Floating bar pickup for SS Stewart Archtop Acoustic?

[joelf]

I'm buying a '50s SS Stewart archtop acoustic---model 9010. I want to play it amped and don't want to cut into the wood.(This guy's guitar already has a small hole on the bottom where a strap endpin apparently was. I'd get that fixed too.)

I like single-coil. Have a P90 on my Godin and use a Seymour Duncan round hole on my acoustics. Going to go with single-coil for the dark sound I prefer.

I really don't want to start having wiring installed in a guitar not made for it. But I'd like to control volume & tone in an attachment to the p.u. if possible---or I'll just use a volume pedal I have. Would prefer controls on the instrument,

Thoughts? Thank yiz...

[sgosnell]

DeArmond Rhythm Chief. I like the 1100 model because of the adjustable polepieces, but some like the 1000 without them. Hands down my favorite pickup. The controls can be thumbwheels, mounted to the underside of the pickguard or in the f hole. I use only a volume control in the f hole on mine, but the Schaller thumbwheel set, is the easiest to wire. The output jack can be problematic if you're not willing to use an endpin jack, but it can be attached under the pickguard or on the tailpiece, using zip ties or some other method. It may be desirable to use a 1/8" (3.5mm) jack instead of the usual 1/4", because of weight and size. That does require a special cable with the matching plug on one end. That's going to be the case with any pickup, so don't even start to make a pickup decision based on that. I mount my Rhythm Chief using Blu-Tack, available at craft and office supply stores. It's a putty-like material that holds the pickup securely, but can be removed easily enough and makes no modification to the guitar. In use for a couple of years I see no finish damage at all. You can use the standard rod that comes with the pickup if you're willing to put two screws into the bass side of the neck. I saw Whit Smith using the Blu-Tack method and I prefer it.

[joelf]

DeArmond Rhythm Chief. I like the 1100 model because of the adjustable polepieces, but some like the 1000 without them. Hands down my favorite pickup. The controls can be thumbwheels, mounted to the underside of the pickguard or in the f hole. I use only a volume control in the f hole on mine, but the Schaller thumbwheel set, is the easiest to wire. The output jack can be problematic if you're not willing to use an endpin jack, but it can be attached under the pickguard or on the tailpiece, using zip ties or some other method. It may be desirable to use a 1/8" (3.5mm) jack instead of the usual 1/4", because of weight and size. That does require a special cable with the matching plug on one end. That's going to be the case with any pickup, so don't even start to make a pickup decision based on that. I mount my Rhythm Chief using Blu-Tack, available at craft and office supply stores. It's a putty-like material that holds the pickup securely, but can be removed easily enough and makes no modification to the guitar. In use for a couple of years I see no finish damage at all. You can use the standard rod that comes with the pickup if you're willing to put two screws into the bass side of the neck. I saw Whit Smith using the Blu-Tack method and I prefer it.

The Rhythm Chief is what I was just looking at. Sounds like a plan. The silver one sets you back a reasonable $134 on Amazon.

Tell me more about the thumbwheels. Are they a separate accessory? Can all-thumbs-with-anything-technical me mount them?...

[Cunamara]

IIRC, the silver DeArmond 1000 is wound for acoustic rather than electric strings. With electric strings the B and E will sound comparatively weak, but balanced with brass, bronze or monel strings. The 1100 is wound for electric strings but has adjustable polepieces.

Another pickup option is the Kent Armstrong handwound single coil; P90 and DeArmond 1100 in one, basically. Mounts to the pickguard, or via Blu-Tack as mentioned. The latter is just so easy to do and it works great.

Thumbwheels:

https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/...heel-controls/

[David B]

Or you can attach the dearmond pickup with a replica "monkey on a stick" setup. This man manufactures the rod and the volume/tone controls that clamp to the strings behind the bridge like the originals:
Store | Panique Jazz

[sgosnell]

Thumbwheels can be mounted with mounting tape, that's how I attach mine. Strong 3M double-sided mounting tape works fine, but the Schatten unit comes with mounting tape. I misspoke. The thumbwheels are Schatten, not Schaller. They're available from StewMac, or cheaper from ebay or other sources, because StewMac's shipping charges are high. Google will find places to buy them. They're by far the easiest to install, only need to solder in the supplied capacitor, then the two pickup wires, complete illustrated directions are supplied. You can also get individual thumbwheels cheaper from Guitar Parts Factory, but you will need a separate capacitor if you use a tone control, and figure out the wiring on your own. If you're not comfortable with wiring, the Schatten unit is the way to go. Not cheap, but worth the money, ~$35 on ebay.

