How To Install An Acoustic Pickup | Guitar Tech Tips | Ep. 93 | Thomann

How do you install a pickup in an acoustic guitar? There are many different guitar and pickup types obviously so there's no short answer to that. This time we show you a "standard stiuation" with a traditional acoustic guitar and a simple but great undersaddle pickup.
Enjoy Guitar Tech Tips!
Gear used: tho.mn/4yp54
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Introduction
0:40 Short diclaimer
0:56 Measure the guitar before choosing a pickup
1:17 Drill a hole for the undersaddle pickup
1:55 Endpin hole for the preamp and the jack
2:37 The installation - useful tools
3:38 Saddle height adjustment
4:23 Control unit at the sound hole
5:12 Cable clamps inside the body
5:28 Time for a test ride
6:11 Outtakes
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[@PeteCarlton]

I don't play an acoustic, so this video is of absolutely no use to me at all - but I loved it. Thanks, Kris!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Haha, things could change. Maybe you fall in love with acoustics one day. :) Cheers //Kris

[@TimmsyZR7]

Such a pleasure watching an expert do the job properly using a spanner instead of all those hacks using pliers. Cheers. Well done.

[@normanc918]

Thank you Stevie for you tips. I have installed under saddle pickups in the past 10 years, for my 3 guitars they all got rattling and strings volume not balanced. After watching your video I have fixed up one (will fix the other 2 later days). My mistakes were 1. pickup cable ran down from high E making the cable floating across the soundhole. 2. cable hole was not big enough to let the pickup freely lying on the slot, so that both high e and low E had bad contacts, and less strings volume than the other 4 strings. After your tips I reinstalled the same PU, now I have balanced strings volume, higher amplifier output and sound nicer. Very happy.

[@TKD187]

I'm going to be honest ,this blew my mind! I've been playing guitar for 20 years but I have never installed a pickup on an acoustic ,only electric guitars, but the fact that you just put a wire underneath the saddle which I'm assuming was the pick up I'm not sure is awesome and it's probably really simple to other people but I've never seen one , I've only seen the kind where you have to put a battery in them and they have effects or EQ on them . I was going to do a transplant because I have a regular acoustic I want to make electric but I'm pretty sure this style pickup doesn't cost that much so I might as well just buy a pick up instead of destroying one of my guitars... Very nice video 🤘🏻

[@HammoMatMusic]

Great video. I'm about to tackle this job, installing a Fishman Neo-D with an endpin preamp into my new Harley Benton CLGS-10S travel guitar, and this is every step I needed to see, covered in 6 minutes. No messing about, just the facts, all presented and filmed superbly. Thank you.

[@danieljamra906]

You are not only an awesome technician but having amazing guitar playing Skills ❤❤❤❤loved it

[@joemack897]

nice job! so many other. videos leave out important steps such as mounting volume/tone controls and wire management inside guitar, etc. I’m going to try install in my Alvarez and then my Martin HD-28V…thanks!

[@storx]

Great Episode! Thank you so much for all the clear explainations!

[@musicalal3752]

Thanks Kris, good video, very informative.

[@anthonyryan8528]

Hi thanks for the instructions that's really helpful 😊

[@johngalvin6352]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

[@Dlee966]

Awesome video!! Becoming more and more of a Thomann's fan

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Cheers Daniel, I really appreciate that! //Kris

[@arnoikke]

Hey Kris, The premise of this show is not to use too many special tools. Could you make a video on some of your most exotic tools perhaps? Thanks

[@alfonsozarco6365]

Excellent video thanks very much

[@dhirenjazz8100]

Good info video by you actually I'm facing same issue noise humm ground issue so do I need to change saddle pick up regarding hum noise ?????????

[@santana1002001]

Hi Chris, great video as usual!👍 May I ask you an advice? I planing my first pedalboard, but I thinking maybe it is a good think to use the Nux mg 30 or similar to learn pedals in combination with my black star ht 20. What you think about this?

[@bacnic]

Please do how to move the strap button, from the side of the neck heel to the little base of the neck heel, on the back of the guitar and cover up of the hole

[@oludamolafamoriyo]

Thanks for the educative training. Please what is the name of the amplifier you installed.

[@neusprach]

Thanks for sharing!

[@minuitboulevard]

Hello Kris, I have a Breedlove acoustic guitar and when I plug my guitar into my acoustic amp, all the strings are amplified except the A string. Do you have any idea where the problem is coming from as you are familiar with this type of equipment. Thanks a lot for your help Sincerely

[@briankeenan4901]

I have done a few of these, but some guitars have short saddles and you cannot trim them to compensate for the pickup height. Therefore, you must deepen the saddle slot. Without spending millions at stewmac, do you know how I can trim the rosewood slot deeper( not wider) on an acoustic guitar?

