Baggs i-beam who fits them in JHB?

PeteM

A mate of mine needs to get a PU for his 20 year old classical Yamaha CG-40A. Not the top of the range, but a very nice sounding instrument and he is used to playing it, so doesn't need to buy a new guitar with a PU built in. He's visting JHB in a few weeks and would like someone up there to sell and fit one for him while he is there as we are not confident that anyone in Durbs can do it. Who is the best person in JHB?

Bob-Dubery

PeteM wrote: A mate of mine needs to get a PU for his 20 year old classical Yamaha CG-40A. Not the top of the range, but a very nice sounding instrument and he is used to playing it, so doesn't need to buy a new guitar with a PU built in. He's visting JHB in a few weeks and would like someone up there to sell and fit one for him while he is there as we are not confident that anyone in Durbs can do it. Who is the best person in JHB?

Marshall's are the Baggs agents, but I can't vouch for their workshop.

Speak either to Mando at Music Connection in Craighall or to Mark at Andy McGibbon's in Strijdom Park. Both shops should be able to source the hardware for you as well. Probably best for your friend to set things up in advance and ask the shops to reserve the hardware for him.

PeteM

Thanks Bob.

domhatch

hey pete. i can't necessarily vouch for music connection, but - and maybe bob can give more detail on this - if mando is the same mando who worked at andy's before, then i can vouch for him and his workmanship. same for mark who works at andy's now. so +1 and +1. maybe it just comes down to price and availability. mebbe your mate should give them a call and check what they have in store before binging that annoying little bell shops have. oh, and one another thing. andy's offers great coffee. dunno if that's a factor...

Bob-Dubery

domhatch wrote: hey pete. i can't necessarily vouch for music connection, but - and maybe bob can give more detail on this - if mando is the same mando who worked at andy's before, then i can vouch for him and his workmanship.

It is indeed the same Mando. He's a good guy and does excellent work.

PeteM

Thanks again guys. Yeah, he will make contact in Durbs now before just pitching up JHB and expecting immediate turnaround. Hence the enquiry now.

guitarboy2828

Pete, just to throw something out there in case it helps. I had an LR baggs active element fitted in my acoustic by Shawn O'Neill. He did a SUPERB job. It sounds absolutely amazing. I was missing some part of it, which he sorted out for me no problem.

Shawn deals only with LR Baggs, so maybe give him a call and see if he is able to do the i-beam?

PeteM

Paul E wrote: Pete, just to throw something out there in case it helps. I had an LR baggs active element fitted in my acoustic by Shawn O'Neill. He did a SUPERB job. It sounds absolutely amazing. I was missing some part of it, which he sorted out for me no problem.

Shawn deals only with LR Baggs, so maybe give him a call and see if he is able to do the i-beam?

Thanks Paul... do you have his number, if so please PM me with it. Thanks.

Keira-WitherKay

guys, the ibeam is dead simple to fit........

it requires only one hole drilled for end pin...

the rest.... the control wheel for volume the batterry pack and even the pickup itself all attatch's with double sided tape........ ]

positioning the battery pack and wheel for volume are easy ... slightly more complicated is the pickup....

which btw has a cutout for the brace that runs under the top........... so it's easy to find the approx position cos the cutout fits over the brace with ony a bit of movement posible either way ..... then you just stick it under the bridge .....

the manuel suggests you stick it listen to the sound and if not happy .. before the glue really hardens on the double sided tape.whip it off and move it a mm ot two either way ....... so it's easily adjusted if you position it slightly wrong ,

i had a tech drill the holes for me but i moved my 2x i beams around between about 10 guitars over the last years and did it all myself in under 5 min .... if the hole is there .

it takes longer to take the strings off than to position the entire setup ........ ?

and the wonderful thing about the ibeam is that one can remove it in as short a time completely and put it in another guitar ...... it does not use a mic to pick up the soundboard/top so it's got virtually no feedback ........ and still picks up the top and every touch you make . i love my ibeam ?

just a tip Pete for you friend. i found the i beam sounds most natural with the on board volume very low at about 20% .......more than that and it gets boomy and un natural...... so keep the pup low and push the level on the preamp ( it will need a pre amp of course cos no eq is available on the pup ,,,just volume ) cos i had the "active" version (they also do passive models of ibeam) and i found the pup very "hot"

but i must say every recording you hear of me is using the ibeam and i'm never unhappy with my sound live or recorded and i want that "natural " nylon sound and once you find the sweet spot on volume , it's perfect tone every time...... without any fiddling to find it

btw is he putting it in a nylon or a steel string ? i have never heard em in a steel yet .........

PeteM

Thanks Keira... he's putting it in nylon.