Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm in the process of prepping a couple of instruments for a client on the east coast (a parlor and an SJ), and I was hoping to get some feedback (no pun intended) regarding pickup systems.

The client currently plays a Gibson Dove with stock electronics (piezo). He loops quite a bit, laying down rhythm tracks with top tapping and muted strings. He also uses distortion and a feedback reducer (soundhole cover). This is his solo setup. A piezo works great for this.

His new band setup is fairly straightforward, primarily fingerpicking, some strumming, clean tones. A blended system would work good for this.

I've had good luck with the LR Baggs element active system (piezo only), but we're looking for more flexibility. He likes the Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend system, but a traditional soundhole cover may not be able to be used due to the control setup.

I like the idea of the iBeam system, but adhering a pickup to the underside of the soundboard sounds like a recipe for disaster for an active player. I've had issues in the past with the little velcro battery bag that comes with these (subsequently replaced with a metal holder), and I don't want there to be a situation where something else comes loose during a show.

Any ideas for getting the best of both worlds?

Here's another conundrum - I need to get the instruments out to UPS this week. Any and all feedback (that darn pun again...), observations, questions, and opinions are welcome! Bring it!

Thanks!

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Anthony J. Lembo
Lembo Custom Guitars - www.Lemboguitars.com

There is some info on pick-ups here.
viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=29050

I'm not a fan of any acoustic pick-ups,
especially ones with battery sacks.
i think the fishman blend would be good though.
I think it has a battery in the end-jack.
I might try one someday.
Good luck, and don't stress!

Do you want one system for all those applications or is one guitar for the percussive playing and one for the cleaner fingerstyle?

One thing I love about K&K pickups is that even with the dual source Trinity, there's no need for an internal battery and preamp so there is very little to go wrong. The transducers are super-glued to the bridge plate and should hold up fine for aggressive percussive playing. The percussive sound however is not very bright but that's a plus for me when it comes to the natural sound you want for fingerstyle/strumming. I've wondered about adding transducers in other spots, right on the spruce for more percussion. I assume you would want that to be a separate channel though. Deiter is the person to talk to at K&K and he might have more ideas.

I talked to a very good player recently with similar needs and he highly recommended the Amulet. I have no personal experience with it though. Let us know what you come up with.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Thanks!

I'm looking for one system for all of those applications. I'll install the same system in both instruments. The more flexibility he has, the more likely he'll be using the instruments live (which is one heck of an endorsement). It also needs to be easy to use and reliable. I figure a piezo needs to be half of the equation, due to the success he's had with them. One of his bandmates uses the Fishman Matrix in his instruments, so a piezo only system probably won't cut it as far as the band goes.

I'll give Deiter a call tomorrow. Thanks Alan and Kent!

Anthony

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Anthony J. Lembo
Lembo Custom Guitars - www.Lemboguitars.com

If you can get it in time, the new LR Baggs Anthem seems to be the best of both worlds. Here is a link to their site. Be sure to listen to the sound sample with headphones. It has an amazing sound and the folks at LR Baggs tell me that feedback has not been an issue.

http://lrbaggs.com/anthem/index.htm

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Dan

I have no experience with this product, but it is a ribbon with an outboard preamp, maybe worth a look.
http://www.pick-uptheworld.com/

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http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

Thanks everyone. I ordered two Anthem systems. Should be in today. Seems like a good fit.

Thanks again!

Anthony

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Anthony J. Lembo
Lembo Custom Guitars - www.Lemboguitars.com

Please post how you like the anthem, I need to make a pick-up decision myself. The publicity is huge on this. T