All your thoughts on accoustic electrics

[Bob411]

Got my Tech 21 Bronzewood amp, son is loving it with electric guitar, looking at EAs now. Someone mentioned AEs, and piezo pups, are not all they are craked up to be, maybe get a full hollow instead. Brought the amp Sunday to family get together for Easter, one of my nephews brought his Wecheter Pathmaker. After some Googleing Wechter "blends a soundhole pup, piezo, and mic." So I still don't have any idea how just piezo sounds.

Greatest accoustic sound, for my tastes anyways, is solid rosewwod back, sides. What do you think of soundhole pups?

Already own the greatest semi hollow on the planet, or atleast the greatest in my price range, a Korean Washburn HB35 with Bryan Gunsher Lizzards.

Thanks.

[Denverdave]

There are some good soundhole acoustic pickups. Sunrise makes the best one. Another good one is the Fishman Rare Earth Blend that has a small mic attached to it and allows you to blend the two signals.

[Kerouac]

Having a mic to blend can definitely help things sound more natural. I used to do a lot of work with straight piezo > PA or piezo > interface and it worked. A blend of piezo, mic, and transducers is my favourite, but the mic/soundhole pickup has really grown on me.

[Tralfaz]

I installed a Fishman undersadlle pickup on my Martin D-28, but I've rarely used it. Just not crazy about the tone, which to my ears sounds thin and "plastic." Most of my acoustic work is solo stuff, so the piezo really stands out in an unpleasant way.

I'm not an expert by any means, but for preserving that rosewood sound a mic or a blend with a mic is the way to go.

[Mark Wein]

I installed a Fishman undersadlle pickup on my Martin D-28, but I've rarely used it. Just not crazy about the tone, which to my ears sounds thin and "plastic." Most of my acoustic work is solo stuff, so the piezo really stands out in an unpleasant way.

I'm not an expert by any means, but for preserving that rosewood sound a mic or a blend with a mic is the way to go.

I have a Fishman in my Guild that I don't love as well. I'd have to go with you on this one.

[Denverdave]

There are some better undersaddle pickups. Whatever they used in my Takamine sounds better than most - but Tak is pretty well know for their good acoustic electronics. LR Baggs makes some decent ones. B-Band makes some very nice ones, and does K&K Sound. Those would actually be my two top choices in an simple pickup (B-Band and K&K).

[jaxn slim]

I've heard some piezos at shows that sounded amazing. I don't know what they're doing, but it proves to me that it's possible to get a very impressive sound with one.

[Prages]

My Tak sounds pretty damned good plugged in.

The Seagull 12 string I got recently has a Fishman that has both an undersaddle piezo and a soundhole mic that you can blend. It also sounds pretty good plugged in.

That said, when I'm recording, I rarely use a direct line on the acoustic tracks. I almost always use two condensor mics.

[Modern Saint]

I want to get a Fishman under saddle for my Classical and maybe a soundhole piezo for the Mando in the future.

[Knox in Box]

http://hc.bloodyvelvet.com/files/131/Never%20Going%20Back%20Again%20(cover).mp3

This was just the shadow undersaddle piezo that I installed on my Yamaha Ld-10 a couple of years ago.

Specs of the guit:

Top: Solid White Spruce
Back / Sides: Indian Rosewood
Neck: African Mahogany
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
Bridge: Indian Rosewood
Body Depth: 100-125mm
Color(s): Natural
Finish: Urethane

This model: (well, the new model of what I have)
http://www.thomann.de/de/shadow_sh1110.htm

[Prages]

This is what's in my Seagull 12 String.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_acoustic/Fishman_pickups/Fishman_Ellipse_Matrix_Blend.html?tab=Pictures#det ails

http://www.stewmac.com/product_images/1lg/2100/Fishman_Ellipse_Matrix_Blend_sm.jpg

And this is what's in the Tak.

http://www.takamine.com/electronics/ct4b_preamp

http://www.takamine.com/images/electronics/CT-4BII.jpg

[Bob411]

Thanks for all the insight guys. Rare Earth Blend sounds like the one to get, just needs to go on sale. Big time sale. $300 + seams like a lot, but if you look at it, in that you can buy a just plain acoustic cheaper than an AE, and it will sound so much better, then it makes some sense. In the meantime, going to check out Takamine next time we go to GC.

[Kerouac]

If you just want to get into the amp cheaper but have better tone, buy a mic. :idk:

[Bob411]

From what I've read, you need to stay perfectly still, or you can get some bizarre contraption that clamps the mic on to the guitar.

[Denverdave]

From what I've read, you need to stay perfectly still, or you can get some bizarre contraption that clamps the mic on to the guitar.

