Acoustic pickup

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on January 26, 2011 at 9:35am

The guy that does the excellent Frets.Com site recommends the Fishman type under-saddle pickup.   It's a piezo pickup and should handle both played notes and percussive slaps as well.  

Some of the soundhole pickups are essentially electric-guitar pickups that require string vibration in the magnetic field... They sometimes don't handle percussive effects very well.

Here's the article:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Guitar/Pickups/pickups.html

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Permalink Reply by Bill Sovitsky on January 26, 2011 at 2:05pm

I own a Martin OM-28 and I was also looking for options for a pickup. I contacted Martin and they told me the bridge was glues in and you couldn't put an under saddle piezo in that model. I purchased a SD Woody. I like the sound but I play fingerstyle and I'm still not comfortable with the pickup in the sound hole. Good luck and let us know what you find.

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Permalink Reply by Drew Robertson on January 26, 2011 at 8:34pm

so martin told you one couldnt put a usp? my luthier said he could

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Permalink Reply by roland belloir on January 31, 2011 at 12:36am

Hi Drew,

 

Check this out: http://www.dougyoungguitar.com/pickuptests/ (thanks to Roy from Cult of Lowden guitar forum)

Can give you an idea.

 

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Permalink Reply by Drew Robertson on January 31, 2011 at 8:17pm

nice website. i really like the lr baggs active element pickup

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Permalink Reply by James Scott on January 31, 2011 at 9:35pm

I settled on the K&K under saddle pickup.  I am sure it can be installed on your guitar.  I was able to play at Dusty Strings in Seattle most of the pickups installed in similar guitars and through three different amps.  I tried each guitar in each amp till I understood each system and how each "colored" the guitar sound.  I felt the K&K was the most accurate and by the time I was finished several others felt the same.
The amp makes a difference also.  Played that day through some of the most expensive amp made.  I went out and found an old 1970's Fender Acoustasonic that pleases the heck out of me.  The surprise for me was how disatisfying the L.L. Baggs offering held up.  By the articles and reveiws I was out to buy that one.  I found it felt muted and unexciting.
Oh, as long as you don't bang right on it percussion seems okay.  I am not a regular practioner of "percussive" playing so this observation may be of limited value

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Permalink Reply by Drew Robertson on February 2, 2011 at 9:44am

indeed ive decided to go with the pure mini as well. its got good low response, and it sounds great in smaller bodied acoustics.

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Permalink Reply by James Scott on February 2, 2011 at 8:00pm

You are likely much more knowledgeable than I in these matters but my ax is much like a D series Guild and all of the guitars I played during my evaluation were dreadnought styles.  I have never had the opportunity to check out this pickup in a smaller body guitar.  Possibly it is even better in this application.  I like it a lot in my guitar.  Nice to know I am no alone.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Mullins on February 27, 2011 at 7:10am

I have to agree. I installed KK under saddle pickup in my Blueridge and it accurately reproduces the sound beautifully. I can definitely be installed. I know because I installed it myself with their instructions and it  worked out just fine. I am not a repair man or luthier. Just a handy player and I had no trouble.

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Permalink Reply by Roland Vinyard on February 11, 2011 at 2:02pm

My vote is first for a good mike. But failing that, I'd choose a K&K for an acoustic instrument. I believe they are the most natural sounding, don't require batteries, and are minimally invasive. Being cheaper than most others is also nice.

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Permalink Reply by Victor Saumarez on February 13, 2011 at 9:58am

Fishman make good pickups. I use a rare-earth and they have a nice warm sound.

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Permalink Reply by David Youngman on February 15, 2011 at 6:27am

I see that Drew has found a pickup but I thought I'd continue the discussion as others have. I love discussing gear. I'm glad Roland brought up Doug Youngs pickup test. That really helped me when looking for a pickup.

I've always thought of undersaddle pickups and soundhole magnetic pickups as being able to pickup strong attacking sound of the strings. They are more electronic sounding though and don't pick up the body sound as well (some do a decent job though). Then I group internal/ external mics and soundboard pickups (like the K & K Pure) together because they can pick up that body sound but of course have more feedback issues and can lack in attack and clarity.

I hope one day to be able to afford including one from each pickup grouping into one guitar. I think that might give the clearest and best amplification of acoustic sound. For instance, use the L.R. Baggs M1A with a K & K pure mini. Or if I were to really splurge, go with the Sunrise Soundhole pickup with the Amulet soundboard pickup.

It's fun to dream about this.

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