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November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Hello,
so I just got an Ovation Pacemaker 1115-A. Beautiful guitar. It's all original and it's in excellent condition.
I need to use it live so my question is:
What should I fit and HOW to avoid making drills to the body? Someone told me to use the back strap hole and fit a jack there connected to a piezo under bridge saddle and then use an outboard preamp.
Do you think it's a good idea? In this case what piezo and preamp would you guys recommend?
Thanks! |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Just order an L R Baggs M1a and be done with it. Sounds as good as a piezo and doesn't need drilling and cutting and saddle adjustments. |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Thanks for the reply. No preamp needed? Just connect to an DI-> Mixer and the sound would be good?? |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I have the same set up you describe except it has a preamp. (all done at the factory) No volume or tone controls so I guess a passive would be just as good. I have had good luck with fishman preamps. You may want to also look at the fishman rare earth humbucking soundhole pick up. I just permantly mounted one and it was pretty easy, unobtrusive and it is active. Sound is better than piezo if you ask me.
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/rare-earth-humbucking
I have this basic preamp I use with my 1115 for tone adjustment.
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/pro-eq-ii-acoustic-preampeq |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Originally posted by twistedlim:
I have the same set up you describe except it has a preamp. (all done at the factory) No volume or tone controls so I guess a passive would be just as good. I have had good luck with fishman preamps. You may want to also look at the fishman rare earth humbucking soundhole pick up. I just permantly mounted one and it was pretty easy, unobtrusive and it is active. Sound is better than piezo if you ask me.
PS if you put a piezo preamp in you will still have to drill thru the saddle and top to wire the pickup.
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/pro-eq-ii-acoustic-preampeq
I have this basic preamp I use with my 1115 for tone adjustment.
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/pro-eq-ii-acoustic-preampeq |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4075
Location: Utah | You'll have to drill something somewhere. Personally I would NOT use the endpin strap style because it negates the ability to use a straplock.
I would go with a 1/4" output jack mounted in the normal Ovation location.
For the pickup, some version of undersaddle piezo. It will require a very small hole drilled under the saddle to get the wire into the body of the guitar. No structural or appearance impact with that.
I like an onboard preamp, though lots of people use passive systems. The issue is having a preamp near enough, like on your belt or being tethered to a nearby unit on the floor.
If you don't want to cut holes in the body for a large preamp, there are ones which mount with adhesive tape to the underside of the front and have very inconspicuous volume/tone controls inside the sound hole. If I were to electrify my Patriot I would go with one like that.
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/ellipse-aura
or
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/ellipse-matrix-blend
If you don't mind a couple of holes in the body for the preamp, I would go with the new two knob FET preamp from Ovation with their undersaddle pickup. |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Originally posted by FlySig:
You'll have to drill something somewhere. Personally I would NOT use the endpin strap style because it negates the ability to use a straplock.
I would go with a 1/4" output jack mounted in the normal Ovation location.
For the pickup, some version of undersaddle piezo. It will require a very small hole drilled under the saddle to get the wire into the body of the guitar. No structural or appearance impact with that.
I like an onboard preamp, though lots of people use passive systems. The issue is having a preamp near enough, like on your belt or being tethered to a nearby unit on the floor.
If you don't want to cut holes in the body for a large preamp, there are ones which mount with adhesive tape to the underside of the front and have very inconspicuous volume/tone controls inside the sound hole. If I were to electrify my Patriot I would go with one like that.
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/ellipse-aura
or
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/ellipse-matrix-blend
If you don't mind a couple of holes in the body for the preamp, I would go with the new two knob FET preamp from Ovation with their undersaddle pickup. |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Would this:
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/pro-eq-platinum-preampeqdi
plus this
http://www.fishman.com/products/view/ag-series
be nice? |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Another question:
should I fit a 2.3 mm piezo or a 3.2 mm? I mean, this:
http://www.thomann.de/pt/fishman_agx094.htm
or this:
http://www.thomann.de/pt/fishman_agx125.htm |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | It would work. Still drilling a hole to run the wire through, though. (I really like that Fishman belt-attached preamp....gotta get me one of those.) |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | And what about the piezo size: 2.3 or 3.2?
This:
http://www.thomann.de/pt/fishman_agx094.htm
or this:
http://www.thomann.de/pt/fishman_agx125.htm
? |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 247
Location: Seacoast NH | I would second the LR Baggs recommendation. Just bought a Godin electric with an LR Baggs acoustic piezo bridge and it sounds great... |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 247
Location: Seacoast NH | I would second the LR Baggs recommendation. Just bought a Godin electric with an LR Baggs acoustic piezo bridge and it sounds great... |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Thanks for the advices!!!
About the piezo: anyone knows if I need a 2.3 mm or a 3.2 mm piezo bar? |
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January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | I thought if you seconded your own second, it meant you were against it. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | But if you do decide to make the cut...
Put an OP in a Pacemaker
Later Preamp |
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November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Thanks for the link MWoody! |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4075
Location: Utah | My son has a Fishman Pro-EQ preamp for his electric violin which sounds outstanding. The preamp does a great job with an acoustic guitar, too. I would be happy with that solution if you use a passive pickup in the guitar. |
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August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | |
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November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Originally posted by bburg:
Great job!!!
Any photos of progress / tutorials on this? |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 1137
Location: Germany, where delicious wine is growing (Rheinh) | No, sorry!
But if you decide to do it, you can contact me. I'll give you some good advice.
Bernie |
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Joined:
November 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Portugal | Bernie you have a PM ;)
Thanks. |
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Ovation Pacemaker 1115-A Preamp / Pickup fitting