Kent Armstrong Floating PAF

[vejesse]

Hi guys. I'd like to share my thoughts about a Kent Armstrong Full size floating PAF pickup I got from Archtop.com. I posted a few days back asking about pickups and ended up going with this one. I'm glad I did. It sounds very good, very full. 8k resistance. Two hookup lugs. The plastic finish has very convincing ebony wood molded effect. $180 with shipping.

 

Installation isn't bad. I first chiseled off the maple block that heritage use to mount their pickup. Then I tapped a couple 6/32 holes in the pickup mounting tab and drilled the pickguard for the screw that archtop.com sent along. Still need another screw but one seems to do it. The thickness is the same as the Heritage #3 pickup - roughly 1/2". Plenty of room to mount this pickup. Slightly smaller outline and slightly heavier. The Heritage #3 is thinner sounding, more of a transparent sound. Same effect as the Schaller made PAF's that heritage uses. The fullness just isn't there.

 

Anyway, check out the shots. Looks nice with a ebony knob I turned.

 

By the way, this Sweet 16 is definitely a better sounding guitar than my 575. There's more clarity. Absent is the muddiness and tubbiness that the 575 can have. I was a little concerned that the 25.5" scale length would be hard to manage but it's really not bad. The string spacing is narrow so that helps. The string tension may be slightly higher but it feels different rather than higher - hard to describe. I can still play a .012" set on this guitar, no need to go down to .11's as I considered.

 

Considering that jazz gigs are almost non existent right now it's a luxury purchase. Only live once!

[Patrick]

Hi guys. I'd like to share my thoughts about a Kent Armstrong Full size floating PAF pickup I got from Archtop.com. I posted a few days back asking about pickups and ended up going with this one. I'm glad I did. It sounds very good, very full. 8k resistance. Two hookup lugs. The plastic finish has very convincing ebony wood molded effect. $180 with shipping.

 

Installation isn't bad. I first chiseled off the maple block that heritage use to mount their pickup. Then I tapped a couple 6/32 holes in the pickup mounting tab and drilled the pickguard for the screw that archtop.com sent along. Still need another screw but one seems to do it. The thickness is the same as the Heritage #3 pickup - roughly 1/2". Plenty of room to mount this pickup. Slightly smaller outline and slightly heavier. The Heritage #3 is thinner sounding, more of a transparent sound. Same effect as the Schaller made PAF's that heritage uses. The fullness just isn't there.

 

Anyway, check out the shots. Looks nice with a ebony knob I turned.

 

By the way, this Sweet 16 is definitely a better sounding guitar than my 575. There's more clarity. Absent is the muddiness and tubbiness that the 575 can have. I was a little concerned that the 25.5" scale length would be hard to manage but it's really not bad. The string spacing is narrow so that helps. The string tension may be slightly higher but it feels different rather than higher - hard to describe. I can still play a .012" set on this guitar, no need to go down to .11's as I considered.

 

Considering that jazz gigs are almost non existent right now it's a luxury purchase. Only live once!

 

That's really a nice clean installation. I'm glad you like the Kent Armstrong. It's one of my favorites on an arch top.

[NoNameBand]

That's really a nice clean installation. I'm glad you like the Kent Armstrong. It's one of my favorites on an arch top.

 

I like the Bartolini as well. I'v played a few Archtops with the Bartolini and was very impressed.

[morg21279]

One option that avoids the carpentry/luthier skills is that you can unplug your pickup assembly, and ship your pickguard and pickup to Kent.

 

He'll remove the #3 guts, and replace the Heritage guts with his floating PAF. No change to the pickup case or pickguard. You don't get the adjustable pole pieces, but it's a real no-hassle upgrade. I had it done for me Golden Eagle, and it's great.

