Fishman Powerbridge on a Gretsch Tennessee Rose. Anyone?

[Bobbofallenstar]

Hey folks - I was turned onto your site from the Gear Page and told that lots of Praise and Worship players use hybrid systems or guitars with powerbridges attached.

I was wondering if anyone ever installed one on a Gretsch and how it worked out for you?

Thanks a bunch for your time and God bless.

-Bobbo

[scooteraz]

Welcome aboard!

The only guitar in any way similar to what you describe that I have is a Parker Nitefly SA, and it came from the factory with the piezo system in the vibrato. It's ok, but I really only use it for practice. Electric tones are fine, but I am not as enamored with the piezo sounds. Maybe if I had something like a Mama Bear it would present a bit better. One of the other guys had a Tele with the piezo bridge, and it had much the same issue, just a bit sizzley for my taste. OTOH, if you like that sound, or have a good way to control it, could be just the thing for you.

Never installed the power bridge, but I don't think itnshould be too hard. Replace the existing Tune-O-Matic bridge with the drop in replacement, drill a hole for the lead, hook up the Powerchip and battery, and decide if you want to use a stereo out, or mix the signals. A decent Saturday afternoon, if you are so inclined.

[Bobbofallenstar]

Thanks!

Yeah, it doesn't seem too hard. Couple of solder joints, stereo output. Might make the jump this week.

[BuckyB]

Welcome Bobbofallenstar! I have a couple of Peavey Generation models, one Korean and the other Chinese. They both came with piezo bridge systems with on-board acoustic preamps and stereo outputs. I also had a similarly-equipped Michael Kelly for a short while. I've found that the secret to getting a really good acoustic sound from a hybrid is to process the two pickup systems separately and run the piezo side into either a PA system, an acoustic amp or a keyboard amp. They really don't sound that convincing into a regular guitar amp. You have to treat that side of the guitar as you would a piezo-equipped dreadnought. I've been very happy processing my piezo side with an old Zoom 504 acoustic pedal.

[Micter]

The LR Baggs I beam is really easy to install and sounds amazing. I put one in my Takamine after doing an install for a client. I will never use a piezo type of acoustic amplification system again. EVER!

[stephen]

The LR Baggs I beam is really easy to install and sounds amazing. I put one in my Takamine after doing an install for a client. I will never use a piezo type of acoustic amplification system again. EVER!

I think he's talkin bout mounting a piezo on a Gretsch, not an acoustic. Will the LRB work on a Gretch (I'm assuming) Hollow body, or Semi-hollow body?

Oh, and welcome to the GPAWF Bob. Over on the TDPRI, I'm PraiseCaster.

[Micter]

I think he's talkin bout mounting a piezo on a Gretsch, not an acoustic. Will the LRB work on a Gretch (I'm assuming) Hollow body, or Semi-hollow body?

Oh, and welcome to the GPAWF Bob. Over on the TDPRI, I'm PraiseCaster.

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/ba/7/AAAAAhd90KMAAAAAALp5jQ.jpg?v=1199142970000

Gretsch makes acoustics. I guess I didn't read the OP correctly.

[scooteraz]

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/ba/7/AAAAAhd90KMAAAAAALp5jQ.jpg?v=1199142970000

Gretsch makes acoustics

You are correct, they even made the Rancher with a Bigsby...http://www.derukde.nl/gitaren/gretsch%206022CV.jpg

Almost bought one back in the '90s.

[TheViking]

The LRB T-bridge has been working very smoothly on a couple of Gretsch'es I have tried out.

[stephen]

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/ba/7/AAAAAhd90KMAAAAAALp5jQ.jpg?v=1199142970000

Gretsch makes acoustics. I guess I didn't read the OP correctly.

Its almost ambiguous the way its stated in the op.

I think we need Bobbofallenstar to clarify it for us, so we all know what were talkin bout.

[Bobbofallenstar]

A Gretsch Acoustic with Bigsby!! That is awesome!!

but, yeah - I'm talking about a Tennessee Rose. This is mine:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p57/Bobbofallenstar/IMG_6404.jpg

I talked to my tech today and he was giving me a hard time about it. Yeah, we can do it but he'd rather not!

[Micter]

I know a guitar tech in So Cal that will do it for you. PM me if interested. OK I'm the tech. lol

[scooteraz]

A Gretsch Acoustic with Bigsby!! That is awesome!!

but, yeah - I'm talking about a Tennessee Rose. This is mine:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p57/Bobbofallenstar/IMG_6404.jpg

I talked to my tech today and he was giving me a hard time about it. Yeah, we can do it but he'd rather not!

Are they so valuable that such a mod would affect the value greatly? Why not? Or too much hassle?

[Bobbofallenstar]

No, not hugely valuable. I paid about 1500 for it but it's the principal of the thing. I get it, he's a good friend - If I asked him to he would. I mean - I can do the soldering, I've made my own guitars.

I'm just surprised that no one else has done it. I've searched everywhere to find someone else that's put one of these powerbridges in a hollowbody and can't find anything. Which leads me to believe either 1) I'm a genius and the first person to think of this, everyone is going to want what I'm doing OR 2) It's a horrible idea and there's a reason no one else has done it.

[TBurst Std]

I have a Godin Flat Five X which is a semi acoutic that runs mags and a LR Baggs piezo. Its actually one of my fav guitars. Definitely gets more play time than the others currently. Godin currently makes the Montreal which is 99% the same guitar.

I was running with 2 cords into 2 sub patches on my AXE-FX. Since then I have simplied it running one cord into 1 patch. Its a good tone. Does it sound like a miked acoustic? No, but if I need to do that, I can move over to a patch specific for that where I have an acoustic Impulse Response stored.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r23/floridatacky/Godin.jpg

[BuckyB]

Why don't you either try the mod on a less expensive guitar or just buy a lower-end model that's factory-equiped with a piezo bridge to test the waters first and see how you like using a hybrid?

[TheViking]

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/6/2/7/392627.jpg

The Schecter C1 A/Es a semi hollow with a Tone pro's bridge with Graph Tech Ghost piezo system, I do not see why or how that should be a bad idea at all, I got one and I love it and as I stated earlier, I have played quite a few Gretsch'es, an Epi and an Eagle with the LRB t-bridges as well. The Eagle guitars comes with a diffrent system as well, like this one
http://www.jam.se/images/items/cache/regular_eagleJiveSuper2006bluemetsm.jpg

[Bobbofallenstar]

I got the Fishman Powerbridge today and wired it up on the Gretsch. I say "on" the Gretsch because I didn't want to commit to it being wired up inside just yet.

Had rehearsal tonight and that through a Fishman DI with all the controls sounded pretty good. Needs some more tweaking but I think I'm onto something here.

[elk]

Dave Wendler makes a system know as a Mag-Pi system that would work very nicely. Check his website. I hope to own one of his guitars someday.
Nice guy as well.

[SAguitar]

Way to go, Bobbo! You're taking off into the New Frontier!