bassbiscuits Posted December 20, 2017 Posted December 20, 2017 Here's a thought - does anyone make a pickup suitable for small, travel-size (ie Ed Sheeran-esque) guitars? I realise I've missed a trick in being able to use mine as backup for my one acoustic guitar. I have a spare soundhole pickup, but the measurement of the small soundhole is smaller than pretty much every regular pickup. An under the saddle transducer would be fine, if they're any easier to find at this smaller size. Any ideas? Not looking to spend huge bucks as the guitar was only £130...
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 21, 2017 Posted December 21, 2017 I bought a Fishman neo passive for my parlour guitar without considering the size issue. It was very slightly too big, but I got it to fit with a little bit of filing (to the pickup housing) which is not visible once fitted. The passive does have a low output, and is on the mellow side compared to piezoelectric type pickups, but doesn't have that nasty artificial-sounding attack that most piezo ones have. HTH MBA
bassbiscuits Posted December 21, 2017 Author Posted December 21, 2017 Cheers MoonBassAlpha, Yeah I had a Fishman Neo a long time ago for another guitar - it was quiet but did sound very nice tho. I paired it with an EQ pedal and was well away. Maybe that's the answer
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 21, 2017 Posted December 21, 2017 My guitarist had the active neo in his old Takamine. He no longer has the guitar, I wonder if he still has the pup. I preferred the sound of it to his current Baggs piezo setup. The little battery lasted ages, and plenty of juice on tap. 1
bassbiscuits Posted December 23, 2017 Author Posted December 23, 2017 On 21 December 2017 at 22:33, MoonBassAlpha said: My guitarist had the active neo in his old Takamine. He no longer has the guitar, I wonder if he still has the pup. I preferred the sound of it to his current Baggs piezo setup. The little battery lasted ages, and plenty of juice on tap. Cool - yes if he still has the pup that might be a good solution. I preferred my Fishman to the LR Baggs one I changed it for - the Fishman sounded more natural and clear to me.
Skybone Posted December 30, 2017 Posted December 30, 2017 Yup, another vote for the Fishman Neo soundhole pickup.
Beer of the Bass Posted December 31, 2017 Posted December 31, 2017 (edited) You could go with one of the systems using piezo discs on the underside of the bridge plate, like the K&K Pure or the JJB pickups which are similar but cheaper. They're less feedback resistant than soundhole or undersaddle pickups, but do sound good. Edited December 31, 2017 by Beer of the Bass
bassbiscuits Posted January 3, 2018 Author Posted January 3, 2018 Thanks all - some good ideas for me to be getting on with.
Matt P Posted January 6, 2018 Posted January 6, 2018 On 21/12/2017 at 07:40, MoonBassAlpha said: I bought a Fishman neo passive for my parlour guitar without considering the size issue. It was very slightly too big, but I got it to fit with a little bit of filing (to the pickup housing) which is not visible once fitted. The passive does have a low output, and is on the mellow side compared to piezoelectric type pickups, but doesn't have that nasty artificial-sounding attack that most piezo ones have. HTH MBA i did exactly the same thing to fit a Neo D to my Gretsch Jim Dandy, didn't take much filing, it sounds pretty good to my ears.
Jazzneck Posted January 20, 2018 Posted January 20, 2018 (edited) I use one of these on my small parlours: http://www.chickenbonejohn.com/collections/pickups/products/bill-lawrence-a-300-acoustic-pickup Great little pick up - listen to CBJs video at the bottom of the page. Edited January 20, 2018 by Jazzneck
bassbiscuits Posted January 21, 2018 Author Posted January 21, 2018 Wow those Bill Lawrence ones sound cool! Nice one.
therealting Posted April 30, 2018 Posted April 30, 2018 On 31/12/2017 at 12:11, Beer of the Bass said: You could go with one of the systems using piezo discs on the underside of the bridge plate, like the K&K Pure or the JJB pickups which are similar but cheaper. They're less feedback resistant than soundhole or undersaddle pickups, but do sound good. The K&Ks are excellent pickups full stop, I have them installed in all my acoustics.