[joelf]

Or you can attach the dearmond pickup with a replica "monkey on a stick" setup. This man manufactures the rod and the volume/tone controls that clamp to the strings behind the bridge like the originals:
Store | Panique Jazz

Thanks. Thanks everybody!...

[joelf]

Picking up the gtr. tonight. Def on the De'Armond and monkey...sounds easiest for a techno-moron like me to mount.

Thank yiz all!...

[joelf]

So I took the guitar home tonight. It's gonna be used a LOT---a fine knockaround box, and SO light! Needs a little tweaking of the action, maybe a fret job, but hey, for a lousy $300?! No complaints whatever.

Will check in again when the electricity's on...

[mr. beaumont]

Pictures!!! We need pictures!!

[joelf]

I only have a stupidphone---commensurate with my intellect. No Internet,

Here's the exact guitar, from a few years earlier:

[joelf]

One drawback: no truss rod to adjust the neck.

Why, I'm outraged! I may sue---an ANTI-TRUSS SUIT.

(RIMSHOT)...

[joelf]

IIRC, the silver DeArmond 1000 is wound for acoustic rather than electric strings. With electric strings the B and E will sound comparatively weak, but balanced with brass, bronze or monel strings. The 1100 is wound for electric strings but has adjustable polepieces.

Another pickup option is the Kent Armstrong handwound single coil; P90 and DeArmond 1100 in one, basically. Mounts to the pickguard, or via Blu-Tack as mentioned. The latter is just so easy to do and it works great.

Thumbwheels:

https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/...heel-controls/

I use Martin monels---should be fine. Acoustic strings on an electric, especially those, give me the dark sound I like. A single-coil is the icing on the cake...

[joelf]

Looks like our hirsute friend doesn't have volume or tone---just a way of mounting the pickup.

Isn't there a way to have then in front? Not really up for controls under the pickguard I can't see...

[joelf]

Today I found a local shop that will install the ape; wire it inside with a 1/4 inch sticking out (there's a hole the perfect size where there once may have been a bottom endpin); unglue the glued-on bridge (a must w/no truss rod); and make and attach volume/tone pots (out of stock on the monkey etc. page). All for under $300 (plus $180 for the pickup and $65 for our hairy friend---damn reasonable for a $300 vintage guitar that already plays and sounds great).

I am quite content...

[sgosnell]

The originals had a control box that attached to the string clamp. Originals are hard to find, and very expensive. Vic Wong, who sells the monkey-on-a-stick, also has control boxes, just scroll down. You can get either volume/tone or just volume. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Scroll further down for the mounting plate assembly for the box, you'll need it, unless you zip-tie the box to the tailpiece or something. For $20, I'd go for the mounting plate. I would also probably pony up for the output jack in the control box, but it can be wired to work without it if you're handy with a soldering iron and already have a jack in place. Just be aware that it's a 1/8" jack, not the standard 1/4" you see on most guitars, so you'll need either a 1/8" (3.5mm) plug on your cord, like the common earphone plugs, or an adapter.

[joelf]

The originals had a control box that attached to the string clamp. Originals are hard to find, and very expensive. Vic Wong, who sells the monkey-on-a-stick, also has control boxes, just scroll down. You can get either volume/tone or just volume. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Scroll further down for the mounting plate assembly for the box, you'll need it, unless you zip-tie the box to the tailpiece or something. For $20, I'd go for the mounting plate. I would also probably pony up for the output jack in the control box, but it can be wired to work without it if you're handy with a soldering iron and already have a jack in place. Just be aware that it's a 1/8" jack, not the standard 1/4" you see on most guitars, so you'll need either a 1/8" (3.5mm) plug on your cord, like the common earphone plugs, or an adapter.

The volume/tone pots on Wong's site are sold out. Read the fine print.

The rest is in good hands, mainly not mine.

Thanks for your concern---really...

[joelf]

Kent Armstrong single-coil lookin' good too. Mebbe...

[joelf]

Could this be the answer? Contacted the seller to make sure it's single-coil...


Vintage 1960's Argonne "Monkey On A Stick" Archtop Acoustic | Reverb

[sgosnell]

I never heard of that brand. No opinion.

[joelf]

Me neither.

Or this---which we all know:

1959 DeArmond Pickup Harness w/Orig. Centralab Pots SEE VIDEO | Reverb

[joelf]

Could this be the answer? Contacted the seller to make sure it's single-coil...


Vintage 1960's Argonne "Monkey On A Stick" Archtop Acoustic | Reverb

Rolled the dice. It just LOOKS better, and less bulky. Fer Chrissake the De'Armond had a CO2 cartridge like the ones we'd throw at houses of kids we hated.

I think they named a fruit after it: ugli...