Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

  1. #1
    Registered User stevo58's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Good old Germany
    Posts
    86

    Default JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    I installed a pickup in my Eastman mandola. I made a little video in which you can hear the difference between a DPA4099 condenser, the direct pickup sound, and the sound of the pickup through an Acus amp, recorded with an AKG microphone. I'm actually quite pleased with the pickup sound.


    https://youtu.be/8TZ6X2TnJwU

    stevo
    Silverangel Econo A #438 (“Swazi”)
    Schnoor Silver Bell Style 5 Tenor
    Schnoor 5-string open back
    Martin OM-21
    1950 Epiphone Devon
    Emmons GS-10
    More electrics than you can shake a stick at. I have to sell this stuff.

  2. #2
    Registered User gspiess's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Central PA
    Posts
    301

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    I agree that the DPA has a greater bandwidth, but I also agree that the JJB will shine once you create the wave map.
    Being right is overrated. Doing right is what matters.

    Northfield F5S Blacktop
    Pono MND-20H

  3. #3
    Registered User stevo58's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Good old Germany
    Posts
    86

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    Another using the ToneDexter this time

    https://youtu.be/5sU7x0kZdX4
    Silverangel Econo A #438 (“Swazi”)
    Schnoor Silver Bell Style 5 Tenor
    Schnoor 5-string open back
    Martin OM-21
    1950 Epiphone Devon
    Emmons GS-10
    More electrics than you can shake a stick at. I have to sell this stuff.

  4. #4
    Registered User gspiess's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Central PA
    Posts
    301

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    Definitely better, although the DPA has a little more presence. That could be matched with some eq on the wave map or play around some more with mic placement. I have to make some wave maps for my Northfield so this has been helpful.
    Being right is overrated. Doing right is what matters.

    Northfield F5S Blacktop
    Pono MND-20H

  5. #5
    Registered User stevo58's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Good old Germany
    Posts
    86

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    Yeah, I made five quick wave maps and picked the best of them. I will spend more time and make more careful maps, but even so I can live with this. And you are right, the eq on the TD helps.
    Silverangel Econo A #438 (“Swazi”)
    Schnoor Silver Bell Style 5 Tenor
    Schnoor 5-string open back
    Martin OM-21
    1950 Epiphone Devon
    Emmons GS-10
    More electrics than you can shake a stick at. I have to sell this stuff.

  6. #6

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    I've had really good luck with JJB, and Jesse is just a super guy. A few years back my regular luthier put a JJB system into one of my guitars and said it was very similar to the K&K. But he also said the wiring on the JJB looked of a higher quality than the K&K.

    My Two Cents,
    CLP

  7. #7
    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Augusta, Maine, USA
    Posts
    1,814

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    Mine has a JJB, too. Sounds just like a mandolin!
    Gibson A-Junior snakehead (Keep on pluckin'!)

  8. #8
    Registered User gspiess's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Central PA
    Posts
    301

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    I've installed JJB's in two mandolins and a K&K in one. Absolutely no difference in sound and I think the JJB has heftier wiring, all at a third of the price.
    Being right is overrated. Doing right is what matters.

    Northfield F5S Blacktop
    Pono MND-20H

  9. #9

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    Yes, this has been my experience as well. And you could not meet a nicer man than Jesse. Nice to see a smaller vendor succeed in such a competitive category.

    CLP

  10. The following members say thank you to CL Picks for this post:


  11. #10
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Washington State
    Posts
    3,652

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    I've likely mentioned before that I've installed JJB SBT's in quite a few instruments - a ukulele, 4 fiddles, 2 mandolins, a resonator mandolin, banjolin, mandola, 2 octave mandolins, a mandocello, 5 flattop guitars, an archtop guitar, a Sel-Mac style gypsy jazz guitar, a banjo and 3 upright basses.

    I'm a fan. I plug them straight in to my Carvin AG300, or into house/unknown PA's using my redeye or K&K pre-amps.

    Jessie has always been great with service. Never had any issues with any of these pickups, and some have been installed for almost 15 years.

  12. #11
    Registered User stevo58's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Good old Germany
    Posts
    86

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    Yes, I installed a JJB in a Loar LH-700 a few years ago, and Jesse was very quick and patient to answer some questions I had. I don’t have that guitar anymore (I found a vintage Epi) but it sounded quite good. My rule is: if an instrument has a pickup already and it is good, fine; otherwise I remove it and put a JJB in.

    I also refit the bridge yesterday. The mandola got louder. It surprised me.

    The Epi remains pickup-less. I’m not drilling holes in it. I use a Schertler Basik on it, or the DPA.
    Silverangel Econo A #438 (“Swazi”)
    Schnoor Silver Bell Style 5 Tenor
    Schnoor 5-string open back
    Martin OM-21
    1950 Epiphone Devon
    Emmons GS-10
    More electrics than you can shake a stick at. I have to sell this stuff.

  13. #12

    Default Re: JJB pickup in an Eastman MDA-315

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobart View Post
    I've likely mentioned before that I've installed JJB SBT's in quite a few instruments - a ukulele, 4 fiddles, 2 mandolins, a resonator mandolin, banjolin, mandola, 2 octave mandolins, a mandocello, 5 flattop guitars, an archtop guitar, a Sel-Mac style gypsy jazz guitar, a banjo and 3 upright basses.

    I'm a fan. I plug them straight in to my Carvin AG300, or into house/unknown PA's using my redeye or K&K pre-amps.

    Jessie has always been great with service. Never had any issues with any of these pickups, and some have been installed for almost 15 years.
    My experience as well, Bart. Super nice guy and a pleasure to do business with.

    BTW, I have that same Carvin amp. I don't play out much anymore, but it's a keeper.

    CLP

  14. The following members say thank you to CL Picks for this post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •