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So I am repairing a 1950 Martin T-15 ten-string uke, all mahogany, which I've also seen referred to as a "tiple" although I understand that term can apply to several different instruments. The original bridge is cracked and lifted so I need to make a new one and glue it on; it has some heavy play wear and scuffs in the finish, but I will probably not refinish it.

There is already a hole where an endpin may (or may not) have been, and the owner would like to enlarge it slightly to install a jack for a pickup. You uke guys - what pickup would you recommend for this instrument?

Pics will follow shortly...

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

Hi Erik.
Best ones I know of (and heard of) are D-TAR, Fishman, L.R.Baggs and K&K.
Frets.com has a tutorial how to install. Just shorten (snip) the undersaddle sensor wire to fit.
When you solder up, make sure the terminals don't touch the outer cover of the endpin jack assembly.
If you want some info about the instrument, Chuck Fayne is the man to ask.

Cheers Hip.

Thanks Hip - I'm familiar with those systems, I've installed several undersaddle systems, just never in a uke.



You're saying that I could take a piezo wire for a guitar, and just clip a bit off the end to fit the uke saddle slot?!?! I assume this would not work with a flat piezo-crystal type of sensor....

I'm mainly interested in whether undersaddle systems are preferred to soundboard transducers for ukes, or vice verso - our uke player is currently playing a nylon 4-stringer with a passive undersaddle, and we already have to roll off the highs quite a bit at the soundboard. This 10-stringer with steel strings will have even more zing I imagine.

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

Erik. I'm probably wrong about snipping the end. Now that I think of it my pickup was made for a uke. Hope I didn't put you on the wrong track.

This article by Liutaio Mottola is worth reading.

All the manufacturers I mentioned make pickups for ukes.

Cheers Hip.

This 10-string uke actually has steel strings instead of nylons - and I will probably go with a passive system rather than an active system.

Would an undersaddle transducer (Fishman) have too much zing, or not?

Would a soundboard transducer (like the K&K Twin Spot) be preferred in this case?

I don't have a preference either way - would just like something that would sound good without using a preamp.

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....