As mentioned, I just bought a new Roland AC-60 Acoustic amplifier. Listening to my guitars through the amp at close range revealed the need to tweak the placement of the iBeam pick-ups in some of my guitars. That was yesterdays little project. One of the things that I like about the iBeam (other than the sound) is that you can move the thing around as needed, and without major surgery. It fastens in place with 3M double-stick tape.
I have a 1992 Taylor 555 and 3 Lowden 12-strings. The iBeam comes with a jig for installing it in the proper location on guitars with a pin bridge, like the Taylor. I don't use the jig. I have a better method, but that is another story for another day. None-pin bridges, like on the Lowdens require you to drill a tiny pilot hole through the saddle slot to help you locate the ideal location.
I had initially installed the pick-ups a little further back to get some body into the sound. But through the amp, it sounded rather tubby and hollow. Moving the pick-up a little further forward, directly under the saddle gives a little more snap to the sound, but without the "quack" associated with under saddle pick-ups. On three of the guitars, that change came off without a hitch. But on one of the Lowdens, it would seem that the X-braces are a little further back than on the others. Of course, it is the guitar that I use live most of the time.
The picture doesn't tell the entire tale, but the iBeam is right up against the X-brace, and still not directly under the saddle. Other than going with a different pick-up like a McIntyre or K&K, I don't have an immediate solution.
The other changes are still up in the air, and much more easily reversed. Since I can get all of the volume that I could want through the amp, and since I already had one broken nail, I clipped them all short, revisiting the all flesh approach. And since the all flesh approach generally requires a softer attack, I de-tuned an additional half step, putting my D all the way down to B♭.
We'll see how long this lasts.










