Getting a more acoustic sound out of a semi-hollow

add4 · #1 04-29-2011, 07:37 AM

Hi everybody, new user here.
I'm currently playing with an ibanez AS-93, with a bare knuckle P90 in the neck, and a roland cube 30.
I like the neck, feel, look, and price of the ibanez, but i would like a more acoustic sound.
i tried the eastman 805 and that is the sound i would like to have.
Do you think it's possible to do something to have a sound like that?
would it be useful to try to fit a kent amstrong flating pickup as the one on the eastman, or is it impossible to emulate that kind of sound with a semi hollow?
I am aware than buying the eastman is the simplest solution, but i don't have the money for an archtop at the moment, and the feedback is a pain, so i'm looking towards alternative solutions..
any idea is welcome.
Peace

NiAg · #2 04-29-2011, 09:45 AM

In my opinion you would do well to look at picks and strings. They are a low $$$ way to make a significant difference in the transient (meaning both "fleeting" and actual transit up and down the strings) overtones in your sound.

What pick (or no pick?) do you use? What strings?

add4 · #3 04-29-2011, 10:07 AM

Hey!
Thanks for giving your opinion.
I'm currently using d'addario .13 roundwound strings, i also sometimes use .13 flatwound ones. Do you think going to a lighter gauge would help? I am tempted to try, but usually when i try a guitare with .10 or something like that i can't play it because it's too light.
The picks i'm using are the classic dunlop ones : gator 2.0 mm or tortex 2.0 mm.
i noticed that using a lighter pick gives a slightly more acoustic sound.

papaj77 · #4 04-29-2011, 10:09 AM

You can instal a piezo bridge and mix it with magnetic pickups. It won't make the guitar sound like Eastman but it does sound good.

spiral · #5 04-29-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by add4

i tried the eastman 805 and that is the sound i would like to have. Do you think it's possible to do something to have a sound like that?

Minihumbucker in PAF ring.

humbucker-to-mini-humbucker-adapter-pickup-ring_300308702306.jpeg

Smaller magnet gives it that particular sound. I would even give you a minihumbucker to try that i pulled from an Italia. It is sitting in a drawer.

Funkwire · #6 04-29-2011, 10:21 AM

Sorry to threadjack, but where did you get that pickup ring, spiral? I have a fully hollow guitar with humbuckers. I've been kicking around the idea of putting P-90s in it. I know there are HB-sized P-90s, but they don't sound quite the same to me.

NiAg · #7 04-29-2011, 10:22 AM

>>> Do you think going to a lighter gauge [than .013] would help?

It is pretty funny to be on a Jazz forum and suggest lighter strings. But yeah, try some pure nickel .012's or even some Nancy-Boy .011's (but stay with a wound G).

>>> The picks i'm using are the classic dunlop ones : gator 2.0 mm or tortex 2.0 mm.

Ah. Picks are very cheap. I suggest first going too far with some Dunlop Ultex .73mm - you'll sound like Tom Rush doing "Circle Game".

But maybe also try Ultex .90 mm and 1.14 mm for a more versatile sound.

I specifically suggest Ultex because they have less string slap than many picks - so maybe you can get a little more of an extended strum to some chords without hearing each string contact your pick. Just slowing down the speed of your right hand (sort of the opposite of a traditional Jazz comp style) on 4 and 5 note chords and the lighter pick may do it.

All in my opinion.

spiral · #8 04-29-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funkwire

Sorry to threadjack, but where did you get that pickup ring, spiral? I have a fully hollow guitar with humbuckers. I've been kicking around the idea of putting P-90s in it. I know there are HB-sized P-90s, but they don't sound quite the same to me.

The internet.

I just did an image search for "mini humbucker in humbucker ring". There is one on ebay: Humbucker to mini humbucker adapter pickup ring | eBay

And with more ebay magic you can find a P90 to humbucker ring:
Humbucker to Soapbar P90 cover up adapter pickup ring | eBay

@ add4: NiAg's suggestions are a good place to start. If you decide you want to try the mini-hum route, PM me your address. You can borrow the pickups i have, and if they get you close, you can have them.

You can probably get a decent idea of the sound here (the exact pickups/guitar i pulled them from. not me though):

YouTube Video

kris · #9 04-29-2011, 10:33 AM

I do not think you will get acoustic sound you want.
Problem is I think in the construction of the guitar.
Hollow-body is realy acoustic guitar.
I tried with ebony bridge on my semi-hollow...sound was more acoustic but problem was with the strings compesation and right tuning.
I know semi-hollow Moffa guitars use ebony bridges.
best
kris

caravan · #10 04-29-2011, 10:53 PM

Herb Ellis once said that you can get more of an acoustic sound if you move your pickup further away from the strings.

Pierrot · #11 04-30-2011, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caravan

Herb Ellis once said that you can get more of an acoustic sound if you move your pickup further away from the strings.

...and he was completely right

cmajor9 · #12 04-30-2011, 09:12 AM

Moving the pickup sounds like a good idea. I don't think there's much else you can do to the guitar itself. Eastmans are really made to have that more acoustic sound, its the construction, bracing, etc.

As far as picks, I would send you in the other direction, either to Dunlop Jazztones or to D'Andrea Pro Plecs (celluloid picks).

Beyond that, you might try experimenting with your picking hand placement. While many guitarists have a standard "position" for the picking hand, simply moving it closer or farther from the neck can give a lot of tonal variations.

kamlapati · #13 05-03-2011, 07:37 AM

Did you say whether you were using acoustic strings? If not, try phosphor bronze or 80/20 bronze strings. I use them on guitars with magnetic PUs and they sound good. You'll need to adjust the PU pole-pieces to balance the string volume.

But like the above says, start by lowering the PU.

And finally, may I add, go for a flatter EQ on your amp, forget the rolled off treble sound that is such a habit for so many of us.

kris · #14 05-03-2011, 07:43 AM

This will be be pseudo acoustic..:-)

tonedeaf · #15 05-03-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmajor9

As far as picks, I would send you in the other direction, either to Dunlop Jazztones or to D'Andrea Pro Plecs (celluloid picks).

I play an 805 and have tried a lot of different picks (all standard picks, no exotics) and I find the Jazztones make my 805 sound much better that any other picks. (I mostly use the large teardrop and the less pointy of the large triangles.) Not sure if this is meaningful for your guitar but for the price I would sure try them.