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  #46  
Old 05-22-2019, 06:50 AM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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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)



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...
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  #47  
Old 05-24-2019, 10:37 AM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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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"

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.
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Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003)
Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999)
Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet
Yamaha FGX-412 (1998)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013)
Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014)
http://acousticir.free.fr/
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  #48  
Old 05-24-2019, 10:54 AM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuki79 View Post
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"

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.
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IR Demo, read the description too: https://youtu.be/SELEE4yugjE
My duo's website and my email... [email protected]

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  #49  
Old 05-24-2019, 01:09 PM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuki79 View Post
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"

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.
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Last edited by SpruceTop; 05-24-2019 at 01:59 PM.
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  #50  
Old 05-24-2019, 01:48 PM
rockabilly69 rockabilly69 is offline
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You're really getting there, keep up the good work!!!
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  #51  
Old 05-24-2019, 03:28 PM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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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.
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Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003)
Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999)
Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet
Yamaha FGX-412 (1998)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013)
Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014)
http://acousticir.free.fr/
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  #52  
Old 06-16-2019, 12:32 AM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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Default 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.



I also packaged the 5.6 Mo input impedance preamp



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...
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Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003)
Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999)
Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet
Yamaha FGX-412 (1998)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013)
Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014)
http://acousticir.free.fr/
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  #53  
Old 06-16-2019, 08:15 AM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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Thanks, Cuki, for keeping us informed of your pickup development journey!
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom
Martin D-18/UltraTonic
Adamas I 2087GT-8
Ovation Custom Legend LX
Guild F-212XL STD
Huss & Dalton TD-R
Taylor 717e
Taylor 618e
Taylor 614ce
Larrivee D-50M/HiFi
Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi
Larrivee D-40R Sunburst
Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom
RainSong BI-DR1000N2
Emerald X20
Yamaha FGX5
Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2
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  #54  
Old 06-16-2019, 09:01 AM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SpruceTop View Post
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.



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!!!
__________________
Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003)
Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999)
Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet
Yamaha FGX-412 (1998)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013)
Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014)
http://acousticir.free.fr/
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  #55  
Old 06-29-2019, 09:29 AM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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Default 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



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)
__________________
Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003)
Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999)
Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet
Yamaha FGX-412 (1998)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013)
Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014)
http://acousticir.free.fr/

Last edited by Cuki79; 06-29-2019 at 10:12 AM.
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  #56  
Old 06-29-2019, 11:57 AM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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Somehow the Lyric also is a light membrane (microphone) standing on two feet

__________________
Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003)
Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999)
Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet
Yamaha FGX-412 (1998)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013)
Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014)
http://acousticir.free.fr/
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  #57  
Old 06-30-2019, 01:10 PM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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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!
__________________
Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom
Martin D-18/UltraTonic
Adamas I 2087GT-8
Ovation Custom Legend LX
Guild F-212XL STD
Huss & Dalton TD-R
Taylor 717e
Taylor 618e
Taylor 614ce
Larrivee D-50M/HiFi
Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi
Larrivee D-40R Sunburst
Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom
RainSong BI-DR1000N2
Emerald X20
Yamaha FGX5
Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2
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  #58  
Old 06-30-2019, 01:47 PM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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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
__________________
Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003)
Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999)
Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet
Yamaha FGX-412 (1998)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013)
Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014)
http://acousticir.free.fr/
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  #59  
Old 07-03-2019, 03:55 PM
Cuki79 Cuki79 is offline
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Default Pickup v5



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.
__________________
Martin 00-18V Goldplus + internal mic (2003)
Martin OM-28V + HFN + internal mic (1999)
Eastman E6OM (2019) Trance Audio Amulet
Yamaha FGX-412 (1998)

Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 Reissue (2013)
Fender Stratocaster American Vintage 1954 (2014)
http://acousticir.free.fr/
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  #60  
Old 07-03-2019, 04:39 PM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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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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jf45ir Free DIY Acoustic Guitar IR Generator
.wav file, 30 seconds, pickup left, mic right, open position strumming best...send to direct email below
I'll send you 100/0, 75/25, 50/50 & 0/100 IR/Bypass IRs
IR Demo, read the description too: https://youtu.be/SELEE4yugjE
My duo's website and my email... [email protected]

Jon Fields
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