You got that right Art, was worth a try. Can I use a mic as a main component in my guitar? Not a chance. So thankful the mag and piezo combo works without feedback until you get to the max power I would ever want to use, plenty of headroom. Man if they all had feedback issues at lower volumes, my guitar would be toast and I would have given up years ago.
I do like to rock, but you don't always need to play Fortissimo, sometimes I very much enjoy playing softly, especially with finger picking. You can really hear the soundboard in the mix then. I think it would be possible to use the LR Baggs HiFi mic at that level, with a mag pickup also, and be successful. That of course that would be pretty limiting overall, so not an option for my guitar.
I think it is worth noting that the LR Baggs HiFi mic made it to a higher level before feeding back than other mics I tried, so it does seem to be more feedback resistant as marketed. I will try it in my Taylor or Guild one of these days.
Thanks for staying with me on this thread for so long Art, I appreciate it very much. I still say you need to write a book! 😎
I do like to rock, but you don't always need to play Fortissimo, sometimes I very much enjoy playing softly, especially with finger picking. You can really hear the soundboard in the mix then. I think it would be possible to use the LR Baggs HiFi mic at that level, with a mag pickup also, and be successful. That of course that would be pretty limiting overall, so not an option for my guitar.
I think it is worth noting that the LR Baggs HiFi mic made it to a higher level before feeding back than other mics I tried, so it does seem to be more feedback resistant as marketed. I will try it in my Taylor or Guild one of these days.
Thanks for staying with me on this thread for so long Art, I appreciate it very much. I still say you need to write a book! 😎
I'm pretty sure the "duet" aspect of the Baggs system means the mic supplements the two stick-on (I assume piezo) pickups; it wasnt intended to be used stand alone. Like the piezo in your bridge is "supplementing" the mag pickup sound.
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Also your chamber divider needs some more thought, if the guitar side is going to be more acoustically isolated from the horn side. I have to imagine that some material glued fast to the horn routing edges is going to be pretty stiff when the adhesive dries.
Then its a matter of how much mass is there to block sound from the horn routings getting up into the guitar chamber. You could put a 1/4" sheet of cast iron there, but you have to watch the total weight of the guitar. So there'll be a balance between stiffness, weight, material damping and thickness there for the best you can do. By "damping" I mean the ringing property of the material itself; there could be rubber sheet laminations in the material stack comprising that board.
The other path is acoustic, from the horn openings around into the sound hole and to the mic which I assume is stuck to the back side of the saddle location, as shown in the Baggs install photos. Unsure if the depth is available in your design to be able to put it there, due to its height. At least the horn mouths shoot out orthogonaly to the sound hole. Unsure if "f" holes would give you more isolation for that one.
I believe Art did state that the Baggs systems only works with the EQ he put in place in the electronics, which suggests that may need to change for your quite different situation, where the guitar half is more of a "thin-line" versus the more tubby dimensions of an ordinary acoustic. So there's lots to play with - if possible - before giving up on that system.
Maybe a good way to introduce yourself; you paid him good money for it and I'm sure he offers some level of customer service to folks having difficulty with his products. I have a feeling he's interested in the more troublesome issues people have, as a way to improve and get in scope what people are doing with his stuff. You could describe the situation and ask how to get his duet system to fit/function best, given what you have.
Then its a matter of how much mass is there to block sound from the horn routings getting up into the guitar chamber. You could put a 1/4" sheet of cast iron there, but you have to watch the total weight of the guitar. So there'll be a balance between stiffness, weight, material damping and thickness there for the best you can do. By "damping" I mean the ringing property of the material itself; there could be rubber sheet laminations in the material stack comprising that board.
The other path is acoustic, from the horn openings around into the sound hole and to the mic which I assume is stuck to the back side of the saddle location, as shown in the Baggs install photos. Unsure if the depth is available in your design to be able to put it there, due to its height. At least the horn mouths shoot out orthogonaly to the sound hole. Unsure if "f" holes would give you more isolation for that one.
I believe Art did state that the Baggs systems only works with the EQ he put in place in the electronics, which suggests that may need to change for your quite different situation, where the guitar half is more of a "thin-line" versus the more tubby dimensions of an ordinary acoustic. So there's lots to play with - if possible - before giving up on that system.
Maybe a good way to introduce yourself; you paid him good money for it and I'm sure he offers some level of customer service to folks having difficulty with his products. I have a feeling he's interested in the more troublesome issues people have, as a way to improve and get in scope what people are doing with his stuff. You could describe the situation and ask how to get his duet system to fit/function best, given what you have.
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The bracing affects the sound at any location, and also will affect the Silo microphone response. Unsure if the depth is available in your design to be able to put it there, due to its height.
