Quote:
Originally Posted by tadol
Have you tried it without the preamp or anything else? Do you have access to a good, clean full range acoustic amp? And to compare, have you measured the output of the guitar strings with just a reference mic? I’m just kinda surprised you’re having to go to this much effort to get your guitar dialed in - i just ran through the settings til I liked it, and haven’t looked back - maybe I was just lucky, or maybe I’m not picky enough, but its worked really well that way a couple times now -
|
Thanks, for looking in again!
I have the LR Baggs Synapse Personal PA/Amp which has a nice, smooth acoustic tone. If I hear something that sounds unbalanced with the string-to-string signal output of a new pickup/preamp installation, I'll check a pickup installation by running through the open strings one by one with equal picking pressure while looking at a graphic representation of their amplitude on my computer using TrueRTA software. Quite often I'll see the 1st-E-string as having a couple-a-three dB down from the other strings and likely has something to do with its wire thickness compared to the other strings with their wire thickness(es) and construction. This tends to be normal. Also, I often see the graphic representation of some installations as having the 6th-E-string as being a few dB down in relation to the signal output of the other four centrally-located strings. I didn't expect having both E-strings to have this reduced signal output with my installation of the Ultra Tonic 3.2 system.
The only time I really get into examining individual string-to-string output is when my ear tells me there are indistinct separations between notes, chords, and alternating bass and bass runs within a musical passage because I can hear some strings not being as loud as others.
My thoughts on my Ultra Tonic installation: Although the long Main Sensor is perfectly centered along the saddle line, the reduced signal output of the E-strings may be a result of three possibilities:
1) Both ends of the Main Sensor may not have been pressed down firmly enough during its installation. I do, however, remember pressing along the entire Main Sensor to ensure it was down along its entire length. I always press down on the SBT transducers on all my installations regardless of the brand of pickup.
2) Possibly there is a slightly thicker accumulation of adhesive under each end of the Main Sensor compared to the central area due to positioning it by a slight sliding motion to get it centered properly?
3) The Martin D-18 string spacing at the bridge is 2 5/32'' inches. Although my installation looks almost exactly like that in the Ultra Tonic Installation PDF as far as being centrally located in relation to the bridge pins, perhaps, although probably unlikely, the Main Sensor isn't long enough to completely capture the direct vibrations of the two E-strings coming down through the saddle/bridge/bridgeplate sandwich?