Schatten Archtop pickup

**GodinFan** · 01-12-2011, 12:03 PM

Just ordered myself one of these.

It's actually made about 20 miles from my house, but of course none of the local dealers stock it.

I'm going to install it on my Godin 5th Avenue. The pickup comes with a jack that can be installed at the endpin, or mounted externally on the tailpiece. No drilling needed for the external mount.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 01-12-2011, 01:34 PM

Interesting! Let us know how it sounds.

**kris** · 01-12-2011, 02:32 PM

[quote=GodinFan;116539]Just ordered myself one of these.

It's actually made about 20 miles from my house, but of course none of the local dealers stock it.

I'm going to install it on my Godin 5th Avenue. The pickup comes with a jack that can be installed at the endpin, or mounted externally on the tailpiece. No drilling needed for the external mount.

Is it your Godin acoustic?

**GodinFan** · 01-12-2011, 02:59 PM

I have three Godins. The 5th ave, which is acoustic, a Kingpin CWII, and a Summit CT.

**kris** · 01-12-2011, 03:51 PM

Shatten-great pick ups.
I used one for hand made clasical guitar.Exelent sound.

**newsense** · 01-12-2011, 04:28 PM

GodinFan - please update the post when you have tested the Schatten. I am currently considering installing their Maccaferri type pickup in my Gitane DG255. Although they are different attachment styles (the Maccaferri is internal), I assume they use the same piezo transducer. I'd be really interested to hear how "un-piezo" they sound ! (-this from a guy who makes his living out of developing new piezo materials !!)

Thanks

**GodinFan** · 01-12-2011, 04:50 PM

I'm looking forward to it - Schatten says the p/u works great straight into an amp, but recommends a preamp/DI if you're going to a PA.

I have an L.R. Baggs Para Acoustic DI that I plan on using with it.

**newsense** · 01-12-2011, 05:05 PM

I'm also planning on the passive version in conjunction with a Behringer ADI 21 acoustic pre-amp which I currently use with a classical guitar with a (Shadow) piezo bridge. Despite the incredibly low cost, the sound from the Behringer is amazing and, so far, no problems with reliability.

**GodinFan** · 01-12-2011, 05:10 PM

I have one of those Behringer ADI units as well. It sounds fine, but the Baggs has a phase invert and notch filter - both quite handy for quelling feedback.

**jimraygilliam** · 02-19-2011, 01:58 PM

Hey GF, just checking to see if you ever got your Schatten p/u and how you like it. I've got one of the new Loars and want to amplify it. Thanks, Jim

Originally Posted by GodinFan

I'm looking forward to it - Schatten says the p/u works great straight into an amp, but recommends a preamp/DI if you're going to a PA.

I have an L.R. Baggs Para Acoustic DI that I plan on using with it.

**GodinFan** · 02-19-2011, 02:12 PM

I need to test it in a live situation. There's a bit of falloff on the E strings. You really need to use the supplied bridge to make it work properly.

**jimraygilliam** · 02-19-2011, 02:16 PM

Thanks for the info. I guess I thought you had to use the supplied bridge. Isn't the transducer built into the bridge? I have an LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI that I plan to use. Do you think that would make a difference? Really appreciate your feedback. Jim

**ybjazz** · 09-03-2011, 08:34 PM

I know I'm chiming in late....

I just installed this on my archtop, I ran the wire inside the guitar and wired up a volume and a tone pot which are hidden in the F-holes with thumbwheel style knobs. First off, it sounds and works great.

A preamp is pretty much necessary in order to boost the volume and better shape the tone, but the end result is fantastic.

Now, in regards to the tone knob. I called Schatten and they told me that it was not possible to wire a tone knob to it successfully. I disagree, mine works just fine. The only downside is that as it adjusts the tone, once you roll off all the way you do lose a little volume....but if you go "almost all the way", it's fine. I try to play with the tone knob wide open anyways and make my adjustments on that amp, but it's nice to have it to have a little tweaking room depending on where I'm playing.

**GodinFan** · 09-04-2011, 06:29 PM

I'm not currently using the Schatten pickup. Falloff on the E strings was too much to deal with.

I'm thinking of trying a Graph Tech Ghost bridge instead. Individual saddles, hex output, adjustable levels for each string.

**ybjazz** · 09-04-2011, 07:53 PM

I'm surprised to hear that, I'm not having that problem. I guess it just depends on the guitar- is your guitar a solid top or laminate?