The dispersion pattern of a diffraction horn like the FHAG can't be predicted simply by which direction it "points", as can be seen in the old DIY Smith DSH directivity characteristics:
The Baggs duet performs very well in the thin-line AEG-1.
The Baggs duet is designed with the assumption that the sound reinforcement system provides a reasonably "flat response" in the vicinity of the transducers, which the FHAG speakers don't.
The FHAG speakers, and their proximity to the transducers will require a drastically different EQ to work effectively with any transducer/mic system.
Art
Yeah there is nothing wrong with the Baggs pickup, it will not work in my guitar, and I know this from working with other mics also. I always thought mics would be a big stretch, as Art said, the definition of feedback.
I am moving on, I like to test but I know when something is going well, and when it is a bust. Right now I am hand shaping the adjustable nut for my second guitar. It is in a very little pocket in the neck, can float, and the height can be adjusted. I do not buy that the bridge height adjustment alone will give enough action adjustment. If you can adjust the nut height and the bridge height independently, you have many great options. Fretting the second neck is after that...slow but sure!
I am moving on, I like to test but I know when something is going well, and when it is a bust. Right now I am hand shaping the adjustable nut for my second guitar. It is in a very little pocket in the neck, can float, and the height can be adjusted. I do not buy that the bridge height adjustment alone will give enough action adjustment. If you can adjust the nut height and the bridge height independently, you have many great options. Fretting the second neck is after that...slow but sure!
I usually get low daily visits on my Website/YouTube, but then spikes. (16) visits on 2-6-25 were all from Paris France, then (26) visits on 2-7-25 were all from Canada. Hoping AGM will give me many more spikes, can't hurt!
Just for fun and to see wha's happenin', have a look at the Enya Nexg 2. It's a somewhat "normal" stick guitar with a built in speaker.
It is to wonder if you could cement "half A" (their electronics) to "half B" (your construction), if even conceptually. Apparently, you can use a headset mic and your singing voice is mixed with the effects offered by their electronics. 50W amp built in, powered by ~40 W-h battery.
They even have a Nylon version.
https://www.enya-music.com/pages/nexg2-features
It is to wonder if you could cement "half A" (their electronics) to "half B" (your construction), if even conceptually. Apparently, you can use a headset mic and your singing voice is mixed with the effects offered by their electronics. 50W amp built in, powered by ~40 W-h battery.
They even have a Nylon version.
https://www.enya-music.com/pages/nexg2-features
Thanks much JJ, that is one ugly guitar, makes mine look good! The say "traditional guitar craftsmanship meets cutting-edge technology" and I say what traditional guitar craftsmanship? Obviously being marketed from overseas.
That said, I am a sound before beauty guy every day of the week, and if they can get a great sound, more power to them. I will find some YouTube videos tonight. My guess is speakers in a small enclosure on an electric guitar (that is already a great sounding powerful instrument), nothing to write home about, but we shall see (hear).
What impresses me the most, as you mentioned JJ, is the electronics, especially the battery in a small space. The damn thing costs less than the LR Baggs pickup, I may need to buy one and tear it apart, and yes this is one expensive hobby. I look at it as my alternative to buying a used Dodge Challenger 800 HP Hellcat!
That said, I am a sound before beauty guy every day of the week, and if they can get a great sound, more power to them. I will find some YouTube videos tonight. My guess is speakers in a small enclosure on an electric guitar (that is already a great sounding powerful instrument), nothing to write home about, but we shall see (hear).
What impresses me the most, as you mentioned JJ, is the electronics, especially the battery in a small space. The damn thing costs less than the LR Baggs pickup, I may need to buy one and tear it apart, and yes this is one expensive hobby. I look at it as my alternative to buying a used Dodge Challenger 800 HP Hellcat!
I agree with the comment at the bottom of this pic, and also people saying they sound more electric than acoustic. I thought the guy at the top playing "Over The Rainbow" on the white Enya sounded really great! I think it is encouraging to see innovative guitars like this. One of the down sides is if you are not electronic with this guitar, you get pretty much nothing, my guitar does not have that problem.
Another guy that commented on this thread had a huge list of nice guitars in his collection, all great guitars, and the LR Baggs AEG-1 was at the top of the list, likely most recent purchase. 😎 👍
Another guy that commented on this thread had a huge list of nice guitars in his collection, all great guitars, and the LR Baggs AEG-1 was at the top of the list, likely most recent purchase. 😎 👍
Yeah. The way the guy plays in the bottom video makes me want to cry - not in this incarnation for me. Anyway, just wanted to draw your attention to their instrument and electronics within. Which I feel would be the frosting on the cake if the same were built into yours. It's entirely doable. Beware however, that "Asian" manufactury would love to steal your idea, but they'd make the horn section out of molded plastic with a carbon fiber top.
