Schertler Bluestick

Active

Built in preamp

Martin M-38

I am Beginning to play larger places and needed an amplification system.

This is a new installation in this guitar.

I did have to drill a 1/2 inch hole in the endpin to install the jack.

I find the output quite natural and with even acurate reproduction of my guitar.

It can be played at volume without feedback.

This is played through a Crate Telluride CD125DG.

This sounds better than any other acoustic pickup combo I have used. Plus there are no issues regardless of the volume.

I found it to sound quite natural, with even response and no feedback. I also have to use use very little EQ.

The ad states it needs no visable mods to the guitar but it does require a 1/2 inch hole drilled in the end pin hole.

I would likely replace this with another Bluestick, in fact I bought 2 additional pickups for my Guild F-212XL and my '48 D-28. I would not have put this in the D-28 but there was a already an end pin jack in the guitar.

I have found it to be the most natural sounding pickup I have tried so far.

I see there are a number of complaints and I don't know what to attribute them to except impropper installation.

I have been installing pickups and performing repair work on guitars for over 30 years and found this pick-up to be easy to install. However if the bottom of the saddle slot is not flat and the bottom of the saddle is not flat, there can be a muddy soud and an uneven reponnse by the respective strings.

While true the hole required in the saddle slot is larger than other undersaddle pickups, it is still smaller than the bridge pin holes and has had no effect on my guitar.

The saddle does have to be made accuratly otherwise the pickup will sound like hell with very uneven and weak output.

active

-Martin HD 28
-intrusive set up, compromises natural acoustics of guitar
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-DYN-G
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pros = loud output


Cons = sounds like complete poop.
Undersaddle microphone....my arse

the problem with this pick up is the design.
The hole that must be drilled through the top is a large compared to most UST.
The pickup tends to make a concave impression in the saddle slot on the bridgeplate. kind of like a u.... this leads to the unbalance saddle problem. The saddle will never sit flat, it makes contact on the ends of the bluestick, usually one side a lil' heavier than other.
Giving uneven tone. and usually weak mids.
BUYER BEWARE

I'm using the Bluestick with the Schertler pre-amp hoping to get a better tone...didn't work! The pre-amp is quite nice and works well with my Rainsong (element pickup) and Martin (fishman pickup).

Taylor 310. I wanted to put in my own pickup and decided to pass on the standard Expression system. I put in the Schertler based on the recommendations of the guitar store and my guitar tech...they were wrong!

Plenty of gain but incredibly mid-range and dull, at least for strumming. I hear more warmth when finger-picking but there is still a very mid-range kind of dull sound with this pickup. Definitely does NOT sound like a mic. I am very disappointed and have been for the past two years with this instrument.

I'm finally going to pull it out and put in an LR Baggs Imix hoping to get a more natural acoustic sound. No one likes the sound of this Schertler yet!

Under-Saddle "Microphone" pup with onboard Preamp and volume control

Breedlove C22/MH, New Guitar, the BlueStick was recomended by Breedlove. And after a horrible installation locally, it was re-installed by Breedlove. It took lots of time and effort to get a useable installation of this pick-up. Ultimately not worth it.

The sound that I loved in the $4,000.00 "Dream Guitar" went away the moment I had this thing put in the Guitar. After 3 years of not being happy with the sound (either acoustic or plugged) I recently ripped this out the guitar. Now the sweetness of the acoustic sound is back (I saved the original saddle),and I can remember why I paid so much for this instrument. The Bluestick sounded very 1 dimentinal and mid-rangy. It did have a pretty good amount af gain before feedback.It didn't sound quacky like a peizo, but had an un-natural quality all its own. Not horrible. Just not very good either.

IT WAS destroyed when I ripped it out of my guitar. And I would never put one of these in any guitar. I have been playing since I was a kid (I am now 51). I played proffesionally for over a decade. Now I have a home studio. I have other under saddle pups in other guitars, but never noticed the quality of the acoustic sound being altered like this did the Breedlove. It may be that the Breedlove is that much more sensitive to nuance. I have done a lot of recording of this instrument with just a good Mic, so I am in no hurry to put anything else in it that would alter the sound in this guitar.I would like to try a K&K, but with the bridge doctor in the Breedlove it may not be an option. If I had to perform over a PA tomorrow,I would stick an in-hole (temporary) pick-up in it and put a Mic front of the guitar.

