Bill Lawrence FT-145 (Humbucker)
Submitted at: 6:36, 11/7/2003
Product Info
Pickup features: Humbucking configured for bronze strings
Impedence or other specs: Not known or measured.
Price Paid: Sterling 10
Purchased from: A dodgy second-hand shop many, many years ago.
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Vega 845 (Dutch-made Martin D28 by a memeber of the C F Martin Organisation)
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: Pass
You musical style(s): Acoustic rock and blues
Reason for pickup change: I wanted to use my Vega in a live environment and needed to amplify it. I saw the PU in a second-hand shop and bought for £10. Er... that's about it, really.
Sound
Perceived output level: Hard to quantify. Let's just say it has a substantially lower output than any other pickup on my guitars.
Tone: I find this PU to be bass-heavy. It does not really capture the richness of the Vega and the acoustic sparkle is killed off between guitar and loudspeakers. Extensive EQ tweaking doesn't help, therefore one can only conclude that the real high end is lost at the transducer stage. and once it has gone you can't get it back.
Sonic evaluation: If you consider what I paid for this PU then it has to be a bargain - but not the best I ever had. To my ears it sounds dull, flat and lifeless - regardless of what amp/PA it is put through. The Vega comes across as an insipid electric guitar rather than an amplified acoustic. It does have a use as a signal source for processors which contrast with the acoustic sound [inspired by the great John Martyn]. But as an out-and-out acoustic pickup it is sadly lacking. Had it not been so ridiculously cheap I would never have considered it. I am more determined than ever to go the piezo route now. Frankly this is a piece of old acoustic guitar amplifying technology and it shows its age in spades. Maybe some nostalgists might have a soft spot for it. Mine would be a peat bog.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I find this pickup unsuitable for anything musical.
Overall Rating
Comments: I would never consider this pickup again. If I could give it away to some idiot who didn't know any better, I probably would. Only an Ovation played purely acoustically sounds as dire.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 2
Submitted by: R W Underwood
Submitted at: 8:31, 4/20/2001
Product Info
Pickup features: humbucking magnetic soundhole
Impedence or other specs: pretty high impedance
Price Paid: US $50.00
Purchased from: The Conservatory of Music, Terre Haute, IN
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Alvarez Artist series
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: probably no one...it sucks
You musical style(s): many styles
Reason for pickup change: needed a cheap pickup to hold me over until I could get a really good pickup.
Sound
Perceived output level: not very loud
Tone: through an electric amp it is VERY muddy...through my acoustic it is impossibly bright
Sonic evaluation: I play through an awsome carvin acoustic combo
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: it sucks for all styles
Overall Rating
Comments: This thing sucks. Don't buy it.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 1 - What a hunk of Junk!
Submitted at: 5:35, 2/17/98
Product Info
Pickup features: humbucking sound-hole
Impedence or other specs: medium impedence
Price Paid: US $approx. $70 used
Purchased from: Have bought them new and used (used $25-30)
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Guild JF-4,212 XII,Gibson J-200(2),Gianinni Craviola 12,Oahu Hawaiian
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Barcus-Berry,FRAP,others
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: The Edge,Leo Kottke(prev.),Terry Allan Hall,Doc Watson(p),Michael Hedges(p)
You musical style(s): Acoustic Folk/Country/Rock
Reason for pickup change: Kept looking for an amplified acoustic sound that I could relate to.This pickup gets me as close as I've gotten so far.
Sound
Perceived output level: Good balance of volume with very rare feedback.
Tone: Somewhat muddy without an EQ, very well balanced with a bit of EQ tweaking
Sonic evaluation: I mostly play directly into the PA,either mine (Carvin 1244P) or the venues(many different configurations). When I use an amp,I prefer solid-state(Kustom,Lab,Crate).Plan to try the Carvin AG-100 ASAP.I use the guitars mentioned above.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Contemporary Acoustic styles
Overall Rating
Comments: I've used the FT-145 for about 13 years,and nowdays use nothing else.They're hard to find,so I buy 'em as I find them.I host "open mike" programs, and always carry a couple for people who haven't yet gotten a pick-up or have a poor sounding one.My only wish is that it sounded better w/o EQing,but I've never found ANY acoustic P/U that didn't need EQing.I won't use any piezo or saddle P/U's at all, due to their unreliability and "quackiness"
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 9