Rain song replacement pickup

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales

I think you will be quite happy with a K&K, many of our clients have installed them in their Rainsongs.

Hi Ted,

Can you tell us what owners do or what your shop does to prepare a RainSong's bridgeplate area for a K&K or other SBT? Thanks!

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

I think you are thinking of Emerald, no special preparation is needed with a Rainsong. I will double check with our tech and get back to you if I am wrong, which my wife will tell you is a rare occurrence.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales

I think you are thinking of Emerald, no special preparation is needed with a Rainsong. I will double check with our tech and get back to you if I am wrong, which my wife will tell you is a rare occurrence.

Ted, Thanks for checking!

Yes, I'm still thinking of getting an Emerald X20 in Green. It comes standard with the B-Band UST system which I'm thinking would sound pretty good in a carbon guitar because of carbon's vibrational transfer efficiency. The K&K Pure Mini is an extra $150 option above the B-Band and I'm thinking this is because the bridgeplate may need extra preparation for proper transducer mounting. The RainSong all-carbon guitars with the Fishman Matrix/Prefix Plus T sound like a cross between a UST and an SBT because of carbon's vibrational efficiency so I may just stay with the B-Band should I order and X20.

I'd really prefer to have a Trance Audio Amulet M Dual Mono system installed in the Emerald but I'm thinking that the roughness of the carbon may not make for a good coupling with the Amulet transducers. Maybe I could order the Emerald and pay a bit extra to have Alastair prepare the bridgeplate, as he would for the K&K, and install the Trance myself? Don't know. I'll have to check all my options before ordering.

[ukejon]

Definitely not loving the Prefix + in my OM1000N2. Will install a K&K, as I have on 7 other instruments.

Question: is it possible to remove the entire Fishman pickup from its pivoting pins but leave the thin plastic outer frame? I want my Rainsong to have a sound port and was wondering if the existing border around the Fishman could stay in place for cosmetic reasons.

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by ukejon

...Question: is it possible to remove the entire Fishman pickup from its pivoting pins but leave the thin plastic outer frame? I want my Rainsong to have a sound port and was wondering if the existing border around the Fishman could stay in place for cosmetic reasons.

One of our client did this, so it is possible. You will need to remove the four screws under the small cover plates on the frame, than separate the frame from the preamp. Once separated, you can reinstall the frame.

[ukejon]

Thanks Ted. Don't know if the Prefix + has any sort of resale or trade value, which would argue for keeping the frame connected to the preamp. On the other hand, I may just smack the preamp with a hammer...might actually sound better that way. (Disclaimer: my ears and UST's do not get along at all.....)

These Rainsongs are pretty great guitars.....CF definitely has my attention.

[penny]

Is it possible to ADD a K&K to the existing Fishman system in a RainSong?

[ukejon]

Originally Posted by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales

One of our client did this, so it is possible. You will need to remove the four screws under the small cover plates on the frame, than separate the frame from the preamp. Once separated, you can reinstall the frame.

Thanks for your advice today, Ted. Fishman coming out and K&K going in next week along with unbleached bone nut and saddle.