Pickup features: Active, Under the saddle
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson J-50
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fishman
Other pickups on guitar: na
Artists using this pickup: na
You musical style(s): folk, bluegrass
Reason for pickup change: I don't like the piezo sounds. I heard goo things about the Bluestick, and played a couple of guitars that had one, and decided to give it a try.

Perceived output level: Provides a lot of output without any feedback
Tone: Middy
Sonic evaluation: Ran through a Sansamp Acoustech DI into the board. The sound was definately better than the factory installed Fishman.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is a great pickup if you need a lot of volume, or want to just plug an dplay. Its better then the piezo pickup I used previously.

Comments: This is a good pickup, and a definite step up from the piezo pickup that came with the guitar. While it does not have the piezo "quack" every pickup has its own wierd sound. The Bluestick has a compressed midrangey sound that may not please all ears. If you need a lot of volume without feedback, or want to be able to plug and play, the Bluestick is a good choice. I spend about 3 years doing noisy bar gigs, so this was perfect for me.
I've recently shifted toward playing in smaller groups, in quieter settings. I no longer need as much volume. Lately, I've ben playing a another guitar with a passive magnetic pickup in it, and enjoying the sound a lot more.

Pickup features: acoustic pickup with preamp
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Martin J40
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Emmy Lou Harris
You musical style(s): Fingerstyle Jazz/Country
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: It does deliver the requisite volume required to produce a strong clean signal
Tone: middy with strong treble slightly electric... not true acoustic amplification
Sonic evaluation: Trace Elliot TA100R plus Carlsboro pa.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I purchased this pickup in order to amplify the acoustic tone of the guitar, all it does is produce a more electric version of a normally very nice acoustic sounding guitar

Comments: To be perfectly honest I would not recomend anyone buying this pickup. Nor would I personally replace it. I have owned other Martins to which I fitted Martin thin lines perhaps I should have gone down the same road. This pickup was recomended to me by someone who has done a lot of work on guitars for me. He is an extrodinary gifted craftsman, and his work is faultless. He told me that that he had fitted these pickups on a J200 and other guitars, with fantastic results, and so I took his recomenation at face value. Needles to say I can't complain about his work on the guitar, because that as always is first class.
I'm 58 years old and have been playing in excess of forty years. My
other guitars include a Godin multiac nylon string, a 1980 Ibanez AS200 which I must plays and sounds better than any 335 I've ever owned or played. A couple of Strats and a couple of Teles, a customised Joe Pas Emperor, a very old Hofner along with a few other bits and pieces. Amp wise I have an old Vox AC15, an Ashdown peacemaker 60 combo, a Trace elliot TA100R.
I'm afraid I didn't love anything about this pickup. I don't infact hate it, I Just feel terribly dissapointed. It doesn't live up to the
makers description. Foolishly I didn't try it against anything else I wish I had, I purchased it on recomendation.
All that I wish it had is what the makers claim true acoustic response, unfortunately it doesn't.
And so in conclusion I'm not satisfied with this pickup, I will at some time change it, but I certainly don't want to repeat my mistake.
If there's anyone out there who has the time, knowledge and good will
to pass on any information to help me in my quest as it were for true acoustic duplication, please feel more than free to contact me, I will be eternally grateful.

Pickup features: Active
Impedence or other specs: 600 Ohm Output

Model of guitar or bass: Lakewood M-1
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fishman AG / Powerjack
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Fingerpicking
Reason for pickup change: Quality of sound.

Perceived output level: Super (+8 dBu)
Tone: very balanced
Sonic evaluation: I use an AER Alpha (superious sound quality, super compact)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play finderstyle.

Comments: This is the best undersaddle system I've heard so far. It is extremly balanced and far away from that twanky piezo sound produced e.g. by a Fishman AG!

Pickup features: Combo
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Breedlove 12 string
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Worship
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Bluestick hot undersadle /Countryman brings on the warmth
Tone: Balance
Sonic evaluation: Use a fishman pocket blender on all guitars and then to the sound borad.