[@xti2020]

You really are good at this

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thank you! I had the best teachers here at Thomann. Our luthiers are insanely good and experienced. Cheers //Kris

[@dhirenjazz8100]

Great info

[@willschmahl1240]

Can this be done with belong stringed classical guitars ?

[@shivanandsakhare5724]

Wow what a Beautiful work And u r Beautiful player Love you Thankyou...

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thank you! //Kris

[@Pinkybum]

The reamer is tapered. Didn't you need to drill it out after reaming with a 1/2 inch drill bit?

[@sbearly]

What is that tool called and where can I get one? I have a pickup that came installed on an acoustic bass but it has come loose at the endpin and I can't figure out how to tighten it.

[@cobwebcottage48]

Will a piezo pickup work with a nylon string instrument ( Banjo Ukuelle )

[@RotorRotorowicz]

OUESTION: how to instal a piezzo pickup in Takamine guitar with its split bridge? Is it possible?

[@suhangsusubba4145]

How do I replace an already existing pickup? I have a cheap pickup already installed but I want to replace it with a soundhole pickup

[@rmee5165]

how did you test using a strap... the preamp jack did not look to be a combo jack/strap pin ??

[@kristian7520]

will this work on classical nylon strings guitar?

[@hbrmetal]

God bless you for stopping by with this comment, and may your entire family prosper in every aspect

[@R.L.Humpert]

Hey there. So I am ordering a Martin 000-18 from sweetwater. I really want the pickup installed because my other guitars do not have one and I have a really nice acoustic amp I want to use. I’m a little terrified now of my guitar getting drilled into even though most of you all know what you’re doing. Does it take away from the sound or weaken the wood around the area where it’s drilled? Like does the holes drilled make that area more likely to crack or chip? Some people tell me don’t do it you’re going to ruin the natural sound of the Martin and I don’t want to do that but here I am with this super nice amp and I have no more guitars to plug in because I sold them to get this 000-18. I guess I’m just trying to figure out how invasive in the acoustic guitar is the install of a pickup? Thanks.

[@ukestarsmusic3638]

My friend wants to know what chords you were playing at the end.

[@user-ki5cv3oc4l]

My number 3 string sounds dead after this project. What should I do?

[@peteredwardescano6300]

What size of reamer are you using?

[@randyschmittou8708]

Great video

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thank you! //Kris

[@kiwihans100]

This then is only part of the job! what about the control panel instalation?

[@abednigondlovu4096]

Agreat lesson. Thanks man

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Glad you liked it! Cheers //Kris

[@boomerbassmeme]

That tool is much cooler than the bent bass string I usually use when working on acoustic/electrics!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

This might be cooler but your string solution is much more creative. :) Cheers //Kris

[@PaulCooksStuff]

5:20 world's smallest cameraman!

[@PooNinja]

Or a gigantic mock up and a giant hand model?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Second one. Btw does anyone need a room-sized fake hand and some huge, round wooden wall panels? Asking for a friend. Haha!

[@pjguitar15]

How much is that pick up your using?

[@walterdavidscottnongkynrih543]

I play the acoustic guitar but I need a jack and a speaker compatible with the whole contraption

[@waynechurchill7212]

My accoustic telecaster didn,t came whiet pre amp I like to install

[@RobsAquariumRoom]

Awesome

[@ChristianSurieux]

Thanks but where do you took the reamer from, its specifications ?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey Christian, I took it from our workshop. 😅 I'm not sure from which luthier tool supplier they got it from, there are quite a few. These are called endpin jack reamers. //Kris

[@akapuliewalnuts]

Thanks

[@dhirenjazz8100]

I do have a piezo pick up electro acoustic guitar, it has active pick up with battery and tuner, im getting humming issue into it What should I do?? Do help me out brother

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hi, that can have many reasons so I can't give you an instant solution. Please write our guitar department an email and ask what the reasons could be. [e-mail] Good luck with it! //Kris

[@capymusic6319]

Hi Kris, what grit of sandpaper did you use for the saddle? Thank you

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

It depends on how much material you want to sand off. This was a 180 grit and I tend to use a finer one at the end (400 grit) just to make the bottom nice and smooth. Cheers //Kris

[@capymusic6319]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses thank you for answering

[@raphaelgierscher1290]

Sehr interessant! Wie würde man vorgehen wenn man einen aktiven Tonabnehmer mit Batterie durch einen Anderen austauscht und der Neue größer ist (der Teil mit Batterie und Potis/Stimmgerät in der Gitarrenseite)?

