Wadda ya do with Backpacker? (guitar)

Subject: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: Jed at Work
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 04:43 PM

In a thread running back in April I talked a little bit about the new instrument I had been playing with, namely a rewired Martin Backpacker. Basically I used a Nasville tuing configuration - tuned to an Open D Major.

The result has been wonderful, I have been playing with it ever since. I had been asked to go off and play with the configuration, then come back and post and article about the experience. Well, I have done just that. If you click here you can read what I've learned so far about this 'new toy' ... please come on back to this thread and comment, too. I'd appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: jeffp
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 08:23 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 08:25 AM

Great article, Jed! I've often wondered whether there was something unique that might be done with a Backpacker (or similar travel guitar) that would make it something more than a "real" guitar's little brother. Your experiments sound interesting, and worth exploring further.

I'll admit that I was a little confused at first by your use of the word "rewired" to describe what you've done. In my universe, a "rewired" guitar is one that has had the electronics updated; I would have said your guitar was "restrung". But I got it eventually.

The other question I have is whether your article was primarily celebrating (a) the Backpacker, or (b) high-strung guitars in alternate tunings. It seems to me it was the latter, and the pleasure you got from this experience could just have easily been obtained from any other high-strung guitar. Is there some character to the Backpacker's tone that makes it better than another guitar similarly strung and tuned?

As for amplifying your guitar, I'm sure you're aware that there are other ways to do it than by installing a pickup (with the aid of dentists' tools). I myself prefer magnetic soundhole pickups to under-saddle piezoelectric pickups -- I use the Fishman Rare Earth Blenders (pickup and internal condenser mic) on my guitars currently. But you can go with an under-saddle pickup (like a Fishman Matrix), or with contact pickups (McIntyre makes some good ones). I'd consider exploring the latter, particularly since a Backpacker isn't going to give you quite as many feedback problems as a full-bodied guitar due to its comparative lack of resonance. Something to think about, anyway.

Again, this is great -- I love to hear about people trying new approaches like this. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: JedMarum
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 08:49 AM

I guess my use of the term rewire was inspired by the comedian who does the 'tool time' TV show. He does a intorduces a number of jokes by saying that he looked at the product the way it was manufactured and found it inadequate; 'so he rewired it'

And yes, while I have some affection for the Backpacker, my main interest is, as you say high-strung guitars in alternate tunings. You would hve good results with many guitars - however; I do think the Backpacker's shape, size, volume all add to the dulcimer-like sound qualities the 'rewired' instrument produces. I should try the same tunings on an another guitar just see - maybe that's another article!

And I've tried a contact pick-up (granted not a good one) on the Backpacker and there was very little quality sound. In the studio when I used the backpacker, the recording engineer told me as much sound came out of the sides and back of the instrument as came out of the front. In deed he placed mics all around the instrument. I may never get a great sound out of a pick-up for the Backpacker.

I like the Fishman stuff very much. I've considered trying their 'in hole' magnetic pick-up for my Acoustic Bass guitar - My Larrivee has a Fishman matrix. Sound like I should check out McIntyre, too.

Thanks for the comments!

Subject: RE: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:32 AM

I heartily recommend the Fishman Rare Earth. They come in four models: single coil; double coil (humbucking) with a "bright" switch; double coil with an integral condenser mic on a small gooseneck extending from the pickup housing inside the instrument; and double coil with condenser mic on a small detachable gooseneck outside of the instrument (above the high end of the fingerboard). I have the double coil with internal condenser mic in both my Lowden and my Larrivee, and to my ears it's vastly superior to the Matrix or any other under-saddle pickup I've used. It's kind of pricey as these things go -- street price is about $275 (American). But for somebody like me who never quite got used to the piezo "quack," it's worth it. I dial in about 80 per cent pickup, 20 per cent mic, and run it through a Sans Amp Acoustic DI, which gives it a little more body, eliminates some residual harshness, and provides a little more EQ flexibility.

Sorry for the thread drift, but I thought this "testimonial" might be worth something to you. Again, thanks for sharing your insights with all of us.

Subject: RE: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: Jed at Work
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 10:55 AM

Excellent feedback, Whistle Stop - NOT thread creep. I have been very curious about the Fishman double coil with internal condenser mic set-up. I have the matrix in my Larrivee, and it sounds great, but I do wish the audience could get a better idea of the really wonderful acoustic properties of this fine guitar. I have long since settled for the pretty good reproduction of the matrix, but I'm always tempted to use just a mic in the better acoustic settings (and frequently do as solo). It may be that the Fishman Rare Earth is worth my consideration.

I did pick up the Fishman Pro-EQ (DI and pre-amp) to use with the banjo pick up (also a Fishman). But I found that it was not a big help for the banjo (I get a pretty good sound going straight into the mixer, which gives me plenty of clean input boost, and EQ) - so I nearly returned the unit until I discovered that it beautifully refined the signal from our fiddle player's pick-up. I have yet to try it on the bass player's Acoustic Bass guitar (a Martin), but I suspect it will help there, as well, if we wished. So, in short; it's good a unit to return, even if I don't care to use it for the originally intened purpose.

By the way, there was a brief discussion here on the issue of pick-ups and banjos.

But back to the Backpacker pick up; the biggets problem with wiringsomething in is the very small size of its sound hole. It won't fit an 'in-hole' pick up and you cannot fit a hand inside to work. So any work done to fit the pick up to the instrument will have that added challenge. I'd like to try the McIntyre contact pick-up, but I've never had much love for their abilities, and it may be even more challenging on the Backpacker, since its sound emanates from so many different surfaces of the instrument.

Thanks again for your comments. Looks like this type of discussion appleas to a very small Mudcat audience. I appreciate your feedback!

By the way, I've had a few interesting comments on the article at the website message board, and my email, as well.

Subject: RE: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 Jul 00 - 07:43 PM

Hey Jed, d'ya want a SECOND one? My student Patricia bought one recently, and hates it.

Played some more cuts of your good self on the radio. You could become a cult hero in Toronto!

Rick

Subject: RE: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: JedMarum
Date: 08 Jul 00 - 11:11 AM

Rick - I may need a second one, I'm wearing this one out! You may remember in previous discussions, I wasn't really a fan of the instrument - but this new configuration really gives it great possibilities. The sound makes it worth putting up with the shortcomings.

I'm very glad to hear you've played some of the CD on the air. I have not been able to catch much of your show, since I'm usually driving home while your on. I will actually be making a few changes this week to it - very simple stuff really, then I will be be pressing 1000. I'll send up the official release as soon as it is ready. Thanks very much for the airtime. I very much appreciate it!

Subject: RE: Wadda ya do with Backpacker?
From: Jed at Work
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 06:20 PM

I know this subject hasn't attracted a lot of interest here, but gotta tell ya, I've been pleasantly surprised by responses I've gotten about this idea from some great guitar makers.

CF Martin's, Dick Boak - UK based world class luthier Stefan Sobell - and US based fretted instrument builder and repairman, Frank Ford (at frets.com) all found the idea appealing and wrote back with some positive feedback.

Our own Mudcatters; Seamus Kennedy, Terapln and then a few folks I don't know have also sent me some comments. I guess the idea of the small bodied, alternate tuned, music box has a lot of appeal.

Martin sent a response that is posted in answer to the original article.