Ukulele Pickup - Quick Installation

[Joshthebandboy]

I like the Monk theme =)

[zeronvt]

@ukuleledotde Oh I just wonder why must you have to sand the edge of the saddle?

[SlaughteredDecay]

@zeronvt Simply to make room for the piezo picukup underneath, I guess.

[jameadows]

Thanks! I bought my wife this pickup for her uke, installed it following your video and didn't ruin Christmas :)

[8000cheese]

this looks like a lot of work, lol. Can this work on a small uke?

[damon12882]

Do you have to put the pickup Under the saddle???

[coolkayaker1]

This fine video is precisely why utube is exceptional. It's a pleasure to see how this is accomplished (another utube vid by a uke shop has the guy grinding down the bridge groove rather than just sanding down the saddle, as you did. I like your method better). I have a Shadow, and tomorrow, I drill my uke!

[theowldrinksambrosia]

will one of these work as a pickup on a non acoustic uke? i need a pickup for my school tech project im going to make a electric uke

[KahFlex]

Is it possible to plug the ukulele in an ordinary guitar amplifier and use the distortion and clean effects on the sound of the ukulele?

[frane101]

very helpful video, thank you for posting it! Im curious about only one thing, does it work on plastic strings?

[frane101]

very helpful video, thank you for posting it! Im curious about only one thing, does it work on plastic strings?

thanx

[quampol]

I know this comment might be pretty idiot and stuff but: if I install this thing can the ukulele be plugged to a normal electric guitar amp? I don't think it can, so I prefer to ask before bombing poor thing...cause I know there are special ukulele amps...thanks for the answer to whoever answers :).

[ukuleledotde]

@quampol You can use any guitar amp, but you probably rather want to use a special amp for acoustic guitars.

[quampol]

@ukuleledotde cheers for answer :).

[JackIs3D]

I have an under saddle piezo pickup, but the actual pickup is too long. Is it safe to cut it down?

[shepherdbaba]

@JackIs3D Hi. In most cases, no. It will short out the pickup. I had one that was a mm or two too long and i just got used it. (Mine is a very flexible pickup, unlike the rigid one shown here, but I was advised not to cut it.) Good luck

[archivestereo]

This is great - how do you like the sound of that Shadow pickup? It is the same one I want to get - is it a nice, neutral sound? Can you get enough volume without a pre-amp? Thanks

[bosox4life123456789]

will putting in the pickup affect the sound of the uke when it isn't plugged in???

[ukuleledotde]

@bosox4life123456789

no, the acoustic sound will be the same.

[bosox4life123456789]

@ukuleledotde i just got a brand new kanilea uke..... so it won't damage it at all if i have it done right??

[ukuleledotde]

@bosox4life123456789 Depends what you define as "damage". There will be a big hole in the side and a small hole in the top ;-)

But if it's done right, there is no negative impact on the acousitc sound.

[bauzart]

Hii!

Where have you buy the electronic materiel?

How much ?

Congratulation !

[ukuleledotde]

@bauzart The web address of the shop to buy the pickup is displayed in the right upper corner of the video.

[krabbers]

brilliant thanks for posting

[harleemorgan]

So clear and professionally done. Thank you.

[iJason111]

I bought the pickup but it didn't come with the 2.5mm to 1/4" jack, anybody know where I can pick one up quickly? UK delivery too please..

[ukuleledotde]

@iJason111 The pickup shown in this video Shadow 1110-UK always comes with the jack.

[iJason111]

@ukuleledotde The one I ordered has just arrived.. And it has not come with the jack.. Could someone tell me what the name of the jack is or where I can get one :) Thanks very much

[italoschwabe]

I've installed this pickup yesterday within 15 minutes without any special knowledge according to your video without any problems on my kala acacia tenor.

Thanks for the video and of course for the fast delivery.

[CapnTac]

Haha, the Monk theme song made me laugh.

[ChewyTutorials]

Thanks! Very informative video. What brand ukulele did you use in the video?

[Kneggebrot05]

could you please sent me the picup specs or where i get on of these (plz international shipping)

[ukuleledotde]

Just go to the website displayed in the video to the menu accessories. There you will find the pickup.

[newbournemediahd]

What is the name of that beautiful song in the background?

[ukuleledotde]

@newbournemediahd

It is the theme of the TV series Monk by Jeff Beal. TABs can be found on his website.

