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Joined: April 2006 Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | ..is n`t that Whoo -sees...or Wuh -zeez.. |
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Joined: November 2007 Posts: 152
Location: Maple Shade, NJ. | Humblepie, where did you get the info that Electric guitar strings need to be used?
Fishman says "Each magnet in the Rare Earth is voiced for precise balance with Bronze or Phosphor-Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings" |
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 Joined: October 2005 Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | I've used phos-bronze acoustic strings with a magnetic pickup in my 12 string just fine. It's a German unit about 25 yrs old, with a humbucker and a piezo dot that can be individually controlled and mixed. Sounds fine with acoustic strings through the humbucker. |
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Joined: February 2004 Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Humble Pie (and anyone else),
You can't even begin to compete with Temp on this subject.
However, I do have a suggestion: Let's set up a mud wrestling pool in the hotel lobby this fall.
John <>{ |
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Joined: February 2002 Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | They all say that their pickups are "balanced for Phosphor Bronze" And some are, but only up to a point. To me it makes as much sense using phosphor bronze strings on an acoustic guitar with a soundhole pickup as it does putting phosphor-bronze on a strat. That said, the Rare Earths are better than most pickups of this type at producing an acceptable (but to my ears no more than acceptable) tone with acoustic guitar strings of standard off-the-shelf guages. The bottom line is, phosphor-bronze is a non-ferrous metal, which means the wrap wires are ignored by the pickup magnets which only see the core wires. They may achieve balance by playing around with polepiece magnet strength but it's hardly presice. Using nickel strings increases output significantly, but without adjustable poles the balance can be off. I find that regardless of what the manufacturers claim, I get beter results with nickel strings and a pickup with adjustable poles, especially with the very heavy gauges I use for my lap guitars. |
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Joined: March 2007 Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | There are some that combine a magnetic and an undersaddle? Or your could relatively easily buid your own hybrid if you can do basic electronic assembly. For what it's worth, I have an Artec single coil which compares favourably (and sometimes better) with the high end ones (for a fraction of the price) in reviews on www.harmony-central.com. I use it on a cheap guitar (Applesauce) on a basic home-made amp myself and also through the home hi-fi. Apparently soundhole pickups have come a long way since the basic ones of the 60's. I know Richard Thompson uses a Sunrise and he's a serious player of acoustiic guitar. |
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Joined: February 2002 Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | When I had my old company I used to import the Artec 3-way blender systems (Mic, mag and undersaddle) Artec stuff is exceptional value. I have a shipment of their magnetic pickups on the way, they are ridiculously good for what they cost.
Combining a magnetic with an undersaddle is a good way to go. Solid bottom end from the magnetic, sparkle from the piezo. Works great. Even better on separate outs. |
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Joined: March 2007 Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
When I had my old company I used to import the Artec 3-way blender systems (Mic, mag and undersaddle) Artec stuff is exceptional value. I have a shipment of their magnetic pickups on the way, they are ridiculously good for what they cost.
Combining a magnetic with an undersaddle is a good way to go. Solid bottom end from the magnetic, sparkle from the piezo. Works great. Even better on separate outs. Yes - about a 3rd of the price! And of course you can fit it and try out the sound without cutting or drilling anything. On my basic system the bass strings sound great - very 'acoustic' but the trebles less so. The piezo might pick up these better. |
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