It’s a fairy niche subject and even a lot of musicians don’t care about this stuff. It’s been something I’ve been interested in for a long time but I am realizing there are compromises in everything.
After watching this video and a few others I decided to buy this pickup and the Schatten mini outboard preamp. I installed the pickup in my Yamaha FS5. It needs a preamp. But it sounds so wonderful! Very acoustic sounding. It doesn't need eq but with just a bit of added bass it's perfect! I did the tape install. Highly recommended 👌
Aaron thanks. I've been reading the recent threads on AGF. I have a Tonedexter and I am interested in getting the Schatten hfn to put in my d-18. I think I would probably go for the active version with volume and tone control because I want the flexibility of being able to control the volume at the guitar. I have another guitar with the Lyric. I am so use to using the volume wheel that I wouldn't want to have another system without it. I use the Tech 21 Q-Strip with the LR Baggs Lyric and it is wonderful combination. The Lyric doesn't benefit from the Tonedexter though. I would like to know how the Schatten plays with the Tonedexter. Let me know what you think after you get a chance to make some wave maps with the Schatten. Thank you for your review of the Schatten. I've been waiting to see a good one. I'm enjoying your equipment reviews. Thank you friend. Keep it up. When you get a chance, read Romans chapter 5, verses 6 through 10 in the good old King James Bible. It's life-changing truth. God bless. Ken
Ken Carr Thanks Ken! I did make a map and while it sounded very nice recorded I did not feel that it added enough live, I liked the pickup by itself. I would like to try the Q strip with it and I will probably do that soon. I don’t blame you for wanting onboard controls but as I mostly use effects pedals I do not have a need for it and I just want to have the smallest amount of ‘stuff’ in the guitar. I’m sure you can’t go wrong either way.
Hello. I own multiple acoustic guitars and have several pickups installed. LR BAGES.K&K.And SHATTEN. My favorite among them is SHATTEN's passive. I think it faithfully reproduces the sound of the guitar, not the sonic character of the pickup itself. ru-vid.comd6UUzUQJpwE?si=I2LJ43y2glZKPmwl
Great demo, Aaron! I still use an old Barcus-Berry wood block transducer in my D-18 and this would be a fantastic upgrade for that guitar or any new one without electronics..
I installed this in a Taylor with no previous electronics. The sound of the guitar is too good to start drilling and installing pickups, mics, preamps, controls and all that weight that would change its natural sound. This pickup exceeded my expectations. I run it through a Fishman Aura Spectrum with about 20% imaging. Just enough to give it some simulated microphone depth. Easy to install and unobtrusive. Thanks for the recommendation.
I've been going through all your pickup videos, these are so useful for musicians who are searching for their preferred sound. I've stumbled across this one and I'm keen to know why you went back to anthem over this one? Cheers
Thanks! I LOVED the simplicity of the HFN and it sounded excellent in the dreadnought guitar at home but once I went to play shows and tried a smaller body guitar it was not as good. The Anthem is very hard to beat.
Hi there, good job. I have question signal of HFN is stong enough for use on stage or need pre amp, and you think this match for martin oo15m ? Thanks alot
Hi Aaron. I subscribed to your Channel. I like your reviews a lot. I’ve spend so much time searching for the right pickup for my guitars. I have a 2017 Martin OM-21 and a 2005 Martin D-18v. First problem is: D-18v has that long saddle that makes it hard getting a UST piezo installed correct. And I frankly don’t like the idea of getting a hole drilled through the bridge and top. So I’ve searched weeks through SBT and even tru mics. Now the thing is. I will play through really great profiles on Kemper Stage made by Bert Meulendijk. And I would like as little in my guitar and easy install as possible. I’ve been through trance amulet. Way too expensive getting to Denmark. Way to hard to install. Even though it might be the best sound I’ve heard on some demos. K&K pure mini. Sounds dull and muffled on so many demos. Install with superglue not so great. Schallen has really got clarity I miss on K&K and as I understand even easier install. I even looked at the LR Baggs Lyric. Did you ever test that? Can’t seem to find you demo that. But people complain about feed back on it. Even tho I will play mostly solo gigs on small venues with these guitars, I hate feed back. So now it’s a battle between Schatten HFN and lyric tho I’m leaning towards the Schatten due to less impact on guitar, no battery, less feed back. But maybe with the cost of that “true” sound. But I will process a lot on Kemper anyway, so... Have you got any advice for me? Thank you for great demos
Hi Aaron. That’s one awesome sounding pickup. I’ve been on the hunt for a decent non invasive pickup to install in my Martin 000-28ec (highly recommend you try one) that will sound great plugged in. The K&K has almost convinced me but I was always worried about the heavy bass factor. This pickup seems to illuminate that problem. I wonder if it would go well in my Clapton.
Actually I had better results with this in the HD-28 than the OM body size. I would probably choose the K&K with a good external preamp such as the Sunnaudio (review coming this week).
Hi Aaron. I have bought that pickup because of that review. Hadn't the opportunity to test it before buy it. It was not available in my country (Greece). It seems very natural and balanced. I will give my test drive after installation. While you have installed that pickup by yourself... please tell me if you know. The thin cable coming out from that soundboard transducer and ends to the end pin jack must face the Treble side of the body or the bass sound of the body? Is that critical??? It's not mentioned inside the instruction sheet of the product. Any advice about perfect alignment with the saddle? Any tip? Any trick? Also tape or putty? My guitar is a 12 fret Taylor steel string guitar with heavy mid range character. Trebles are present and clear but the majority is bass heavy and mid heavy. If putty... how much of it? Should cover each of the three "legs" all over. The putty should exceed when put in place? Thank you.