[newbournemediahd]

Thanks a ton!

[jonadams1234]

Thanks... for your know how. Jackass at Bounty music didnt want to say anything on how it was done. like only they could do it for 150 bucks

[AlexMoores]

When you sand down the saddle don't you lower the action and ruin the intonation?

Please let me know :)

Thanks

[ukuleledotde]

@AlexMoores No, you sand the saddle down as much as the height of the piezo element. The total height won't change:

sanded saddle + piezo height = original saddle height

[AlexMoores]

ah right, thanks a lot!

[IslandDrift808]

Ukuleledotde i sent you a pm. thanks for posting the video and confirmation of the type of pickup. I think this pickup would sound awesome with the lr-baggs universal preamp belt clip.

[IslandDrift808]

is that the sh1110 pickup made by shadow? thank you

[ukuleledotde]

@IslandDrift808 Yes

[MsKeith2]

Good job!!! I have done it to my ukulele following your video... now it's really rock! Thank you

[DeKnappeTurk]

Hi there,

You previously replied about the jack being compulsory to be drilled into the end of the guitar because theres a structure wood in the interieur, but i have an ukulele shapped in the form of a flying V which has no back end. Its an Mahalo Flying V ukulele, pictures of it can be easily founded on google pictures.

Could you please respond in where i have to drill the whole for my ukulele? Also do you have any idea where i could place my strapholder (knowing the shape and interieur).

[ukuleledotde]

Honestly, the quality, intonation, playability and sound of the Mahalo Flying V is so poor that I never would invest €60 for a pickup. I would not even invest €3 for the strap pins.

[DeKnappeTurk]

Hi. Thanks for replying.

Well being stubborn as i am, i would really like to amplify this ukulele. Later on i can just remove it and replace it on an other ukulele. And you make it sound like its a terrible ukulele! It may not have the same sound and intonation as other ukuleles, but thats cause of it shape, but i'd hardly call it bad quality and playability. So is it possible for me to drill a whole in it without damaging it and can i later on replace your pickup to an other ukulele?

Thanks

[bcbluecheese]

how much did it cost you in all for this pic up with out amp

[ukuleledotde]

The pickup is €60. It is a complete set with input jack.

[MetalUkulele]

nice, im trying to create a electric ukulele, but not a accustic electric, a full electric and i want it to feel like a real electric guitar. if i use this methode of making my uke electric, will it be very sensitive? meaning when i slide my hand down the strings, will that be amplified aswell?

[ukuleledotde]

If you want a real solid body electric uke of highest quality in electric guitar style, then you should look for a RISA Uke-Electric-Tenor.

[MetalUkulele]

na, im hoping to build my own, so im just going to use a guitar pickup with metal strings, do you know if a bass bridge would work because i have a feeling that a wooden ukulele bridge would just break

[ukuleledotde]

Bass bridge doesn't work, because the distance between strings is too wide and the bridge is too bulky and heavy,

[MetalUkulele]

ok, so is there any places that may carry a good type of bridge for the ukulele or do i have to preorder peaces?

[ukuleledotde]

I am not aware that anybody offers e-uke bridges.

[Metstiltheend1024]

what song is that?

[ukuleledotde]

The song is from the TV series "Monk".

[setesha]

I think the bone of an acoustic guitar has a bit different shape.

I would change my plastic one with a real bone but I can find only unshaped bones..so I have to sand it on my own.

Do you know how I can do a good job?

[filmpusha101]

at 30sec in he misspelled avoid -avaoid

totally irrelevant haha

it's actually one of the best instructional videos i've seen on youtube

i'll probably do this with mine now thanks to this video

[unnaturaltragedy]

This video was flawless. Well done!

[IveBenCrazy]

Will this effect the sound of the ukulele any? It seems like sticking a piece of metal into the body would do something...

[ukuleledotde]

Absolutely no impact on the acoustic sound.

[IveBenCrazy]

Yay! Thank you for the video and your response. Very informative.

[allupinyourgrillxxx]

do you actually drill into the saddle slot or right next to it? i'm so confused! haha

[Ozziewozzie2007]

WELL DONE, the best instruction video i seen so far

[dalonz0]

This tutorial makes it look so easy. I think I might try it. I'll sound dumb for asking this, but what is that table called to clamp down your ukulele? :P

[ukuleledotde]

I don't know how the table is called, but meanwhile I just sit on a chair and clamp the uke between my knees, which makes the installation even faster.

