Floating Johnny Smith

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by upsidedown

Here's that video I promised. Through a Blues Jr.

Warning; I was recording too close to the amp.

Really nice playing, and the string balance sounds fine!

It's hard to tell from the video, but did you leave the bronze wound strings on, or switch to nickel wound?

Between the ambient acoustic sound, and the amplified sound, it really is a pleasing sonic result. Your phrasing is really fine!

Glad it worked out with the Vintage Vibe CC pickup!

Best,
Howard Emerson

[upsidedown]

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

Really nice playing, and the string balance sounds fine!

It's hard to tell from the video, but did you leave the bronze wound strings on, or switch to nickel wound?

Between the ambient acoustic sound, and the amplified sound, it really is a pleasing sonic result. Your phrasing is really fine!

Glad it worked out with the Vintage Vibe CC pickup!

Best,
Howard Emerson

Howard, thanks for the kind words. Wish I could take the credit, but that's my son doing the playing.

Strings are Curt Mangan Monels (and getting dirty; due for a change). The pickup is very hot on the unwound strings and requires some dynamic finesse to keep them from taking over. Again, if I had it to do over again, I'd go for one with the adjustable poles. But my kid doesn't seem to have a problem with it and, as you mention, achieves a nice blend between acoustic and electric tones.

Thanks again for the recommendation.

[Bluemonk]

Originally Posted by upsidedown

Wish I could take the credit, but that's my son doing the playing.

You can take the credit for your son. Just as good.

[Livingston]

Originally Posted by upsidedown

Here's that video I promised. Through a Blues Jr.

Warning; I was recording too close to the amp.

Sounds great! Beautiful tone and beautifully played!

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by upsidedown

Howard, thanks for the kind words. Wish I could take the credit, but that's my son doing the playing.

Strings are Curt Mangan Monels (and getting dirty; due for a change). The pickup is very hot on the unwound strings and requires some dynamic finesse to keep them from taking over. Again, if I had it to do over again, I'd go for one with the adjustable poles. But my kid doesn't seem to have a problem with it and, as you mention, achieves a nice blend between acoustic and electric tones.

Thanks again for the recommendation.

What sometimes helps with bar pickups is a piece of lead tape covering the section that's too loud. It's usually available with double stick tape, but I bet there is a way to fold it over itself, and then use putty to hold it in place, as needed, when needed.

Perhaps Pete Biltoft will have a suggestion. As I said I have a pair of his CC single coils in my Tele build, and they're very well balanced, but of course I can lower either end if needed.


HE

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by upsidedown

and, as you mention, achieves a nice blend between acoustic and electric tones.

Oh, so that wasn't the purely electric tone, I wondered already

That tape though ... If I were you I'd have a minimal fingerrest made that is just big and rigid enough to keep the wire off the top and reach the f-hole. I had one made for my Loar that's just a bit bigger because I wanted a thumbwheel pot underneath it as well and the instrument came with a brace fixed to the side and a screw hole in the top near the edge anyway. It now has a nice 1.5mm'sh 3-ply bee's wing shaped finger rest on it that cover just enough of the treble f-hole to feed the cable into it without causing any buzzing. In your case you could probably attach it to the edge of the fingerboard, like the PU itself.

[upsidedown]

I'm going to just let the kid work with it. If he can't work around it, then we can figure out next steps.

Thanks for the suggestions and nice comments.

Digging the drop D tune, btw, Howard.

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by RJVB

I had one made for my Loar that's just a bit bigger because I wanted a thumbwheel pot underneath it as well and the instrument came with a brace fixed to the side and a screw hole in the top near the edge anyway.

By request, here's the finger rest in question:


https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/buil...ml#post1188486

[upsidedown]

Originally Posted by RJVB

By request, here's the finger rest in question:


https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/buil...ml#post1188486

Wanted to avoid attaching a pickguard, but I do like the look of that finger rest.

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by upsidedown

Wanted to avoid attaching a pickguard, but I do like the look of that finger rest.

In your case you can probably attach it to the neck/fretboard and forego of the bracket if you never put your fingers on it. But maybe your prefer using tape on the top (I hope it's low-tack at least!) ...