Carlos CS-Sensor Pickup

gitane007

Hi All ,

Anyone any experience with a Carlos CS-Sensor Pickup ?...............What's it like for feedback and would a volume pedal be needed for big band set up ?

Thanks

Stephen

Scoredog

well it generally is good with feedback compared with most pickups but certainly not as good as a magnetic pickup. If I had a big band date I most likely use a magnetic pickup for ease of use. The CS will sound more natural than the magnetic but not perfect, it certainly is a compromise sound wise over say a contact mic which sounds most natural but has the most feedback issues. Everything when dealing with amplification on gypsy Jazz guitars has some compromise. The loudest most natural sounding solution is a modeler but that still may not feel right to you.

djazzy

I'm also thinking about getting a Carlos CS as I prefer as acoustic a guitar sound as possible and installing a lav mic wears on my patience. BUT I'd like to ask (if @Scoredog or anyone else can answer) whether an external installation of the Carlos CS (so no drilling) becomes an issue/problem for the guitar's finish. I understand the CS can be mounted with velcro *and tape,* all provided in the purchase. I'm concerned about ripping off that tape... unless of course it simply isn't a good idea to take off tape or remove much of anything once it is attached? Thanks in advance.

Scoredog

I have had no issue with the CS using putty externally.

JSanta

https://djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/116272#Comment_116272

Most of the guys I know that use them just use the blue putty to mount them. Makes it easy to adjust locations in the room if necessary.

Gouch

Carlos (and Krivo) -provided putty doesn’t seem to trash nitro or French polish. It’s probably Elmers blue or something not-exotic but at least they’ve tested it and isn’t going to wreck anything instantly. And the specific (look up that exact type, don’t substitute) 3M “perma” tape included with the Carlos has also proven removable with nitro and fp for a few guitars I’ve worked on (what happens in 5 or 50 years…unknown).

Btw I recently installed a Carlos with a Schatten jack-mount, solid, works well, sounds good the guitar owner says. I’ve be been using a KNA UP2 which (to my ears anyway) works just fine and costs way less.

Worst case: If your mounting adhesive lifts the finish off, now you have the right stuff in hand to properly relic the top 😎

Chiefbigeasy

I've experienced almost no feedback, even at loud volumes, with the Carlos Sensor. It is the most natural sounding pickup I've ever used.

That said, it helps to have small graphic pedal inline to help shape the sound you want and to fix any minor feedback in lower ranges. I use an LR Baggs Venue to shape and control the sound, and it has an adjustable boost footswitch to give you a little volume boost for soloing. I amp up with a Schertler David which, interestingly enough, has an option for a volume pedal. I have used this option to great effect sometimes as well.

I'd agree, though, that a magnetic pickup might better suit a big band. I'd reserve the Carlos for when you really want an acoustic sound in a small group.

I'm intrigued by those of you who have successfully used the blue Krivo putty with the Carlos. I've managed to find a very good sweet spot when i mounted the Carlos, but I just keep it on guitar because it's too fussy to remove and find that spot again.

For those of you who use the putty, do you cover the whole bottom of the pickup with a thin layer, or do you use a few dots on the corners to hold it in place, hovering above the surface of the guitar? If it hovers above the guitar, is it less sensitive to noise like my fingers brushing on the top? The non-musical sounds Carlos amplifies has been my only complaint. Do you think the putty works as well as the recommended mounting system: low adhesion black tape on guitar surface, 3m double side thick tape for the pickup itself to the top of the black tape?