RMC Piezo saddles and the RMC Poly Drive

[jdblackwell]

I have recently installed RMC Piezo saddles and the RMC Poly Drive into a Anderson Hollow T Classic. I was very nervious about the install. I did a lot of reasearch and took a lot of time. It turned out well.

Now I have a 1/4" Stereo output and the Din 13 Pin out put.

I have other Andersons with the Fishman & the LR Baggs Piezo bridges.

I am curious to see is there is much interest from others in the piezo bridge.

Happy to share what I learned about the RMC.

[Pietro]

As a guy who MUST have electric AND acoustic sounds in all his guitars... I think this is super cool!

I actually bought my piezo bridge a year and a half before I got my Hollow Cobra (a gift), and proceeded to change out the bridge and wire it up immediately.

Currently, there are no two-voice factory options from Anderson apart from the Crowdster Plus and Plus 2, but if I were ever to get another one, I would find a way to get it done.

[bud]

Congratulations on your success. You've got some courage. I could never get the nerve to do that to one of my guitars. The RMC system is stellar, I've had it on a couple of guitars where it was available as a factory option.

[jdblackwell]

Thank you. I like the Fishman because it is so simple to install but I do feel the RMC is better on a tone comparison. Interestingly the Piezo will work with and without power. The level and tone is different with will get you through.

[tom]

how is the volume level of the piezo running passively compared to the mags?

[jdblackwell]

When I played at a comfrontable volume this evening the active Piezo was reading 90 db in my iPhone DB meter. With no power to the piezos, it was reading 85db.

I should tell you that I power the RMC Poly Drive preamp from the 13 Din cable plug into a Roland GR-33 guitar synth. I could use a 9v battery but do not need to as I can draw power from the synth cable.

Second, I think the Fishman piezos sound better unpowered than the RMC piezos sound unpowered. The signal from the RMC Piezos do go through the unpowered RMC Preamp so the dead preamp may be effecting tone quality.

I wonder about the tone quality of just getting the 6 RMC piezos and summing them together without the Polydrive preamp. I have considered having your new bridge slotted for piezo leads and trying. Not at top of my list currently.

I am after the Roland Guitar Synth 13 Din connection or I would not have done the RMC Piezos. I do feel that the RMC piezos, when powered, are out front of the passive Fishman tone wise but the margin is not overwhelming. Full eq controls and mixing switches are all there for the RMC but did not connect them as I do not need them on the guitar and I want to keep it clean.

I consider this guitar, now, my test mule. I real like the way it is going.

I also installed a TM3 in the bridge. Mini toggle splits the bridge TM3 and taps neck VA12 so I have a thick / thin modes. It might be better done with VA Boost or Kickback but the VA1 & Split TM3 and VA2 & full TM3 works GREAT. I would say I love the VA2 & TM3 parralle sound.

Lastly, I stole your wiring for the HMM 5way Atom B, BM, BN, M, N but also made the pull tone add neck to 2 & 4 so all seven combination are there.

The Atom has really inspired me. I feel like the Hollow T classic fit my body better but I love much of what you did with the new atom. I really like the Ms. They might be the one PUs that can cover most area.

I will be away in mid May. I could send you my Black Hollow T classic test mule with the RMC & TM3 to examine if you have any curriousty. Not that you need any of my thoughts or ideas.

[Pietro]

I'd be curious to know if that RMC system sounds decent (not just "loud enough") through preamp and processing when unpowered. My only guitars that need a battery for the acoustic are my Crowdster (no problem, since it has an easy-access battery compartment) and my PRS, with the Ghost. Changing the battery in that is a pain, because I have to remove the back plate each time. Yuk.

Who knows what I'll need in the future, but I like the simplicity and functionality of Fishman's PowerBridge without the battery. I have that on both my Anderson Cobra and US Masters strat. No muss, no fuss, I run stereo all the time, so blending in "mono" is not an issue for me.

The way I play anymore, I can't have a guitar without it.

[jdblackwell]

If I did not want the 13 pin output to drive a roland synth, I would not do the RMC Piezo system. Since I need the Roland synth ability, I need the RMC Polydrive preamp and therefore the active RMC Piezo sound is what I get. IMHO the active RMC Piezo sounds better (more like the Crowdster) than does the passive Fishman. I do not like the extra hole and wiring the RMC & Preamp require.

If all I needed was the acoustic tone out of the Piezo saddles, I would do the Fishman Power Bridge passive (no preamp, no battery) to a stereo jack just as you do and Anderson offered in the past. THe tone is good and I can shape it off board. I use a Fractal so Magnetics's go in front left jack and Piezo's go in rear right and I can do anything. I never blend the two either. A person could bland in the fractal if they cared.

I purchased the last two Anderson/Fishman Power bridges form Fishman a few months ago. I call and somebody found two so I got them. I got luckie. I think the regular Fishman TS Power bridge will work, just no Anderson logo on the plate.

Again, I think it would be intersting to ear just the RMS Piezo saddles wired together in mono and sent straight to the out passively without an preamp in between.

I will try to get a sound clip of the RMC Piezo with and without power if you like. Sound clips do not turn out well normally but I would try if you wish.

I study the three voice guitar thing (Mags, Piezo for accoustic, Roland synth 13 pin output). The Godin LGXT stood out to me. It does not compete with Anderson in the magnetic tone area or on feel. Clearly the piezo do a better job with tracking so the Parker Mojo MIDI does not get my attention either. I have not tried the Brian Moore stuff.

[Pietro]

I used to do the guitar synth thing. Now I have more fun layering fun FX, and sold my GR33 years ago. (It was the second time I'd done the MIDI guitar thing).

You are right about Godin. I HAVE tried the Brian Moore stuff, and actually everything else (GKs, the Roland-ready strat, etc.), and nothing TOUCHES Godin, because Robert designs the whole guitar around what is best for synth tracking. Might compromise on electric tone, because of that, but all my Godins (I had 3, in fact I only JUST sold my last one and miss it) did sound and play great.

Which bridges did you get from them? If you don't end up using them, please contact me first to sell, as I am a two-voice guitar junkie! My gold Anderson PowerBridge sat in a drawer unused for a year and a half before I got my Hollow Cobra (as a gift).

[jdblackwell]

Here is the bridge I got from them.

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I have three HDTC for 2001 to 2002 that all have Fishman Bridges. I do not use them.

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[Pietro]

You don't use the guitars? Or you don't use the bridges? WOW! Very nice trio!

[jdblackwell]

I have to many guitars. I do not use the guitars.

I had 4 made.

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The idea was four identical guitars except for color and body wood. They change the bridges so one had LR Baggs and three have Fishman.

Basswood, Alder, Ash, and Mahogoney. I was trying to get to an exercise in wood effects on tone. Seems silly now but in 2000 it made sense to me.

[Pietro]

I like the red and the amber the best.