Shadow Electronics SH EC 22

Gearhead

Hi all, saw a SH EC 22 pickup system on offer and was wondering
- whether this is a good sounding pickup to build into my 12-string
- what a proper price second hand would be...
Anyone with an opinion? Will do an E-bay search (not too lazy ? ).

AlanRatcliffe

That's a "hot spot" contact transducer (like the Schaller Oyster) - not as good as an undersaddle. Prone to a boxy sound and feedback. For a 12, I think I'd rather go all out and fit a Baggs or a Fishman.

Gearhead

??? it is an condenser mic + undersaddle isn't it?
http://www.shadow-electronics.com/viewpro.html?lang_id=&id=61

I would like to be worthy of a super sounding 12 with a Fishman but I don't think I am. Meanwhile, GAS dictates there should be a dual system for my late '60s Yamaha Nippon Gakki so I can play it amplified, and this is relatively affordable second hand.

AlanRatcliffe

Whoops! My mistake - they do a similar dual system with a mic and a spot.

Should work, as long as your centre to centre string measurement at the bridge isn't wider than the pickup elements - which is possible with a 12-string. Shadow give a measurement for the pickup of 70.2mm, but don't give a maximum string spacing.

If the pickup is a polymer piezo (like the Fishman Matrix/Prefix), it will be one continuous sensor, and as long as the pickup is wide enough, you'll be OK.

If the pickup is a ceramic piezo, it will have six seperate elements in the pickup - you can usually feel them if you run your fingers along the strip. If the elements are wider than the string spacing, you should be fine, but if the string spacing is wider than the elements, you'll likely get bad string-to-string balance.

Otherwise, what do they go for new? About R2K? So R1,000 to R1,200 would be fair if it's in good condition - but up to you.

Gearhead

Thx about the spacing explanation; learned something today ?

I am paying 60 Euro, hence the GAS.... I must try to learn to control my urge asap. We will see if the undersaddle fits!

AlanRatcliffe

Maybe try send an email to Shadow and ask them if it will work on a 12-string and give them the spacing.

Yeah - it can be a pain fitting ceramic piezos - two different saddle widths, different string spacings for 6 string, 12-string and classical and then the special models like the Takamine split saddle. An absolute cow to get the string balance right sometimes, even with the right transducer. When Fishman came out with the polymer Matrix pickup (now called Prefix), I immediately stopped using the ceramic AG series and it halved my installation time. Unfortunately, not all of the other manufacturers followed suit.