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Topic: Alumitone Install/Advice |
Chris Harvey
From:
California, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 11:38 am |
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| I've had an alumitone sitting in a drawer for quite some time and finally got around to installing it. I'm a single coil guy and was very happy how quiet the pickup is. As with many pickups I'm dealing with the microphonic issues. I haven't installed foam between the feet of the pickups and body. Is there anything you may recommend that will work without increasing the height of the pickup to the strings dramatically? |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 2:13 pm
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Hey Chris. I don't notice any problem with microphonics on my older Zum. I used the foam that came with the pickup. Squashed down pretty tight. The height is really close and no room for adjustment. This is a problem with the AT on some guitars.
I have about a quarter's thickness clearance...low as it'll go.
As I said, not noticing anything microphonic though.
Nice sounding p/up too...pretty quiet with powerful output. Hope you get past the other issues.
What guitar are you mounting it on? |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 2:17 pm
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I just put one in my old Mullen, I love it! I put it in just metal on wood at first and that was no good, could hear all the pedal action through the amp, so I just took the two little foams that came with it and stuck those underneath, sounds good now.  |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 2:57 pm
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| I glued mine on and haven't noticed any microphonic problems. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 3:35 pm
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I have them in my 01 Zum D10 .. I got the pickups from Carters and they came with a plastic plate attached to them ...slotted straight in to the Zum, and there is no noise at all. Great pickups.
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 5:34 pm
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Things slip by me sometimes, but I woulda thought I'd notice a microphonic condition. Still, I'll do another evaluation while it's in my music room. Should notice it in the absence of drums and other instruments if it exists.
The thing is bolted to an alum. plate sitting more or less on top of the changer mounts isolated only by the puny foam pads that were supplied with it.
I'll give it a good listen and report back. |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2011 4:11 am
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Mine is slightly micro-phonic and I assumed that it was a good thing based on the fact that my ZB is Very micro-phonic and sounds fantastic.
I should also say I attached mine directly to the body of a Carter to get the PU lowered enough to clear the strings of a S-12.
The Carter if I tap the PU will come through.
The ZB if I tap the legs or body will come through.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Chris Harvey
From:
California, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2011 7:09 am thank you!
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| I bought mine used so it didn't come with any foam. Sounds like an easy fix. I really do like the pickup. |
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Nic du Toit
From:
Milnerton, Cape, South Africa
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Posted 1 Aug 2011 1:26 pm
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Guys, here's a DIY tip from my toolbox (Guitar electronics.
Most pickups come with 4 screws, plus a coiled spring for each, for mounting purposes.
First thing to do : throw away those springs ....they're the cause of 99% stray harmonics, which manifest itself as 'micro-phonics'.
Instead, look for a local pet shop, where they sell accessories for fish tanks..... Ask them for a length of 'surgical tubing'. These come in different diameters, and are used to and from the little underwater air pump in a fish tank. Select a size that will slip easily over the mounting screw.
Cut a 1/4inch to 3/8" length for each screw, making each one just long enough to act as a spring-washer when turning in the screw. Use this instead of those steel springs. That will take care of most, if not all, of your micro-phonics.
They work very well on all instruments.....especially Fender Strats, with the tremolo arm...... Tubing on the pickup screws, and a block of sponge under the tremolo springs...
_________________
1970 P/P Emmons D10 flatback 8x5, BJS Bar, J F picks, Peavey Session 500, Telonics pedal. Boss GX700 effects.
Skype : nidutoit |
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Bill Plemmons
From:
Simpsonville, SC
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Posted 2 Aug 2011 12:55 pm
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| I'm considering Alumitones for my Emmons Legrande and 78 PP. I've heard there is some "surgery" required to install these pickups in the Emmons guitars. I would apprediate hearing from anyone who has done it. |
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Nic du Toit
From:
Milnerton, Cape, South Africa
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Posted 2 Aug 2011 1:28 pm
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On my P/P i had to remove the mounting plate that's at the bottom of the pickup cavity. Else the AT can't go in deep enough..... Of course, the mounting screws now need to turn into the body itself. On my steel this was quite a major job, and would not recommend it for the fainthearted.
You will also notice that the two 'arms' extending from the changer, prevents the AT from going down deep enough..... Those two arms can be machined down just a tiny bit to give a bit more space. In my case I found going to all that trouble is not worth it.... The AT sounded way to bright to my liking. If it's the retro earsplitting single coil sound you want.....you can't go wrong with the AT. Not for me, though. I prefer a more mellow sound.
So, I took the AT out, and filled the tiny holes with wood filler, sanded it down, and replaced my E66's.(and the original mounting plate).
Oh, and rather got myself a Telonics VP.
