iguoh Posted May 25, 2009 Posted May 25, 2009 I just joined the forum as I am about to pull the trigger on one after trying over the weekend. I never expected to be so blown away by a Gibson! Would it be a waste to install a pickup on such a guitar? I have other guitars which I can use live but am in a dilemma about this one. Any thoughts or suggestions?
ponty Posted May 25, 2009 Posted May 25, 2009 Personally, I would be hesitant. In 1993, I bought a J-45 of the day and had a pick-up put in it. I really believe it lost something that day! My other 93 J-45 hasnt got anything. If you go ahead, prepare to lose some sound quality. On the other hand it may not happen.
ajsc Posted May 25, 2009 Posted May 25, 2009 I removed the pickup from my J-45. I didn't notice any difference, in tone.
larryp58 Posted May 25, 2009 Posted May 25, 2009 My question is "if you wanted to "plug in", then why did you get a TV VOS to start with"? I say leave it be. I think you'll regret screwing with it like that. If you want to play it live, mic it! That's just my opinion, of course!!!
jannusguy Posted May 25, 2009 Posted May 25, 2009 i'm sort of with larry. i have one of these and it is so sweet sounding. the thought crossed my mind regarding a pick up. just can't do it. i don't play out so it's not really an issue. if i felt the need to record it, i'd mic it. otherwise, i'm not gonna mess with perfection. it's a great guitar. this is the only gibson i own that i haven't modded in some way. it was right from the get go.
Acousticat Posted May 25, 2009 Posted May 25, 2009 i'm sort of with larry. i have one of these and it is so sweet sounding. the thought crossed my mind regarding a pick up. just can't do it. i don't play out so it's not really an issue. if i felt the need to record it' date=' i'd mic it. otherwise, i'm not gonna mess with perfection. it's a great guitar. this is the only gibson i own that i haven't modded in some way. it was right from the get go.[/quote'] Like wise, If you do want to add a pickup, use a sound-hole pickup, with this method no drilling is required. L.R.Baggs M-1 is a great sound-hole pickup. L.R.Baggs M-1 Sal
ballcorner Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 If you install a K and K mini western, there will be no impact on the tonality of the guitar and you will have a pickup that sounds like the instrument - not just the strings or the pickup. The important thing is that you don't consider any pickup that involves any modifications to the bridge. Drilling the end out for a jack has no impact on anything.
Fleeter Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 I'd look at the LR Baggs system like they have in the new J45's - if insalled correctly and professionally it won't alter the sound of the guitar and when plugged in it will sound fantastic. You can pick the sytem up for 150 - 200 bucks and probably have it installed for another 50.....just my opinion!
iguoh Posted May 26, 2009 Author Posted May 26, 2009 Thanks for all the replies! I was hesitant for exactly the points raised. I may consider the M1 since it won't require any modifications to the guitar.
eeh1 Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 I just joined the forum as I am about to pull the trigger on one after trying over the weekend. I never expected to be so blown away by a Gibson! Would it be a waste to install a pickup on such a guitar? I have other guitars which I can use live but am in a dilemma about this one. Any thoughts or suggestions? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I would not but..................................................... its your guitar nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hoyt Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 I'm in the same position -- I've had my J45 VOS for a month or so. If I do install a pickup, it will be the K&K suggested by an earlier poster. I have one in my mandola and had one in a Martin. Really nice sound. If the J45 had a traditional endpin, one could even use one of the new "vintage" endpin jacks that don't require reaminng/drilling out a larger hole. But, I think you'd have to ream/drill a bit to even use the new "vintage" jack. Haven't looked close enough to know for sure. I've usually told folks to go ahead and install a pickup, even if it reduces the "value" a $100 or so -- after all, you bought it to play. But, that was before I got this new J45. I'm so happy with the sound, I don't want or need to mess with it. It sounds great recorded with a mic, and I don't play out very much nowadays. If I need a pickup, I have a sound hole pickup (Dean Markley) that pops in and out. Plus, you can install a K&K in a hour or so, if needed. Enjoy it with or without a pickup.
Taylor Player Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 I am agreeing 100% with Ballcorner on the K & K western mini. I had one installed in my Gibson AJ and loved it. It made no difference to the tone and the cost for the pickup (around $110 from the Podium in Minneapolis) plus the install (free if you do it yourself or around $50-75 to have an expert do it) is very reasonable. I like it so well I am having another currently installed on my LG1 as it is in getting a neck reset and new saddle. I am having the old passive undersaddle pickup taken out. You will love the natural reproduction of your J45. The K & K is a passive soundboard transducer type system so it picks up taps and such on the soundboard as well which I like as I use a certain percusive technique when playing some songs.
TWilson Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 I had a K&K mini in a little Guild 000 that I've sold but it sounded great, no negative influence on the sound unplugged. I got it new as a "Blem" as there was some glue slopped around on one of the contacts. Hey, you can't see the contacts anyway. I took it to a local shop and the Tech put it in for $25. I got the K&K for $50, so you can't beat that with a stick!
powerpopper Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 If you install a K and K mini western' date=' there will be no impact on the tonality of the guitar and you will have a pickup that sounds like the instrument - not just the strings or the pickup. The important thing is that you don't consider any pickup that involves any modifications to the bridge. Drilling the end out for a jack has no impact on anything.[/quote'] Another point worth mentioning is that K&K now offers something they call the"vintage jack" that they claim requires no drilling and the resulting jack is the same size as a strap button. The only downside there is you have to use a 1/8" adapter to your standard 1/4" cable (or get a 1/8" to 1/4" cable). But no drilling, doesn't mess with your tone and you can take it out if it bothers you later. I hear the pickup might get destroyed during the removal process, but my guy says he can take it out no problem. YMMV.
asmith9509 Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 I'd look at the LR Baggs system like they have in the new J45's - if insalled correctly and professionally it won't alter the sound of the guitar and when plugged in it will sound fantastic. You can pick the sytem up for 150 - 200 bucks and probably have it installed for another 50.....just my opinion! I have the Baggs Element system that I removed from my J-45 MC... I would be glad to sell it for a very fair price. PM me if you're interested.
iguoh Posted May 26, 2009 Author Posted May 26, 2009 Another point worth mentioning is that K&K now offers something they call the"vintage jack" that they claim requires no drilling and the resulting jack is the same size as a strap button. The only downside there is you have to use a 1/8" adapter to your standard 1/4" cable (or get a 1/8" to 1/4" cable). But no drilling' date=' doesn't mess with your tone and you can take it out if it bothers you later. I hear the pickup might get destroyed during the removal process, but my guy says he can take it out no problem. YMMV.[/quote'] Thanks, this looks very interesting indeed! With this I can have a pickup and yet to make any structural modifications to the guitar. Very tempting...
iguoh Posted May 26, 2009 Author Posted May 26, 2009 I have the Baggs Element system that I removed from my J-45 MC... I would be glad to sell it for a very fair price. PM me if you're interested. Thanks for the offer. For undersaddle pickups, I have had better results from the Baggs RT2 over the Element. I did not quite like the Element but thanks anyway. I am tempted to go the K&K with Vintage end pin route if I do decide to install a pickup.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.