Nitebob
Not sure whether this should go under amplification...
I have this Ibby AEL2012 which I play as a six string. Love the tone (although I know it is a bit bright to some's liking) Dont much appreciate the wide neck, but can get used to it. Also, it's a beautiful guitar. However....as most know their electronics suck sumthing awfull.
I started looking at other guitars as I want that nice bright tone it gives me, but need dependable electronics. I also have the Cort acoustic with fishman elecs...so 2 questions
Could the Fishman be transplanted?
Is it worth having the Ibby's electronics replaced?
Thanks guys.
AlanRatcliffe
Sure, you can replace the electronics and I think that it's always worth it if you like the guitar. Transplanting from one guitar to another can be problematic as the preamp holes all differ and there is not always published specs on the OEM systems. You'll also completely kill the value of the Cort...
What I'd do is experiment with swapping the pickups themselves, see how much of a difference that makes.
If that fails, I'd measure the hole for the stock preamp (the pickup is rarely an issue these days), then shop around the replacements from People like Fishman and Baggs to find one that needs a larger hole (they are pretty easy to enlarge, but it's a far more difficult job to fill in wood if the stock hole is too big). This is by far the best option as the OEM systems usually have a pretty mediocre pickup and preamp anyway.
Nitebob
Thx Alan. Spoke to Foster. Cant justify spending up to R2200 on a guitar for a new pickup system on a guitar I can't resell for more than R2k. Going to Bothners today to look for the features I like in the Ibanez with a more dependable pickup. Thx for the input.
AlanRatcliffe
The thing is, you'll only find the better pickups and preamps on the more expensive guitars. There is a big difference between a "designed by X" Asian-built preamp with a coaxial or crystal pickup and a US-made high-end system with top quality pre and a polymer pickup.
