Adam Evans, Mobile: 0432 632 281 Email: adam12evans@gmail.com
🎸 HALF-PRICE GUITAR RESTRING & SETUP!
I hate to say it, but most preamp acoustic guitar systems are manufactured in China!!!
Designed and manufactured in the United States, specifically out of their facility in Nipomo, California. This is my go to when upgrading or replacing a Preamp for an acoustic guitar. You won't be sorry if you purchase an LR Baggs System. I recommend the Anthem system. For guitars that can't accommodate the full Anthem system. The Anthem SL will do the trick.
While the core electronics and systems are USA-made, individual components (like chips, buttons, specific plastic parts, or outsourced boards) could come from various suppliers overseas that’s common in electronics manufacturing, but the final assembly, testing, and calibration is done in the U.S. by LR Baggs.
Most Fishman acoustic-guitar preamp systems are associated with the company’s design and engineering in the United States, but the full manufacturing picture has a couple of parts worth understanding:
Fishman is an American company based in Andover, Massachusetts, where it designs and develops its pickups, preamps, amplifiers, and related technologies.
They’ve invested in a manufacturing and prototyping facility in that location, including a production studio and test labs.
While Fishman’s core design and engineering HQ is in the U.S., many of the actual electronics components and assemblies are typically sourced and manufactured overseas, especially in advanced electronics hubs in Asia (e.g., China, Southeast Asia). This is common in the musical instrument electronics industry to manage costs and supply chain efficiencies.
The exact balance of U.S. assembly versus overseas manufacturing can vary by product line (some higher-end preamps might have more domestic assembly, while basic parts or boards might be made elsewhere).
Fishman engineers the circuits, prototypes, and tests them in Massachusetts.
Components like PCBs, buttons, displays, and some passive parts are often manufactured by third-party partners abroad.
Final assembly, calibration, QA, and integration is done either in the U.S. or through vetted manufacturing partners depending on the product.
In short:
✔️ Fishman’s preamp systems are designed and developed in the USA.
⚙️ Many individual components — and sometimes partial assembly — happen overseas through contract manufacturers, but under Fishman’s design and quality controls.
Would you like a breakdown of which specific models are more likely to be primarily U.S. assembled vs fully overseas produced? (There is variation between entry-level and pro-series systems.)
Here’s the “secret” that almost nobody talks about when it comes to acoustic guitar preamp/tuner systems:
🔥 The preamp matters more than the pickup.
Most players obsess over whether they have a Fishman, LR Baggs, under-saddle, soundhole, etc. But the real tone shaping — and most of the problems — come from the preamp circuit, not the pickup itself.
Let’s break down the secrets pros know:
Brands like:
Fishman
LR Baggs
Taylor Guitars
Takamine
All build systems where the onboard preamp:
Buffers the high impedance pickup signal
Shapes EQ (often with fixed internal voicing you can’t change)
Compresses slightly
Cuts problem frequencies
Sometimes even boosts artificial “air”
Many factory systems are pre-voiced to sound impressive plugged into a store PA — not natural.
That’s why two guitars with similar pickups can sound completely different.
Most factory-installed systems:
Run on 9V
Use basic op-amps
Have limited headroom
Clip easily if you strum hard
That harsh “quack” people blame on piezo pickups?
👉 Often it’s actually the preamp distorting.
High-end external preamps (like studio DI boxes) usually sound smoother because they have more headroom and better circuitry.
Here’s something rarely discussed:
The onboard tuner draws from the same 9V supply as your preamp.
When:
The battery gets weak
The tuner is active
The LED display is bright
You can lose headroom and clarity.
That subtle “why does this sound dull tonight?” issue at gigs?
Sometimes it’s just a dying battery.
Pro tip: Change your battery before it’s dead — not after.
Many systems (especially older ones) have:
Internal trim pots
Fixed mid cuts
Hidden high-frequency roll-offs
For example, some early Fishman systems baked in a mid scoop to reduce feedback.
That makes them sound:
“Nice” solo
But disappear in a band mix
Many touring musicians prefer:
Passive pickup
No onboard preamp
External high-voltage preamp or DI
Because:
More headroom
Less coloration
Easier repairs
No side-panel hole cutting into the guitar body
That side-mounted preamp panel?
It actually removes wood from a critical vibration area.
Small effect — but real.
