Official Luthiers Forum!

I went to install a K&K Ultra Pure Western system (internal preamp) in a guitar and was a little shocked at the preamp installation. They want you mount the preamp to the top, at the sound hole so a volume slider is accessible, the only real problem with that is the preamp weighs 80 grams!

I did some sound experiments with the preamp on the outside of the guitar and it's definitely enough mass to effect the acoustic tone of the instrument, it cut the "high frequency shimmer" out of all the notes.

Well, luck would have it I have a sound-port in this guitar, so I mounted the preamp just inside the sound-port on the back and the volume slider is right there for very easy access, all is well.

But really, what are they thinking? They want me to attach a 80 gram preamp to the top?

Just a heads up on that.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I have never used that pre (maybe a call to Dieter to see if they can possibly redesign) .. main reason is that if you have more than one guitar, you dont need additional expense of a pre for every guitar if you go outboard - plus the outboard gives you B/M/T and access to gain, no battery inside the guitar, and if you want/need, get the XLR as well ....

If you can reach to the sideport or soundhole to adjust volume, how much more difficult is it to reach to the guitar strap I figure ..

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"