[smurph1]

Hi vejesse..Welcome to the HOC..I don't know much about that type of pickup, but it sure is a beautiful guitar!! Play her in good health..Scott

[ingeneri]

I have the Kent Armstrong Johnny Smith replica on my D'angelico NYL2, needless to say he makes fantastic pickups. I've never played his full sized floating PAF, but I saw Roni Ben Hur using one on his Johnny Smith and it sounded great. I wish Heritage would switch to using these for their floating pups, or at least offer it as an upgrade like they do with the HRWs.

[Gitfiddler]

Vejesse~ Welcome to the HOC.

 

Nice job on your KA installation. I have that same pickup on my Golden Eagle and I had Kent custom widn a gold model PAF on my Sweet 16.

I love the articulate PAF tones on both.

[iim7v7im7]

Hi,

 

I am giad that you are happy with your Kent Armstrong PU. I thought that I would dhare my experience as well.

 

I chose a different route after discussing matters with some pros who also play Heritages (Vince Lewis and Henry Johnson). My sweet 16 came originally with a HRW Series III floating pick-up (see below)

 

 

I found the sound to be not particularly rich and somewhat flat sounding. After much thought, I decided to allow Heritage to route my top and had a full sized HRW installed using Ren's 4-point mounting scheme.

 

 

As you can imagine, I was concerned about the impact this would have to the acoustic properties of the instrument. I am happy to report, it stills sound great acoustically. Infact sound not only comes out the f-holes but also from behind the HRW because it is offset above the soundboard on washers. The mounting ring only touches at the 4 screw mounts so it does not dampen the sound board movement. Plugged in, it is like night and day. Rich,warm and detailed with better string to string balance due to its supperior adjustability and larger size.

 

This was a great upgrade to the instrument. I know that to some, it destroyed the sound board, but the benifits outweigh this aspect to me. I think it sounds better both acoustically and when plugged in.

 

:-)

[Patrick]

Hi,

 

I am giad that you are happy with your Kent Armstrong PU. I thought that I would dhare my experience as well.

 

I chose a different route after discussing matters with some pros who also play Heritages (Vince Lewis and Henry Johnson). My sweet 16 came originally with a HRW Series III floating pick-up (see below)

 

 

I found the sound to be not particularly rich and somewhat flat sounding. After much thought, I decided to allow Heritage to route my top and had a full sized HRW installed using Ren's 4-point mounting scheme.

 

 

As you can imagine, I was concerned about the impact this would have to the acoustic properties of the instrument. I am happy to report, it stills sound great acoustically. Infact sound not only comes out the f-holes but also from behind the HRW because it is offset above the soundboard on washers. The mounting ring only touches at the 4 screw mounts so it does not dampen the sound board movement. Plugged in, it is like night and day. Rich,warm and detailed with better string to string balance due to its supperior adjustability and larger size.

 

This was a great upgrade to the instrument. I know that to some, it destroyed the sound board, but the benifits outweigh this aspect to me. I think it sounds better both acoustically and when plugged in.

 

:-)

 

Ain't no way that this pup installation "destroyed the sound board". It probably has changed it somewhat . . but, that is not destruction. As you pointed out, your Sweetie is now much more versatile and I would bet that it has a warmer and richer tone than it did with the floating pup. Now, if I might for just a moment, be my usual outspoken and knit picky self . . . I think they could have done a better job in polishing and finishing the inside of the pick guard where they had to enlarge the cut out. But that's real easy to fix. Actually, I like the way you guitar looks now than when it had the floater.

[iim7v7im7]

Ain't no way that this pup installation "destroyed the sound board". It probably has changed it somewhat . . but, that is not destruction. As you pointed out, your Sweetie is now much more versatile and I would bet that it has a warmer and richer tone than it did with the floating pup. Now, if I might for just a moment, be my usual outspoken and knit picky self . . . I think they could have done a better job in polishing and finishing the inside of the pick guard where they had to enlarge the cut out. But that's real easy to fix. Actually, I like the way you guitar looks now than when it had the floater.

 

 

Thanks Patrick...I agree on the install. Ren did it.