Installing under saddle pickup in guitar w/out any pickup

[c_tietze]

I've been taking my instruments to one store for years now, the work is done well and correctly, however I've heard several different takes on the issue of installing an under the saddle pickup into a guitar that has no pickup installed.

Do you think the tone of the guitar unplugged will change because the obviously the tech. is going to have to enlarge the hole at bridgepin to accomodate the jack; and doesn't the tech. have to literally drill a hole into the bridge to install the pickup and doesn't he have to remove the saddle and file it down a bit? It seems like there's so much to go wrong, I'm a little nervous because the axe that's getting worked on is my favorite.

Any words of encouragement would be appreciated as well as good any advice.

[Kahn]

if your that worried, and it is your favorite guitar, just throw down about 150 bones and get a nice fishman or b band pickup. how much is the pickup your considering cost?

btw i think the b band A6 runs for about 170. best pickup you can buy for reasonable price IMO.

[Ranting Thespian]

Ok, drilling for a larger pin/jack is simple and painless. When I got my Neo-D, I just got the hole drilled easily, fed it through with the new jack, and the sound stayed exactly the same. I would take it to a tech, though, and not try to do it yourself (unless you have a dad like mine who knows what he's doing). Now, the part about the brdige, there will be no noticable loss in sound there. It's stuff hitting the saddle and bridge and wood. There is just going to be a little slip that it will vibrate through as well, but keep inmind that the vibration doesn't just come through the bottom but the sides as well, so the sound will be fine. For the drill inthe saddle area, as long as the person knows how to do it, it will be fine. Filing the bridge down, that's will also not have any sound problems. It's just like lowering the action.


Don't worry, as long as you gave it to the right person, you're guitar will be fine.

[mangold]

you neednt worry

[c_tietze]

Ok, drilling for a larger pin/jack is simple and painless. When I got my Neo-D, I just got the hole drilled easily, fed it through with the new jack, and the sound stayed exactly the same. I would take it to a tech, though, and not try to do it yourself (unless you have a dad like mine who knows what he's doing). Now, the part about the brdige, there will be no noticable loss in sound there. It's stuff hitting the saddle and bridge and wood. There is just going to be a little slip that it will vibrate through as well, but keep inmind that the vibration doesn't just come through the bottom but the sides as well, so the sound will be fine. For the drill inthe saddle area, as long as the person knows how to do it, it will be fine. Filing the bridge down, that's will also not have any sound problems. It's just like lowering the action.


Don't worry, as long as you gave it to the right person, you're guitar will be fine.

Thanks RT, I'm just nervous because this is my fave and main axe. I'm intalling this pickup http://www.fishman.com/products/details.asp?id=24 the Natural 1 pickup.

The tech who's doing the work is very good and I have had worked performed by him already, I'm just nervous because I don't want to lose volume or tone and the part about drilling INTO the bridge scares the shit out of me, ha ha. Thanks for the explantion. I do feel better.

Peace,

C

[MahlerGrooves]

I just got a natural one installed into my taylor 110 (my brother had the pickup and never used it).

The guy did it in about 15 minutes with such ease and there is NO sound loss at all, and I love the way it sounds plugged in.

Just don't stand near him when he is doing the drilling! It's like watching people perform open-heart surgery on a family member; even though you know it will be fine, it is scary as hell watching someone make the first cut!