Before hitting the road for an acoustic tour, Chris Buck, the guitarist for Cardinal Black, realized he needed an remarkable acoustic guitar. He settled on a beautiful pre-owned Atkin OM37, but there was a catch: it required a pickup system. After some examination, Chris opted for the LR Baggs HiFi Duet and enlisted my help for the installation.
While certain steps are unique to LR Baggs, many of the techniques are applicable to acoustic pickup systems in general. The hifi Duet features two pickups and a compact electret microphone, all affixed to the bridge plate. Additionally, it includes a control unit with an internal preamp and an output socket that also serves as a strap button.
Navigating Installation Challenges
the most daunting aspect of installing an acoustic pickup system is often the process of drilling or enlarging holes in the guitar body.
The first hole typically involves drilling through one end of the saddle slot to accommodate an under-saddle piezo pickup. Fortunately, this system eliminates that need, although some under-saddle pickups do require an angled hole, necessitating caution to avoid drilling through the X-brace.
Most pickup systems require the output socket to be mounted through the tailblock, which usually means enlarging the strap button hole to approximately 12.5mm (½ inch). Using a ½-inch drill bit without caution can be risky, as the bit may bounce around before securing a grip, possibly chipping the finish.
While the Atkin is reliced,which alleviates some pressure,even the most dedicated anti-relic enthusiasts can agree that there’s a distinction between tasteful aging and actual damage.
To prevent damage, I recommend using a step cutter, which is affordable and perfect for this task.I purchased my first set from a discount store years ago, and thay’re still in great condition.
The existing strap-button hole can guide the step cutter, and the hole should gradually widen while maintaining a clean edge. Once the step cutter has expanded the outer part of the hole to the desired diameter,I switch to a standard drill bit of the same size to continue through the tail block. If possible, press a scrap piece of wood against the tailblock to minimize tear-out, and remember to vacuum any debris afterward.
LR Baggs recommends installing the output socket assembly after the pickups and before the microphone. though, due to the extensive work required to install the socket, I opted to fit it first to avoid dislodging the pickups from the bridge plate.
The entire socket assembly is threaded, with a cover that screws onto the inside end to protect the solder joints. A nut secures it in place, and both components can be adjusted to match the tail block’s depth, ensuring about a millimeter of the wider threaded section protrudes outside the body.
It may take a few tries to get it just right, but you can simplify the process by inserting a long screwdriver or a dowel through the hole, which should be thin enough to fit into the socket. This will help guide the socket assembly through the tailblock hole and allow you to slip on the first washer with the wider opening, followed by the second washer for the narrower threaded section.
Next, place the small nut on and tighten it by hand.You can use an Allen wrench through the holes in the narrow threaded section to prevent the assembly from turning while you fully tighten the nut. screw on the outer collar/strap button to cover the small nut and washers.
Installing the Pickups
LR Baggs specifies that there should be a minimum of ¾-inch of bridge plate in front of the bridge pins for mounting the sensors. I used my phone camera to inspect the interior of the Atkin and confirmed there was just enough space to install the pickups. After ensuring the surface was smooth and free of glue, I wiped it down with isopropyl alcohol as recommended.
Although no instructions are included with the product, you can scan a printed QR code to access a video tutorial detailing the installation process. Like other LR Baggs pickup systems,the HiFi Duet comes with a jig for aligning and installing the pickups.
This jig consists of a clear acrylic plate and two pairs of rods, each with different diameters. Choose the pair that closely matches your guitar’s pin holes. The rods attach to the plate and can be adjusted to align with the outer pin holes before tightening them.
Insert the short ends of the rods through the outer pin holes, ensuring the pickup positions align with the saddle, with the leadout wires running between the top E and B pins and the low E and A pins. Temporarily secure them to the acrylic plate using small sticky pads placed over the LR Baggs logo.
If you’re feeling confident, you can remove the adhesive pad coverings and proceed with the installation. I opted for a dry run first to assess the difficulty of getting the rods through the pin holes, which turned out to be quite manageable, so I went ahead with the installation.
After firmly pressing the pickups against the bridge plate, the alignment jig can be removed, leaving the pickups in place.
Testing the system
At this point, it’s advisable to test the system to ensure everything is functioning correctly before installing the microphone. To do this, connect the pickups to the control unit and install the battery pouch to power the system.
The battery pouch is secured with Velcro for easy removal and replacement. Typically, it’s placed against the neck block, but ensure it doesn’t obstruct access to the truss rod. For this guitar, I chose to position the pouch sideways instead of upright.
The control unit features a molded notch to accommodate any braces near the soundhole. If the braces are especially thick, they may hinder the control unit’s secure attachment, so it’s essential to find a suitable position. I had no trouble locating a workable spot and used low-tack masking tape for visual reference.
After connecting the battery, pickup, and output wires, I removed the adhesive pad coverings and affixed the control unit beneath the soundboard. I then re-strung the guitar, tested it through an amplifier, and everything worked perfectly, with a balanced output across the strings. The strings were removed again to install the microphone.
Microphone Installation
Installing the microphone is done by feel rather than using a jig. It should be positioned between the two pickups, with the leadout wire passing between the D and G bridge pins. Ensure there’s enough space for the ball ends of the strings. The microphone cable must also be connected to the control unit by feel, but this is straightforward.
the final step involves organizing any loose cables inside the body. LR Baggs provides pliable metal hooks with adhesive pads, and they are generous with both the hooks and spare adhesive pads.
if you keep all the spare parts in the box, you can easily transfer the entire pickup system to another guitar if you choose to. I’ve also spotted similar metal hooks at local hardware stores if you need more.
I prefer to pre-bend the hooks slightly before installation to help gauge the positioning of the wires. This part of the installation is also done by feel. I placed the first hook just behind the bridge plate to secure the pickup and microphone wires.
While some attach the hooks directly to the soundboard,I prefer to minimize that. instead, I attach the remaining hooks to the side just below the kerfing, with the second hook positioned as far inside the body as possible to hold the output wire. The third hook was placed on the bridge side of the waist to secure the pickup, microphone, and output wires, with a fourth on the opposite side of the waist. The goal is to ensure no loose cables are rattling around inside the body, which could create unwanted noise.
Final Testing
When testing the sensors without the microphone installed, I noticed that I was still receiving a signal even when the mixer control was fully set to ‘Mic.’ This is as the mixer also functions as a crossover, attenuating the pickup’s highs while preserving some low-frequency content to enhance the tone in microphone mode.
The mic level control allows for additional tone shaping, and the system produces a dynamic and natural acoustic tone that is refreshingly free of the typical piezo quack.