[DoktorKrankheit]

It is a Black and Decker product. Works great and can be folded away. Very useful.

Gesundheit

[ROBEEAQUIN0]

this has nothing to do with the installation of the pickup, but what song is that?! hahaha.

[ukuleledotde]

It is from the TV series "Monk".

[Darkhwk88]

Do you necessarily have to drill the 12mm hole right at the bottom of the ukulele or can you put it to the right a little? I'm asking because what if you have a button for a strap there instead? Also what exactly is the purpose for sanding the saddle 1.8mm?

[ukuleledotde]

The hole needs to be there, because on the inner side there is a block at this position to stabilize the body. The ukulele side would not be able to hold the input socket without the block. The input socket is also a strap holder and substitutes another strap pin. The thickness of the piezo element is 1.8 mm, therefore you have to sand the saddle, otherwise the strings would have a higher action.

[dalonz0]

On your website i noticed that it uses EUR. My question is can I use USD to purchase items off your website? If not, then do you know a website where I can buy this pickup with USD?

[ukuleledotde]

You can pay in USD on our website. Change the currency to USD in the menu on the right.

[plinthman]

Great video, but where can you get a pickup like that? I live in the UK and none of the music shops I've been in sells them. Also what do you need for the effects? I have a Zoom effects pedal for electric guitar, would this work?

[ukuleledotde]

Go to the website displayed in the right upper corner of the video. There you can order the pickup. You can use any guitar effect. I also have a Zoom pedal which works fine.

[plinthman]

Ok thanks

[JEEEZ123]

this is extremely helpful! i was thinking about having it done to my acoustic uke, but this looks pretty easy and efficient. thanks for the help!

[stiny91]

And this works with nylon strings correct?

[ukuleledotde]

Ukuleles are strung with Nylon, but the piezo pickup works with any string type.

[xxxcsquar3dxxx]

Nice Tutorial

how much of the internal pickup cost and where can you get that exactly?

[ukuleledotde]

Look for the displayed website in the video in the upper right corner. There you will find the pickup and the prices.

[sodapoptheclown]

Very nice solution. Drilling the 3mm hole in the bridge for the pickup.. how does it stay in the hole? I didn't see the additioon of any glue or anything.

[SmokeYourGuitar]

Can you tell me how much is it to do this ?

[Guitarbuddy449]

hey good stuff :] im gunna buy one soon thankz a lot!

[Guitarbuddy449]

now drilling a hole straight in the middle like that won't ruin the structural intergrity will it?

[ukuleledotde]

Not at all, because there is a wooden block to stabilize the body where the 12 mm hole is drilled. Also under the bridge you usually find a bracing, therefore these holes are no problem.

[russbuss415]

very informative. thank you!

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

An excellent tutorial. KEN.

[corcholl]

What's the name of the song playing in the background?

[ukuleledotde]

It is the theme of the TV series "Monk". I recorded it with one solo track and one chord track both played with a RISA-Acoustic-Tenor ukulele.

[relientkfan5]

Where did u get the piezo pickup and the jack. i dont want to get it from ebay where else would it be? thanks

[ukuleledotde]

Look at the link in the right upper corner of the video.

[relientkfan5]

Thanks!!

[relientkfan5]

Thanks!!

[ninjattak]

sorry, im unsure why you sanded down the saddle?

this looks great, i want to try this now, thanks so much.

[ukuleledotde]

The piezo pickup has a height of 1.8 mm. The strings should have the same action as before, therefore the saddle needs to be sanded down by 1.8 mm.

[ninjattak]

ok, thanks for the clarification

[fbalno]

Awesome system... And it doesn't arm the ukulele much as far as I can see. Just one question. If you have a ukulele where the saddle is a lot wider than the pick up (I'm thinking of some mahalo ukuleles where the nu-bone saddle is very wide )? Does it affects the sound a lot ? Thanks for the video anyway, that's great !!!

[fumarin]

Muchas gracias, excellente consejo, Bravo!

[3bj1]

Thank you Rikg!

[scheidenbach]

Excellent! It's easier than ever

[ynot6523]

You make this process so clear and simple! Its invaluable for anyone wanting to amplify their uke!

Thanks.

[ynot6523]

Clear and simple method of amplifying Uke. I always find your instruction vids great to use. Well done on putting it up here for everyone.