You definitely have to stand in one place. If that is what you do - like what Gary does in his folk music shows, then that is the best option. I prefer to move around a bit myself. That option also will not work well if you are on stage with other loud instruments playing (drums, electric guitar, electric bass).

[Kerouac]

From what I've read, you need to stay perfectly still, or you can get some bizarre contraption that clamps the mic on to the guitar.

Yeah, but if you want better mic sounds without spending a lot of coin on pickups and preamps, it's your best choice. :idk:

[Bob411]

Yeah, but if you want better mic sounds without spending a lot of coin on pickups and preamps, it's your best choice. :idk:

No doubt, and I apreciate all cheap options.

Looking a Takamines on GC used. Found one that's a screaming deal for what you get. Only 3 stars, it's black. Guessing 3 stars are for cosmetic issues. Hemming, and hawing if I should just get it, and try it out. If I don't like it, I got 30 days.

[Denverdave]

No doubt, and I apreciate all cheap options.

Looking a Takamines on GC used. Found one that's a screaming deal for what you get. Only 3 stars, it's black. Guessing 3 stars are for cosmetic issues. Hemming, and hawing if I should just get it, and try it out. If I don't like it, I got 30 days.

What model number??

[Bob411]

EF360

[Prages]

Doing some looking around on that model, it seems to have the same pickup/preamp as the one I have, and the used black on on GC's website seems like a great, great deal, so long as it's structurally sound.

Mine is an EAN10C (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EAN10C/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=guitars&utm_term=takamine_ean10c&adpos=1t1&gclid=CP_TqbiFr68CFYdeTAod92I-lA)

I bought it used at Guitar Center for $499 a year or so back, and it's worth every penny.

[Bob411]

Just pulled the trigger on the Tak.

Ordered a Planet Waves sound hole humidor. Looked on MF at hyrometers. They sell two diferent ones, and they both get very bad reviews. I put a lot more weight into what folks on forums say than reviews anyways. So, should I get a hydrometer? Which one?

[Tralfaz]

Just pulled the trigger on the Tak.

Ordered a Planet Waves sound hole humidor. Looked on MF at hyrometers. They sell two diferent ones, and they both get very bad reviews. I put a lot more weight into what folks on forums say than reviews anyways. So, should I get a hydrometer? Which one?

I picked up a little tiny hygrometer/thermometer at Radio Shack. It can fit in the pick compartment of the case, no problem.

But living in SE Texas, I've never seen the humidity get low enough to necessitate a humidor.

[Prages]

I don't have a humidifier or anything for my guitars.

Of course, we are usually in the 80-90% humidity range in the summer, and it rarely gets below about 50% in the winter, even when running the heat in the house all the time.

[Denverdave]

Just pulled the trigger on the Tak.

Ordered a Planet Waves sound hole humidor. Looked on MF at hyrometers. They sell two diferent ones, and they both get very bad reviews. I put a lot more weight into what folks on forums say than reviews anyways. So, should I get a hydrometer? Which one?

Congrats. My Tak is an EF model as well (EF341SC). Great acoustic/electrics.

To be honest there is no need for a hydrometer. I live in a very dry area and have never needed one. You just need to remember rewet the humidifier every week or two.

[Bob411]

My new favorite yiddish word is Takamine. :D Wife called me at work, and said my guitar is here. I thought she was teasing, or daughter ordered some posters on Amazon , maybe it's those. I just ordered it yesterday, no way it's here. She said no, it's a big box, says Taylor:eek: on it.
Got home, son had beat me to it, already opened the box.Model is ef360 bc. There is an allen wrench in a little pouch that says Takamine, like for a truss rod. Much latter he found where you use it. Bottom of neck, but unlike a Fender, you don't need to take the neck off, through sound hole. Electronics part looks nothing like I expected, case looks old style, I asked him if it has a serial number? Comes back, and says it;s your birthday. December 6, 1987. :D Actually mines1962, but close enough.



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[Mark Wein]

:cool:

[Tiltsta]

There are some better undersaddle pickups. Whatever they used in my Takamine sounds better than most - but Tak is pretty well know for their good acoustic electronics. LR Baggs makes some decent ones. B-Band makes some very nice ones, and does K&K Sound. Those would actually be my two top choices in an simple pickup (B-Band and K&K).

I agree with the Tak comments. My Takamine (EF440SCGN) sounds much better than most acoustic electrics I have heard. Mine has the CT4B preamp that comes on most of the Japanese models. They have some fancier preamp on the really high end models, and some cheaper ones of the G series, so I think the CT4B is sort of their middle of the road model. Anyway, it sounds really, really good to my ears. I've not played around with a lot of preamp/acoustic pickups, but I've certainly heard a ton, and the Tak is really good sounding.