[@tjeppenbrackx9067]

Sehr vorsichtig 🙂

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Tjeppen schreibt es richtig, sehr vorsichtig. :) Ich würde unbedingt eine Schablone machen von dem neuen Bedienelement. Diese rund um das alte, etwas kleinere Loch platzieren and der Zarge und markieren. Dann die gerade schnitte mit einer Holztrennscheibe am Dremel durchschneiden. Die runde Ecken händisch, mit einer halbrunde Feile vorsichtig formen, bis das neue Teil reinpasst. Bitte sehr vorsichtig sein und bei Zweifel lieber zum Gitarrenbauer gehen. Viel Glück! //Kris

[@raphaelgierscher1290]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Danke für die Antwort. Das hilft mir sehr! Euer Kanal ist echt super. Macht weiter so! :)

[@sammaples554]

What brand & size of strings are you using? I like the sound of your guitar

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey, these are 11 gauge strings by Elixir. You'll find the strings and everything else that I used in the description box under the video (gear link). Cheers //Kris

[@brititalia]

Why do you shake your guitar?I tried it but nothing happenss...

[@SylS340]

Is that a Simon and Patrick Guitar ?

[@PooNinja]

Pie zoe, pe at zo, pee at zow, crystalline transducer! Hear the power quartz 🤘🏽

[@martintaylor1701]

Poozo.

[@boomerbassmeme]

May the quartz be with you!

[@PooNinja]

@@boomerbassmeme 🤘🏽🤣

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Haha! What a classic movie!!!! 🙌 //Kris

[@davehernandez4177]

Time to set my fears aside and install one myself.

[@eishiba3916]

on second thought i dont want my guild baritone going into surgery.

[@horschy4856]

Are you missing Guillaume or why is the tuner on all time G? 😂

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Always! 😆 I'm just half a person without the G boy. //Kris

[@michaelp8856]

put some tape over the place where you want to drill !

[@AchrefRoubhi]

i see your YAMAHA THR30II Wireless ❤️💪🌹♥️🎵

[@florisvanlingen]

Would recommend to use drill bit designed for drilling wood instead of a bit designed to drill iron.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hi, I will use wood drill bits if I'm drilling unfinished headstocks / bodies. I always found it way safer not to crack the finish with metal drill bits though thanks to their flat and more "subtle" profile on the top. Cheers //Kris

[@cradd00]

I think you need a bigger drill!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Do you mean the HUGE Bosch? I wanted to use a bigger one but it didn't fit in the room. 😆 Yeah, the more compact ones were all in use in the workshop so I had to take the biggo. Haha! //Kris

[@cradd00]

It still got the job done. It just looked ridiculously huge to drill through the thin guitar body. Thanks for the great videos!

[@Dlee966]

If the saddle does not sit perfectly onto the actual pickup it will cause your guitar to sound dead

[@markbass354]

WHAT ABOUT BASS KRIS I NEED A NEW BASS

[@shanep1223]

i like everything about this video besides the $45 tool needed to help install it. Gotta be a cheaper way sorry.

[@davekguitars]

Wood dowel

[@shanep1223]

@@davekguitars Simple Solutions to Simple Problems

[@davekguitars]

@shanep1223 I actually just installed a Lyric today in a parlor. Only 3 3/4" diameter sound hole.. but inwas able to get the pickup jack in by just reaching my hand in..

[@shanep1223]

@@davekguitars oh cool. This will be helpful. I plan on slowly buying all the stuff for in the the next few months and installing a pick up in my Urban Guitar.

[@szrnkabela]

Special tools warning 2x

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Fair enough! 😅 On the other hand, this is not a usual episode with a simple setup. As soon as you want to make bigger changes I highly recommend using proper tools. Otherwise you can damage the instrument easily or just waste way too much time with figuring out alternative methods. You can use an old string instead of the jack installation tool but then you can scratch the inside of the body. Same for the reamer: you can only use drills instead but then it's easier to crack the finish around the hole. Cheers //Kris

[@szrnkabela]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses yeah I beleive if you say, Kris 😄👍 luckily I found my Seagull with a pre installed piezo pickup and preamp

[@p.s8950]

Great vid. Im gonna tackle mine on the weekend. Plus I like your video style, nothing worse than heavy metal background music and lame attempts at standup comedy. Thanks. 👍