|
|
 |
Schertler Bluestick Review
By Scott Fore
As with most guitarists, I am always on the lookout for new and better sounding products
that make my life easier. My search for a pickup system led me through the myriad of
products designed to amplify my guitar, but I didn’t hear anything that would compel me
to drill holes in my acoustic guitars until I heard the Schertler Bluestick at Merlefest last
year. As someone who has gone through lots of gear in search of that elusive sound, I
was skeptical of their claims. I wanted something that sounded like my guitar and was
easy to use without having to carry a rack full of outboard gear. I wanted to plug and
play! The pickup sounded good in the D28 at their booth, but I’ve learned that I needed
to hear it on stage through the PA to really know if it was going to work for me. I
watched as the guitarist plugged the guitar into a DI (no external Eqs, preamps, Blenders,
or other gadgets) and began to play. It sounded like a D28 through a good condenser
microphone. I was sold. I ordered three the next day, and have been extremely happy
with the pickup.
Just what is a Bluestick? The Bluestick from Schertler is a subminiature
condenser microphone that is attached to a hollow chamber-the stick- that sits under the
saddle. The stick is 1/32” thick and weighs practically nothing. It doesn’t require string
pressure like a piezo, only even contact with the saddle. This allows for the use of any
string gauge or tuning without affecting the sound. I also found that my guitars actually
sounded better acoustically after installing the Bluestick. The signal from the
microphone goes to a Class "A" preamp that is mounted via Velcro to the inside back of
the guitar. There is also a gain wheel that mounts to the underside of the top around the
sound hole. Installation is fairly simple. There are two holes to be drilled in the guitar.
One hole is under the saddle in the center of the slot. The other hole is on the end of the
guitar for the endpin jack. No soldering is required due to the ingenious clamping system
on the preamp. This feature combined with the Velcro attachment of the preamp make
any future servicing of the preamp or changing the batteries very easy to accomplish.
The Bluestick offers up to 10db more gain before feedback over traditional piezo
undersaddle pickups. In my experience with the Bluestick, I have been able to get all the
stage volume I want and then some without any hint of feedback.
The first thing I noticed about the Bluestick equipped guitar was that my guitar
sounded like my guitar, only louder. I also noticed that I didn’t have to alter my playing
style to fit the pickup, and the pickup allowed me to use all the dynamics I would
normally use when playing. Another thing I liked was the fact that I could plug into a DI
and tell the soundman to set the board EQ flat and turn me up. I no longer had to spend
time “dialing in” my sound.
At a $195 list price, I found the Bluestick to also be less expensive because I no
longer needed to purchase external gadgets to help me get a good sound….it’s plug and
play. As the Schertler Bluestick is now offered as standard equipment in some Martin,
Gibson, and Santa Cruz guitars, as well as other manufacturers models, it’s easier to get
out an test drive one for yourself. I think you’ll like it!
|
|
|
