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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

1152.0. "Guitar Bugs..." by DNEAST::GREVE_STEVE (If all else fails, take a nap...) Fri Feb 17 1989 10:50

    
    
    	A long time ago, in a galaxy far away <grin, just kidding>,
    I bought a thing called a "bug" for my acoustic guitar. Little round
    metal thing that one "stuck" on the outside with some "putty" stuff.
     Did a fairly good job of amplifying an acoustic.  NOW....
    
    I'd like to use it on my new Alvarez Yairi
    
    
    BUT
    
    
    I can't find the putty stuff... looked like a bunch of littel chicklets
    connected together..
    
    AND
    
    I'm wondering what it will do to my spruce top!
    
    
    	Does anybody know what I'm talking about?  Know where I can
    get more of the putty stuff?  Know i I should put in on my Yairi??
     If not, know th best way to amplify my gitar without drilling
    holes...?
    
    
    
    
    
    Steve
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1152.1WACHU2::HERTZBERGI big, therefore I dinkFri Feb 17 1989 14:107
    I had (and still have) a bug for my acoustic guitar.  If I'm not
    mistaken, it was actually called a FRAP, for Flat Response Audio
    Pickup.  I've probably lost the putty, too.  Big help, huh?  At
    least I know what you're talking about though.  I'll take a quick
    look and see if I can dig up some putty, but don't hold your breath.
    
    								Marc
1152.2 TRY MASKING TAPECOMET::BEYZAVIFri Feb 17 1989 14:523
    I have seen many people using masking tape to hold the bug on the
    guitar.  I don't think masking tape would damage your guitar.
    
1152.3The Original Shadow..DNEAST::GREVE_STEVEIf all else fails, take a nap...Mon Feb 20 1989 09:138
    
    
    	Yeah... I took a look at it this weekend and it's called the:
    
    "Original Shadow".... pretty cool, huh?
    
    
    
1152.4Try regular window putty (calking)DRUID::MARIANIMon Feb 20 1989 09:4117
    I wouldn't use masking tape.... there's only two kinds of masking
    tape.  The kind that doesn't stick and the kind that won't come
    off.
    
    	You might try common window putty.  I don't think that will
    react with the finish and it will do the same job as far as holding
    the pickup on the guitar.  
    
    Helpful Hint....
    
    	If you get something like tape on your guitar, (I found out
    about this trying to help a friend get a BUMPER STICKER off of her
    acoustic) use a little salad oil and rub gently.  This renders the
    glue on the back useless and you can take the tape (sticker) off
    without doing any damage to the finish.  Just polish with a clean
    dry cloth to get the oil off afterward.   I didn't believe it either,
    but it works....  -Ted
1152.5not much help but....VIDEO::BUSENBARKMon Feb 20 1989 10:587
    	masking tape can remove finish(clear) as it did with a Les
    Paul of mine which someone was setting the intonation on. :^(
    
    	common window putty could have petroleum distilates and may
    react to the finish
    
    	
1152.6check around for puttyANT::JACQUESMon Feb 20 1989 12:4126
    check with someone like McDuffs for the putty. I'm sure you can
    find it easily.
    
    Another hint:  Mount the pickup inside the guitar and wire it out 
    through an endpin jack. You can experiment mounting it in differant 
    areas until you find the "sweet spot".
          
    These pickups produced a fairly flat acoustic sounds, but all
    contact pickups have the usual problems of low output, and
    sensitivity to finger noise/thumps againts your elbow, body, etc.
    The state of the art in add-on acoustic pickups right now is the
    Fishman transducer and equivalent units (Martin tinline 335, The
    Guild transducer, etc) which mount between the bridge saddle and
    the bridge base. A very small hole must be drilled in the base of
    the bridge, but it really doesn't harm the instrument and doesn't
    show at all. The Baggs system is an integral transducer/bone bridge
    saddle in one unit. Any of these units can be purchased for around
    $50 to $75 and are definately superior to contact pickups.
    
    Of course the absolute best acoustic pickup system is the Ovations
    palathetic pickup with OP24 electonics which may be purchased
    separately and mounted in any guitar (the guts sell for ~$350.
    
    Mark
    
    
1152.7putty this ;^BUSY::JMINVILLEArista says they love it, but...Tue Feb 21 1989 14:2410
    I have a Barcus Berry Jr. version of "The Bug" mounted on my
    1973 Alvarez-Yairi Classical guitar.  Mine is on the bridge
    next to the high E string.  The putty helps conduct the vib-
    rations to the pickup (tape would not conduct as well).  I
    agree that McDuff's on Rte. 9 in Shrewsbury would probably have
    it.  Also, you could try The Music Box on Main St. in Fitchburg.
    
    I was never happy with the amplified results of the BB Jr.
    
    joe.
1152.8I've got the Blues bug....45466::LITTENWed Feb 22 1989 07:4912
    Ref your "putty".....
    
    Why not try BLU - TAK  This is the blue stuff that I use around
    the office and home to "stick" notices etc. 
    
    I would imagine that this stuff would hold your "bug" in place,
    and it has the added value of not emmiting any fumes or leaving
    marks. This would appear to me to be safer to use on a guitar's
    finish.
    
    /Dave
     
1152.9HAMSTR::PELKEYIf my ancestors could see me now!Mon Feb 27 1989 16:0918
    Gee !!  Don't use masking tape, unless you want that Vintage look.
    
    I've never done this before, but I've heard from many-sources
    that Gaffers tape wont hurt the finish.
    
    (Common Duck-tape)
    
    A buddy of mine taped some material to the back of his Martin to
    avoid scratches.  He secured the material with Duck tape.
    
    8 years latrer, he took it off, and was able to use some Lemon oil
    and remove any and all the tape ca-ca left on there, and there wasn't
    much at all....
    
    But, one reply mentioned Mcduffs, and Rich would probably have
    something in  the store to help you out.