My Larrivee factory installed Fishman UST/preamp has crapped out. I bit the bullet and removed the pre-amp from the side (Larrivee did a crummy job installing it in the first place - the main hole relative to the 4 screw holes is out of center, thereby running into one of the screw holes - photos to follow - this just added insult to injury that the system gave up the ghost.)
Wow, removing that and leaving the hole in the side has really changed the bass response that I hear from the guitar as I play it. It sounds like a Dreadnaught now, versus an L-body. I haven't yet mic'ed it to see if I'll need to change how I mic the guitar - probably will affect it is my guess.
Anyhow, I ordered a K+K mini pure western and plan to wire it directly to the end-pin jack and use an external pre-amp.
My question is this to those in the know:
Do you know if Larrivee used a different saddle for guitars equipped with the fishman UST versus non-equipped guitars? The UST is perhaps 1 mm thick and I'm wondering if they bothered to use a slightly less tall saddle on these guitars? If so, then I probably need to order a new saddle. If not, will I be able to make up the 1 mm difference strictly with a neck relief adjustment?
Thanks for your time.
-Scott
Edited, here's a picture of the hole that Larrivee cut out for the fishman pre-amp. See the problem?
(http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7074/lo3eholedr6.jpg)
Don't go cranking on the truss rod to adjust your action. Even though adjusting the neck relief will change the action that's not what it's for. You either need a thicker saddle or a shim for the saddle you've got. I've used wood coffee stiring sticks for shims. Trim the stick the size of the saddle, glue it to the bottom(with superglue) and sand it to make it the height you need. You could also get a new saddle. Larrivee sells replacement bone saddles at their web store. http://www.larriveewearables.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=15459913bac32ab/shopdata/0070_Parts/product_details.shopscript?article=0120_Bone%2BSaddles%2B%3D28ABS-00%3D29 (http://www.larriveewearables.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=15459913bac32ab/shopdata/0070_Parts/product_details.shopscript?article=0120_Bone%2BSaddles%2B%3D28ABS-00%3D29) but it will need to be sanded to fit. Bob Colosi sells replacement saddles out of several different materials as well as kits to shim your existing saddle. http://www.guitarsaddles.com/ (http://www.guitarsaddles.com/) His saddles come with complete, easy to follow instructions.
Edited the original post to show the hole screwup (literally) that Larrivee made whilst installing the factory ordered and installed Fishman pre-amp. Now I can't even put in a different model pre-amp that is supposed to drop into a Fishman hole.
-Scott
Well, that was a pretty messy install...I wonder if you have a warranty issue there. Larrivee has a "limited lifetime" warrenty on the guitars; I doubt that this would extend to the Fishman, but if they made that hole and screwed it up so it can't be used again, it would seem to be a manufacturer's defect of the guitar itself.
Since the Fishman crapped out and the install left you with an axe that can't be used, it would seem to obviate the issue of the saddle, however...
I'm considering changing out a Fishman Matrix system on my Taylor, in favor of the K&K, and I'm pretty much resigned that I will just make a new saddle. Use the contours of the existing saddle as a template for the radius and make it thicker on the bottom by the exact amount of the thickness of the Fishman UST. This has the added advantage of letting you choose your favorite material, such as real bone for example.
I just installed the K&K Pure Western mini on my L-03 (per my post on the subject), and I wish it had been available when I installed the Matrix on my Taylor. The K&K is the superior pickup, IMO, and minimally invasive.
Quote from: rockstar_not on January 04, 2007, 08:59:10 PM
Edited the original post to show the hole screwup (literally) that Larrivee made whilst installing the factory ordered and installed Fishman pre-amp. Now I can't even put in a different model pre-amp that is supposed to drop into a Fishman hole.
-Scott
The preamp covers the holes, so why can't you install a replacement? If the replacement is the same size it likely uses the same screw holes.
Quote from: Steve on January 05, 2007, 05:29:33 AM
The preamp covers the holes, so why can't you install a replacement? If the replacement is the same size it likely uses the same screw holes.
I guess because of the unique large hole shape. The prefix pre-amp had that non-symmetric shape (left to right) in the picture above, but it was supposed to be the same symmetrically top to bottom.
I'm concerned that if a Baggs or some other pre-amp is supposed to drop in, it may expect the hole to be as it was originally intended, not like this.
It's all quite disappointing.
-Scott
Short of having a craftsman/guitar tech fashion a patch to cover that hole, what other options are there when a preamp like that gets removed? I agree that an outboard preamp (like the Pure Preamp in this case) is better, then you can use it with other instruments that might also have K&K pickups. YMMV, but I could not stand to have a hole like that on my guitar, I don't care if it might sound better, its fugly.
I agree with John, it is fugly. It might work for a banjo player, it could catch his drool.
I would either try and get a cover made, or put the dead pre-amp back in unconnected.
I guess another option would be to play left handed so the hole would be out of sight.
:ph34r:
People pay top dollar for holes in the side of the guitar. I would send it to a luthier and have it made into a circle and and round the edges and fnish as a second sound hole.
I decided to just snip the wires on the Fishman and use it as a shim like it always has been. I won't ever go back to a UST now that the K+K is installed.
-Scott