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Topic: Need Help Installing Fishman Dobro Pickup |
Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 11:09 am |
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I just bought a new Fishman pickup and I cant seem to find any info on how to install it. I checked Youtube and I saw a Paul Beard video, but it was using his spider made for the pickup.
I used to have a video by Paul showing how to replace a bridge, and I have done it. But I loaned it to a "friend" who did not return it.
I need to know how to measure and notch the bridge. Like I said, I have done it, but if I screwed up one, they were only a few bucks. If I screw this one up, it's around $220 |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 11:19 am
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| Send it to Beard. You don't need the expensive headache. |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 11:39 am
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| I can't think of anything more expensive than shipping it away and pay Beard' s bench fee |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 11:51 am
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Chris, though it is possible to mount the pickup insert into a standard slotted dobro spider bridge assembly, it is not recommended. A fair number of these pickups have been ruined in attempts by "weekend" guitar techs to intstall them into a standard slotted #14 spider bridge or something similar.
A good way to go about it if you don't want to pack and ship your guitar (and who does, really?) is to purchase the adjustable spider from Beard, or the Schoonover modular spider from Kent Schoonover in Oklahoma and have them mount the pickup in the unit which is then sent to you and you or someone else who is handy with a soldering iron can finish the job. There are some measurements which need to be communicated to Paul or Kent as far as height clearance, etc. under the palm rest.
_________________
Mark
Last edited by Mark Eaton on 30 Jun 2016 2:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 11:57 am
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There is some info here on slotting the saddles. Scroll down the page. http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Learn_About_String_Action_and_Setup/Resonator_Guitar_Set-up_Techniques.html
You can use your old saddles as a guide for slotting the Fishman. The new Fishman saddles will likely be too tall and will need the bottoms trimmed down to make them the correct height. Just take your time and be careful.
There are some instructions available from Fishman as well: http://www.fishman.com/products/series/nashville/nashvillespiderresophonicpickup.php
If you don't feel comfortable doing it, there's probably a capable resonator luthier, repairman or someone otherwise familiar with squareneck spider instruments somewhere near you in Texas.
I bought a Regal that had one of these installed, that I had to rework because the inserts had been cut too low, but the slotting was correct.
These need to have the adjustable spider for the best fit and operation.
I used my old spider, drilled and tapped it myself with a 6" long drill bit and ratcheting tap driver. I used metric screws for this job.
Notice the elements were carefully removed from the old inserts and reinstalled on correct new ones I got from Derek at Fishman USA, trimmed slightly then height adjusted using the screws.
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 1:19 pm
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| Thank you Jerry |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 1:20 pm
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The Fishman donut is a lot easier and good enough for us po' folk.
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 1:30 pm
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| That's not what I bought |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 1:40 pm
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The Beard shop can slot for you and/or mount in a spider. Back when I was there we'd charge $15 to slot. You provide height measurements.
Less expensive then shipping a guitar or buying a set of slotting files.
If you have a local do it they can call the Beard shop for advice if needed.
h |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 1:54 pm
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| Thanks Howard....how do they get the height right? |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 2:00 pm
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Typically you take the measurement from the existing bridge insert. How far above the shoulder of the spider is the top of the insert?
The shop can walk you through the process if there are questions. I think the challenge will be mounting the pickup in a spider that isn't optimal, without damage. Again, a phone call might help. Can't hurt.
h |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 30 Jun 2016 2:54 pm
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Chris, I am guessing you have the latest version of the pickup that looks like this:
The one Jerry is showing in the guitar he bought used where he needed to perform some "surgery" is the old version. Though some folks have done fine with these, many had issues, and the current version which does not have the metal piece sandwiched between the cap and base has been a significant improvement over the original.
I bring this up as a warning to potential buyers. I have seen websites who are Fishman dealers showing the old version, and though chances are they just haven't gotten around to updating their site photo with the latest version - I wouldn't assume anything - and we all know the definition of assume.
I'm really surprised that Fishman still even offers the old donut type. Prior to the Nashville pickup coming out ballpark seven years ago, the state-of-the-art for 3 to 4 years was the Scherlter Basik resonator pickup and it was a dramatic improvement over the old "donut" and the MacIntyre "Feather" pickup, or all the surface mounted magnetic pickups that make one's guitar sound more like a lap steel than a dobro.
I recall when Brad Harper, owner of the www.Reso-Nation.org forum first installed a Schertler in one of his guitars and pulled out the Fishman "donut" a bunch of years ago. His comment was that the Schertler in comparison made the donut pickup "sound like an AM radio."
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Mark |
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Dennis Saydak
From:
Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 9:39 am
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Here's a picture of the pickup sitting in the Beard adjustable spider of my guitar. It's not that difficult a job for a careful person, especially if you have a proper set of nut files. It looks just like a regular #14 spider that has been drilled and tapped for several small screws. I'd suggest that you try notching some blanks of hardwood before actually notching the pickup itself.
I'm may have the installation instructions. Email me if you do/still need them and I'll check.
_________________
Dennis
Just when you think you're getting ahead in the rat race, the rats get faster. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 1 Jul 2016 10:00 am
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Here is a link to the alternative from Kent Schoonover. He probably needs to update this page, the prices seem a little out of date and he is still showing the old version of the pickup. I really like the spider assembly, a fine piece of work.
http://www.schoonoverresophonicguitars.com/schoonover_modular_spider.htm
| Quote: |
| Great success has been achieved with the new Fishman Spider Bridge Reso Pickup in the Schoonover Modular Spider. This pickup is available installed into a maple Schoonover Modular Bridge base that mounts to the spider casting in place of the regular bridge. A positive coupling between the bridge and spider is important to the output of an undersaddle pickup. This is best achieved with a Schoonover Modular Spider. |
Since taking over the production of Scheerhorn Resonator Guitars at National Reso-Phonic, I questioned how they go about mounting the pickup insert in the Nati-horns and owner Eric Smith told me that they have dialed in the process without having a spider designed specifically for the pickup. Here is the National spider.
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Mark |
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