Also one final question... While we are talking about a soundboard transducer (usually compared side by side with the K&k Western Pure Mini) does that pickup requires similar LOW INPUT IMPEDANCE as the Western Pure Mini? I am a bit of confused about that type of pickups because its commonly know that Piezo under saddle pickups (UST) requires very high input impedances (10MOhm)... at the same time soundboard transducers (SBT) as the western Pure mini it is critical to come through a very low input impedances (1 MOhm) otherwise you kill the sound of it. The complexity in my mind is that both types of pickups are mentioned as Piezo pickups, regardless if one type is UST and the other is SBT.
I love your straight forward video's. Now that you've tried them for a while, how do you think this compares to the Misi Trio Air? also, any final thoughts about the Misi Trio Air vs the Anthem. Thanks
Thanks! I haven’t used the HFN lately but I know many that are! Misi have a new pickup now which I hope to review soon. I’m mostly using the Anthem these days. It’s a great system.
Jimmy mac I like it depending on the pickup. I had good results with Matrix/Undersaddle and K&K. I would either suggest the Anthem or a Fishman Matrix and Tone Dexter.
@@aaronshortmusic I wonder: Why did you apparently later revert back to a preference for the Anthem over the HFN reviewed here? Did you find the Anthem that much better, such that all the extra weight and intrusiveness and installation effort is worth it? To my ears, it sounds like all the HFN needs (or needed in this video) is a touch of bass warm dialed in.
In my guitar I have Jurney mounted but my system on all guitars is 2 pickup system. So my question is.. can this pickup be mounted behind jurney? (behind strings under the bridge and not in front?? )
I would recommend trying it, I found different guitar reacted differently with it. I am now using multi source pickups so it’s not really fair to compare them to the HFN.
Good and cheap are no longer mutually exclusive. It is very possible to have great gear for not much coin. The HFN is one. And, a surprisingly good match to it would be the dirt cheap ADI21 preamp/acoustic modeler /driver by Behringer. It's a mere $28 US right now. I have one going into my Play Acoustic and it works surprisingly well. It replaced a Boss AD-10 which cost over 10x more, drove me crazy and simply quit on me. Don't knock it till you try it!
I wouldn’t say it’s cheap at $130 (there are cheaper) but it’s certainly worth every cent. Looking at trying preamps next although the TC Play Acoustic is an excellent preamp already...
@@aaronshortmusic Actually, Aaron, the price depends where you buy and where you live. The Schattens are made in my Province (Ontario) and I bought it from a store that has deep discounts. Sooooo my HFN passive cost me a mere $88 US equivalent - all in. I'd say it is cheap (if you live in Canada, anyway).
@@darrylday30 I got mine from COSMO Music in Toronto. Great store with free shipping over $100. Now, FYI, I have since sold the HFN as I gradually became dissatisfied with the passive version and it's excessive string noise amplification.
4 года назад
You said that you use the TC-Helicon play acoustic. What settings do you use for this Pickup?
@@aaronshortmusic Thanks a lot. I am about to build a 3-stringed bass of one piece of wood. This kind of pickup might work for this. Do you think it would work with a solid body bass?
I am really curious why such an expensive guitar Cuntz Guitars CWG-23S Muving Custom (REALLY EXPENSIVE AS HELL) has this pickup which is not expensive. But I like the sound of this pikcup, but L.R baggs is better for me though
I did not know that, thank you for sharing! The thing is that the HFN does sound quite natural and it VERY non-invasive. I am sure this is why they like it. Having said that if I was performing out regularly in different venues then I would probably opt for the Anthem as well.
hans veen I saw that review. Even if it’s ‘better’ it’s still a contact pickup. Also what is ‘better’ about it to them may be ‘worse’ to you. I will reserve judgement until I have tried it! :-)
@@aaronshortmusic Aaron, sorry I just saw your reply just now. Thank you for it. I found Schatten , It seems they are a bit better, though a bit more expensive as well. Again, thanks Hans
So Aaron, you’ve got to be about 10 more pickups into this and though I know you’ve rekindled a love for the IMO just plain awful K&k pickup, I’m wondering how you feel about the HFN today, in context of all the newfound knowledge?
I love it in certain guitars. The K&K can be excellent when processed correctly. Right now I’m using on board dual source systems as they happen to be in the guitars I’m reviewing. Everything has its pros and cons!
I need more time to test but I would say the HFN is a brighter sounding pickup and is easier to install with no glue. These things are all important to me.
Aaron, I appreciate that you strum in all videos, (the real test),,, and the same riff, for comparison I'm actually considering the --Journey Tech pickup--- to blend with my DPA mini mic Would be great if you tested it
Thank you! Every time I record a new review I wish I had used something more interesting lol. You’re right it’s a great way to compare and I think that strumming is the best test. I’ll reach out to Journey Tech. Thanks!
@@aaronshortmusic keep doing what you're doing, I'm deciding between Shatten or Journey You can RU-vid ---Garage band Journey Tech for just raw pick-up sample,,,but his playing style is different than yours, comparing orange to apple Thanks for the reply
I haven’t used it lately as I’m currently reviewing some other pickups. I would still use it on a dreadnought guitar, I found that it lacked bass on the OM guitar that I tried it with.
Del Wright I have tried a K&K in three guitars and although many people love this pickup I found it way too feedback prone. I would try the HFN or an undersaddle type pickup unless you play in quiet rooms with a good EQ.
