Pickup The World 54

I have the original (the 57? the single element version) pickup the world pickups.

In two guitars currently, a 1983 Goodall and a 1935 Maybell pseudo-resonator. I had another one in a 1956 Martin 000. Soon I will rip out the almost new active I-Beam in my Brazilian prewar Regal and replace that with another pickup the world. I love this pickup. My friend Chuck Pyle also uses them, I think. The pickups are pretty much cake to install, provided you have drilled out the butt of the instrument for your quarter inch jack. I do recommend just taping the pickup to the top of the instrument and moving it about to find out exactly where it sounds best. I've mounted mine to the bridge plate, immediately behind the string pegs. It takes about fifteen minutes to install one.

There is no output w/o a preamp. But these are the best pickups I have ever found for giving back the sound of the instrument accurately. But you have to have a preamp. I recommend the basic Baggs because it is made of metal and won't shatter (as did my Fishman) at a festival when dropped from a height of about a foot and a half onto a sidewalk. I have played the pickup through many different PA setups and had no trouble so far. When I gig solo I often run my guitars through an older (USA) California Blonde with an external speaker (recommend the Yamaha floor monitor with the BIG horn, whatever the Blonde misses this monitor will cover, a great combo). I write my own music and have a lot of percussion in my right hand. I also do a lot of bottleneck stuff. These pickups work great for catching the subtle bits, string pops, harmonics, etc. I'd recommend them to anyone who loves the sound of his or her instrument unplugged but is dissatisfied when the instrument is amped.

I will offer one negative. The people who make the pickups must be Franciscan monks vowed to silence because it is danged near impossible, in my experience, to get anyone at pickup the world to pick up the phone.

Yes, I'd buy another one, have already done so once. I have played since the mid 60s. I own a number of great electrics and vintage Fender amps. My likes and dislikes are described above. I found the thing somewhat comparable to the passive Baggs, but I like PTW better. I have nothing else much to share about the product.

Passive, transducer.

Requires preamp.

Easy to install.

Installed in Gibson Advanced Jumbo.

Standard modification, ream endpin to 1/2 inch to fit jack.

Replacing microphone.

Changed amplification to get a more uniform sound.

Output level is extremly low without a preamp, I had the pickup wired in stereo and bought the Stereo power blender from the same company. The combination is outstanding! Very best I've heard or played, bar none. As far as tone, it sounds just like my guitar only louder. I use this guitar for strumming, fingerpicking, slide and tap style ( Michael Hedges type) guitar and it works for all. One thing, the wire is EXTREMLY sensetive. When installing, make sure you don't leave it touching the back, top, or braces other than where directed. I put it in wrong at first and let the wires touch the back and it was a terrible distorted sound. However, there website has a great troubleshooting section so I had no problem fixing it. Also, I coated my bridgeplate with wood glue to seal the pores of the wood, it did make the pickup louder.

I'd absolutley buy another one, and I will for my other guitars. It is expensive, and the preamp is expensive but worth it if your a tone freak! Also, I called the company and the owner answered the phone! So I'm pretty sure if there was ever a problem I could get great service, he said it's a 2 person operation. I'm going to give it an 8 on the rating because shipping is slow and they don't respond to emails.

Pickup features: Dual element passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Ryan Nightingale
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: McIntyre Feather
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Fingerstyle
Reason for pickup change: I knew the guitar could do better

Perceived output level: Adequate with proper preamplification
Tone: Very acoustic sounding, not piezo-ish, not middy, not puffy
Sonic evaluation: I bought an awesome PA system, so I set it up, and have really been able to analyse my sound. I was running the McIntyre feather into CH1 of my Pendulum SPS1, and running an Neumann KM183 in CH2, and was always happy, and always got compliments on my sound. But once I got the PA, I because dissatisfied with the feather. I thought it was mid-heavy and puffy, with just a slight piezo harshness. So I decided to begin looking and had a chance to hear an Olson with the PUTW 54 in stereo. That was the sound I wanted, so I bought it and installed it myself. I have heard people say how diffucult and touchy the PUTW products are to install, with regard to placement. I got it the first time, and got an awesome stereo sound without the Neumann. Now, with the Neumann, I think the sound is absolutely the pinnacle, but with just the pick up, I get a very close sound, without the brain damage of a live condenser mic.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Christian fingerstyle worship

Comments: I think I have found it. I think I can finally be happy. I have spent many thousands to get "that sound" and though the McIntyre is a neat little pu, it is not for someone who spends 10 grand on a guitar. I am really surprised at the difference the PUTW 54 made