Love the look of your new axe. If it is anything like mine, you are going to LOVE it.

[Prages]

Congrats.

For many years, I kind of dismissed Taks for some reason. I absolutely love mine though. I might (might) even like it more than the Zombie Fender. :o

[Peeker]

one of my brothers had a Tak that was divine.
he never played it, and left in untended

the neck now looks like a u-turn :facepalm:

that 's a nice lookin' guitar!
HNGD! :D


and nice crotch-shot off the back of it, too ;)

[Bob411]

Thanks again everybody for all your help. So far, son is loving it. It's not what I thought I was getting, but I think it's a keeper.

[Mark Wein]

SOunds like a good ending!

[Bob411]

I think I need a new preamp. I gots distortion, and it ain't good distortion. turned down gain on preamp, and it sounds good 80% of the time, but when he really lays into it, it sounds like crap. Still overall, loving the guitar. The preamp worked fine when I got it, honestly if it started doing this before my 30 days were up, still would keep it.

[Prages]

Have you replaced the battery? When the battery gets low, it'll cause distortion.

Could be a bad solder joint somewhere too.

And remember, any time theres a cable plugged in, it's draining the battery. Always unplug when you're not playing through the amp.

[Bob411]

Yes, tried a diffent battery, same crap. Also checked the battery to make sure the new battery was good. Ken from Rose pickups said he would take a look at it. Now I just need to get the damed thing out of the guitar. Takamine's website has instructions for removing the preamp, but they make no sense. Maybe they have changed slightly since 1987. Emailed them for help.

[Bob411]

Good news, good news, and bad news on the Takamine. Got another email from Takamine. You peal the labels next to the sliders for bass, and treble, to expose two screws, simple as pie to remove it. More good news is, it works now. Thank you Ken, doesn't look like I need to send it to you now. Bad news, my son needs a brain transplant. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. On the newer preamps, you can replace the battery on the outside. This one, there is a seperate battery compartment inside the guitar that clip/snaps to a bracket inside guitar. Battery compartment has a 12 inch wire that goes to preamp. To change the battery, you unclip it, and pull it out the sound hole to replace the battery. I asked son when it started sounding like shit, did you try a new battery? Yes Dad. Do you know that it's a good battery? Made him check. So he has seen the battery compartment a couple of times. First time I saw it was when I finally got the preamp out. Looks like once upon a time, a battery leaked, and corroded it. Somebody re-hooked up one of the wires, didn't solder, just wraped around the metal. Bad conection = same as weak battery. problem solved.

[Prages]

Nice!

[Bob411]

Well, I thought I had it licked. :( Son got home tuned it, played some Spanish stuff. 2 dozen single notes, sounds great, then one strum, distortion. Atleast I know how to get the preamp out now. I'll go to Radio Shack, and get a connector for the battery. I bypassed the bad terminal, and put the wire direct on the battery. Also spray some Deoxit in the connections. If that doesn't fix it, I have a friend who might be able to fix the preamp.

[B Valley]

I saw Doyle Dykes here in Az. He plays his signature Taylor through a Rivera Sedona amp. The most perfect acoustic sound I've heard.

I have a Takamine EG541C that I play through a Peavey Ecoustic 110EFX. The amp does a great job producing an acoustic sound and has built-in effects as well.
Acoustic tone is extremely subjective and can change drastically depending on its environment. It's also something that I tend to overthink. If you're recording, it's certainly more important to get the acoustic sound you want, but if you're playing a solo job at a sports bar, you really don't need to worry so much.

[dagilman]

I have a Fishman Matrix in my 1982 Guild G37 (heavy blond spruce/maple dreadnought - I call it "The Herniator"). It has a typical, bright, "contemporary," piezo sound, although the two modes do give you some tonal options. If you like that sound, it's a good system to have. My Martin DC-16RGTE (2003) has a Fishman blender system, with piezo and mic. That has a very natural acoustic sound, but it can scream feedback. So I use a soundhole cover when playing live.

Any specific recommendations for an old Taylor 710 (non-cutaway)?

[Bob411]

You know how sometimes PK has a guitar that's possessed? I permanetly fixed the battery, and it still distorted. I got around today to taking the Takamine apart to send the preamp to Ken, to see if he could figure it out. Plugged it in. I wanted to try the gain, bass, treble sliders to see which is which, so when I took it out, I could put the outside piece with the labels on the right way. Tried it. No distortion. Had son try it. No distortion. Either there is a wire loose somewhere, it's possessed, or... The sound hole humidifier was not in it. It's been a couple of weeks since we last tried it. Is there such a thing as over-humidifying your acoustic electric? Like now the preamp is dried out, and working?