Ed Harris - Fishman Ellipse Matrix Installation

[@jasondesoto6666]

Thanks for the great and informative video! Great job...:)

[@WEdHarris]

Thank You so much! I hope it helped in some way!

[@billsmith3042]

This is the best video on youtube showing how to install this.

[@WEdHarris]

You are too kind brother. Thanks so much!

[@steviehat1]

Great tutorial.. thanks SO much. just about to do mine and am pretty confident having watched this !

[@WEdHarris]

Thank You Steve! I'm so glad that you found it helpful! It really isn't difficult to do! Good luck on the install and please let me know how it turns out!

[@kurtsander2922]

I have the same installed on my Nylon stringed guitar and very content with it. Thanks

[@WEdHarris]

Awesome! I have been considering doing the same on my classical guitar as well. Thanks so much for the feedback!

[@CRQF]

Excellent, the best video out there

[@WEdHarris]

Thank you so very much! I sincerely hope it may have been of some value to those folks contemplating such a project.

[@Bob48]

Thanks...perfect vid for understanding these. I recently installed a Fishman side mounted and it came out fine, but will never do one again...too hairy chopping into the guitar like that. I didnt know these existed!

[@WEdHarris]

You are so very welcome Bob and Thank YOU in taking the time to watch and comment! I hope it proved somewhat helpful. I've had wonderful results with this setup, and I use the instrument quite frequently at gigs!

[@jackmoran6231]

Thanks Ed, very usable advice.

[@WEdHarris]

Thanks so much Jack! Hopefully some may find it helpful to some degree! 🙏

[@zvonkom]

That's great, thank you Ed! I have the same pickup on my guitar and it sounds great. The only thing I didn't like about the setup is the battery bag. I just attach a piece of Velcro to the battery directly and stick it inside.

[@WEdHarris]

You're so very welcome and thank YOU!! I completely understand! I had not thought of that! Great idea! Thanks for commenting and sharing!

[@captbobpaccia911]

Great job, I'll be doing this to my 1960 Yamaha 12 string. Thanks for you good job.

[@WEdHarris]

Thank You! I hope it helped! Good luck on the install!

[@McCambira]

Great video Ed! I have this cap

[@WEdHarris]

Thank You so much! Cool!

Great job Ed! 🤗

[@WEdHarris]

Thanks so much Jorge!! My hope is that someone may be able to benefit from it if they ever consider installing a similar preamp pickup system. It can be intimidating for some!

[@DarioIachini1961]

Great Ed!

[@WEdHarris]

Thanks so much my friend! It means a lot!

[@JonSoriano0613]

hi! thanks for the great video, i just have a question, is the pickup system detachable from the mounting plate?

[@WEdHarris]

Hey Jon! Thanks for your question! Fortunately, YES! It most definitely can be removed by simply using a guitar pick to pry and separate it from the mounting plate. It's included in the instructions how to do it. I hope this helps.

[@bnsrks3326]

My Martin XC1T Ellipse has this pickup installed. When I have the blend set to pickup there is a very obnoxious hum. Where should I start to troubleshoot? Thanks for the great video!

[@WEdHarris]

Thank you for commenting! I had a similar thing occur. Check the piezo pickup under the saddle. I replaced it and it resolved the issue for me. I hope this helps.

[@gingold66]

Great video. How could one uninstall the pickup? I have one of these in my 2009 Martin 0MC 16E that has rattled almost from the time I bought the guitar new. Martin says I could send it to them because it is a mounting issue and they would fix it free. But I would still have to pay shipping cost and I would still end up with a pickup I don’t even like. I was never impressed with its tone and I can’t stand having a battery inside my acoustic guitar. I am tempted to remove it myself but do not want to damage the guitar obviously. Thank you!

[@WEdHarris]

The controller itself can be removed from its bracket by using a guitar pick to pry it loose from the bracket. It just clicks in and out fairly easily. Once it is removed you can disconnect the microphone easy enough. It simply unplugs. To remove the bracket itself you can carefully remove by prying as well. It is held on by an adhesive tape. The piezo pickup can be accessed under the bridge. Remove the strings and lift off the bridge to remove. Keep in mind during installation, the bridge height was adjusted to compensate for piezo pickup thickness. Your action may end up too low once your remove the pickup so you may need to either replace the bridge or compensate by doing a setup on the instrument afterwards. So sorry to learn you have been having issues with it and that you have decided to remove it. The battery bag is held on by velcro and can be removed easily as well. I hope this helps. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@gingold66]

Thank you for your quick and detailed response! I may try your techniques. Thank you again for making such great videos and being such a responsive KZbinr!

