Wechter Pathmaker 3000 - anyone have one?

cyclotron

I'm new to this forum, so hi all.

I play guitar on my church worship team, and I've come to the decision I need a new guitar. I've been looking online at the Wechter Pathmaker 3000 Series. Anyone have any experience with this guitar? It has a couple of good reviews at Harmony Central and I wrote and asked them a question about the Artec HT-TBL preamp it uses for its 3 pickup system, and they gave me a very quick response, with good information. I'm almost sold, but I'd like to hear a few more comments before I buy.

Thanks and God bless.

gman_49424 · Newbie Alert Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 1

Just joined this discussion and saw your post. If you haven't already reached a decision, buy it! You won't be dissappointed & won't find a better guitar for 4 bills. I own a custom elite since '99 and liked it so much I kept in touch with (Abe) Wechter. I liked the 3000 series so much I've begun to sell them. I'm still on start-up stage but check it out if you're interested.

http://www.bstockmusic.com

In any case, good luck!

-Jeff
( o{====:::

- - -
VISIT: http://www.bstockmusic.com - Your factory direct discount sales outlet for new, structurally sound musical equipment currently featuring acoustic guitars from master luthier, Abe Wechter.

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 812 Location: Texas

Great GP review...i feel an attack of GAS coming on....(running to take a Tums).

DClyde · Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 7:04 am Post subject:

Cyclotron,

I noticed that your message has not attracted a lot of input. I think that's because the Wechter Pathmaker is so new (although Abe Wechter has been on the scene for a long time from what I can gather), not because it isn't a good guitar. In fact, the rave reviews this instrument has gotten in leading guitar magazines suggests it has a lot going for it.

To be honest, I'm in the same position as you. I am also involved in leading worship at church and am really dying to get one of these guitars. What is it about them? Is it that unique design? Perhaps it kind of combines the feel of an electric with an accoustic. Which color are you most thrilled by? I really like the natural wood one, because I don't want to have a guitar that stands out too much when I'm up in front of the congregation leading worship with a focus on our Lord.

When I finally get my wife to appreciate that we "need" another guitar in the family, I'll place my order (that's an item for prayer lists everywhere folks, thank you). Until then, I'll keep dreaming about this guitar also and hopefully you can let me know more about it when you purchase yours Razz

.

May all of the Lord's blessings be yours,

shardy53 · Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 2:30 pm Post subject:

I just ordered a 3000 series in black today. I was going to upgrade the electronics on my Martin. It was going to cost me $350 so the wechter for $399 with the three pickup system is a steal. If I dont like the guitar I will transfer the electronics to my Martin and giv the wechter to my nephew to learn on.
Steve

markm2553 · Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 5:50 am Post subject:

Steve, let us know if you like the guitar. I did not see in the ad that it has a solid top, does it? I do like the looks of the thing. Black would be a cool color.
And how long it takes to get there...

shardy53 · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:26 pm Post subject:

I received the guitar on friday and have been playing it on and off for four days. My first impression was not very good. The piezo and bridge pickups do not have as much power as a fishman piezo so I had to turn the amp up much higher than I normaly do and I weas getting all kind of noises and buzzes from the amp. Because of this, I tried my Baggs paracoustic DI for a preamp. I was then able to turn my amp down and eliminate some of the noise. I was also having feedback troubles when i adjusted the EQ to suit my taste. I was more than disappointed with the guitar and planned on returning it to the seller.

I then reread all of the reviews on Harmony Central and at the Guitar player magazine and Guitar one site. I decided that something must be wrong so I tried the guitar again with an open mind after a good nights sleep. I fooled around awhile the next morning wityh the same results as the night before. I then went to the Wechter site and read some of their info and somewhere I read something that clicked in my head. I realized then that I was trying to make the guitar sound like my Martin and not like a Wechter. I then picked up the guitar again and set the guitar at a 60/40% combination of piezo and bridge pickup, set the gain for the pickups at 50%, and EQ'd it so it was pleasing to my ears. Then I gave it just enough mic to make the sound fuller and natural. I then turned off the dimmer switch in the room where I was. I then had a really great sound and after a few more minor tweeks o the Eq on the guitar It was a fantastic sound without any Quack from the pickups. The secret was to forget about the sound of my Martins because they are different beasts.

