Guitar companies are making models for the masses while the instruments artists play are typically modified to get special tones in the instrument rather from amps or software (see the 'Schematics' page). All companies have custom shop brands or options where you can get this done for $5 - $10 thousand +. Since 2008 a lot of info has been available on the internet revealing schematics and modifications to get the artist tones. This opens the window to have special instrument tones in your guitar or have a mod guitar that has the features of a $$ custom shop model. This blog will pick a few projects to get classic tones and increased flexibility on board. Not for everyone but it is a matter of style, understanding what goes into a custom shop $10 thousand guitar and why great players use a hand full of onboard modifications to trademark their sound.

Second Hand -"It's probably a well-known story . . . I went into a shop in Nashville called Sho Bud which was owned by Buddy Emmons – the famous pedal steel player – and they had things like Rickenbackers in the front of the shop going for quite high prices. In the back they had this second-hand department, and there was a row of Stratocasters, and I bought them all. Blackie was made out of three of these guitars – the body of one, the neck of another and the pickups of another." Eric Clapton



Inside a 1970 Stratocaster

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The white woodstock is close to the 1970 model year


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His story is in the web site banner-
built Blackie from other used strats
 

One of the 'collectible' strat eras is late 60s before they went to the 4-bolt neck and polyester based finishes.  Below pics  is a 1970 strat from the Hendricks-Clapton-Gilmore-Stills legacy when they played strats from this period of production.  Gilmore owns Fender strat 0001 produced in 1954- hopefully some day it comes back to the US.


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David Gilmour early days

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"Its been my friend for 30 years now" - His words

I bought this one in the 80s from Outlaw Guitars in Greenbrook NJ which is long since gone. I was looking for my 1st 3 pickup guitar and playing some used guitars they had in stock when someone came in and sold it to the owner to raise some cash.  He was in a punk band in NYC and used it on stage for a couple years. No idea what band he was in.  Played it and bought it 10 minutes after he left. 

 Anyway I had never opened it up and wanted to clean out a few things so here are some pictures.












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Acoustic Pickups and DeArmond 210


The short story is pickup technology started to develop from advances in military technology in the 30's.  There are three basic methods to convert string vibration or sound into an electric signal:
  • Magnetic pickup- Used on all electric guitars and relies on a magnet moving up and down in a wire coil to produce electricity (electromagnetic effect). When a string vibrates the magnet moves and a weak electric current is produced.
  • Piezio pickup- either chemical crystals or ceramics (piezio materials) vibrate when a sound wave hits them by vibration and causing them to compress or expand.  Piezio materials have the characteristic producing a weak current when they move against each other.  Piezio pickups are installed in contact with the wood and amplify the wood vibration rather than the sound wave that causes the wood vibration.
  • Microphone pickup- The piezio material can be set up to vibrate from  sound and this is used in microphones and acoustic guitar microphone pickups.  

Leading companies are K&K, Sunshine and Braggs and there are many websites that recommend different pickups.  

I currently use a Headway EDB-2 and Fishman SA330 acoustic guitar amp but using a mic is difficult to balance and feedback is an issue even with the advanced notch filters on the Headway.  My preference is a pickup where I dont have to drill a hole or glue something to a guitar. Also a passive pickup since the Headway is an excellent preamp.

After spending a few hours on websites I decided to check what artists used:

  • Trey Anastasio- Trance Audio stereo transducers (likely the Amulet) mounted inside the guitars and a Sunrise full range magnetic pickup in the soundhole.  The Trance and the Sunrise are sent to the Mackey mixer where they are mixed down and sent to the Whammy, Boomerang, Victoria Reverberato, and then to a Radial Direct Box and out to the soundboard.

  • Derek Trucks- A vintage DeArmond 210




So the both use magnetic soundhole pickups and the Sunrise is over $300.  

 Checking eBay the 5 pole post -1956 DeArmond 210s are available and generally go for $100 to $150 if you check the sold items.  Many list them for $150 to $300 but if you wait for a reasonable seller to show up they can be had below $150.  

 The 6 pole like Derek's is a more rare (version 2 produced 1949 to 1956) replaced by the 5 pole version produced after 1956. They typically have sold over $200 and up to $300.

Considering the pickup will be used at times in a 48' Martin 00-18 the DeArmond is pretty cool and appropriate. Some on-line reviews complained it sounded 'too electric' but others said this was only if the volume wheel is way up.  Additionally many said combining this with a microphone gives a very full accurate acoustic sound.  Since the Headway is 2 channel it will be easy to handle a setup adding a microphone.

After checking eBay a few days a 6-pole 210 came up for sale at a reasonable $150 so I took it. Volume wheel is intact and measures 8.99k impedence.







 Waiting for it to arrive and will update later. 

Bowie also used a 6 pole DeArmond onhis 12-string for many years
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12 string Framus




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12 string Harpoon

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12 string Egmond refinished blue

Also played  12 string Hagstrom on Space Oddity


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