[jepa]

Hi all -

I am thinking about getting a floating pick-up put in on my old Fleetwood. When I bought it - it was harnessed with a D-Armond. I was about $500 away on meeting the sellers price - so he took the D'Armond off. I've always played it acoustically. It's a great guitar - would love to hear it come alive through an amp.

The repair shop I originally brought it to said there was 'not enough room' to put in a pick up. I just don't think this is the case.

I was thinking about getting a volume and tone know put on the pickguard (and having a new one made).

Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions?

[ampe]

p90?

[Archtop 13]

If your repair shop said there was not enough room, I wouldn't call them a repair shop. I'd call them lazy. There are pickguard mount & Neck mount pickups in many varieties. Benedetto even slaps his name on one if you want to go that route. I mounted a Fishman bridge pickup on an acoustic build & was really surprised by the sound of it. Really depends on what you want from the guitar
http://www.wdmusic.com/kent_armstron...r_pickups.html
http://elderly.com/new_instruments/n...kup--AT100.htm

[polishbroadcast]

That guitar is gorgeous! DO WANT. (hey you are in chicago too!)

I am selling some bits that might come in handy for you. I have a very nice Bartolini 5J floating pickup & endpin jack:
http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/bu...heap-free.html

sound clip:

You Tube

The Bartolini is 1/2" thick so if you have that much clearance, you should be good. The Kent Armstrong w/ ebonized cover (no pole pieces) sounds very good too but is brighter. Either one will work great.

Another option is the K&K Pure Archtop. It is easy to install and invisible. The amplified sound is very impressive and maintains the acoustic qualities (if that is what you want). I play acoustic artchops and like bronzewound strings which you obviously can't use with a floating pickup. So the Pure Archtop was a nice solution since there is no drilling, it doesn't add weight, and i can keep the bronze strings. Here is a clip of the sound w/ the guitar direct (frist half, raw signal, no EQ):
http://soundcloud.com/spiesteleviv/e...archop/s-g3nrH

[jepa]

Thanks Archtop 13---my thoughts exactly. I'm in Chicago ploishbroadcast----would love to check more into this with you.