	Santa Cruz Guitar Company Pick-up Systems \| Neck Design \| Neck Adjustment \| Action \| Strings \| Finish \| Warranty An SCGC Guide to Acoustic Pickups Available Today Article by Dan Roberts Highlander This is an incredibly warm acoustic sounding pickup. The Highlander is a little more complicated than some to install, so the installation should by all means be done by a professional but once installed correctly they have a reputation for being pretty fool proof. Failure rate on the Highlander is extremely low! The Highlander comes in the basic IP-1, the IP-2 which allows for an additional source to be used, the IP-1X which allows for no onboard battery, and an IP-1 with a volume knob. Highlander makes a superb microphone which attaches to the back brace and plugs right in to the IP-2. The preamp is located inside of the endpin jack and therefore reduces the amount of mounted hardware on the guitar. This is one of the best dual source systems out today we feel. The price represents a good value for such a high quality system. Schertler BLUESTiCK Schertler has a new technology pickup out that is great. They call it the "BLUESTiCK" and we have designed our new Studio model around it. The Schertler is becoming a major player in the acoustic pickup market from all indications. It has a wonderful multi-dimensionality to the sound usually not heard in Mono systems. It is a tiny phenolic chamber fitted with a mic inside that sits under the saddle. It looks and fits like a Piezo but isn't. The feedback potential is quite low. The accuracy of reproduction on this model is phenomenal. Mandolin phenomenon Chris Thiele from Nickel Creek uses their mandolin pickup which is also phenomenal. Baggs Baggs has many good products out including the I beam active and the Double Barrel. The double barrel is a dual source system with no on-board controls and the preamp located in the endpin jack, like Highlander. It is very resonably priced and is a good choice for someone looking for a great value in a dual source system. We have also used the Baggs Dual source preamp along with the Ribbon Transducer and any number of other mics including the Joe Mills mic. Nashville songwriter Gary Nicholson chose this system. For those needing control at the soundhole and a dual source with much versatility, and don't mind having a preamp attached to the side or back, the Dual source is a great Baggs choice. It allows for greater versatility and fidelity than the Double Barrel at a higher price. Baggs also has out a new transducer which can be used in tandem with the I beam. We have high hopes for this new system and will update when we have more info on it. B-Band B-Band has earned a very good name for itself. We have installed several of these systems and the customers have been very happy. They have 3 possible sources including a saddle pickup, a soundboard transducer, and a microphone. These can be used alone or any 2 in a dual system. It is also possible to have a dual system that has a mixing pot right at your fingertips. The saddle pickup is very good and when using dual systems we recommend using the saddle pickup with either of the others. Pickup the World They're starting to make a wave worth noting... Splendid sound I'm told. Also the Headway pickup from England is very good. It uses a similar transducer technology to the Highlander. The preamp is different, but of very high quality. Fishman The Fishman products are good and widely available — so much so I won't try to give a description of all their options, if you are inclined that way, information is very easy to get on this large widely distributed and very professional company. Fishman makes the on-board electronics for a large number of the better guitars carrying factory electronics such as Martin, Taylor, and Larrivee. top^
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Santa Cruz Guitar Company

An SCGC Guide to Acoustic Pickups Available Today

Article by Dan Roberts

Highlander

This is an incredibly warm acoustic sounding pickup. The Highlander is a little more complicated than some to install, so the installation should by all means be done by a professional but once installed correctly they have a reputation for being pretty fool proof. Failure rate on the Highlander is extremely low! The Highlander comes in the basic IP-1, the IP-2 which allows for an additional source to be used, the IP-1X which allows for no onboard battery, and an IP-1 with a volume knob. Highlander makes a superb microphone which attaches to the back brace and plugs right in to the IP-2. The preamp is located inside of the endpin jack and therefore reduces the amount of mounted hardware on the guitar. This is one of the best dual source systems out today we feel. The price represents a good value for such a high quality system.

Schertler BLUESTiCK

Schertler has a new technology pickup out that is great. They call it the "BLUESTiCK" and we have designed our new Studio model around it. The Schertler is becoming a major player in the acoustic pickup market from all indications. It has a wonderful multi-dimensionality to the sound usually not heard in Mono systems. It is a tiny phenolic chamber fitted with a mic inside that sits under the saddle. It looks and fits like a Piezo but isn't. The feedback potential is quite low. The accuracy of reproduction on this model is phenomenal. Mandolin phenomenon Chris Thiele from Nickel Creek uses their mandolin pickup which is also phenomenal.

Baggs

Baggs has many good products out including the I beam active and the Double Barrel. The double barrel is a dual source system with no on-board controls and the preamp located in the endpin jack, like Highlander. It is very resonably priced and is a good choice for someone looking for a great value in a dual source system. We have also used the Baggs Dual source preamp along with the Ribbon Transducer and any number of other mics including the Joe Mills mic. Nashville songwriter Gary Nicholson chose this system. For those needing control at the soundhole and a dual source with much versatility, and don't mind having a preamp attached to the side or back, the Dual source is a great Baggs choice. It allows for greater versatility and fidelity than the Double Barrel at a higher price. Baggs also has out a new transducer which can be used in tandem with the I beam. We have high hopes for this new system and will update when we have more info on it.

B-Band

B-Band has earned a very good name for itself. We have installed several of these systems and the customers have been very happy. They have 3 possible sources including a saddle pickup, a soundboard transducer, and a microphone. These can be used alone or any 2 in a dual system. It is also possible to have a dual system that has a mixing pot right at your fingertips. The saddle pickup is very good and when using dual systems we recommend using the saddle pickup with either of the others.

Pickup the World

They're starting to make a wave worth noting... Splendid sound I'm told. Also the Headway pickup from England is very good. It uses a similar transducer technology to the Highlander. The preamp is different, but of very high quality.

Fishman

The Fishman products are good and widely available — so much so I won't try to give a description of all their options, if you are inclined that way, information is very easy to get on this large widely distributed and very professional company. Fishman makes the on-board electronics for a large number of the better guitars carrying factory electronics such as Martin, Taylor, and Larrivee.

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