How I got my Seymour Duncan SA1 to play in a Radio Guitar Amp!!!!

[Liquid Fusion]

Goal: get acoustic guitar w/ Seymour Duncan SA-1 passive / magnetic pickup to power guitar radio amp like the Tele w/EMG85s.

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Figured it out!!!!!! Change Acoustic impedance from high to low - Plug Seymour Duncan SA1 high-impedance / magnetic / passive pickup into a guitar pedal / Boss SD1 - changing output to low impedance. Now Acoustic plays in the Guitar radio amp similar to the Tele w/EMG 85s. Distortion is both Boss SD1 pedal + natural radio guitar amp / vintage germanium chips. Toggle Switch on top of radio: back = guitar amp only / front = radio.

Keeping the Fishman preamp (not shown) - always good to have a quality acoustic PA preamp. Might see if it can work before the guitar pedal pushing more natural (germanium chip) rock Hendrix distortion. Need more 9 volt batteries. Stay tuned. Guitar shine: polish guitar w/ 3-In-One oil (body/fretboard)

Seymour Duncan SA-1 pickup - Magnetic / Passive - adding internal wiring / endpin jack to acoustic guitar (reaming hole) - for street use

Sounds - Acoustic playing Radio Guitar Amp

Reference - All about pickups and impedance

 

[Mincer]

Re: How I got my Seymour Duncan SA1 to play in a Radio Guitar Amp!!!!

Welcome to the forum!

That is an interesting experiment. What were you trying to achieve (I don't mean this in a snarky way, I am generally curious)?

 

[Liquid Fusion]

Re: How I got my Seymour Duncan SA1 to play in a Radio Guitar Amp!!!!

Originally searching for "new" indie sounds - making radio guitar amps from vintage solid state radios with 70's germanium transistors. Interesting sound for recording that's not a plugin. Radio guitar amp = 3 watts!! Can busk / jam outdoors - travel light. Fun / great sounding / low cost (26.00) / vintage amp.

Pblm: Seymour Duncan SA1 pickup wouldn't play in the radio guitar amp. No sound.

Note: Tele w/EMG 85's (played easily in radio gtr amp) = active, low impedance. Seymour Duncan SA1 pickups = high impedance, magnetic, passive.

Soln: Run output of SA1 (High impedance) pickup into a Boss SD1 guitar pedal (low impedance pedal output) - lets acoustic crunch come though in the radio guitar amp: both via vintage germanium transistors and 80's Boss SD1 distortion. Decided to install the Seymour Dyncan SA1 as a permanent pickup (love the sound). Installed endpin jack with a mechanics reamer. Works A+++

Making Radio Gtr Amp - Acoustic Gtr - Seymour Duncan SA1 - Boss SD1 - Liquid Fusion - YouTube

Idea: create a cushioned "SA1 case" I can glue / tape inside the guitar - if I ever want to unclip the endpin wired pickup from the sound hole to clear that space temporarily - possibly for recording. Not sure if this is practical. Just a thought.