FINALLY: My First Trance Audio Amulet Pickup

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Scott, All arrangements are complete and your first check is in the mail! Don't spend it all in one place!

Yeah, Ken. Knowing me I'll probably spend it on my NEXT Trance Amulet from Maury, so send that check!

Believe it or not, Ken, I'm thinking of dropping one into one of my Epi Masterbilt AJ-500Ms. Those are incredible solid-wood guitars for the money -- just picking up my first rosewood version tomorrow (AJ-500R w no factory rig) and this is usually what I play out with. I've had a Martin stolen, so that stays at home most of the time. I'm going to put the Eastman E-10SS through its paces over the next couple months and then see where I'm at. I already have a top-end Baggs in my HD-28, so that's there to stay. Anyway, gonna ponder on that Epi. Might pull the trigger on that one.

Hey Maury & Ken:
Have you noticed any difference with the rig on square-shouldered Martins vs round-shouldered Gibbies? The reason is, I first heard this rig on Jackson's solo tour, and he plays very few Martins in his set, instead playing almost all Gibson guitars.

Excited as heck to put this thing through its paces. Have wanted one for years.

memmer

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Scott, I'm looking forward to your review of your first gigging experience with your new Trance Amulet system! Enjoy!

Kenny, I'm excited too. FYI, if you've seen my YT channel, I typically gig solo acoustic. I'll be plugged in, but as Jackson often does in that situation, I'll also be running a mic out front (I'm pretty sure Neil Young still does it this way too). Maury or anyone, can someone recommend a decent acoustic mic to run in conjunction with the Amulet rig? Right now I'm just running an SM-58, but that will eventually change. I think Jackson is running a not-terribly-expensive Neumann.

thanks,
scott

[Ruppster]

Originally Posted by MaurysMusic

If it fits



... I have nothing but high expectations that it will sound great.

Maury,
That seems like an awful lot of work for a common guitar (Gibson J45). You'd think the company would have a helpful list of guitars they know it fits.

[es335td]

Hi all,
I love the Amulet pickup in my Jackson Browne so much that I had an Amulet MV installed in my Martin D-28 Authentic. By contrast, the pickup is very treble heavy and there is very little volume on the low E. Is this simply a case of the placement of the sensors on the bridge?


Thanks!

[MaurysMusic]

Originally Posted by es335td

Hi all,
I love the Amulet pickup in my Jackson Browne so much that I had an Amulet MV installed in my Martin D-28 Authentic. By contrast, the pickup is very treble heavy and there is very little volume on the low E. Is this simply a case of the placement of the sensors on the bridge?


Thanks!

Yes and/or the preamp channel A gain setting and/or the method of installation. If the lens isn't clamped under pressure for 8-12 hours in the right spot, it can result in a weak string, a less-than-full overall tone, or both.

[MaurysMusic]

Originally Posted by Ruppster

Maury,
That seems like an awful lot of work for a common guitar (Gibson J45). You'd think the company would have a helpful list of guitars they know it fits.

It's a bummer, but we can't think of any shortcut that truly guarantees a fit, sorry.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Maury et al:

As I had asked earlier in this thread, I was curious about something: Do the Trance units perform better in round-shouldered dreads vs square-shouldered. I'm just curious because JB plays very few Martins onstage. Just wondering....

thanks,
scott

[Johnny.guitar]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

Kenny, I'm excited too. FYI, if you've seen my YT channel, I typically gig solo acoustic. I'll be plugged in, but as Jackson often does in that situation, I'll also be running a mic out front (I'm pretty sure Neil Young still does it this way too). Maury or anyone, can someone recommend a decent acoustic mic to run in conjunction with the Amulet rig? Right now I'm just running an SM-58, but that will eventually change. I think Jackson is running a not-terribly-expensive Neumann.



thanks,

scott

I've been looking at the Ear Trumpet Labs "Edwina" mic. Not terribly expensive and looks perfect for acoustic & vocal.
I'm getting one once I sell a few things.
Canadian dollar isn't helping my cause lol!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MaurysMusic]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

Maury et al:

