I played many hundreds of shows and it was the most important thing to me to sound as best I could since it was my only job. I was a full time musician for decades. I say that to share this....the best acoustic sound you can get in my opinion is by using the Takamine Palathetic pickup system with the Cool Tube preamp and Triax sound hole humbucker blended together. Its not a quacky piezo sound, its natural and full. Its a real shame that the big american guitar companies realized the threat and lobbied to outlaw the import of Takamine's premium Japanese master luthier guitars. You can still get a good enough Takamine with the Cool Tube preamp system and buy the Takamine Triax 2 and install it and blend the two together as they are made specifically to work together....with both of these units blending together its an incredible sound and theres still nothing that even comes close. If you get a chance check one out, you will never go back to a piezo system, since that is the root of the problem even a mic wont fix it, unless its an external mic in an unplugged studio situation.,,,and the Takamine system i outlined solves that issue, its like playing your guitar unplugged only at pa levels. Theres a reason the best pickers used it.
Thanks for the input - I've heard this just yesterday from a friend who moved to Nashville. I have a feeling this LR Baggs HiFi might be 'inspired' by the old FRAP system that Neil Young uses.
Hi Dana, thanks for the video! I just wanted to share a couple of points with you and your followers, I hope it is helpful. You did most of the installation correctly but as you pointed out there is an high frequency edge to the tone. Just so you know, it isn't supposed to sound that way. What you can do is seat each pickup individually as stated in the instructions. This is a separate step from when you press up on the jig during the install. If you go back in and apply firm pressure for another 5 to 10 seconds to each one while applying equal pressure from outside the guitar it will fill out the tone more accurately. Also just be certain that no part of either of the sensors is hanging off of the bridge plate, that will add to the edgy quality. Last, the wire clips are located inside of the battery bag, you didn't see them because you didn't need the bag unfortunately, and tying the wires down securely is important since the pickup is "micro-phonic" in nature and as such will amplify any little rattle or buzz. Last last, if anyone is removing a pickup as you did, you should really put a shim under your saddle the same thickness as the pickup you removed. In most cases that would be crucial, not for the sound of the pickup but just for play ability and fret buzz.
Could you have used the preamp you took out to determine how much thread to put through the hole? Seems like that distance shouldn't have changed unless the guitar strap eschuchen is a different depth.
I played many hundreds of shows and it was the most important thing to me to sound as best I could since it was my only job. I was a full time musician for decades.
I say that to share this....the best acoustic sound you can get in my opinion is by using the Takamine Palathetic pickup system with the Cool Tube preamp and Triax sound hole humbucker blended together. Its not a quacky piezo sound, its natural and full.
Its a real shame that the big american guitar companies realized the threat and lobbied to outlaw the import of Takamine's premium Japanese master luthier guitars.
You can still get a good enough Takamine with the Cool Tube preamp system and buy the Takamine Triax 2 and install it and blend the two together as they are made specifically to work together....with both of these units blending together its an incredible sound and theres still nothing that even comes close. If you get a chance check one out, you will never go back to a piezo system, since that is the root of the problem even a mic wont fix it, unless its an external mic in an unplugged studio situation.,,,and the Takamine system i outlined solves that issue, its like playing your guitar unplugged only at pa levels.
Theres a reason the best pickers used it.
Thanks for the info.
@@DanaGrant You bet, hope you get to try the system out one day
Thanks for the input - I've heard this just yesterday from a friend who moved to Nashville. I have a feeling this LR Baggs HiFi might be 'inspired' by the old FRAP system that Neil Young uses.
I have the same pick up in my D18 and it sounds so sweet! I love that tone control that I can make it sound a little warmer (that’s what I like)
Thanks I love the warmer sound too.
Hi Dana, thanks for the video! I just wanted to share a couple of points with you and your followers, I hope it is helpful. You did most of the installation correctly but as you pointed out there is an high frequency edge to the tone. Just so you know, it isn't supposed to sound that way. What you can do is seat each pickup individually as stated in the instructions. This is a separate step from when you press up on the jig during the install. If you go back in and apply firm pressure for another 5 to 10 seconds to each one while applying equal pressure from outside the guitar it will fill out the tone more accurately. Also just be certain that no part of either of the sensors is hanging off of the bridge plate, that will add to the edgy quality. Last, the wire clips are located inside of the battery bag, you didn't see them because you didn't need the bag unfortunately, and tying the wires down securely is important since the pickup is "micro-phonic" in nature and as such will amplify any little rattle or buzz. Last last, if anyone is removing a pickup as you did, you should really put a shim under your saddle the same thickness as the pickup you removed. In most cases that would be crucial, not for the sound of the pickup but just for play ability and fret buzz.
Thanks for the tip. I went back and applied pressure to each sensor. Sounds great
He mentioned that he lost some height on the saddle but not so much to buzz
I'm just saying that if you remove height from your saddle you increase the potential for fret buzz. @@bathizargupta249
The battery bag covers the serial numbers on the neck block.
You can mount the bag up out of the way.
Could you have used the preamp you took out to determine how much thread to put through the hole? Seems like that distance shouldn't have changed unless the guitar strap eschuchen is a different depth.
Ya that would work
Nice sound sir I have this pickup installed in my gs mini sounds big and woody
Is there instructions for a pinless bridge?
There are instructions on how to install it on a pinless bridge. If you email me at AZbluesguitar@gmail.com I can send you a PDF
You really need to redo this video with closeup video of the unit, and not so much of yourself
Yeah. We can't see anything that you're doing. Overhead view would be super helpful.
Lost me at the hot hair iron.