Piezo pickups need a very high input impedance (1–10 megaohms).
If you plug a passive pickup straight into:
A regular amp
A mixer
A cheap DI
It will sound thin and weak.
The preamp’s main job is impedance matching — not EQ.
When that match is correct, even a basic pickup can sound surprisingly good.
If you want better plugged-in tone:
Use fresh batteries.
Try running your guitar through a high-quality external DI.
Don’t overuse onboard EQ — start flat.
If your system sounds harsh, the preamp is likely the bottleneck.
Consider bypassing cheap onboard systems entirely.
If you want, tell me:
Your guitar model
Your current pickup system
Where you play (live PA, church, recording, etc.)
And I’ll tell you what’s secretly holding your tone back.
Setup and tidy up on this sweet Washburn! Cleaned and polished the brass work on the bridge. Applied Tune-It to the nut slots and and bridge slots. Replaced the 3 way toggle switch and the output socket.
Adjusted the action to suit the player.
Condition, Cause, Correction Confirmed.
Pretty straight forward setup. A few frets needed to be smoothed out. A quarter turn of relief on the neck.
Brought the pickups down two turns to get the sweet spot. Fender at times will run them a bit high out of the factory. Restrung with 10-52 Elixir. Needed to work the nut to accommodate the 10-52 strings. Applied Tune-It the the nut slots and to the bridge.
It's a beautiful guitar. The finish is really sweet as well as the tone.
🎸 HALF-PRICE GUITAR RESTRING & SETUP!
Early long-necked instruments from Egypt and Mesopotamia are considered the first ancestors of the guitar.
The Middle Eastern oud and European lute shaped early guitar-like designs and playing styles.
Spain introduced the vihuela, leading to the small 4-course Renaissance guitar — the first real “guitarra.”
The Baroque guitar had 5 courses (pairs) of strings and replaced the lute as Europe’s favourite instrument.
Antonio Torres redesigned the guitar with:
6 single strings
larger body
modern bracing
This is the blueprint of today’s classical guitars.
American makers strengthened the body to handle steel strings, creating louder, brighter guitars like the dreadnought.
Pickups were added to guitars for the first time, introducing amplified playing and changing music forever.
The designs that defined modern music:
Telecaster
Stratocaster
Les Paul
These shapes and sounds still dominate today.
Today’s guitars include:
carbon fibre designs
7/8-string models
headless ergonomic shapes
digital modelling and active electronics
The instrument continues to evolve.
If your guitar’s been hibernating all winter, it might be hiding rusty strings and tired hardware. Don’t let winter wear dull your sound! I specialize in resurrecting neglected guitars — cleaning, restringing, and restoring them to their best.
Bring your instrument back to life and get ready to play all summer long! 🌞🎶
Guitar Spa – Expert Guitar Care & Repair
Broken string? Buzzing fret? Worn-out setup? Bring your guitar in for expert repairs, maintenance, and fine-tuning. We’ll make your instrument feel brand new and sound amazing again.
📍 Located in Moonee Ponds
🎶 All guitars welcome – acoustic, electric, and bass!
👉 Book your Guitar Spa treatment today!
adam12evans@gmail.com
0432632281
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| This is how your Grand dad used to do it! |
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| We use Tune-It Exclusively on Nuts and Saddles |
Using pencil graphite on a guitar's nut is a common practice, but it's not without potential drawbacks. Here’s why you might want to avoid it:
Mess and Residue: Pencil graphite is not as clean or precise as other lubricants. It can create a mess and leave residue that might attract dust and grime, leading to potential buildup over time.
Inconsistent Performance: Graphite can vary in its consistency and effectiveness. Different pencils have different formulations, so you might not get a uniform or reliable performance every time.
Potential Damage: Over time, the abrasiveness of the graphite could wear down the nut, especially if it's made of softer materials. This could affect tuning stability and the overall playability of your guitar.
Alternative Lubricants: There are specifically designed products like nut lubricants or graphite-based products that are formulated to be more effective and cleaner than regular pencil graphite. These alternatives can provide a more reliable and consistent lubrication without the potential downsides of pencil graphite.
Overall, while pencil graphite can be a quick and cheap fix, using dedicated guitar lubricants or products designed for this purpose might offer better long-term benefits and help maintain your guitar in optimal condition.
Author:
Adam Evans