Pickups, electronics for Larrivee OM-03...a little help please

[jwb]

Forum friends,  it's been a while. I need some guidance to put a pickup in my OM-03MT. This is a special guitar and it's getting up in age. It's the "fish guitar" by Peter Cree and my main instrument. The decision to put electronics in it I have not taken lightly, but it's what I need at this point in my playing...the ability to loop and have access to more tools than just micing the guitar.

I am admittedly behind the times on electronics and needed some first hand responses and opinions on the best out there, given my playing style and the guitar in question. I play with my bare fingers and never a pick, anchoring my right hand with my pinky against the soundboard to play. And I play hard. Often I am very percussive when I am not playing in the "anchored" position and hit the guitar with my palm, muting the strings and driving a beat with my palm while playing. My style of playing is very much like Bruce Cockburn, not to say I have even half the mojo he has  Well, maybe not even 10% but anyway...

I was thinking about something like the LR baggs Anthem using both an internal mic and a pickup of some sort. I don't like the quacky sound of just a UST, that piezo zing just ain't my thing. I realize, however, I need some kind of true pickup in the mix. But I need control over the internal mic or soundboard sensor to not pick up too much of my heavy right hand.

What do you guys and gals use? Why do you like it? Thanks in advance and I'm happy to be back asking, I missed everyone 

Justin

[ducktrapper]

I've had good luck with the Fishman Matrix Infinity. Works great and is unobtrusive.

[jwb]

I've had good luck with the Fishman Matrix Infinity. Works great and is unobtrusive.

Thanks duck.  I will check it out. I guess you use the "narrow format" one for the saddle on the Larrivee? I was thinking an internal mic or soundboard sensor combo would be the way to go, but if this works for you it surely is worthy of checking out.

[ducktrapper]

Thanks duck.  I will check it out. I guess you use the "narrow format" one for the saddle on the Larrivee? I was thinking an internal mic or soundboard sensor combo would be the way to go, but if this works for you it surely is worthy of checking out.

Actually, I have the Matrix Infinity on my D-35 and it does work great. As for my Larrivées, I've used K&K pure minis on my BT-03 and my OOO-50 TSB. My D-05E came with an on board Fishman. I hate the look of it but I couldn't resist the guitar.   

[broKen]

Hi Justin. I like the sound of the Baggs I-beam, but I have no idea how it will respond to percussion.

[unclrob]

The IBeam is a good choice but I would suggest the Anthem SL due to it having an under the saddle pu and a mic which mounts to the top.The PARA DI ads more tonal controls.This my favorite pu when I can't mic it.

[jwb]

Thanks for the input and good to hear from you Rob.  My local store has an Anthem I can try (woo hoo!) I just have to drill out my endpin, which I am going to have done anyway through this process.  I can at least give the system a test drive and that's the only way to truly know.

This may be a can of worms, but what about the new trance audio amulet dual mono set up?  The amulet was always been a specialty pickup system because of the need for the 5 pin connector and native stereo, not to mention a  very steep price, but now it's in mono...preamp onboard and running off 9volt battery. The price is reasonable, too.  Any one give one of these a try?  I always was interested in the amulet because of the high quality, loyal following and a different approach to amplification of acoustic instruments (even though very k&k-like).  Anyone?

I'm going to try the Anthem this week and dust off my old AER amp.  I will let you know how I get along.

Justin

[unclrob]

  NO DRILLING,you need to use a reamer as a drill can do damage,the worst is a paddle bit....bring it to someone who has the right tool.

[broKen]

If its a larrivee, the 1/2" hole is already there.

[Mr_LV19E]

If its a larrivee, the 1/2" hole is already there.

I believe we got our OM-MT's during the same time period and mine had the 1/2" hole already so you should be good to go. Just remove the strap pin and the nut on the inside of the tail block to install the jack.