Installing active pickup on Ohana Vita?

kissing

kissing

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I'm getting a Ohana Vita uke.
And I'm interested in installing an active pickup on it eventually.

I love its shape, so I want to stick with this one as my primary. But the one little thing that would just add the cherry on top for me is if it had an Active pickup.

So I was wondering whether it's a good idea (or even possible) to put install an Active pickup on it. I probably couldn't do it myself, but probably get a guitar specialist at a shop to do it for me.

What are your thoughts?
Is there any reason why this could be a bad idea?
Would there be problems for setting it up due to the peculiar shape/sound holes?

vita.gif


ps: anyone used these before?
http://www.melmusic.com.au/shop/index.php?productID=11958
 
Last edited:
The mi-si looks like it might be a simpler install.
 
RevWill said:
The mi-si looks like it might be a simpler install.
Click to expand...

i just installed a mi-si pickup on my mainland soprano. it was tricky at first, but with a little patience, it can be done. installing one on that ohana vita might be even trickier because of the narrow soundholes, but maybe someone with E.T. fingers can get in there.
 
Hmm...
Now I'm considering keeping it purely acoustic.
I kinda solved my electric-uke problem by ordering a Risa electric soprano (the "stick") :)

Now I have one purely acoustic uke and one purely electric uke :D
Nicely balanced ^^
 
russ_buss said:
i just installed a mi-si pickup on my mainland soprano. it was tricky at first, but with a little patience, it can be done. installing one on that ohana vita might be even trickier because of the narrow soundholes, but maybe someone with E.T. fingers can get in there.
Click to expand...

I agree with the Russ, could be a tricky install. If you do, I would definitely have a professional do the install.
 
well i got a reply from one of the guitar specialists I contacted.
He said he had best results for a pickup installation in a Ukulele with the Schaller ‘Oyster’ internal pickup.

The price was quite good too.
$40 AUD for the pickup, and $40 AUD for installation
($40 AUD is about $32 USD).

Nice!
 
They are like the "stick on" pick-ups - but for permanent sticking on the inside of the instrument.

I'm very curious to find out how it works for you...

69___Oyster%20-%20Piezo%20Pickup.jpg
 
I have one of those Schallers (the single not the double) that I use on a mandolin. They are (or at least mine is) not active, it is a simple passive piezo bug. Works well and sounds quite good nonetheless.

Personally for pickups I prefer either the battery powered Washburn ROMP mini-condenser mic, which just screws in as part of an endpin assembly, or for piezos I prefer passive ones so I can use an outboard preamp and not load my instrument up with the additional bulk and weight of a built-in preamp and battery. I use a Fishman ProEQ II preamp with that Schaller.
 
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For those who need a preamp, the Behringer ADI21 is an awesome little box that costs around $30. Behringer's ethics and politics are a discussion for another day. I use that stompbox with my Taylor and my ukes, and it really warms up the sound and makes it more natural.
 
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