View Full Version : permanent pickup mounting
calkan
Sep-14-2004, 8:10pm
I recently purchased a shadow pickup for my mandolin. The pickup comes with putty to stick on the pickup to attach to the top. The pickup works fine, except for falling off in the most conspicuous moments. My question is "is there another way to attach the pickup to the mandolin permanently? The soundholes are too small to insert the pickup through for an inside installation. Is there a permanent glue which one could use? I am tired of the pickup falling off in the middle of a session. Thanks for your replies. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
mandroid
Sep-14-2004, 8:33pm
looks important? #gaffers tape is less sticky (tacky)than duct tape.
permanant? contact cement, epoxy or crazy glue?
N.B.: there is a 3M product that is essentially a double stick tape without the tape, adhesive between 2 pieces of release paper,
or rubbery bluetack for bulletin boards, a range is out there.
My schertler goes under the strings twixt bridge and tail, ,held down by the strings themselves sometimes.
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mando-in-kingwood
Sep-16-2004, 4:32pm
Be careful......I use a stick on Dean Markely and like the tone. Someone else on the board liked their Dean Markely and had it internally mounted.....and hated the sound.
I think the issue is that the acoustic properties of the putty are very much different than the properties of an epoxy.
calkan
Sep-16-2004, 6:25pm
mando in kingwood raised another concern. Could there be a difference in the acoustic value of the sticky putty versus a permanent adhesive? In other words, I might lose the quality of the pickup by gluing the pickup to the mandolin.
8ch(pl)
Sep-17-2004, 5:43pm
I had a "bottle cap" type pickup for a while. i wedged it down under the strings using a thin piece of closed cell polyurethane foam - like what swimming pool noodle toys are made of. Same location that mandroid meantions.
calkan
Sep-20-2004, 2:21pm
Last night I experimented with my shadow pickup. I moved it around my mandolin in various places. Near the bridge, front or back produced the loudest response (if you like the sound of a booming electrified mandolin) I found that farther from the bridge, nearer the f hole (treble side) produced the most realistic mandolin sound. I tried the front side, backside, inside, and all positions gave a different and interesting sounds. Needless to say, I will still be experimenting. I now need to figure out a way to fasten the pickup without the aid of putty or other sticky substances. If anyone knows of a small clamp..I am talking small,that I could clamp the pickup down by slipping the clamp inside the f hole and over top of the pickup, I would greatly appreciate the information. Thanks again for the responses given!
mandroid
Sep-20-2004, 2:42pm
Maybe get a luthier to make a [violin-like] soundpost to brace it against the back? or a custom made wooden non adjustable C clamp. [no adhesive creates new challenges, but are all reversable].
or a pair of magnets to sandwich the piezo in between?
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[schertler pickups solved most of these details].
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