**jth1818** · 07-27-2012, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by GodinFan

I'm not currently using the Schatten pickup. Falloff on the E strings was too much to deal with.

I'm thinking of trying a Graph Tech Ghost bridge instead. Individual saddles, hex output, adjustable levels for each string.

If you haven't gone the graph tech route yet, try the original K&K twin spot. This is a $65 experiment if you don't like it, and these twin spots can be used for darn near anything if you don't.

Put one element under the bass side of the bridge (about halfway pushed underneath) so that the bridge foot is resting on the tip side of the element. The tip side of the element is very thin so it will have minimal to no impact on your bridge contact to the soundboard.

Put the other element on the high E side of the saddle positioned vertically (perpendicular to the soundboard)against the back wall of the saddle near the end, very close to where the E string crosses the saddle. You'll need some of those thin "sticky glue" peel off tabs to hold it there. You can get a pack of 100 or so at Staples for 3 bucks. One tab should last for months if you don't get into hot weather. Occasionally in heat they come loose so keep extras in your case.

This combination will work. I discovered it toally by accident and am now using it all the time on my Martin CF-1. First I tried both elements under the bridge feet, but there was a hollow sound from phase cancellation. Then I tried both attached to the saddle, but I lost volume on the bass end. Half and half is perfect. It almost gets me into D-28 territory. Full bodied and bright as it needs to be, punchy in the mids, but not harsh. It sounds like the guitar sounds.

Word of warning, DON'T fall prey and get the more expensive "pure archtop". The element in that pickup is not nearly as neutral and has an extremely harsh upper-mid peak.

**jth1818** · 07-27-2012, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by GodinFan

I'm not currently using the Schatten pickup. Falloff on the E strings was too much to deal with.

I'm thinking of trying a Graph Tech Ghost bridge instead. Individual saddles, hex output, adjustable levels for each string.

If you haven't gone the graph tech route yet, try the original K&K twin spot. This is a $65 experiment if you don't like it, and these twin spots can be used for darn near anything if you don't.

Put one element under the bass side of the bridge (about halfway pushed underneath) so that the bridge foot is resting on the tip side of the element. The tip side of the element is very thin so it will have minimal to no impact on your bridge contact to the soundboard.

Put the other element on the high E side of the saddle positioned vertically (perpendicular to the soundboard)against the back wall of the saddle near the end, very close to where the E string crosses the saddle. You'll need some of those thin "sticky glue" peel off tabs to hold it there. You can get a pack of 100 or so at Staples for 3 bucks. One tab should last for months if you don't get into hot weather. Occasionally in heat they come loose so keep extras in your case.

This combination will work. I discovered it toally by accident and am now using it all the time on my Martin CF-1. First I tried both elements under the bridge feet, but there was a hollow sound from phase cancellation. Then I tried both attached to the saddle, but I lost volume on the bass end. Half and half is perfect. It almost gets me into D-28 territory. Full bodied and bright as it needs to be, punchy in the mids, but not harsh. It sounds like the guitar sounds.

Word of warning, DON'T fall prey and get the more expensive "pure archtop". The element in that pickup is not nearly as neutral and has an extremely harsh upper-mid peak.

**jsorell** · 07-29-2012, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by GodinFan

I'm not currently using the Schatten pickup. Falloff on the E strings was too much to deal with.

I'm thinking of trying a Graph Tech Ghost bridge instead. Individual saddles, hex output, adjustable levels for each string.

I was thinking about trying the Schatten out. Looking at the installation guide; it states it is not for guitars with string spacing wider than 2 inches. It says a fall off on either E string would be the result. My guitar is ~ 2 1/8. John

**Frank67** · 07-29-2012, 04:34 PM

At some point I thought it is a good idea to put a Schatten pub in my Epi Joe Pass because I liked its accoustic tone (don't ask why - it is a laminate box but it sounded good to me back then accoustically. It was my first Jazz guitar). Bad idea in retrospect - the Schatten pub sounded thin and brittle (just like any piezo) while the Schatten bridge screwed up the tone of the magnetic pickup. Now I have an extra hole in the guitar and have exchanged the Schatten bridge against a Tuno'O matic. At least the electric tone is great now (also have a good PAF in there).

Next time I have such an idea I would probably go with a Schertler that can easily move from one guitar to the other and does not leave stains. (plus it has many fans regarding its tone.

I have learned along the way that it is better to have something that does one thing well rather than striving for versatility.