Arch top pickups?

[rschultz]

Hi,

I know a lot about pickups for flat tops, but don't really know the first thing about arch tops. A friend of mine is restoring one and was asking me about a pickup for it. He said there is no way to get inside except through the F-holes. I'm guessing you'd have to put some humbuckers on the outside somehow.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

PS I started this thread in the Electric area... Then realized Archtops have their own section!

[AcornHouse]

K&K has a couple of solutions.
A new under bridge system.
http://kksound.com/products/definity.php
I've not used this system.

And one that has the typical piezo heads that can be installed through the f-holes.
http://kksound.com/products/twinspot.php#simple2
I have this type in an old Guild acoustic archtop, and it gives a very acoustic-y sound.

You can also use a pickguard or figerboard extension mounted himbucker such as the Armstrong or Benedetto pups.

These will all be less invasive than have to rout out for a humbucker (or P-90).

[brad4d8]

Originally Posted by AcornHouse

You can also use a pickguard or figerboard extension mounted himbucker such as the Armstrong or Benedetto pups.

These will all be less invasive than have to rout out for a humbucker (or P-90).

Yes, these are often referred to as "Floating Pickups" and were common on high end acoustic archtops. Here is a DeArmond Rhythm Chief on an old Epi:

PUPS like these do often require a screw into the side of the neck, although some fasten on the pickguard as mentioned above.
Brad

[rschultz]

Ah. Having the pickup integrated into the bridge... like the Schatten. What are the advantage/disadvantages to this vs an add on like the Definity?

[AcornHouse]

Originally Posted by rschultz

Ah. Having the pickup integrated into the bridge... like the Schatten. What are the advantage/disadvantages to this vs an add on like the Definity?

I would think that the K&K and the Schatten are going to be more similar than compared with the neck pickups. They are both responding to the vibration of the bridge/body, so it's a matter of how well they do it. See if you can find clips of the Schatten to listen to (I think K&K has clips on their site, if I remember.)

The neck pickups are picking up the vibration of the strings electrical/magnetically. So their sound will be more electric, vs. the acoustic sound of the bridge/body piezos.

[Spook]

Is it going to be an acoustic archtop with acoustic amplification or does he want to install an electric guitar type of pickup on it?