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

Comments: Lets start 1st with My Lowden, I have a EMG bridge pick up and that added a Countryman into a stereo plug. I perform live so I needed some warmth and boldness but not losing the sound of this Lowden. Which I must say that Lowden guitar is the most incredible sounding guitar there is. My 1993 025C that I had George and Andy make for me is so simple but so awesome. Well next thing I want to get was a great 12 string, I have two, to be honest there crap, Taylor and a Ovation. And I mean it there just ok. Its sad for me that God blessed me with to good of an ear and not a good player. So I am forced to find that sound when I play. I go to the NAMM show every year and I seen it all and played them all. And I must say Breedlove makes a 12 string that is better than the rest. Even than the Lowden the Goodall and others of that level and price. I am not a fan how some look or the lighting bolt bridge, but they all have a place and a importance in creating the sound that Breedlove produces. After looking and going to different places in California to play 12 strings I found one that meet my ear and it was just a plane Jane but pretty. Mahogany and spruce top that had a great driving E and A string that gave the warmth and the separation of all strings. Now find a way to keep that sound on stage. Well I went with the Schertler Bluestick and when playing it on stage I found myself liking some of it and not liking other parts. Mids were great and the Highs cut through but I lost the one thing that made me fall in love with the guitar that was its E and A driving warmth notes. I was going to put in the same system as my Lowden but the two guitars have totally two different sounds and I don?t want them to sound the same. After a few months of playing with just the Bluestick I went and got another Countryman internal mic. Had the Breedlove changed to a stereo plug and add the Countryman, and you know what. I heard my guitar?. I hope you read this. I heard my Breedlove the way it was meant to be heard. I was about 60% mic and 40% Bluestick. True it might have worked with any under bridge pick up along with the Countryman. But I can tell you this when you spend this amount on a handmade guitar you better get the sound you paid for. I know its important that it looks so beautiful, but the sound is what makes them close their eyes and say, wow, that sounds great.
And this sure did... Thanks to Westwood Music, Fred and Patrick

Pickup features: active preamp and volume control
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson LC Brazilian
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: this one will be
Other pickups on guitar: K&K Trinity
Artists using this pickup: Emmy lou
You musical style(s): All
Reason for pickup change: Didn't like the schertler

Perceived output level: Plenty of output but no real sounding output
Tone: Pingy more bent towards a mid range high end. Unrealistic and unbalanced
Sonic evaluation: I use a full blown p.a., daedalus speakers, i have a TA100. The pickup sounds better than any undersaddle but undersaddle pickups sound bad. This is just a better bad sounding one. It came with the guitar and is out now

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I can play virtually any style but the pickup doesn't really cut it. It's strong point would be feeedback rejection for a strummer looking to play acoustic at very high SPL's

Comments: It's a step up for gibson but not quite there. All who attend my clinics agree that the K&K woops the daylights out of this thing. It's only redeeming value is that it is easy to de-install. As far as the guy with the dean guitar, you should start by getting a decent instrument, Then you could hear what's really happening.

Pickup features: active
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Dean D24
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: none
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Emmy Lou Harris
You musical style(s): Acoustic classic rock, folk & blues
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Plenty of headroom using a Mackie 406 with EV speakers.
Tone: Balanced
Sonic evaluation: Direct into a Mackie 406 the guitar sounded balanced, natural and no feedback.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Classic rock, folk, blues. Lots of Clapton, Eagles, Jimmy Buffet, Fleetwood Mac, etc.

Comments: I would install one in my Martin replacing the Fishman undersaddle. I've been playing close to 40 years. I like the overall natural tone. A volume control is a part of the package, mounted inside the soundhole. Sounds best to leave the control almost full open. Decreasinng the volume control also decreases the bass response.
I have read some unflattering reviews on this pickup. I wager these reviews are the product of one of three scenarios. 1. The pickup wasn't properly installed. 2. The reviewer is tone deaf. 3. The reviewer has a crappy sounding guitar to start with. Giving the reviewer the benefit of the doubt, scenario # 1 is the logical choice.