Please help identify this mystery pickup system

[BadLiver]

Guys,

I recently bought a good 12-string (Taylor LKSM-12) from the guitar tech for a very well-known band that plays big venues. They apparently didn't like it, and it's in showroom-perfect condition.

The guitar has a really bizarre pickup system and I was wondering if anyone could help me identify it. It does have a battery -- so it must be active -- but doesn't offer any sort of volume or tone control. There is a rectangular perforated metal plate attached inside the guitar right under the bridge ... the bridge pins pass down through those holes.

I am inclined to yank it out and just put in a normal K&K passive system in there (personally, I don't think a nice guitar should house a battery just in case there's ever a leak) but before I do that I ought to figure out what this is and how it works:

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7415.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7420.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7415.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7417.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7420.jpg


Anybody know? Thanks for any heads-ups.

[BadLiver]

I just called Taylor and apparently it's a factory "ES-Stealth" system with no knobs. That has to be the dumbest idea ever, to have an active system with no way to control it. It's coming out, pronto!!!

[Petty1818]

Originally Posted by BadLiver

I just called Taylor and apparently it's a factory "ES-Stealth" system with no knobs. That has to be the dumbest idea ever, to have an active system with no way to control it. It's coming out, pronto!!!

I can't see the photos but this isn't really that odd. Many pickups come with little to no eq or volume controls. When I first ordered the Trance Amulet M it was just the straight pickup. I have since added the volume and tone controls but a lot of people like simplicity.

[shufflebeat]

Originally Posted by Petty1818

Many pickups come with little to no eq or volume controls...

...a lot of people like simplicity.

+1

The active electronics are often to prepare the signal for the outside world rather than offer any control. Lots of sound engineers would gladly cut the fingers off guitarists to stop them fiddling with their "controls" (bugger-up buttons) if it didn't render them useless-er.

Guitar mounted controls often don't offer the kind of control required, fine for broad-brush EQ and volume control in small gig situations but once set (all at 0) I've only ever used them for some gentle boost for finger picking.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by BadLiver

Guys,

I recently bought a good 12-string (Taylor LKSM-12) from the guitar tech for a very well-known band that plays big venues. They apparently didn't like it, and it's in showroom-perfect condition.

The guitar has a really bizarre pickup system and I was wondering if anyone could help me identify it. It does have a battery -- so it must be active -- but doesn't offer any sort of volume or tone control. There is a rectangular perforated metal plate attached inside the guitar right under the bridge ... the bridge pins pass down through those holes.

I am inclined to yank it out and just put in a normal K&K passive system in there (personally, I don't think a nice guitar should house a battery just in case there's ever a leak) but before I do that I ought to figure out what this is and how it works:

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7415.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7420.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7415.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7417.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/home/DJD%20s...w=IMG_7420.jpg


Anybody know? Thanks for any heads-ups.

The ES Stealth was often installed in custom shop and R. Taylor models.

[varmonter]

Originally Posted by shufflebeat

+1

The active electronics are often to prepare the signal for the outside world rather than offer any control. Lots of sound engineers would gladly cut the fingers off guitarists to stop them fiddling with their "controls" (bugger-up buttons) if it didn't render them useless-er.

Guitar mounted controls often don't offer the kind of control required, fine for broad-brush EQ and volume control in small gig situations but once set (all at 0) I've only ever used them for some gentle boost for finger picking.

This... generally designed for downstream gear. like sunrises sb2
it just provides a clean boost to your signal.

[fazool]

I would never want holes in my guitar for control knobs. I would shape the sound downstream, anyway.

Stealth system is ideal, IMO.