_________________
1970 P/P Emmons D10 flatback 8x5, BJS Bar, J F picks, Peavey Session 500, Telonics pedal. Boss GX700 effects.
Skype : nidutoit |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 3 Aug 2011 8:42 am
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| this unfortunate situation: new pickups that don't interchange properly with the original design, is going to come back to haunt the future in butchered steel guitars. |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 3 Aug 2011 9:20 pm
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| Yep.. |
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mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
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Posted 5 Aug 2011 9:00 am
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| I like the AT in my S-12 Williams. Bill did the install, so it is right. While I like the AT, I would not mod a guitar to install the pickup. |
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Gary Reed
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Posted 10 Jan 2013 8:25 pm
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| Quote: |
Instead, look for a local pet shop, where they sell accessories for fish tanks..... Ask them for a length of 'surgical tubing'. These come in different diameters, and are used to and from the little underwater air pump in a fish tank. Select a size that will slip easily over the mounting screw.
Cut a 1/4inch to 3/8" length for each screw, making each one just long enough to act as a spring-washer when turning in the screw. Use this instead of those steel springs. That will take care of most, if not all, of your micro-phonics. |
Outstanding idea! |
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Stan Paxton
From:
1/2 & 1/2 Florida and Tenn, USA (old Missouri boy gone South)
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Posted 11 Jan 2013 3:26 pm
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I had an Alumitone installed in my older lacquer Mullen. Wasn't an exact fit, so had to drill a couple screw holes for underneath the PU, but no cutting or modification of the instrument itself. No microphonics noted. ...Very happy with the resulting tone, brightened it up a good bit, but does not loose the warmth of the wood body Mullen. ... 
_________________
Mullen Lacquer SD 10, 3 & 5; Mullen Mica S 10 1/2 pad, 3 & 5; BJS Bars; LTD400, Nashville 112, DD-3, RV-3, Hilton VP . -- Gold Tone PBS sq neck; Wechter Scheerhorn sq neck. -- "Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone." -anon.- |
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Gary Reed
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Posted 11 Jan 2013 3:52 pm
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Has anyone installed an Alumitone on a GFI S10 Ultra.
If so, how was the fit?
Any modifications needed? |
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Jim Priebe
From:
Queensland, Australia - R.I.P.
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Posted 11 Jan 2013 5:24 pm
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I have had an Alumitone in my GFI Ultra for over two years. It fitted in OK - pretty snug. I used tiny single strips of (black) vynil (amp covering) under the feet rather than foam to keep the strings/pickup clearance at the maximum without any further routing. Mount screws are in new position (to original GFI lll pup) so each required a small starter drilled hole through the laminate. The pickup is screwed down firmly to the body - no micrphonics at all.
I am more than happy with it.
_________________
Priebs GFI ('09)Short-Uni10. GFI ('96)Short-Uni SD11. ('86)JEM U12
www.steelguitardownunder.com |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 11 Jan 2013 5:30 pm Carter Install
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Curious about install in a late model Carter.
Good/Bad/Indifferent, mods required?
tnx
h |
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Mike DiAlesandro
From:
Kent, Ohio
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Posted 12 Jan 2013 12:17 pm Re: Carter Install
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| Howard Parker wrote: |
Curious about install in a late model Carter.
Good/Bad/Indifferent, mods required?
tnx
h |
Sounds good on this Carter!
Nice string separation and nearly hum-free, worth the try |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 12 Jan 2013 12:22 pm
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| Thanks Mike! |
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Dave Simonis
From:
Stevens Point, WI USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2013 6:50 pm pickup
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Chris,
You'll be getting some foam in the package I sent you. I ended up buying longer screws and using more foam under the pickup to give it the spring it needed. I have mine mounted about an 1/8" away from the strings...maybe just a bit more. Best pickup I have found yet.
_________________
Dave Simonis
Fiddle: Zeta, Arthur Conner, many others.../Steel: GFI SD-10 Ultra.../Mandolin: Breedlove.../Guitar: Gibson, Fender, Taylor.../Amps: Peavey NV112, Evans FET 500.../Others: Hilton, Goodrich, Stereo Steel, Pendulum Pre-amp... |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2013 7:04 am
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| chris ivey wrote: |
| this unfortunate situation: new pickups that don't interchange properly with the original design, is going to come back to haunt the future in butchered steel guitars. |
These pick-ups are made for Bass guitar and is why they are called Bass bars...
The new Alumitone® Bass Bars™ were designed by Jeff Lace to enhance and replace, as an upgrade to bass guitars using conventional size soap bar pickups.
http://www.lacemusic.com/Bassbar.php
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Niels Andrews
From:
Salinas, California, USA
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Posted 13 Jan 2013 8:44 am
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I just put mine down with velcro and works great!
_________________
Die with Memories. Not Dreams.
Good Stuff like Zum S-12, Wolfe Resoport
MSA SS-12, Telonics Combo. |
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