FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Martin Guitar Poster

Question:
Have a Martin 000-16GT (see other thread re-action) which I have just re-strung with bronze 11s and would now like to add a sound hole pick up but would like to achieve a warmer jazz sound than is inherent in the model which has mahogany back and sides and spruce top. Any ideas guys?

Answer:
I don't know about that- after all, lots of jazz is played on light gauge strings especially on long-scale instruments. But I do recall Joe Pass stating that he played on a Martin guitar with a pickup installed and called it a fine instrument. So I don't see any reason why the original poster shouldn't give it a try. Most pickups for flat-tops are designed to approximate the acoustic sound of the instrument, though, but something ought to be possible with a Kent Armstrong or similar pickup. It won't sound like an archtop, but it could be warmer than a typical flat-top sound