Fitting a pickup

[Brewster]

After some deliberation with an old band mate it looks like we are going to get back into making music together with a view to playing live again. In many ways I'm telling myself that my L32CMB should not be gigged, god forbid anything should happen to it, but I do have stand alone instrument insurance. That aside, if I do gig the Avalon, I'm going to need a pickup. JB tells me that the top is pre-drilled for an under-saddle pickup. If I go that route I'm think a Fishman Natural Matrix II is the way to go. I'm wondering what's involved in fitting one though. I'm an electrical engineer so I'm pretty handy and have an extensive toolkit, but when I've worked on expensive equipment before it's always been someone elses . The guitar is also due it's first service, having been played a lot sice I took ownership 2 months ago. So, should I just take it to my local Luthier, have him fit it and set up the guitar again at the same time, or should I have a go?.....

The other option is a Fishman Natural Earth Blend, which sounds an attractive proposition with being able to set your own balance of sound from the two different types of pickup built into it. I'd also be a lot happier fitting one of these myself, I'm just not sure whether it will spoil the look of the guitar have a semi-permanent soundhole pickup installed.

All advice or opinions are welcomed. Thanks.

[Son of Thunder]

If you're at all handy with tools, fitting the pick-up yourself should be no problem, especially if you go with a Fishman model. The bridge is pre-drilled, and the slots are perfectly sized to accomodate the transducers, so all you have to do is remove the saddle shims, and you're good to go. The only caveat is that you'll probably have to do a bit of soldering. If you're okay with that, proceed with confidence. The end-peg pops right out and the hole is properly sized for the Fishman jack.

I installed the Fishman Ellipse Matrix II with no problem, and am happy with the results. I'm certainly no luthier!