As I had asked earlier in this thread, I was curious about something: Do the Trance units perform better in round-shouldered dreads vs square-shouldered. I'm just curious because JB plays very few Martins onstage. Just wondering....

thanks,
scott

I'm not sure about their square vs round shoulder performance, but I've seen JB play as many as 3-4 Martins along with his gaggle of Gibsons, so I'd lean towards "no". I chatted with him after a concert in Hershey PA and commented on his Martin 00-15 and he smiled & corrected me "17. 00-17" As if to say If you're gonna geek out with me about guitars, get it right. At that show he played a 00-17, a D-41 and I think a D-28 & something else that's escaping me at the moment.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Johnny.guitar

I've been looking at the Ear Trumpet Labs "Edwina" mic. Not terribly expensive and looks perfect for acoustic & vocal.
I'm getting one once I sell a few things.
Canadian dollar isn't helping my cause lol!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I bought an Edwina Stereo Pair last Autumn and they're really nice mics at their price-point. I've only used them about four or five times here at home but will try to do more recording soon. It's kind of neat to watch some music awards shows on TV and see the Edwina being used by some performers!

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by MaurysMusic

I'm not sure about their square vs round shoulder performance, but I've seen JB play as many as 3-4 Martins along with his gaggle of Gibsons, so I'd lean towards "no". I chatted with him after a concert in Hershey PA and commented on his Martin 00-15 and he smiled & corrected me "17. 00-17" As if to say If you're gonna geek out with me about guitars, get it right. At that show he played a 00-17, a D-41 and I think a D-28 & something else that's escaping me at the moment.

Maury, thanks, I imagine you're tight on the square vs round, although I gotta say, I've seen his solo show probably half a dozen times over the last ten years or so and I've NEVER seen him play that many Martins in a show; in fact I don't think I've even seen him play a Martin dread, period. He's got some very fine Martin parlors, etc., but tends to lean toward the round-shouldered stuff, at least when I've seen him. But in your case, Maury, you'd know more than me, since you probably have put them in a bunch of Martins.

Johnny & Spruce:
Thanks for the tips on the mics. I will probably start a whole new thread in this section about that down the road. One thing I like about Shures is I'm pretty rough on my gear, so to a certain point ruggedness is almost as important to me as sound.

thanks, everyone,
scott

[Charmed Life Picks]

Really loving this pickup after about six months.

Anyone else new to this rig?

thanks,
scott memmer

[h2otorched]

Originally Posted by MaurysMusic

Yes and/or the preamp channel A gain setting and/or the method of installation. If the lens isn't clamped under pressure for 8-12 hours in the right spot, it can result in a weak string, a less-than-full overall tone, or both.

Congrats on the Trances!
I had Trance Audio’s Lens in my Martin
D-28 Clarence White, Lowden O23,
Lowden F12, stereo, in conjunction with
Sunrise Mags, run through a Pendulum
SPS-1. Great Headroom and a beautifully nuanced soundscape.
Enjoy those Amulets!
[emoji1365]❤️

[Petty1818]

I was just looking at Bill Asher's instagram page. He does a lot of the Amulet installs for high profile artists (Paul Simon was one of the latest). He actually recommends using the barge cement method for the installation. I know Trance used to use this method. I wonder if it is in fact superior to the new tape method?

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Petty1818

I was just looking at Bill Asher's instagram page. He does a lot of the Amulet installs for high profile artists (Paul Simon was one of the latest). He actually recommends using the barge cement method for the installation. I know Trance used to use this method. I wonder if it is in fact superior to the new tape method?

I'm wondering that too! Likely, the thinner the medium between the bottom of the Amulet and the top, the better the bass response and presence, as in less of a curtain between the guitar vibes and the pickup. As Gary Hull recently mentioned, superglue would likely destroy an Amulet if the transducer is removed. I think a removal method can be developed that would preserve the Amulet and bridgeplate. I believe that if an installer is confident in placement of the Amulets, superior amplified tone is likely achievable with superglue or other thin-mounting medium. Also, IMHO, the Trance "permanent tape" is good but is still too thick for optimum vibration transfer from ther guitar's brideplate to the Amulet. The plus side is that with the permanent tape, multiple installations can be achieved without damaging the Amulets or guitar.