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Hi troops,

I'm contemplating building an archtop along the Benedetto plans, acoustic with a floating electric pickup.

So, quite siimply, for the acoustic side of things, what should I use as a pickup?

one of those 3 micro bugs superglued under where the bridge will be?

suggestions please!!

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Are you wanting to keep it accoustic sounding but amplified? In that case either a piezo or an internal mic is probably the only way to go. Piezo's can sound quite thin and nassally...so for best performance, look for one of the mic setups. There is one that mounts thru the endpin and is on a gooseneck. It will be pretty hard to position, but will give awesome results one you get it set up.

If you want an archtop that will sound good accoustically (w/no amp) but can be plugged in and sound like a jazz guitar thru an amp: Look at any one of the pickups that mount on the end of the fingerboard or off the pickguard. Some of the inexpensive ones on ebay ($20-40) sound pretty darn good. Or buy a Benedetto/Duncan or one one of the more expensive brands. As long as you don't have to cut the top or attach anything to the top that changes how it vibrates, the guitar should retain its accoustic value while unplugged from the amp.

My first archtop is getting a floating version.

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Joe

This: http://www.kksound.com/purearchtop.html

full, pretty, easy on the pocketbook!

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-donh-

Everything is a tone control!

Yup, both of those are spot on, thanks!!

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