Yeah for sure JJ. Now U.S. Patents are much more respected by China than they used to be, but of course you still never know.
I think many of the innovative guitars are missing the wood and wood tone, plus not able to play without electronics is a big negative for me.
I think the AEG-1 can stand out for these reasons.
I just received my new Acoustic Guitar Magazine: Rosanne Cash is on the cover, Plus Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington make appearances, talk about Music Royalty! Fishman and L.R. Baggs sneak in through a pickup story, my guitar ad is in the next issue.
I really need to rip apart one of the Enya guitars, not kidding!
www.katzenberger-engineering.com
I think many of the innovative guitars are missing the wood and wood tone, plus not able to play without electronics is a big negative for me.
I think the AEG-1 can stand out for these reasons.
I just received my new Acoustic Guitar Magazine: Rosanne Cash is on the cover, Plus Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington make appearances, talk about Music Royalty! Fishman and L.R. Baggs sneak in through a pickup story, my guitar ad is in the next issue.
I really need to rip apart one of the Enya guitars, not kidding!
www.katzenberger-engineering.com
JJ and Art - I would like you opinion please (and anybody else that might be interested). This is a little off topic, I am dumping my old LinkedIn account, likely have not touched it in 12-13 years, and will start fresh.
I like the guitar drawing for back ground, but of course others may not. The engineering I do professionally (design/tooling for automotive, appliance, medical...) has nothing to do with the music industry of course. It is more artwork than an actual drawing anybody could understand. What do you think? Keep it or dump it? Thanks!
I like the guitar drawing for back ground, but of course others may not. The engineering I do professionally (design/tooling for automotive, appliance, medical...) has nothing to do with the music industry of course. It is more artwork than an actual drawing anybody could understand. What do you think? Keep it or dump it? Thanks!
Too busy for my taste, the blue box left and right image would be plenty, and since none of the writing can be read, loose it.
Also, the orientation is left handed, only ~10% of the market.
Thanks Art, yeah it is a very busy print. It is actually about 12 feet long, since I really like to print out in full scale. Pretty hard to read, so more of a curiosity than a working print at that size. It is a RH guitar, it is the guitar I built from that very print, and play all the time, which of course is from the 3D model. It may be hard to tell sized down so small. I think I will put a new picture in the header and try to find a spot for this print somewhere else.
OK I see what you are saying now Art, technically it has become a display Ad. It is really a working drawing with a standard Isometric view from the top view, so it is correct, and a RH guitar.
Now you can draw the guitar in a top view with the headstock to the left, or the headstock to the right (I have seen both ways). Personally I like to draw with the headstock to the left, as you would string the guitar in your lap, then as you would rotate it up and hold it, personal preference, and that would change the Isometric view.
In the old days with just a board or even a 2D CAD drawing, once you have the view, you are stuck with it. In a 3D CAD system you can rotate the guitar to any view your heart desires, then kick out a 2D drawing or display Ad, so it really does not mater what position you start the drawing in.
Since my guitar is almost completely symmetrical, it might not matter, except the bridge compensation for intonation is slightly angled to lengthen the lower/thicker E string, as is standard on all guitars of course. If it was not for that, you could flip the guitar over and restring it from top to bottom and have a left handed guitar. Since this would not work, a LH guitar player could always remove the bridge and add make their own with the correct compensation.
I am sure LH guitars players have all kinds of tricks in a RH world, like Hendrix just flipped the strings and bridge from a RH guitar so he could play it as a LH guitar, at least from what I have heard!
Now you can draw the guitar in a top view with the headstock to the left, or the headstock to the right (I have seen both ways). Personally I like to draw with the headstock to the left, as you would string the guitar in your lap, then as you would rotate it up and hold it, personal preference, and that would change the Isometric view.
In the old days with just a board or even a 2D CAD drawing, once you have the view, you are stuck with it. In a 3D CAD system you can rotate the guitar to any view your heart desires, then kick out a 2D drawing or display Ad, so it really does not mater what position you start the drawing in.
Since my guitar is almost completely symmetrical, it might not matter, except the bridge compensation for intonation is slightly angled to lengthen the lower/thicker E string, as is standard on all guitars of course. If it was not for that, you could flip the guitar over and restring it from top to bottom and have a left handed guitar. Since this would not work, a LH guitar player could always remove the bridge and add make their own with the correct compensation.
I am sure LH guitars players have all kinds of tricks in a RH world, like Hendrix just flipped the strings and bridge from a RH guitar so he could play it as a LH guitar, at least from what I have heard!
How about a sub-saddle, a little wood piece that comes out of the saddle, just big enough to hold the bridge bone? Replace it with the lefty version, instead of ripping the whole saddle off the top. A little tite-bond / yellow glue makes it permanent.