Hollow Body Pickup Advice

[Keith7940236]

I've got a Golden Eagle with a Kent Armstrong installed pickup that sounds fantastic. I also have a mahogany Eagle with the older Heritage pickup that sounds a little thin.

I'm looking for advice on changing out the pickup. I've read some good things about the Heritage HRW 4 point mounted pickup. Is that something that a local luthier can install or would I need to send it to Heritage to have one installed?

I've also been considering having a set Seth Love installed, of course that involves routing the top for the installation.

I would greatly appreciate any thoughts from members who may have had similar considerations.

Thanks,

Keith

[MartyGrass]

The four point mount is a very simple concept. All you need is four washers. The pickup ring screws go through the washers. That restricts contact of the pickup ring to its four corners.

 

I can't imagine that it makes much difference really. The weight of the pickup is more focused in the corners but the local mass effect of the pickup on the top should change little.

 

On the other hand it's very easy to do. Go to Menards or Lowe and pick up some tiny washers.

 

You may want to avoid routing the guitar and simply change to another pickup. The Shadow Zoller is one of the best floaters around.

 

[Ned]

Keith,

 

With your nice collection of instruments, you certainly know more on this topic than I, but it is worth mentioning: if the mahogany eagle has a floating pickup, you likey have an x-braced guitar and routing is complicated. If you have a surface mounted pickup, I would let the hardware mounting dictate my choices. Personally, I wouldn't make any extra holes or routs. The configuration you want is out there and selling an Eagle classic shouldn't be too difficult (hint, hint, hint).