Artec Preamp EPP

Submitted at: 17:45, 8/23/2005

Product Info

Pickup features: Jack socket/strap button/preamp integrated
Impedence or other specs: see http://www.artecsound.com/epp.html
Price Paid: GBP 20
Purchased from: http://www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/ttwp35b.html

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Tanglewood TBF-Sapling
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: Belcat EGT 202 double transdcr
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change: The guitar had no pickup. I installed the Artec Preamp and BelCat transducers to "electrify" it for gigging.

Sound

Perceived output level: Preamp ampifies the sound picked up by the BelCat transducers to produce an accurate accoustic sound of the guitar for amplification at a very reasonable price.
Tone: Errs on the side of treble/mid and requires a little eq fiddling to enhance bass frequencies.
Sonic evaluation: Tanglewood TBF-Sapling vie Behringer Eurorack MX1602A mixer for EQ and preamp for PA or direct into CuBase VST using onscreen EQ and effects.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Generally not fingerstyle.

Overall Rating

Comments: This is a good cheap integrated set of products (Cheap transducers and preamp strap-jack). The sound is good, and, if you know what you're doing with a 13mm D bit in an electric drill and a soldering iron; it's easy to install. I did the whole installation in one hour for about 35GBP in parts. I guess a luthier, such as the guy in Hobgoblin in London, would charge around 20GBP to fit.

I am inclined to believe that other types of pickup may be better, but probably only marginally so. I think the 120GBP that is charged for some under-saddle piezo pickup plus preamp is frankly ludicrous. The guitar I fitted it to only cost me 89GBP, so another 120GBP was out of the question. Under saddle pickups also require that the saddle be modified to accommodate the thickness of the pickup transducer whilst retaining the original action. This is an extra fitting operation and is certainly a lot more complex than sticking on a couple of cheap transducers with the double sided sticky pads provided on them.

Placement of the transducers does affect the volume and tone of the final sound, and I would advise anyone trying to install self adhesive piezo transduces to stick them in various places on the outside of the guitar around the bridge and to test the sound through the preamp until you are happy.

One hitch in installation I did come across was getting the 2.5mm jack plug that I soldered the transducer wires to to fit into the corresponding socket on the end of the preamp circuit-board. The plug I got from Maplin was too bulky to go in the hole of the preamp cover to fully seat in the socket and I had to leave the preamp cover off completely. Apart from generally being fiddly because the guitar is a 1/2 size model and only has an 80mm soundhole, it was a straightforward job.

If you have an expensive guitar that you think may warrant a good pickup system, then, by all means, go for it and get "the best", but, if your guitar only cost up to 200GBP, go for this option: you won't regret it.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value

Submitted by: dave <dave@dewex.co.uk>