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Schertler pickups?
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Author:  Alain Desforges [ Wed Oct 25, 2006 3:54 am ]
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Hesh's recent Pagelli thread has turned me onto this acoustic pick-up company. Schertler. You can check the site out here.

Does anyone on the forum have any experience with these transducers?

How would they compare to K&K's Pure Country?

I want to be able to plug in no.3. Are there any other good, neutral sounding systems out there? I want the guitar to sound as if just miked by a few expensive condenser microphones!

I know, it's asking a lot...

Thanks in advance.

Alain

Author:  JWarwick [ Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:23 am ]
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Hi Alain,

Funny ... K&K and Schertler are the only two product lines I sell and install though my shop.

Look here for good reviews of the Schertler Dyn series, and others: http://www.fingerpick.com/pickups.htm

Big differences in cost, but each is about the best there is at their respective price points, IMHO. Lots of reviews on the K&K's at the Martin forum , Harmony Central, etc.

Oh ... the Schertler acoustic amps are also second to none. My shop amp and gigging amp is a Schertler Unico. Bullet-proof, dead quiet when you are, and whistle clean.

Hope this helps.

Jim



Author:  A Peebels [ Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:24 am ]
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I have a Schertler pickup next to my computer this very moment. It is heavy. I haven't installed it on anything yet, but due to it's weight it has to affect the sound of an acoustic guitar. This could be a positive or a negative thing. They are not expensive, and they install with doublestick tape. I bought mine sometime ago to try on my old 1960's Ampeg Baby Bass. It's a little over an inch in diameter, and about 1/4" thick. All I can say is try one, and if You don't like the sound use it with your tuner for intonation then peel it back off.

Al

Author:  Alain Desforges [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:27 am ]
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Jim, thanks a lot for the great info and link... I've been busy studying/watchingt those at work... oops.... I mean, from home...

I've decided that I'll go with the K&K for now since one of our very fine sponsors, Shane at Highmountain is a Canadian distributor...

I will however start studying pre-amps and I'll buy a Schertler DYN-G to change between guitars in the future...

Al, that's always a good idea to use it for something else if I'm not happy with the results... The DYN-G is expensive though, in my books... I think just the pickup retails for around 350$...

Thanks for the input guys.

Author:  A Peebels [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:14 am ]
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Something's wrong with that price. Way too high.

Al
A Peebels39016.4269097222

Author:  A Peebels [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:40 am ]
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I just looked at my Schertler pickup, and suddenly realized that it is a cheap Knockoff copy of a Schertler, and that everything that I posted is wrong. My appologies to all including Schertler.

Al

Author:  David Collins [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:10 am ]
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The Schertler BlueStick is a great under saddle pickup for a reasonable price, but the odd batteries have always seemed a deterent to me. There is something to be said for being able to pick up a 9 volt at the corner gas station if you forgot to pack spares to a gig.

As far as the Schertler DYN-G, I've heard it on flat tops and mandolins, and it does sound very good. Even though top transducers are inevitably more prone to feedback than USTs, this one seems a little better than most. Still, it's not as feedback resistant as a UST, and many players find anything attatched to the outside of thier guitar to be a bit of a nuisance. I may recommend it for mandolin, but not generally for guitar. The price is certainly a factor. For many players it seems that being able to plug in and play without having to concern themselves with placement and whatnot seems to be a appealing quality. Often even enough to outweigh slight differences in tone quality, especially if it can be reasonably compensated for with a good preamp.

I certainly agree with Jim about thier amps though. They are hands down the best acoustic amplifiers I have ever plugged in to. Unfortunately I have to say that if you want it to sound like it's natural self through a few high quality condenser mics you will have to go in to a sound room and play it through a couple high quality condenser mics. Perhaps someday a Baggs, K&K, Schertler or Fishman will give us the golden egg, but I'm not holding my breath.

I tell all my customers that they have to choose a different level of comprimise between convenience, tone, feedback resistance, price, etc. For an acoustic playing with a drummer, electric guitar, bass and vocals, etc., the UST is usually the best choice. Not quite as natural, but still very good, convenient and feedback resistant. For an acoustic duo setting a top transducer may be more appropriate, or a combo like the Baggs Imix. There are still some good magnetic pickups out there, especially appealing to the non-commital type who need everything completely reversible. For a solo concert classical player, sit down and put a good mic on a stand. I've never really been a fan of external top transducers. There is no "best" pickup in my experience, only the most appropriate.

I know you just wanted opinion, on the Schertler and probably have your own opinions on pickups in general, but I'm always just too happy to share my thoughts.


P.S. - Tone/convenience/price ratio, I think the K&K was a wise choice over the Schertler.

David Collins39016.468900463

Author:  JWarwick [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:06 am ]
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Great choice, Alain. But make sure you go with the Pure Western Mini ... it's a little more balanced-sounding and FB resistant.

Hey Al ... retail on a Dyn-G is $450 USD! Street price is around $375. Retail on the BlueStick standard version is $225, $325 for the active EQ version. The BlueStick is a cool little UST ... not piezo. It's actually a tiny mic inserted into a tiny rectangular tube!

Gotta agree with David ... not holding my breath either. Besides, I absolutely hate anything that isn't wood inside a guitar.

Jim






Author:  Alain Desforges [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:32 am ]
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Thanks for the great info and for your thoughts guys!

Indeed, the best is a good conceser microphone. There's no way around that...

I would love to hear their amps (Schetler), but being a bit impulsive and all that, maybe it's better that I don't!    I can only imagine what one of those would be worth if the DYN is $450 !!!




Author:  JWarwick [ Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:48 am ]
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[QUOTE=JWarwick] Besides, I absolutely hate anything that isn't wood inside a guitar.
[/QUOTE]

Except maybe a bit of graphite here and there.

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