The Barbera saddle and pre amp and the Gibson Montana Studio

[Skip]

I've had the Gibson Studio CE. for about 3 years it is made very well plays beautifly but the EQ and pickup was terrible.
I almost got ridd of it, but at CAAS this year Rich Barbera presented His guitar saddles and pre amp for nylon guitar. So I took a chance hoping to salvage My 2005 Gibson Montana Studo CE, I first tried just the saddle with the Gibson EQ. but the EQ. sounded distorted so I removed it, rewired the battery box to the Barbera preamp, used the new end pin plug from the kit and wired the saddle to the new preamp. My 2005 Gibson Montana is no longer a guitar it is a beautiful playing looking and now sounding instrument. Now it sounds like a $4,300.00 instrument should. And I don't think I'll be getting ridd of it anytime soon. It took Me about an hour to make the switch and I still can't get over the change

Thanks Rich Barbera

[BillB]

Hey Skip,
I was talking to Craig Dobbins about my Takamine classical this year at CAAS. It's a very nice cutaway solid-top CP-132SC model, but I've never really liked the way the pickup sounds on it. I had thought of putting a Prismatone pickup on it, but I don't want to start cutting on such a nice guitar. I'll probably have a Prismatone guitar one day, but it won't be this one. Anyway, Craig mentioned that Kirk Sand had installed the Barbera pickup in John Knowles guitar, and that the results were very good.

So, I went to see Kirk, and he introduced me to Rich Barbera, who just happened to be there at CAAS. I also talked to John, and he is very impressed with the Barbera pickup, and he highly recommended it. I've had some communication with Rich since then, and I'm very close to ordering the pickup. I'm planning on using it with the Takamine pre-amp, hoping that it will work well that way. I may have to go ahead and do that this week after reading about your experience with the Barbera pickup.

Thanks for sharing!

Bill B.

[Eddie Estes]

Looks like a good system for a guitar with a standard classical bridge!

[Skip]

Looks like a good system for a guitar with a standard classical bridge!

Hi Ed,

I've been looking for a system that would not change the apperance of the guitar, and get the best sound possible.
This is a perfect match for Me, because after hearing it in Kirks guitar's I knew it would work in My Gibson, Because it's the same design Kirk made for Chet Studio CEC. And the cedar top never sounded sweeter than it does right now. I couldn't be happier. My bridge slot is closed and only 3/32" thick and not much wood left to cut for a bigger sized saddle. And now the guitar can be put back to it's original state, but not as long as I own it. Every Year at CAAS I've learned something new, be it a new lick, a new style, or tuning. Now I have the great sounding thin bodied classical guitar I've allways wanted with this system. Thanks to being at CAAS and hearing it live in a guitar just like I have. For Me it's a no brainer as far as the Gibson Montana Chet Atkins Studio CE goe's, it's a 99.99% improvment.

[John Knowles]

I heard Rich Barbera's pickup at Kirk Sand's shop in June and had Kirk install one in the guitar he made for me. If you heard me play at CAAS 2012, you heard the pickup. I especially like the way it follows my dynamics. I am currently using the end-pin preamp that I had for my LR Baggs pickup. I have ordered another pickup for a Takamine with no on-board preamp. My son Jay and I are experimenting with external pre-amps to find a great combination. I'll keep you posted.

John

[smokymtguitar09]

Skip,

Have you recording something with this setup you can share with us? Perhaps there are other Chetboarders who have a similar setup with a video to share.

The only videos I have found was a link from Buscarino guitars, where John B. is now using the Barbera BTS Soloist pickup in his nylon string and steel string acoustic guitars. The video is of bosa nova player with a Buscarino 7 nylon string guitar. There is another video via Mandolin Bros. that features Jason Ferguson playing a Buscarino Cabaret fitted with a Barbera pickup; however, the best I could tell he was playing through a Fender Deluxe Reverb amp which is probably not the best choice to show off the guitar or the pickup but might give an idea of the sound by different players & setups.

7 string Cabaret http://vimeo.com/43729812

Cabaret with Barbera PU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GWPgTGr ... afe=active

[Skip]

I personally don't think the sound quality over the internet is good enough for comparison's. But My guitar had no Low tone,the mid's and high's over powered and tiny, sounding cheap with no volume compared to all of My other acoustic electric's. The volume has tripled and the high's and low's can be balanced perfectly for any style of play. In My case it's like a hole different guitar that is now My favorite. I've alway's like the guitar, I hated the sound of it no matter what it was plugged into, until now. So if You're ok with the sound You have, why change ? But if You're not, and You think the guitar You have is worth it, Go for it !

PS I mainly posted this for other Montana Studio CE owner's not happy with the electronic's

[Skip]

Here's the Barbera pickup with the end pin preamp.


http://youtu.be/Qc_1CFUSg6o

[Skip]

The Barbera pickup can be heard under Video File's on the Chet Board also. at 6:50 and 20:00 on Youtube. I think it sounds great in John Knowles Signature Sands guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN_OB7AB-v4

[smokymtguitar09]

Skip,

I enjoyed that video at the HOF again. John Knowles always gets great tone regardless of what guitar he plays, but the Barbera PU does add to it. John is not only a talented CGP but a real gentleman as well. I loved those stories that he and Guy Van Duser shared on the videos. Thanks for posting it again.