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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 16
Location: On the road - Europe | Hello from Englsnd.
Just bought myself a 1982 Custom Balladeer 12 string. Apart from the beginnings of a hairline crack [which is now in the hands of the luthier] it is in pristine condition and I fell in love with in on sight. It is a 1655 which, I believe, were just acoustic but was fitted with a Martin thinline pickup. It is of course passive with no preamp or indeed any controls. My question is this. Should I upgrade the pickup and add a modern preamp? Although this may improve sound would it detract from the guitar itself.
Cheers Paul |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | You could install a preamp attached to a jack. That would be the simplest thing. If you MUST have controls as well there are LOTS of choices. It all comes down to economics...more controls, more $$. John <>{ |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 25
Location: La Quinta, Ca. | From that configuration I'd go with something like a Fishman powerjack and probably change the Thinline saddle pickup also...newer Fishman and Baggs pickups sound a lot better. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I was fairly happy with the Lawrence soundhole pickup I got. They make a couple with a volume control. I quit using it when it became easier to just grab a guitar with a built in preamp off the wall.
I thought all the 16__ models had built in electronics. Do some more checking on what you have and what you use it for before you commit. You may find you never need to plug in. |
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Don't polish the bronze? Upgrade or not?
