Installing a semi acoustic system

[Dinky]

can anyone enlighten me on how to go about this?
i have this acoutic with me which i pretty much like to turn it into
a semi acoustic.i cant think of any systems that can be used here.
can any professionals out there shine some light onto this concept over here?
below are some photos of the guitar mentioned.

thank you to everybody for their time.

 

[Lifehouse]

It's an archtop. I haven't seen any acoustic -> archtop conversion before.

By semi-acoustic if you mean you just want to plug-in to an amp? That's pretty easy to achieve. Just get an external acoustic pickup.

 

[widdly]

Nice guitar.

You have a few options.

You can get a replacement bridge that contains a piezo pickup. Like this one..http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=AC00159

You can get some piezo pickups that are glued inside the body.

You can get a strip piezo that sits between the bridge and the body. http://www.pick-uptheworld.com/archtop.htm

or you can get a humbucker that sits just behind the neck. This gives a pretty mellow sound nice for trad jazz. http://benedettopickups.com/products.htm


I'd go for the bridge replacement and the humbucker. You can mount the controls and wiring behind the pickgaurd so you dont need to drill any holes and you can remove it later.

 

[edder]

wow my dad had one like this but in sunburst. I learn my first C/Am/F/G7 chords on this guitar.

good luck in the conversion!

 

[Dinky]

im really trying to find a system thats readily available here in SG and if there are any recommendations of people whom i should go and meet would great too.

i like the idea of having pickups on aocustics...

 

[edder]

I'd say try KC of Maestro or Malcolm of Mt Lutherie. They should be able to guide you to the right direction.

Widdly's suggestions are very good and you may want to consider it. I'd do it his way if I'm converting a semiarchtop.

 

[Dinky]

i learn new things everyday from soft.
i didnt know its called semi archtop.

thank you.

 

[edder]

dude... i think i meant to type semi acoustic archtop. now don't go around using this utterly bad typo and credit it to me! hahahhaa :mrgreen:

 

[gsonique]

You can go to Hofner site ... for some visual