Sanding inside of a Emerald Guitar for BBand AST

Irishrep · #1 12-20-2018, 01:44 PM

Need some help if possible

I have a x20 with a A3T preamp 2016 vintage.

I am going to replace my bband undersaddle pick - up(UST) with a bband AST 1470 soundboard transducer. This is sort of similar to a K & K and mounts to the underside of the soundboard area. Even though the surface is smooth ( you can feel the cloth texture slightly). Do I need to ( and can I?) sand this surface without messing up the guitar. Has anyone ever had any experience installing this type of pick up on an Emerald ? It is mounted using a self adhesive pad on the pickup ( no need to glue). It looks pretty easy to install but I was not sure if I needed to sand the area perfectly flat first. Any comments would be welcome. Thanks

Melt in the Sun · #2 12-20-2018, 02:18 PM

I am new around here, but I know that "prep for K&K" is an additional charge from Emerald, and that it won't stick properly if that isn't done.

I've never put in a K&K but I have the same b-band in my Taylor...and it is sticky as hell, to the point I think it's probably impossible to remove without destroying the pickup (or bridge plate!). Whether that means it'll stick to the carbon fiber, I can't say.

I know that recently I read about someone sanding the inside surface themselves...it was probably on this forum and likely within the past couple pages of threads.

Edit - here it is.
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=511122

Irishrep · #3 12-20-2018, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishrep

Need some help if possible

Thanks for digging up that answer - looks like I need to sand to be sure it will stick. I would have gone with something else if I didn't already have a hole in the side of the guitar with the preamp. Have you had any issues with the AST pickup? - since they are out of business - I am thinking of getting a spare before they get rare and go up in price.

Melt in the Sun · #4 12-20-2018, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishrep

Have you had any issues with the AST pickup?

Not issues per se, but I've rarely used it. I have the combo UST/AST/blender system and have never been able to add more than a smidge of AST before I get howling feedback. This is standing in front of a wedge monitor at church, with volunteer (aka minimally-competent) sound guys and a really crusty PA system. Your mileage may vary.

The AST definitely sounds nice when someone else is singing and I can stand way back. It's very sensitive to finger/pick/arm/clothes noises...picks all of them up perfectly.

BT55 · #5 12-20-2018, 04:22 PM

You DO have to sand the inside of an Emerald prior to installation. The CF is rough so nothing will stick. I used a 100 grit sanding block. I sanded the bottom of the saddle area, around the opening to mount the controls, area where the battery bag was installed and the areas for the wire ties. It took me longer to type this than the sanding process!

Irishrep · #6 12-20-2018, 05:23 PM

Thanks - I am, lucky - only have to do the soundboard area and plug in the pickup into the A3T -Since I bought the pickup on ebay it did not have the template for placement - but I think I can get it close enough if I create a small block with pins through the high and low E's. Did you vacuum or blow out the dust from sanding ?

BT55 · #7 12-20-2018, 06:18 PM

I have an air compressor and blew out the dust. I also drilled the endpin at the same time.

GuitarLuva · #8 12-22-2018, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishrep

Need some help if possible

I have a x20 with a A3T preamp 2016 vintage.

I am going to replace my bband undersaddle pick - up(UST) with a bband AST 1470 soundboard transducer. This is sort of similar to a K & K and mounts to the underside of the soundboard area. Even though the surface is smooth ( you can feel the cloth texture slightly). Do I need to ( and can I?) sand this surface without messing up the guitar. Has anyone ever had any experience installing this type of pick up on an Emerald ? It is mounted using a self adhesive pad on the pickup ( no need to glue). It looks pretty easy to install but I was not sure if I needed to sand the area perfectly flat first. Any comments would be welcome. Thanks

I just recently sanded that area on my X30 to install a Schatten HFN. It was very easy to do. You will get your hands full of black carbon though but it washes off easy. Just make sure after sanding that you clean the surface. I wiped the area down after sanding with a few wet paper towels and shortly after that cleaned the area with isopropyl alcohol to help promote adhesion. The pickup installed no problem with great adhesion. Hope this helps.

121 · #9 12-23-2018, 06:36 PM

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but here are some K&K related photos of my Emerald acoustics.

My 2017 X20 with an Emerald installed K&K

My 2018 X10 with an Emerald K&K prep

GuitarLuva · #10 12-24-2018, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 121

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but here are some K&K related photos of my Emerald acoustics.

My 2017 X20 with an Emerald installed K&K

My 2018 X10 with an Emerald K&K prep

The more I look at that pic the more curious I get. Do anyone know what that prep work actually is?

SpruceTop · #11 12-24-2018, 07:35 AM

Most of the following can be applied to the Emerald: I installed a B-Band A1.2N 1470 AST in my Martin D Junior. It was quite easy as I reamed the end-pin hole with my Stewart-MacDonald reamer and then lightly sanded the bridgeplate. I thoroughly vacuumed the inside of the guitar and then wiped the bridgeplate with alcohol to clean it and let it dry for a few minutes. Then with a mirror and small LED lights placed on the back of the guitar, I looked through the bridge-pin holes and guided the AST pickup into place and pressed lightly on the pickup and then gently stroked it to make sure it was sitting flat along its length and making even contact with the bridgeplate.

IMPORTANT: After installation of pickup on bridgeplate, make sure the AST pickup's lead wire is directed away from the guitar's top and any bracing as the lead wire can transfer vibration to the pickup causing distortion when strumming your guitar aggressively.

SpruceTop · #12 12-24-2018, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarLuva

The more I look at that pic the more curious I get. Do anyone know what that prep work actually is?

It looks like epoxy was spread on bridgeplate area and smoothed out and probably sanded to provide a smooth surface for the K&K transducers. The 2018 prep with its larger bridgeplate looks so much better than the 2017 prep.

GuitarLuva · #13 12-24-2018, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

It looks like epoxy was spread on bridgeplate area and smoothed out and probably sanded to provide a smooth surface for the K&K transducers. The 2018 prep with its larger bridgeplate looks so much better than the 2017 prep.

Yeah right on was wondering if my eyes were deceiving me. It certainly looks like professional prep work. I wonder how much difference it actually makes for SBT's.

JimCA · #14 12-25-2018, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarLuva

Yeah right on was wondering if my eyes were deceiving me. It certainly looks like professional prep work. I wonder how much difference it actually makes for SBT's.

Makes me wonder, is this new X10 under-bridge design shared by the new X7 and X30, or is it unique to the X10 to accommodate the Ghost saddles?

Update: Just answered my own question, there is no extra bridgeplate on my acoustic-only new X10.

121 · #15 12-25-2018, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimCA

Makes me wonder, is this new X10 under-bridge design shared by the new X7 and X30, or is it unique to the X10 to accommodate the Ghost saddles?

Update: Just answered my own question, there is no extra bridgeplate on my acoustic-only new X10.

The 2018 X10 with the K&K prep has the single saddle bridge instead of the six saddle bridge

.Here is a 2018 X7 with K&K prep.

Sorry for the blurry picture but it's really too close a shot for my GoPro