of the character of the guitar rather than a quacky piezo tone, just slightly blanketed. So I have high hopes that keeping the two-leg mounting, but using tape might be the way for this guitar. I'm also puzzling over Schatten's instructions about when to use the putty vs tape. They say the putty transmits more highs, and I'm hearing just the opposite.
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Gibson G45 Standard 2020 Eastman E1OM 2021 Cedar/Rosewood Parlour 2003 (an early build by my luthier brother) Also double bass, electric bass, cittern, mandolin... |
#24
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Looks like I've sorted it! I mounted the HFN one more time, this time with tape on the outer two feet only. I also tried a couple of different preamps - a Baggs Gigpro and a K&K Pure Preamp. I thought the Baggs might be the one since it's 10M input impedance (as Schatten say theirs are), but actually the K&K works better for me. The EQ on the Gigpro is quite quirky, doesn't sound at all flat at centre, and complements some pickups better than others.
With the current mounting of the HFN, into the Pure Preamp with the mids down a little and bass up a tad, it's really quite likeable for a direct pickup signal, good balance, nothing harsh or boxy going on and has at least a bit of the vibe of the guitar unplugged.
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Gibson G45 Standard 2020 Eastman E1OM 2021 Cedar/Rosewood Parlour 2003 (an early build by my luthier brother) Also double bass, electric bass, cittern, mandolin... |