mybass Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 I've been having trouble with my fretless Washburn AB 20 under bridge transducer pickup. Uneven string response has dogged this bass for many years so I now want to try and replace the pickup or system. It has a Taylor/Fishman control board that works okay. I've made several calls (uneventful, bordering on quite useless) to Washburn. I have been looking at an Epiphone replacement transducer. Anyone got an acoustic with a really good even response pickup or ideas of a decent replacement? (This Washburn model has a slatted sound hole). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 One of the common reasons for uneven response across strings is that the saddle isn't in proper contact along it's full length. Take it out and check that the bottom is flat and there's no visible damage to the transducer below it before looking at swapping any of the electronics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mybass Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1373633300' post='2139914'] One of the common reasons for uneven response across strings is that the saddle isn't in proper contact along it's full length. Take it out and check that the bottom is flat and there's no visible damage to the transducer below it before looking at swapping any of the electronics [/quote] Yes you are right there BigRedX...I have done this before. Each time I 're-set' the pickup into the bridge I get a different string response. One time it does low volume off the g string, the next time I 'reset' it the g is fine but the E string is low volume. I need to find a pickup that is of a decent thickness/make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 What BidRedX said, but also the bottom of the slot is just as important - unevenness or a bit of muck in there causes just as many problems. Could be worth a visit to an acoustic luthier experienced in undersaddles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mybass Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share Posted July 13, 2013 [quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1373639714' post='2140060'] What BidRedX said, but also the bottom of the slot is just as important - unevenness or a bit of muck in there causes just as many problems. Could be worth a visit to an acoustic luthier experienced in undersaddles. [/quote] Yes hubrad, I'm thinking the two pickups I've used are old designs and construction and so maybe a complete new system is needed.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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