Mandolin pick-up-ectomy

[8 String Samurai]

Hi Mandolin Cafe Folks!
After years of lurking, I finally have a question I need some help with...
Some years ago, at the behest of my band mates, I put a fishman transducer pickup in my Weber Gallatin. Now, I have no use for the pickup, and I'd like to remove all traces of the demon electricity from my mandolin. I believe the pickup is now part of the bridge, and that I'd have to replace the whole bridge to be rid of it. (Luckily for me, no holes were drilled in my mando for the pick-up installation)
So, what would be a good replacement bridge for a Gallatin, and how difficult is the bridge replacement process? Does anyone have some good advice on how to replace a bridge with a minimum of trouble?
Thanks a bunch in advance,
Matt

[JEStanek]

I would say go with either the Cumberland Accoustic bridge or either the Brekke or Brekke Traditional bridge from Weber. You could also consider the Red Henry one piece bridge (http://www.murphymethod.com/mandolinbridges.cfm). If you've not slotted and fit a bridge before buy the part and have a competent person fit it.

Here's (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34101&highlight=bridge+fit) a good bridge fittting thread.

Jamie

[John Flynn]

A couple of thoughts:

1. Be sure you really want it off there. It is not hurting anything and pickups can be handy.

2. If you really do want it off there, you probably ony need to replace the saddle. Hopefully, you had the bridge base properly fitted to the top, and that is most of the work of changing out a bridge. If you did not have that done, you need to do it now in any case. You may be able to get just a saddle from a luthier.

3. Whatever you do, I recommend having a mando-luthier do it, unless you are really good at it and have the right tools.

[Tavy]

Hi Mandolin Cafe Folks!
After years of lurking, I finally have a question I need some help with...
Some years ago, at the behest of my band mates, I put a fishman transducer pickup in my Weber Gallatin. Now, I have no use for the pickup, and I'd like to remove all traces of the demon electricity from my mandolin. I believe the pickup is now part of the bridge, and that I'd have to replace the whole bridge to be rid of it. (Luckily for me, no holes were drilled in my mando for the pick-up installation)

Isn't the fishman an integrated bridge-pickup that replaces the original bridge? If so what happened to the original bridge? I ask because it would be a straightforward DIY job to replace the fishman bridge with the original. Of course if you don't have the original lurking around somewhere please just ignore me :grin:

John.

[Ted Eschliman]

ACT V: SCENE i
Lady Macbeth: "Out, d$%&'d spot! out, I say!"

Sorry. Shakespeare gets me a little carried away; maybe an exorcism?

[Mike Bromley]

Isn't the fishman an integrated bridge-pickup that replaces the original bridge? If so what happened to the original bridge? I ask because it would be a straightforward DIY job to replace the fishman bridge with the original. Of course if you don't have the original lurking around somewhere please just ignore me :grin:

John.

I kept the original saddle. The Fishman saddle rested on the original base with no alteration. It was a ten minute job to swap them once the Fish was Schertlered.

[Trip]

easiest is definately to put the original back on, but you can buy any quality bridge and just slide the top portion onto the base of the one that is there now(assuming that you have a good fit now)

But why do you want rid of the electric, is it an end-pin jack?.........because if so then you need to leave it alone, you cant put an original size end-pin back in, since it has been bored out.......and the Fishman bridge does not change the sound acoustically at all...........

[8 String Samurai]

Thanks for all the help!
From the discussion above, and as I lost my original bridge in a move, I think I'll be keeping the pick-up after all. Having just moved out here to Massachussetts I don't know agood luthier to help with bridge fitting, and (as correctly pointed out above) maybe the pickup will be useful at some point in the future...
Thanks again,
Matt

[Michael Lewis]

So, not in Mass any more, then where are you? We might be able to recommend a repair person for your future needs.

[8 String Samurai]

Actually, I am still in Mass (Framingham). Any lutherial advice would be appreciated...

[Rick Turner]

Try Peter Stokes at Broken Neck Guitar Repair in Boston or the folks at the Music Emporium in Lexington or Bill Cumpiano or Ivon Schmuckler in I believe Amherst. You've got great luthier resources in Massachusetts.