Solid Wood Archtop with Set Humbucker and Transducer Mic

**omphalopsychos** · 05-05-2017, 11:31 PM

Eastman Pisano AR680CE and K&K Definity Soundboard Pickup

A couple of weeks ago, I got an Eastman John Pisano - the one with mahogany back and sides. I found that I was enjoying playing it at low volumes because I love the acoustic sound of this guitar blended with the amplified sound of the humbucker. Well, I decided to go a step further. I did some late-night soldering last night to install a K&K Definity to the guitar. I used the stereo output jack that comes with the Definity. The blend is really nice I think. The amp is a PRRI 65 with a Weber 10a150. The strings are JP Pure Nickel Jazz 12s.

Below is a recording. My playing isn't great, but hope you get some ideas out of it. There are 3 separate clips:
1) Blended K&K and Humbucker
2) Humbucker only
3) K&K only

Solid Wood Archtop with Set Humbucker and Transducer Mic-img_5417-jpg

Solid Wood Archtop with Set Humbucker and Transducer Mic-fullsizerender-4-jpg

**rio** · 05-06-2017, 01:04 AM

Interesting! I am not too into the blended sound but the pickup by itself has a nice sound to it. The way you wired it is it possible to have independent volumes or change the pickup from one to the other on the fly in the middle of a song? That could be cool going from soloing to comping.

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**Rob MacKillop** · 05-06-2017, 02:15 AM

Your playing is fine. I like aspects of each of the setups. Nice guitar.

**mad dog** · 05-06-2017, 07:31 AM

Curious about that guitar. It looks like a mahogany top as well, or are my eyes deceiving me? BTW, nice clip!
MD

**omphalopsychos** · 05-06-2017, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by rio

Interesting! I am not too into the blended sound but the pickup by itself has a nice sound to it. The way you wired it is it possible to have independent volumes or change the pickup from one to the other on the fly in the middle of a song? That could be cool going from soloing to comping.

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The only problem with that is that the piezo is much lower output than the magnetic. My tech had suggested it but we agreed that I would ultimately have less control that way. I think the best solution in that case would still to use a preamp to set the volume and eq for the piezo and then may an AB box to switch from one to the other. I agree, it would make a nice comping tone if you're playing something like swing.

**omphalopsychos** · 05-06-2017, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Your playing is fine. I like aspects of each of the setups. Nice guitar.

You're kind, Rob. Yes it's a fun guitar. I really love the neck especially.

**omphalopsychos** · 05-06-2017, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by mad dog

Curious about that guitar. It looks like a mahogany top as well, or are my eyes deceiving me? BTW, nice clip!
MD

Spruce top, and thanks!

**DanielleOM** · 05-06-2017, 10:45 AM

Those K&K piezo pickups are designed to work with a K&K preamp. The sound and response can really degrade if they are seeing a lower input impedance.

(I have a flattop guitar with a Pure Western Mini piezo, 3 disks glued inside to the bridge plate near the pins)

**BigMikeinNJ** · 05-06-2017, 12:23 PM

These Pisanos are fabulous instruments. I think one of the most comfortable and playable necks I've ever encountered.
Congratulations. Great sound. I think I prefer the first two samples the best. I used to love just sitting on the back steps playing my AR880 unplugged.

Big

**helios** · 05-06-2017, 01:03 PM

Congratulations on your Eastman John Pisano! Years ago I had an opportunity to play both Pisano models at a music store in Seattle and I thought they were great! I ended up with a similar appearing Jazz Elite 17. Like the Pisano, it is light and responsive.
The frets were not perfect, however, and after I had the fretboard leveled and re-fretted, I find it difficult to put down.
I've even gotten my head around the 1.75" nut!
I like all sounds in your recording with the humbucker alone as my favorite.
I think the violin finish makes all of them look a bit like mahogany.

**omphalopsychos** · 05-06-2017, 01:14 PM

Btw this just arrived, which I got for pairing with this specific guitar. Happy to say that it emulates the studio sound of that recording in a live setting quite well. Yes, the tone is not everyone's cup of tea. I specifically wanted something much more modern sounding.

Solid Wood Archtop with Set Humbucker and Transducer Mic-img_5511-jpg

Solid Wood Archtop with Set Humbucker and Transducer Mic-img_5511-jpg

**Stringswinger** · 05-06-2017, 01:34 PM

Congrats on the new guitar. I think the Pisano models are among the best that I have seen from Eastman. I also think the piezo sound on your new guitar sounds good. With the Shertler, you should be in a new sonic world. I will suggest that you bring a cable to the gig to use the magnetic PUP. My experience is that a piezo amplified archtop does not compete well with other instruments in a band setting.

I think they are best suited for solo guitar or possible 4 to the bar comping without a drummer.

**MikeTT** · 05-06-2017, 01:38 PM

Thanks for this. I like the blended sound!
I'm still planning on doing something similar to one of my archtops. One step further would maybe be to go through a preamp first with the acoustic PU. You could then use the 2 PUs a bit like the speaker/electronics setup in a monitor: filter out the low end on the K&K, so it acts a bit like a tweeter. And being able to blend in the amount of "tweeter" would also be great of course.

