So, what's everyone working on today?

Archtop Eddy · January 2013

Some of those who know me know that I have a serious affection for my 1953 plastic Maccaferri G-40. I've tried mic'ing it, using various pickups and it never sounded good enough for use other than at home on the couch. Yesterday, I found an old Japanese pickup (probably single-coil although it looks like a humbucker) and tired it on the G-40 and -- ta-dah! it works and sounds great! The trick was to find a pickup thin enough to fit under the strings without having to cut a hole in the top. In fact, I was able to mount the pickup without doing any modification to the guitar. I used some of that sticky stuff you get with Schertler pickups, stuffed the wires under the tailpiece and stuck the the input jack in the spot under the strings between the tailpiece and bridge. Snug as a bug it is! Here's a pic of it. Now I actually think I can take this thing out on a gig -- and you can bet I'll try! AE

Bones · January 2013

AE, too cool! I so covet that thing!

Archtop Eddy · January 2013

Thank ya Bones. Here's some noodling on Autumn Leaves I did a few days ago with the electric Plastic Mac. Nothin' fancy but gives an idea of its sound. Amp: battery-powered Roland mini cube; backing tracks: iReal book; recorded in real-time with an iPhone recorder about six feet from the amp. Since then, I've been messin' with a Boss 7-band EQ pedal and have found a lot more cool sounds with the guitar. AE