It took more than 20 years to convince me to electrify my old acoustic guitar.
the wave of enthusiasm after winning at the recent Acoustic Festival and gassed by the performance of Bermuda Trio (those never say Tuesday) I decided it was time to remove dust from the "old" and give it new life. On the advice of
Valentino, in turn advised by the Bermuda Way, I bought the kit of the B-band, two pickups (UST 29R, AST 1470), preamp and a remote control with volume and mix ( model A2 .2).
Valentino, in turn advised by the Bermuda Way, I bought the kit of the B-band, two pickups (UST 29R, AST 1470), preamp and a remote control with volume and mix ( model A2 .2).
The kit, which arrived from Germany, is composed of three box containing everything you need, including the jack and a 9V battery and all wiring. The two pickups are referred to as UST and AST, and have completely different characteristics:
- the FSO is mounted under the bridge and passed through a hole in the coffin easily obtainable with a 3mm drill bit. There are two models of UST, the 23R and 29R and differ only by the width (2.9mm against 2.3mm) and of course the model must be purchased depending on the extent of the bridge of his guitar.
- AST, the only model available, should be pasted inside the box, so that it is positioned under the bridge. In my case, since there is enough space, as recommended by the manual, was put behind the bridge, that is, to understand not between the hole and the bridge but after a small bridge to the bottom of the box. Since the operation is done almost blindly, there is provided a preformed cardboard cutout, with the adhesive, allowing you to take your measurements before and then go outside with a sure hand in the guitar.
links are quite trivial, there is no welding to be applied. The pre-amp, the battery box and the remote control is equipped with an effective double-sided, and in the case of the battery holder, with a layer of velcro that allows to disassemble for changing batteries.
The jack in my case has replaced the pinch "of the series, since the diameter was luckily just the same.
The remote control is particularly interesting because it is applied inside the box near the edge of the hole, so that even if the controls are invisible to the eye in fact, readily accessible by the fingers of his right hand.
The FSO going to occupy the seat of the bridge (you're talking about a fraction of a millimeter) is still to increase the action of the guitar.
Considering that the bottom surface of the bridge, the transducer in contact with the FSO, was not particularly smooth and regular, I proceeded to write a filed down the bridge about half a mm lowering and adjusting the background perfectly, so as to ensure perfect contact with the FSO. Indeed, comparing the sound before and after the filed, I noticed an improvement yield FSO, I think because of the surface more closely.
evidence shows that the system returns once great satisfaction: the sound is very balanced with no difference in volume between the strings and a fair equalization without too many annoying average, typical of the guitars and piezoelectric transducers cheaper.
It takes a little 'patience to appreciate the differences between the two pickups. The AST was "wide open" and returns every little nuance of the guitar sound. E 'highly crystalline and microphone, and then returns with the sound of any guitar, streaks on the ropes and slamming Included on the case. As described in the manual, this pickup works well in giving the most from 800Hz up. From
800Hz down there thinks the FSO: This is initially present as a big disappointment, because it appears to be off and with little volume. In fact working with the control mix and earnings (accessible only from the pre-and not by remote control), we get to mix perfectly sound, having the right balance between sound crystal clear and full of bass.
The control mix thus emerges as a cross between an equalizer and a presence control. Turning it from a verse of up to 100% of UST, a soft sound, full and with little attack, turning the other is up to a situation of 50% between UST and AST, resulting in crystal clear sound.
The manual advised to wait several days to make final adjustments so that the FSO will fit in the pressure of the bridge.
