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-   -   SBT pickup: Dummy experiment (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542977)

Cuki79 05-22-2019 06:50 AM

Here is pickup v1.3. It is the same as pickup v1.0 but with feet (feet footprint behind smaller than the tape of the last experiment)

https://img.audiofanzine.com/image.p...hoto_id=316804

recording with 4.2 Mo input impedance preamp

The G note on the low E string screams and saturate.

Note that 3 strings broke and were changed. The guitar is acoustically brighter (old strings were EXPs from january)

As I understand, the more contact surface, the more low end and low-mid growl...

Next time, I will try the smaller enclosure under the saddle line...

Cuki79 05-24-2019 10:37 AM

I made a smaller box and placed it under the saddle line

The tone is very clean there

1) With 4.2 Mo input impedance FET preamp
2) Direct



The only problem is that I had to uninstall it once and I struggled against the tape.... Then I heard a "crack" :eek:

Now the guitar lost all its low end... Hope is just the pickup and not a lose brace.

The guitar sounds acoustically like a V-braced Taylor or E10om... super bright.

jonfields45 05-24-2019 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuki79 (Post 6069609)
I made a smaller box and placed it under the saddle line

The tone is very clean there

1) With 4.2 Mo input impedance FET preamp
2) Direct



The only problem is that I had to uninstall it once and I struggled against the tape.... Then I heard a "crack" :eek:

Now the guitar lost all its low end... Hope is just the pickup and not a lose brace.

The guitar sounds acoustically like a V-braced Taylor or E10om... super bright.

I am not sure I can remember every sound sample in this thread, but this one sounds the best...even great.

SpruceTop 05-24-2019 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuki79 (Post 6069609)
I made a smaller box and placed it under the saddle line

The tone is very clean there

1) With 4.2 Mo input impedance FET preamp
2) Direct



The only problem is that I had to uninstall it once and I struggled against the tape.... Then I heard a "crack" :eek:

Now the guitar lost all its low end... Hope is just the pickup and not a lose brace.

The guitar sounds acoustically like a V-braced Taylor or E10om... super bright.

Cuki, your latest samples are as good as most direct-recorded samples out there and would sound really good over a PA speaker. I have no doubt that with your determination and ongoing research and development on this and future systems that you will no doubt develop a marketable pickup system if you ever should choose to go commercial! Thanks and I look forward to your continuous experimentation and hope there isn't any damage to your guitar.

rockabilly69 05-24-2019 01:48 PM

You're really getting there, keep up the good work!!!

Cuki79 05-24-2019 03:28 PM

Actually, it is more balanced, more immediate but less mic-like... I am not fan of the attack...

Anyway the 3D-print enclosure needs much improvement. The cable was hanging frol the PVDF ink printed connection and ruined it with its weight.

I need to design something better that would enable proper shielding.

Cuki79 06-16-2019 12:32 AM

Pickup v3
 
I know... nobody saw pickup v2... The main problem was the PVDF film hanging folded because of the weight of the connectors... so pickup v2 died.

The new box designed to have the connectors in the box.

https://img.audiofanzine.com/image.p...hoto_id=317111

I also packaged the 5.6 Mo input impedance preamp

https://img.audiofanzine.com/image.p...hoto_id=317112

The pickup is positionned under the saddle line. I get similar tone as before.



1) It sounds better than I thought. The acoustic tone might be slightly affected. As if the box gave the ADGB strings a bit stiffer response (the pickup does notcover the whole saddle area)

2) There is a HUGE hum. I first tried to shield the box but had other problems to solve and got rid of the shielding. Note that copper tape shielding really damped the response of the wall it was applied too.

3) The guitar feels much heavier. That was to be expected with the bulky preamp and battery.

4) 1 Mohm input impedance should be enough. We don't need so much low end.


To be continued...

SpruceTop 06-16-2019 08:15 AM

Thanks, Cuki, for keeping us informed of your pickup development journey!

Cuki79 06-16-2019 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpruceTop (Post 6087873)
Thanks, Cuki, for keeping us informed of your pickup development journey!

Thanks Ken,

I think suspended PVDF film is a dead end. The pickup is way too bulky. Eventually I seem to get a brighter tone comparable to the HFN. I iitially thought the HFN was bright because of the bridge design itself... But it might be just the coupling with the top.

https://img.audiofanzine.com/image.p...hoto_id=301981

Maybe a huge surface sensing pickup is equivalent to multiple sensors that interfere destructively. I thought it would have rather kill the high-end than the mids.

I will probably try to shield this pickup first because I need an elegant way to shield the pickups, then I will probably go for a dual tiny sensor design (ex PTW#54 or Dazzo).

Also I think I will work on an external preamp design.

PS: Note that making pickups is much harder than making IR!!!

Cuki79 06-29-2019 09:29 AM

Pickup v4
 
Here is the design n°4

The pickup is folded to provide shielding. It's hanged by two 3D-printed posts and hold with nylon screws

https://img.audiofanzine.com/image.p...hoto_id=317302

Surprisingly it sounds very Lyric-like. Here is a sample direct to the focusrite 2i2. (preamp is onboard)



Honestly, it was a pain to install... I made a 3D print clamp but it did not help. As you see in the picture it is hanging and is not hold tight enough

I should probably reduce the length

only good point: It does not change the guitar tone. (My guess because I don't add weight nor rigidity)

It does not sound good with the JAM150 but quite good with the Laney AH4x4 (Might be the output impedance of my DIY preamp which is high for the JAM)


Pickup v4 through Laney AH4x4
recorded with zoom H2
no mic bleed (I play in the next room, the door is closed)

Cuki79 06-29-2019 11:57 AM

Somehow the Lyric also is a light membrane (microphone) standing on two feet

https://image.rakuten.co.jp/centralm...0081496531.jpg

SpruceTop 06-30-2019 01:10 PM

Thanks, Again, Cuki! Please keep at it and I'm sure you'll arrive at what you want to hear and then we can all buy your pickup system! ;)

Cuki79 06-30-2019 01:47 PM

Thanks,

if I ever end somewhere... I will let you know. But you will have to make the pickup by yourself. Buying electronic stuff from the US to Europe, assemble pickups and send them back to the US is a non sens. You will have to get your hands dirty!

I will be glad to help.

lol
Cuki

Cuki79 07-03-2019 03:55 PM

Pickup v5
 
https://img.audiofanzine.com/image.p...hoto_id=317376

Here is the last version. Pickup v5 is a double pass supended film. Two sensors placed along the X-brace as PUTW #54.

With one of the post badly taped and hanging (see left red circle)


With the post re-taped (see right red circle)


The bad install does sound good... lol. The good install probably needs the treble to be tame.

Note that the two posts design is a must for me since there is tons of left-over glue on my bridge plate (Thanks Eastman guitars)

I think I will stop there... I am a bit tired with that project.

jonfields45 07-03-2019 04:39 PM

I've enjoyed your posts on your experiments and am still very grateful for your insight to help me fix my first HFN install. Nothing but respect from me!


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