Eastman AR610 - Pickup Options

[nyc chaz]

I found a picture of what I use.Attachment 126891

I've been looking to get one of these.What make is the one you use and are you satistied with it overall?

[BBGuitar]

I've been looking to get one of these.What make is the one you use and are you satistied with it overall?

Audio-Technica AT831B Wired Lavalier Microphone

Audio Technica Unimount Microphone Instrument Mount

[BBGuitar]

Looks similar to what Jonathan Stout uses. Do you play in a quartet with this? How is the drop from comping to single note?

That's where I got the idea.

I play in a big band, with 2 singers 19 piece. So not much single note.

[AllanAllen]

That's where I got the idea.

I play in a big band, with 2 singers 19 piece. So not much single note.

The K&K pickup currently inside the guitar would be fine if I only did the big band. It's the small group stuff I'm trying to figure out. Aside from fully transitioning to Reuss/Stout/Kamihigashi.

[AllanAllen]

Okay, update time. I've purchased and received my DeArmond RC 1000. Then promptly snapped the mounting arm trying to straighten it. So, things are going well

1. Guild's website is sold out of replacement arms. Anyone know a source for replacements?

2. The K&K Pure Archtop transducers are mounted inside the guitar via superglue. Based on the above, I'm nervous to follow youtube removal instructions of "pop them off, they come right off with a little force." So I'm thinking about adding a selector switch. Is there a switch that will mount in the f holes? I tried googling but I can't even find a source for the hidden thumb-wheels I know exist, let alone a selector switch I'm hoping exists.

[2bornot2bop]

Okay, update time. I've purchased and received my DeArmond RC 1000. Then promptly snapped the mounting arm trying to straighten it. So, things are going well

1. Guild's website is sold out of replacement arms. Anyone know a source for replacements?

2. The K&K Pure Archtop transducers are mounted inside the guitar via superglue. Based on the above, I'm nervous to follow youtube removal instructions of "pop them off, they come right off with a little force." So I'm thinking about adding a selector switch. Is there a switch that will mount in the f holes? I tried googling but I can't even find a source for the hidden thumb-wheels I know exist, let alone a selector switch I'm hoping exists.

Sell your pickup minus the arm. Buy a new RC1000 with the arm. I’d buy it.

[AllanAllen]

Probably try to glue it with JB Weld before I flush money in the toilet selling it at a loss to buy another.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Probably try to glue it with JB Weld before I flush money in the toilet selling it at a loss to buy another.

I’d be flabbergasted if JBW held a snapped rod like that together. If the break is through a round area, you might be able to hold it with JBW and a metal tube as a sleeve over the break. But even that’s dicey because the join is too small.

I don’t know what metal that is. It may be joinable with a laser welder, which is now a standard tool in most jewelers’ labs. If it’s joinable that way (laser brazing or laser welding), I’d also join some kind of a splint over it (tube or small rod). If it’s joinable that can be done, it’s a quick task that shouldn’t cost much.

[AllanAllen]

Django books will sell me a replacement for $8. A cheap lesson to learn.

Now if I can find a selector switch I’d be all set.

[AllanAllen]

Mock up with loctite fun-tak, seems to be the simiar stuff. BlueTac isn't in stores here.

My search for hidden in the f hole selector switch was fruitless, so I'm going to try taking an exacto knife, paint scraper or bent feeler gauge to the K&K contacts to try and remove them.... or I'll sell/trade the guitar and call the DeArmond sunk costs. I really don't want to screw up this nice guitar.

[Cavalier]

You know, the problem with the K&K Archtop is they suggest mounting it just inside the F holes. The sound is dramatically better under the top at each foot of the bridge. It's a reach but well worth relocating them.

[sgosnell]

I use a Schatten thumbwheel control set mounted inside the treble f-hole with the provided mounting tape. That works pretty well, and no need for a pickguard. An endpin jack mounted through the end block works pretty well for me, not a huge mod to the guitar. The Fun-tack might work, I've never tried it. Blu-Tack is readily available on Ebay, I got a supply that will last me multiple lifetimes for ~$5 some years ago. I have no suggestions for a selector switch, I've never needed to use one.

[AllanAllen]

You know, the problem with the K&K Archtop is they suggest mounting it just inside the F holes. The sound is dramatically better under the top at each foot of the bridge. It's a reach but well worth relocating them.

They’re mounted with superglue. The few removal tutorials I saw destroyed the pickups. A lot to consider. Going to move slowly.

[AllanAllen]

I use a Schatten thumbwheel control set mounted inside the treble f-hole with the provided mounting tape. That works pretty well, and no need for a pickguard. An endpin jack mounted through the end block works pretty well for me, not a huge mod to the guitar. The Fun-tack might work, I've never tried it. Blu-Tack is readily available on Ebay, I got a supply that will last me multiple lifetimes for ~$5 some years ago. I have no suggestions for a selector switch, I've never needed to use one.

Fun-tack seems to be holding okay.

The schatten looks good for a single pickup. I was hoping for switch or blend. To keep both pickup systems.

I’ll want the schatten if I go through with the RC. Thanks.

[Cavalier]

Well you could leave them and install another pair further in. The Big Twins are pretty much the same thing.
Shear action pops them loose. A thin painters knife works well but they are easy to destroy, or replace. It isn't a vintage PAF.

[GuyBoden]

You've probably already done this, but:

As a temp fix, I'd solder an output jack onto the RC pickup lead, plug this into a volume pedal with a cable. You'd need to set your tone with the amp.

Mono 1/4 inch output jack below.

[AllanAllen]

Update:

I'm going to add the DeArmond and use a TRS cable into an A/B box. This way I can have the acoustic pickup for big band and the magnetic pickup for small group sessions. I talked with Saturnworks for a while about what I want and what they offer and they will modify one of the A/B designs for me. Really great customer service.

Now my next question, how would you mount one of these in the f hole? Could I like... use a little velcro? Double sided tape?

Alpha Thumbwheel Potentiometer 250 kohm - 500 kohm

[Cunamara]

I have used those, they are a pain in the ass to mount. Cheap to buy, but a pain to make use of. A nuisance to solder, too, because you often end up with a control that turns the wrong way- hard to apply a normal wiring diagram to.

The Schatten can be cut or snapped in half to be a single pot, if you don't want a tone pot. If I ever do that sort of thing again, I am buying the Schatten.

[AllanAllen]

A nuisance to solder, too, because you often end up with a control that turns the wrong way- hard to apply a normal wiring diagram to.

I’ve come to accept, nothing about this system is normal. I just hope when I get it all together it works. I really want to get back to using an Archtop.

[sgosnell]

Double-sided mounting tape works. I've used it before. Just make sure you get mounting tape, it needs to be rather thick to stick to both the top and the thumbwheel. The thin double-sided tape often seen won't work well.