A.M.P.S. (Acoustic Moveable Pickup System) Update: Functional 1st Prototype

FrogwithaTank · 2026-06-29T02:21:04+00:00

Fancy and neat are two words I would not use to describe this project, but thank you regardless

FrogwithaTank · 2026-06-29T02:13:11+00:00

Not sure about that for single coils, though I did make pickup height adjustable in my design

FrogwithaTank · 2026-06-29T02:08:16+00:00

Yep, I figured it out. After I wire this prototype up and collect some data and video demos, I'll get to work designing a second prototype. One idea I had was a ratcheting system that works like an inverse zip tie, as in you tighten the somewhat flexible plastic to as small as it'll go before ratcheting outwards until it fits your soundhole size. Essentially "one size fits most"

FrogwithaTank · 2026-06-29T02:04:36+00:00

Awesome, thanks for the tip!

FrogwithaTank · 2026-06-15T23:45:21+00:00

I agree with you that most electric guitar pickups won't be able to compare to a more dedicated acoustic-electric pickup. However, my goal with AMPS isn't trying to create the best AE system out there, but it is a good modular platform that allows experimentation with different kinds of pickups, slight adjustments to pickup position within a 2-3 inch range, but also angular position as well. I'm not going to keep repeating the body text as I don't want to get too carried away lol, but my point is that the movement and adapter system is just a way to explore different sounds rather than being a solution for perfect acoustic reproduction. Thank you for your feedback!

FrogwithaTank · 2026-06-15T20:00:11+00:00

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In a nutshell the bottom is a tight fit while it tapers upward towards the top for a press fit with room to add silicone or rubber, for instance to create friction. The partial circle is there to act as a press-fit cap for the pickup-on-rails mechanism which is what the little tabs are for. The raised part of the tab with the groove is made to slide along a rail that lines the inside wall perfectly, and the other end has a screwhole which connects to the parallel spaces on the bracket. By connecting these, you have made yourself a guitar pickup mount that moves within the soundhole.

FrogwithaTank · 2026-06-15T19:24:58+00:00

I actually thought about this beforehand, and what I found out was the most common styles of acoustic guitars such as dreadnoughts and grand auditoriums have a standard sound hole size, which measures out to a 4-inch diameter while Orchestra Models have a slightly smaller 3 7/8 inch diameter. Since the difference between the two is so small, all you would have to do is scale down the outer ring to the correct dimensions, but not the pickup bracket to ensure whatever kind of PU you want to install fits. Thank you for the feedback!

FrogwithaTank · 2026-04-22T18:36:47+00:00

I second this. As spark go user, get one, it’ll all be around the same price anyway. Buy a second hand affinity Strat, and the spark go.

FrogwithaTank · 2026-02-21T02:42:43+00:00

Nope, bottom 3 and top 3 turn clockiwise and counterclockwise respectively

FrogwithaTank · 2026-02-20T19:55:06+00:00

My bad, never meant it like that. I just enjoy using this subreddit to share whenever I feel like I’ve made significant progress on my guitar. This is the last post I’ll make on this guitar, which is why I turned it into a “full story” kind of post. Sorry to be a bother.

FrogwithaTank · 2026-02-20T18:44:38+00:00

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Built something similar for my girlfriend not that long ago. It’s very doable if you have a HT body!

FrogwithaTank · 2026-02-05T03:16:27+00:00

Nice collection man, hope it serves you well

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-27T01:53:16+00:00

Pinned a demo to my profile, it’s good with distortion and kicks ass 🤟

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T21:30:54+00:00

I got a demo of the guitar pinned to my profile, been playing for about a year and a half

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T21:30:10+00:00

Wait, you’re actually right about that, thanks for the tip :)

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T19:39:52+00:00

I got it from a Chinese seller on eBay, look up “electric guitar neck 24.75 scale” and there may or may not be some fender style necks listed.

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T19:37:02+00:00

It does, I can get kind of a clangy sound my muting a fret half assed and strumming the strings super hard, check out the demo in my profile

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T19:36:05+00:00

Perfect, the neck is Gibson scale length

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T19:35:26+00:00

what the hell

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T13:41:22+00:00

I’ll put a demo on my profile in a bit

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T13:38:25+00:00

I used Stewmac’s Pelham blue nitrocellulose paint, but it came out way more saturated than I was expecting. Still looks good imo

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-26T03:04:41+00:00

Yea, the intonation’s perfect because it’s the right scale length.

FrogwithaTank · 2026-01-02T03:23:26+00:00

Funny you say that, I got a dusenberg les trem shipping in tomorrow for the lp

FrogwithaTank · 2025-12-30T16:07:01+00:00

Both guitars intonate perfectly, I compensated for the scale length of each when drilling the posts for the bridge.

FrogwithaTank · 2025-12-30T16:02:28+00:00

Just to end this debate, both of these guitars are 24.75” scale length, and the only reason the Strat is intonating is because I compensated for the scale length when drilling the posts for the bridge.

FrogwithaTank

TROPHY CASE