Installing Pickup Prices

specialmike · Sep 25, 2009

For those luthiers out there...
How much do you typically charge to install a pickup. I'm considering installing a pickup in my KoAloha tenor, the going rates here are like 100 bucks for the service plus however much the pickup costs...

what are your thoughts?

dave g · Sep 25, 2009

Depends on what kind, I imagine. (I only do them for friends locally - a 12 pack of beer usually covers it

)

wfwhitson · Sep 25, 2009

dave g said:
Depends on what kind, I imagine. (I only do them for friends locally - a 12 pack of beer usually covers it )

Like your price, do you shear the beer while installing?

dave g · Sep 25, 2009

wfwhitson said:
Like your price, do you shear the beer while installing?

Oh yes - that's required

Kanaka916 · Sep 25, 2009

:cheers: OK, I'll be over tomorrow with a dozen ukes and a keg of brew!

:smileybounce:

lefty dan · Sep 25, 2009

pick up

Hell I will fly out. Can you pick me up at the airport??

wickedwahine11 · Sep 25, 2009

Just curious...are you doing active or passive and what brand?

I'm debating on installing one in my Kamaka and I'm leaning active, but I'm not crazy about having the 9 volt battery inside...

thejumpingflea · Sep 25, 2009

wickedwahine11 said:
Just curious...are you doing active or passive and what brand?

I'm debating on installing one in my Kamaka and I'm leaning active, but I'm not crazy about having the 9 volt battery inside...

Have you considered MiSi Pickups?

wfwhitson · Sep 25, 2009

thejumpingflea said:
Have you considered MiSi Pickups?

That is what I am going to put in my 8 string. MiSi that is.:agree:

DaveVisi · Sep 25, 2009

$100 doesn't buy much anymore. I would imagine that's a pretty fair price for shop labor, especially if it's a particularly complex install like having to cut out a hole for preamp, working it all from the inside, and things like that.

chefcp · Sep 25, 2009

i just got my kamaka back from the kamaka factory had an active pick up installed and its not so bad with the battery in there. if you have to travel and worry about it getting knocked around then you can just take out the battery no biggy. but it sounds great amped and im happy i got an active over the passive just sounds really good. also depends on what ur gonna be doing are u going to be doing concerts for a large amounts of people or is it just a couple of frends with an amp just jammin. no need to spend that extra money if ur not gonna use it to its fullest.

Keonikapila · Sep 26, 2009

specialmike said:
For those luthiers out there...
How much do you typically charge to install a pickup. I'm considering installing a pickup in my KoAloha tenor, the going rates here are like 100 bucks for the service plus however much the pickup costs...

what are your thoughts?

I had an LR Baggs Element pickup installed in my KoAloha tenor last year, I paid about $60 for the install + the cost of the pickup. That said, this pickup doesn't have a preamp box to install in the side of the uke. The volume and tone controls are small and attach to the inside of the soundhole with doublesided tape.

wickedwahine11 · Sep 26, 2009

chefcp said:
i just got my kamaka back from the kamaka factory had an active pick up installed and its not so bad with the battery in there. if you have to travel and worry about it getting knocked around then you can just take out the battery no biggy. but it sounds great amped and im happy i got an active over the passive just sounds really good. also depends on what ur gonna be doing are u going to be doing concerts for a large amounts of people or is it just a couple of frends with an amp just jammin. no need to spend that extra money if ur not gonna use it to its fullest.

How long did it take them to install it? That is what I was planning on doing, and also shy I can't go the MiSi unless I have it done elsewhere, since I think they use a different one at Kamaka...

Ronnie Aloha · Sep 26, 2009

Wicked, I'm not sure how old your Kamaka is but if the warranty has already expired then you might still consider having the MiSi installed by a third party. Just my 2 cents *and probably worth less than that*

wickedwahine11 · Sep 26, 2009

Ronnie Aloha said:
Wicked, I'm not sure how old your Kamaka is but if the warranty has already expired then you might still consider having the MiSi installed by a third party. Just my 2 cents *and probably worth less than that*

You're probably right Ronnie. I like the idea of the MiSi one. But I'm such a worry wart. I took my Kanile'a all the way to Kaneohe so that Joe Souza himself would install my strap button. Partially for warranty reasons but also just because I wanted Kanile'a to do it instead of a third party. And for a pickup, which is even more complicated, I wanted to have Kamaka do it themselves. But I will keep that in mind...

cabby · Sep 28, 2009

not really on topic but sorta is lol
does the active pickup ruin the acoustics of your uke?
ive been wanting to install one but kinda afraid itll mess with the acoustics.

chefcp · Sep 29, 2009

wickedwahine11 said:
How long did it take them to install it? That is what I was planning on doing, and also shy I can't go the MiSi unless I have it done elsewhere, since I think they use a different one at Kamaka...

took only 2-3 days. they use fishman pickups both passive and active. you can always contact them for price quotes and what not theyre really nice and will definately help you out.

Installing Pickup Prices

specialmike

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dave g

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wfwhitson

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dave g

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Kanaka916

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lefty dan

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wickedwahine11

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thejumpingflea

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wfwhitson

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DaveVisi

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chefcp

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Keonikapila

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wickedwahine11

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Ronnie Aloha

Mahalo Sen. Dan, R.I.P.

wickedwahine11

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cabby

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chefcp

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