[@WEdHarris]

@@gingold66 You are so very welcome Greg! Thank YOU in taking the time to watch, comment and like! It means a lot! 🙏

[@billsmith3042]

I so much prefer the rare earth blend...no alterations to soundboard, no gluing, easily removable, no bS piezo strip under my saddle, etc.

[@WEdHarris]

I'll have to check it out! Actually, there were no alterations to the soundboard per se. Only a height adjustment on the saddle to accommodate the piezo strip. Also, there is no gluing involved and the whole installation can easily be removed as well. Piezo strip does come in handy in certain environments. It helps reduce feedback in high volume situations. Overall, I'm very pleased with Fishman in general. I have a couple of their acoustic amps which complements the systems very well.

[@billsmith3042]

@@WEdHarris No doubt this sounds good, but Drilling a hole in the top (bridge), replacing saddle material with piezo stock, and an adhesive film under the soundboard (which might restrict the movement of the wood) are all just a big no for me on a D-35 but maybe on a cheaper guitar...the rare Earth Blend has some nice cork strips where the pickup meets the soundboard that allow for wood expansion and contraction and the actual contact area is a fraction of the Ellipse. No soldering, sanding or any prep at all other than reaming the endpin jack hole. Also, no thumping effect with the rare earth that you can get with piezo. My cheaper Martin 000-12E has that new MXT soundhole system in it and I hate it. Cant use it live because even with a $400 acoustic preamp/mixer I cannot dial out the piezo thump when I bare-tip fingerpick. I can see using the ellipse if I really wanted to hide the pickup. Plus, using Stewmac's Jack installation tool makes it a breeze to switch the Rare Earth Blend to another guitar. I have sold several guitars but have been able to keep my $300 pickup system each time.

[@WEdHarris]

@@billsmith3042 All great points Bill! Thanks for the intel. Fortunately, the Taylor guitars all come predrilled under the saddle and the end pins are factory ready to accommodate the jack. So no drilling was required in this particular install. However, I do understand and appreciate your point. Yes, I would not consider this particular install on my 1943 Martin 000-28 either! LOL But then again, I would never risk taking it out to perform with. On this install, there was no "adhesive" applied to soundboard. It uses double-sided tape. They just recommend cleaning the area prior adhering. I am a stickler for compromising or making alterations to any instrument. I own a few acoustic vintage collectables. I am not encountering any "thumping" on the piezo side, and I flatpick and fingerstyle on this guitar. However I am aware it would not be a good set-up for percussive playing. I do mix heavily on the internal mic thus reserving the piezo if I ever experience any feedback issues (which I haven't encountered thus far). The unit that is mounted underneath the soundboard actually clips into a bracket which is actually affixed via double-sided tape. I mention this only because the contact "footprint" is very minimal which is a nice feature in that the unit can removed easily. Just for the record, there is no soldering required on this system as well. Thanks again in sharing your experience and wisdom! It's always great to share such experiences! Not every application is universal to all situations and each should do their homework in weighing out the pros against the cons for their particular needs and go from there!

[@CRQF]

Why would you not use a capo to keep the slacken strings in place?

[@WEdHarris]

It's a great idea! I just thought it might be cleaner for filming purposes and having to reposition the instrument, etc. to simply remove the strings altogether. Thanks for the mentioning this option!

[@dog2675]

Hello, I am currently making an introduction video for acoustic guitar pickups. Can you use your video as an introduction material? I will mark the source of your video. Thank you for your reply！

[@WEdHarris]

Yes of course! I would be honored! Could you also provide a link as well? That way I could direct traffic to your channel as well! Thanks so much!

[@dog2675]

@@WEdHarris Sure, no problem!

[@dog2675]

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[@scottfranklin8282]

What model Taylor is this?

[@WEdHarris]

Hey Scott! Thanks for inquiring! It’s a Grand Auditorium 3 (GA3) model with a Cedar top.

[@scottfranklin8282]

@@WEdHarris I have a Taylor GS8 that I bought over 2 years ago. No pickup, just acoustic like your GA3. Had a local guy here put in an LR Baggs anthem, although I believe I could have done it myself on a weekend. I used to see a lot of posts from people who just simply loved the Fishman and LR Baggs pickups in their Taylors. Well worth the change! Great video, and thank you for sharing!