Big Tone Pickup Installation

Travis Hill

Hi, just wondering if someone can point me in the direction of installing a big tone pickup on my gypsy guitar. I had a look on the forum but couldn't find a 'how to' guide. Some kind of step by step info would be really appreciated. I am curious to know exactly how tricky the installation is and if I can do it without taking it to a luthier.

Love the tone Mozes is getting here through what I assume is a big tone and a Roland AC amp. Usually big tones sound nasty but this is very nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6XGqTV8aX8

Buco

It is a great sound but it could be any number of contact mics mounted inside and I suspect it is one of those, not the big tone.

I have a Manouche mic mounted inside. There's some discussion about it here

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/

Travis Hill

Great, thanks for that Buco, will check the thread out. Would love to have a sound like in this vid!

crookedpinky

When you say 'installing' a big tone do you already have a bridge with a big tone installed or are you asking about installing a bigtone in to a bridge ?

Travis Hill

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/109501#Comment_109501

I was just planning on buying a big tone from djangobooks, already assembled in bridge and ready for installation...

Travis Hill

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/109491#Comment_109491

Hey Buco, is there a specific thread to read? the link just goes to the main forum page...

MichaelHorowitz

@Travis Hill I don't know of any guide for bigtone installs that's available but it generally is something any experienced tech could easily do. All that is required is that you drill a hole in the top for the wire and then install an endpin jack. The rest is just small adjustments to the bridge height to get your action set where you want it.

guitarmike

Of course you’ll have to make sure that the bottom curve ( radius ) of the bridge ( bigtone ) will match the "bombe" of your guitar top.

To do so you will have to stick some emery paper where the bridge is going to sit between the moustaches.

And then, rock the bridge back and forth on the emery paper until both surfaces makes a perfect match.

Always a good idea to start with a bridge (bigtone) that’s is taller than what you actually need....

And then you file the notches for the strings spacing. Don’t go too deep with these notches !!!

Voila.

Buco

Don't know how I managed that, yes this thread is what I meant to post a link to

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/16812/internal-pickup-mount-and-drilling-the-tailblock

Travis Hill

Thanks for the feedback guys, appreciate all the info, Merry xmas!