Hexaphonic pickups, which effectively
consist of a pickup for each string,
are a concept of amazing possibilities. In
practical terms, however—and in the context
of most traditional guitar music—they
can represent a potential headache that
only a mad scientist could love. However,
Shadow’s new Nanoflex-6 pickup system
takes a very practical approach to the concept:
It can be used in mono or stereo, and
it’s built around an intuitive interface with
six volume controls—one for each string—that you can adjust on the fly to suit any
musical situation.
The Great, Wide Open
Shadow sent us a Nanoflex-6 installed in a
Martin HD-28 with Indian rosewood back
and sides and a Sitka spruce top. Adding
this system to a guitar does require a hole to
be cut in its shoulder, which can be a tough
sell for some players. If you’re looking to
make a workhorse guitar a little more versatile,
however, it’s worth considering.
The Nanoflex-6 pickup is an undersaddle
unit that responds to both saddle pressure
and, according to the company, vibrations
in the instrument’s body. Shadow says
that’s because it’s actively amplified directly
at the pickup itself.
The preamp in our HD-28 was an SH
4020A, with a Volume, a 3-band EQ, a
phase-invert button, a Pan control, a built-in
tuner, and six gain controls for each string’s
pickup. The latter are tiny, recessed knobs
that you can adjust them with a fingernail
or a pick.
Widescreen Sound
As you’d expect, the Pan control is for use
with a stereo cable, and it is especially effective
running through a PA. Keeping Pan
completely counterclockwise yields a rich
mono signal. When you turn it clockwise,
the signal splits into a more panoramic
sound. At 100 percent clockwise, the low
E is distributed 100 percent to the left
speaker, 75 percent of the A string is sent
to the left speaker while 25 percent of it is
sent to the right, and the D string output
is equally distributed to the left and right
speakers. Output from the highest three
strings is distributed in a mirror image. This
is incredibly cool, especially in a good room
where people shut up and listen. Things
open up even more when you start exploring
effects on individual channels of your
PA or amplifier array. A little reverb on one
side—or different reverbs on each side—
can lend an
enormous, Phil Spector-esque
production feel. Or you can create movement
by adding a little chorus on the treble
side, and maybe an octaver on the bass side.
The possibilities are remarkable.
The Gain controls for each string are
extremely useful, too. When I played in
DADGAD with another guitarist who plays
a lot of tunes in C, sometimes the ringing
high D against his C and F was more irritating
than cool. So I dialed back the first string
about a quarter turn, and the results were
amazing. The D was still there, but it was
more of a delicate accent—as if a good mix
engineer were optimizing the performance for
an album. I also boosted the bass and the volume
of the sixth string just a touch to compensate
for the lack of a bass player. It boosted
the volume of the low D, while the rest of the
strings remained balanced and audible.
Through a good PA in a nice listening
room, the stereo effect can be striking. At
extreme settings, it makes a huge, enveloping
sound—a real fantasy come true
for some of us who dream of hearing the
acoustic guitar as something much larger.
Even over a monitor mix, I could hear the
ambient sound in the room—pretty impressive.
And you know you’re on to something
when a soundman says he wants the gear
that’s facilitating it all!
The Verdict
The Shadow Nanoflex-6 could be a secret
weapon in the hands of an adventurous
player in the vein of the effect-loving John
Martyn. Envelope-pushing players may
completely reinvent their sound and performance
with this system. However, I’d like to
see a direct-box version to avoid having to
cut up a guitar. That said, the ability to control
the Nanoflex-6 on the fly is a big part of
this system’s remarkable potential. And given
the clarity, power, and richness of the pickup,
it’s a natural for high-end and harmonically
complex instruments. If you’re looking for
a way to lend color, space, and size to your
acoustic playing, the Shadow Nanoflex-6 system
has a world of treats in store.
Buy if...
your workhorse needs a pickup
upgrade and you’re ready for some
serious acoustic adventures.
Skip if...
you don’t want to cut a hole
in your guitar.
Rating...
