LR Baggs 5.0 ukulele pickup

[Floyd Amason]

I just had a Baggs 5.0 ukulele pickup installed in my tenor uke. I am not getting the volume that I think I should be getting. I am having to turn up my master volume and my instrument input volume all the way as well as turning up my volume on the uke. Should I be using a pre-amp with this system? Or could it be the way it was installed by the Luther? Thanks for any sugestions!! - FLOYD

[Caleb_Elling]

Hey Floyd,
Thanks for posting your question.

Can you tell me what you're playing through?

The installation can definitely come into play when it comes to the output level. The saddle material and saddle fit are probably the two biggest factors in an undersaddle pickup's output.

[Floyd Amason]

Hey Caleb, thanks for responding !! I have a feeling that it is the saddle. It is made of 30,000 year old Mastodon bone and it is compensated. The nut is made of the same materiel. I have very low action on the fret board and maybe the element is not fitting right. I am playing a Lanikai S-teq tenor uke. The original pick up in it died. Although the element with the original pick-up worked well with the compensated saddle. This may be the problem. What can the Luthier do to get the element under the saddle right? - FLOYD

[Caleb_Elling]

Hey Caleb, thanks for responding !! I have a feeling that it is the saddle. It is made of 30,000 year old Mastodon bone and it is compensated. The nut is made of the same materiel. I have very low action on the fret board and maybe the element is not fitting right. I am playing a Lanikai S-teq tenor uke. The original pick up in it died. Although the element with the original pick-up worked well with the compensated saddle. This may be the problem. What can the Luthier do to get the element under the saddle right? - FLOYD

If you want to have your Luthier call or email me directly, I can walk him through the process: [email protected] or 805-929-3545.