An alternative for the Highlander

[hoss]

Hi Guys and Gals…just finished fitting what turns out to be an excellent, albeit a little awkward to fit, pickup system for my Reso Rocket. With Highlander going out of business I decided to fit a LR Baggs Anthem system. I achieved this by routing a small channel in the underside of the biscuit and laying in the piezo strip part of the anthem system, the same way the highlander is done (see attached photo). I the attached the microphone to the middle wooden beam directly below the cone. Initially I ran all wires outside through the screen holes to test and set up the mix and then ounce satisfied I drilled a hole for the lead plug and attached the mixing unit inside the guitar. I can just make small adjustments now using my pinky finger. Hopefully you can spot the unit in the photo.
The blend of the two pickups is amazing, giving a very realistic sound reproduction. As a part time luthier I had the tools to route the biscuit which would have to be the hardest tasks, however not impossible for anyone with a dremmel and a circle jig. I will try and get a video with a comparison done with just a SM57 and the pickups at some stage. I’m going to send some info off to LR Baggs as well. It would be great if the controls could be brought outside for those who dont have the access the ResoRocket does. It  would be great if either LR Baggs or NRP worked on an alternative like this. It is so much better than using the hot plate or National Thinline which I also have.

Anyone interested happy to try and answer your questions….Hoss

[pete1951]

Well done, I think I am about to try a similar Highlander style biscuit. Some pics of your set up ( I guess best posted in the ‘Workbench ‘ section) would be good. I have numerous routers etc and am wondering what jig would be best.
Pete

[hoss]

Hi Pete. I didnt take any photos of the techniques used:however I can explain the tool used. It is a rosette cutting jig for a dremmel tool. That is way to expensive as a one off, however I did see a circle cutting attachment for a dremmel that would work the same. Try this link to see the tool.  www.dremel.com/au/en/p/dremel-line-circle-cutter-678-v392  

There are plenty of ribbon type under saddle piezo pickups around. If you dont use an internal preamp you will certainly need something external to boost the signal. The Anthem is coupled with a specialised condenser microphone that adds the perfect mix. Even still I am running my set up through a LR Baggs Venue DI which gives boost and the bonus of a EQ with sweepable Mids.

[hoss]

Just an added note I am using quite small spiral up cut drills in the dremel tool

[pete1951]

Thanks hoss, I am sure I can make something similar. And I have some small spiral cutters for bridge saddles that should be the right size.
Pete

[snakehips]

Hi there !

That’s excellent Hoss. Would love to hear how it sounds.

I always wanted to try the Anthem inside a reso guitar but thought the microphone needed to be stuck v close to the soundboard (on a regular acoustic) so didn’t know how/where to put it in/on a resonator.
I did think of getting it close to the cone by raising the mic on a wooden “stilt” or something !!!

I hadn’t thought much about using the Anthem piezo though - as I had wrongly assumed it wouldn’t be long enough to fill a full semicircle, plus a little beyond, around the biscuit.

Sounds, please ?? !!!!

[hoss]

HI snakehips…the anthem mic placement is just a guess, though it certainly seems to be a good spot. I think the normal placement in the acoustic is more to do with it being a good central spot to get all the sound reflections within the soundbox rather than getting feedback from the bridge plate. That’s where the piezo comes on. Regardless the beam below the cone certainly gives me plenty of true volume. Might take me a while to get to the sounds but hopefully this week. The biggest problem is accessing the controls. It can be done by feeding the pick up wires out the f holes or similar and keeping the battery and lead outside the guitar. No drilling holes that way, though pretty untidy.

Let people know when i get the sound video done. Ill do it through a interface so the sound will be of decent quality.

[hoss]

HI snakehips…the anthem mic placement is just a guess, though it certainly seems to be a good spot. I think the normal placement in the acoustic is more to do with it being a good central spot to get all the sound reflections within the soundbox rather than getting feedback from the bridge plate. That’s where the piezo comes on. Regardless the beam below the cone certainly gives me plenty of true volume. Might take me a while to get to the sounds but hopefully this week. The biggest problem is accessing the controls. It can be done by feeding the pick up wires out the f holes or similar and keeping the battery and lead outside the guitar. No drilling holes that way, though pretty untidy.

Let people know when i get the sound video done. Ill do it through a interface so the sound will be of decent quality.

[obrienp]

Interesting! I didn’t know Highlander had gone out of business. I better treat mine with special care! Does anybody know I’d the remaining stock has been bought by anybody?. Just thinking of how to get replacement parts, if needed.

WRT the Anthem: I had both the SL and full preamp versions in different acoustics. I found that it was a very fine balance to get the mic level right. Too much made it sound very harsh, too little was a bit muddy and emphasised the piezo quack. Interesting to hear how that works in a reso which presumably has higher levels of internal sound reflection and resonance? Feedback can also be a bit of an issue with the mic.

[hokumjim]

Hi. I did this with an undersaddle cable element and have made about 10 over the years. The trick is to get the groove the correct dimension and depth to get the best fit and pressure on the element. I did all of mine in my little Myford lathe, I am an engineer by trade. They work fine, with a decent pre-amp but the diameter and depth are hyper critical.

[bonzo]

Are you ready to take orders? 😂😊👍🎸

[pete1951]

Oct 18, 2021 13:31:13 GMT hokumjim said:

Hi. I did this with an undersaddle cable element and have made about 10 over the years. The trick is to get the groove the correct dimension and depth to get the best fit and pressure on the element. I did all of mine in my little Myford lathe, I am an engineer by trade. They work fine, with a decent pre-amp but the diameter and depth are hyper critical.

It would be great if you could post the dimensions that work for you, there is a DIY Highlander thread in the ‘Workbench’ section.
Thanks in advance
Pete

[Michael Messer]

Just a gentle rap on the knuckles...

When a thread turns to discussing orders it oversteps the forum rules, so please continue this area of discussion as PMs or with emails. Ta

Shine On
Michael

[bonzo]

If that's me sorry.
Meant as a joke between friends.

[snakehips]

Hi again !

Any videos yet, Hoss ?