Now for the acoustic sound. The top is not a solid top so it will not sound as good as a quality solid spruce guitar. However it does sound very good unplugged, but that is not what I bought the guitar for. The neck is really nice and plays like a dream. I lowered the string heighth at the nut just a little bit and changed the strings from the coated ones to light Martin phosphor Bronze SP's. The appearance of the guitar is very good. The only complaint is a bit of glue around the brifge but it doesn't bother me. This is my work horse now for plugged in gigs. I installed a strap button as per the instructions at the Wechter site. I played it at Church on sunday and it performed beautifully. There is no piezo quack and it sounds great strummed and fingerpicked. It is a very sweet smooth sound and blends in well with other instruments. When playing it hard or choppy I just turn down the mic a little bit and I have a solo guitar with the flick of the slider.

It is a very versitle guitar and is very comfortable and good looking. For the price of $399 with free shipping and a hardshell case it cant be beat. I will keep you posted after I have had it for a few weeks but I have decided to keep it now that I appreciate the sound and what it has to offer.

Steve

shardy53 · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:43 am Post subject:

In my review, I forgot to expound on the fact that you have to at least 15 feet from a dimmer swith and six feet from a TV set or you will get some noises through your amp with this guitar. I don't know if some kind of device can be installed to eliminate this but I just either turn them off or move away from them. My computer did not seem to effect it though.

Steve

markm2553 · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:43 am Post subject:

Thanks for the review Steve. I have been on vacation at a Church camp, today is the first time I read the review. It is rare that I play plugged in, most of the time I sing and play into the same mic. At camp I got to play in the Worship Band for the first time. It was a great experiance, I used my Ovation and it did very well. After playing with several other instuments, I can see the real value of a built in EQ. I was using the same keyboard amp as the electronic drummer. The EQ let me set what I wanted, and change what I needed to between songs.
I really like the looks of the guitar you bought, and the price sounds really good. I'm glad to hear you are getting use out of it. Please keep us informed on how it works out over the long run. I may consider one down the road myself. I tend to like a more traditional neck than the Ovation has, but it is the only thing I have with a "real" pickup in it.

Crucified_With_Christ · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:10 am Post subject:

Hey, markm2553, you have an Ovation, too?! What kind is it? I have an Ovation Standard Balladeer and I love it! I love the sound of it acoustically, but the sound of it when plugged in is just sick! Good to know that I have an Ovation "brother".

- Tim

markm2553 · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:27 am Post subject:

CWC, I have an Ovation Celebrity. I traded a Seagull C6 Cedar for it last year. The Seagull sounded better unplugged, but the Ovation is bullet proof, and has a nice pickup. The kids at Church like the looks of the Ovation, and I don't have to worry so much about them handling it. The Cedar top was so soft. I played an older Balladeer a couple of months ago. It sounded GREAT, much better than my Celebrity unplugged. But it only had a pickup, no built in EQ. And it was out of my $ range at the time. I think most people that don't like Ovation's have never really given them a try. Did you buy your's new or used?

Crucified_With_Christ · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:42 am Post subject:

I bought my Ovation new. I love it. My dad has one - a 12-string and my brother has a used one like mine. Mine is black, my brother's is cherry-burst, and my dad's is natural. we love them!

- Tim

Brian · Pit Bull Joined: 26 Aug 2003 Posts: 373

shardy53 · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:39 pm Post subject:

Back to the original subject, I have had the Wechter for a month now and I am very happy with it. It plays like an electric and the sound is superb. I used to use compression, reverb and sometimes chorus to get rid of the annoying piezo quack and to make my guitar sound smoother. Now I can get along with no effects except a little reverb and sometimes I dont use that either. Everyone who plays it, loves it and they think that it is a $1000 guitar. It sounds better plugged in then my Gibson with a baggs dual sourch, and my Martin with a Fishman. It is now my main guitar for Church and Gigs where I plug in.

BTW, I like the Ovations and owned one in the seventies untill everybody had one, the I got Ovationed out. They were quite the rage back then and they put a real hurting on the rest of the manufactureres in the seventies. That was a good thing though because the competition forced the other companies to be more innovative and to start to be more competitive.

Steve

George E · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject:

If you like the idea of the triple pick-up system, but you can't afford the Pathmaker or you can't handle the concept of a double-cutaway acoustic, Wechter also makes a line of guitars called "Maple Lake". These guitars look like conventional guitars but come with the same Artec triple pick-up system as the Pathmaker. One of the leading mail order companies whose name reminds one of water with sugar added carries them.