Hi all.
I have searched but not found anything specific to my question.
I recently bought a five string acoustic bass guitar, a Koa wood Boulder Creek model which I immediately defretted...
Well, I’ve defretted a million electric guitars and basses but something I failed to consider was the fixed bridge height of an acoustic set up for frets... I think equal temperament is a crime against music so I still would have had no choice (except to buy an actual Fretless five stringer) but now I’m trying to figure out the issue.
It plays okay but with action far higher than I am used to, and that is mostly bridge end. I can get away with taking 1-2 mm off the saddle but really I want to lost about 4mm to get it the way I want... there is a piezo pickup under the saddle, so that makes things tricky. I don’t have much money but did consider finding someone with the tools and experience to to a good job deepening the slot so that then both the saddle and the bridge can be sanded down further to accommodate a lower action, but I’m not sure if that’ll be pricey (I can do it all myself except the slot depth)...
My other option would be to remove the piezo, giving me greater depth instantly, and figure out another pick-up option. The piezo on this does actually sound very nice but I was already considering the possibility of getting some kind of magnetic pick-up so I could get some different tones. These Boulder Creek basses don’t have the usual sound hole, so if I were to get a magnetic pickup it would have to be something super-thin which I could attach to the body beneath the strings. I can’t find much like that, any ideas? Something that sounds good and isn’t too expensive, but I doubt there are many options for very thin pickups. I was looking at a Lace Sensor, any word on those?
alternatively, I have a pickup in my harp which consists for multiple contacts. Anything good like this for acoustic bass guitars?
I do really like the sound of the piezo in the bridge but want to know my options. I’m especially interested in thin magnetic , body mountable options anyway as this would be a great addition regardless.
I have searched but not found anything specific to my question.
I recently bought a five string acoustic bass guitar, a Koa wood Boulder Creek model which I immediately defretted...
Well, I’ve defretted a million electric guitars and basses but something I failed to consider was the fixed bridge height of an acoustic set up for frets... I think equal temperament is a crime against music so I still would have had no choice (except to buy an actual Fretless five stringer) but now I’m trying to figure out the issue.
It plays okay but with action far higher than I am used to, and that is mostly bridge end. I can get away with taking 1-2 mm off the saddle but really I want to lost about 4mm to get it the way I want... there is a piezo pickup under the saddle, so that makes things tricky. I don’t have much money but did consider finding someone with the tools and experience to to a good job deepening the slot so that then both the saddle and the bridge can be sanded down further to accommodate a lower action, but I’m not sure if that’ll be pricey (I can do it all myself except the slot depth)...
My other option would be to remove the piezo, giving me greater depth instantly, and figure out another pick-up option. The piezo on this does actually sound very nice but I was already considering the possibility of getting some kind of magnetic pick-up so I could get some different tones. These Boulder Creek basses don’t have the usual sound hole, so if I were to get a magnetic pickup it would have to be something super-thin which I could attach to the body beneath the strings. I can’t find much like that, any ideas? Something that sounds good and isn’t too expensive, but I doubt there are many options for very thin pickups. I was looking at a Lace Sensor, any word on those?
alternatively, I have a pickup in my harp which consists for multiple contacts. Anything good like this for acoustic bass guitars?
I do really like the sound of the piezo in the bridge but want to know my options. I’m especially interested in thin magnetic , body mountable options anyway as this would be a great addition regardless.