MoonBassAlpha Posted May 6, 2018 Posted May 6, 2018 saw this on eBay, piezo, Mic blend notch filter and tuner. Wonder if they are any good? Anyone tried one? Is it a knockoff at this price? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FISHMAN-presys-blend-301-Dual-Mode-Guitar-Preamp-EQ-Tuner-Piezo-Pickup-Mic-Beat/122915085720?epid=538968934&hash=item1c9e4f5d98:g:B1UAAOSwiflasLs9
Matt P Posted May 6, 2018 Posted May 6, 2018 I think that's just the preamp, without the piezo or the mic, looks far too cheap to me as well, I'd expect to pay far more than that for the preamp.
MoonBassAlpha Posted May 8, 2018 Posted May 8, 2018 Looks like it from the pictures, but the description says: Features: Classic Fishman Presys Blender Small footprint fits many guitars Volume Control Bass, Middle and Treble control knobs Built-in tuner with LED display Phase switch Unique pivot design for instant 9-Volt battery access Pre-wired Fishman Sonicore pickup for solder-free, plug and play installation Low profile control knobs Battery Life: 88 hours Onboard anti-feedback control Brilliance control for additional tone shaping Built-in microphone with mic blend level control Kit includes: Preamp with Sonicore Flexible Piezo Pickup, built-in Mic and endpin output jack, Mounting Screws, User Manual User Manual Langues: English Please notice there`s no retail package for the product. Specifications: 2.20" W x 3.3" L x 1.625" D (55.8mm x 84.2mm x 41.3mm) Package include: 1x Fishman Onboard Preamps 1x end pin jack 4x screws 1x manual 1x tags 2x mounting brackets
Geek99 Posted May 8, 2018 Posted May 8, 2018 (edited) On 06/05/2018 at 13:23, MoonBassAlpha said: saw this on eBay, piezo, Mic blend notch filter and tuner. Wonder if they are any good? Anyone tried one? Is it a knockoff at this price? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FISHMAN-presys-blend-301-Dual-Mode-Guitar-Preamp-EQ-Tuner-Piezo-Pickup-Mic-Beat/122915085720?epid=538968934&hash=item1c9e4f5d98:g:B1UAAOSwiflasLs9 @Matt P I had exactly that one, in a twelve string acoustic I suspect that its a clone, but it works just fine and the tuner is good. Its quite easy to leave the tuner on, flattening the battery One thing I would say is that you need to be careful how much wood you remove to fit the swing battery design, but thats true of all those ilk. I mad e a cardboard template first, then cut out to that. One thing, I did not like the rope coiled wire pickup it came with, I bought an artec 12 string "solid bar" pickup on ebay, as I prefer the saddle to have a solid base, the rope coil style was a bit squishy Edited May 8, 2018 by Geek99
Geek99 Posted May 8, 2018 Posted May 8, 2018 On 06/05/2018 at 17:18, Matt P said: I think that's just the preamp, without the piezo or the mic, looks far too cheap to me as well, I'd expect to pay far more than that for the preamp. the mic is built-in, and the piezo comes with it.
Matt P Posted May 8, 2018 Posted May 8, 2018 @MoonBassAlpha @Geek99 Apologies, missed the line in the description that said it came with the piezo, just skipped to the package includes bit. as it looks like this is a clone/copy i'd consider it for a cheaper guitar but i think i'd prefer to go for a passive piezo or a soundhole mag straight out to an endpin jack and then an external preamp (behringer adi21 probably) as i'm really adverse to cutting holes in guitars if i can avoid it (even enlarging the endpin hole on my Jim dandy to fit the jack socket was nerve wracking)
MoonBassAlpha Posted May 9, 2018 Posted May 9, 2018 I know what you mean about drilling the end pin! I was originally looking into the cheapest way to buy a notch filter for use with my mate's Hofner Verithin bass, and making this into a pedal. You could even build it into a low wooden box and use the internal Mic as one of those foot stompy things. 1
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