**SierraTango** · 05-06-2017, 01:54 PM

You have excellent taste in gear. I have gigged extensively with my 05 Pisano 880 and Shertler Unico. I bought both new around 05, so (gulp) 12 years experience with a similar setup. The Pisano is now my backup guitar since my Benedetto Cremona gets 95% of the gigs.
At one point I had a steady engagement backing up a singer, and got a Shertler Basik pickup which I blended in with the mag pickup on the Pisano. It worked very well.
I have owned a gaggle of archtops in the last 40 years and the JP has one of the most comfortable necks I have ever played. Also, a +1 on the Shertler-hundreds of gigs and never a glitch.

**omphalopsychos** · 05-06-2017, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by MikeTT

Thanks for this. I like the blended sound!
I'm still planning on doing something similar to one of my archtops. One step further would maybe be to go through a preamp first with the acoustic PU. You could then use the 2 PUs a bit like the speaker/electronics setup in a monitor: filter out the low end on the K&K, so it acts a bit like a tweeter. And being able to blend in the amount of "tweeter" would also be great of course.

The Schertler has two channels, so there's no need for an additional preamp. If you were combining signals into one monophonic source for a one-channel amp, however, I would totally agree with you.

**omphalopsychos** · 05-06-2017, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Congrats on the new guitar. I think the Pisano models are among the best that I have seen from Eastman. I also think the piezo sound on your new guitar sounds good. With the Shertler, you should be in a new sonic world. I will suggest that you bring a cable to the gig to use the magnetic PUP. My experience is that a piezo amplified archtop does not compete well with other instruments in a band setting.

I think they are best suited for solo guitar or possible 4 to the bar comping without a drummer.

I probably agree. I think my plan is to keep the piezo volume where it is, and use the humbucker volume knob as my main volume. That way I can get a louder and more cutting electric sound for leads and maintain the acoustic voice for quieter moments or, as you said, playing quiet swing rhythm.

**omphalopsychos** · 05-06-2017, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by SierraTango

You have excellent taste in gear. I have gigged extensively with my 05 Pisano 880 and Shertler Unico. I bought both new around 05, so (gulp) 12 years experience with a similar setup. The Pisano is now my backup guitar since my Benedetto Cremona gets 95% of the gigs.
At one point I had a steady engagement backing up a singer, and got a Shertler Basik pickup which I blended in with the mag pickup on the Pisano. It worked very well.
I have owned a gaggle of archtops in the last 40 years and the JP has one of the most comfortable necks I have ever played. Also, a +1 on the Shertler-hundreds of gigs and never a glitch.

This Scherter is remarkable! The EQ is extremely powerful, the reverb is delicate, and the "warm" switch for piezo input really does remove the "quack".

**rob taft** · 05-06-2017, 03:53 PM

Omp...s, This is a new device that you might want to look into. I received mine a couple of days ago but I have yet to set it up. I need a new mic and I'm waited for a new guitar to be delivered. Think of it as a kind of Kemper Profiler for your acoustic sound. I've attached the link to the manual as well as a discussion thread on the Acoustic Guitar forum. It was closed and another started due to their (AGF) post limit of 300 per thread. I have absolutely no affiliation with this company. Just like to try something new and I have been very frustrated with the sound of piezo pickups.

ToneDexter | How It Works

http://audiosprockets.com/wp-content...uide-color.pdf

ToneDexter Thread - The Acoustic Guitar Forum

**Longways to Go** · 05-06-2017, 04:11 PM

Piezo pickups are a world into their own, no?

I'm not even close to an expert, but I definitely notice differences. So far, I figured out that I like LR Baggs Element much better than a couple of Fishman systems -- at least for finding a jazz tone in an acoustic oriented guitar.

BTW, on your Pisano, personally I would just stick with the original humbucker. Not knockin' on your piezo exploration.
That's just me.

Also, I think it's cool you are checking this out! I haven't had the chance to try any K&K stuff yet

**Dennis D** · 05-06-2017, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by omphalopsychos

This Scherter is remarkable! The EQ is extremely powerful, the reverb is delicate, and the "warm" switch for piezo input really does remove the "quack".

........and it sure has 'the look' !!

**omphalopsychos** · 05-06-2017, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Longways to Go

BTW, on your Pisano, personally I would just stick with the original humbucker. Not knockin' on your piezo exploration.
That's just me.

Fair enough. The good thing about this setup is that they are two distinct signal paths. I can easily mute the piezo when I want the electric only tone. Part of what I enjoy about archtops is hearing the blend of acoustic and amp, so this was just a way of getting the same experience at higher volumes with minimal hassle. In the clip above, the blend was about 50 50. Through the amp I've found that I mostly dig 75/25 (mostly humbucker).

**MikeTT** · 05-06-2017, 05:47 PM

Yeah, for my case I'd still prefer to be able to control the balance from the guitar.
I'm still not sure what I'll do / experiment with. On top of my list is a blending preamp from Noll:
MixPot - Noll Electronic

I'll probably power it externally with a phantom-power box. And you'd probably need to add a bit of capacitance before the preamp to compensate for cable capacitance you'll lose (to readjust the resonance freq. of the mag-PU).

If I only had the time for these experiments....

**omphalopsychos** · 05-07-2017, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by MikeTT

Yeah, for my case I'd still prefer to be able to control the balance from the guitar.
I'm still not sure what I'll do / experiment with. On top of my list is a blending preamp from Noll:
MixPot - Noll Electronic

I'll probably power it externally with a phantom-power box. And you'd probably need to add a bit of capacitance before the preamp to compensate for cable capacitance you'll lose (to readjust the resonance freq. of the mag-PU).

If I only had the time for these experiments....

Now that's pretty cool.