Acoustic guitar pickup for live work?
April 26, 2011 8:11 PM
Looking for recommendations for an aftermarket pickup for an acoustic guitar, purely for playing live (I have the recording covered).
So for various reasons my live-playing life seems to have blossomed back into existence and I'm looking for a way to amplify my purely-acoustic Simon & Patrick Songsmith (mines the one w/o the pickup).
Mostly the acoustic stuff will be played in a band setting or as an acoustic duo. I am not a very delicate player, more a thrasher really, especially live.
I have various options for amplifying -- it could go through my PA, or through my Fender Twin, or through a Pod XT and into something else. I'm mostly interested in keeping it quiet and feedback proof and cutting through a band.
Oh, and under $100 if possible (it's a $300 guitar).
Right now I'm looking at the Fishman D02 humbucker.
Any experiences/suggestions?
posted by unSane (20 comments total)
1 user marked this as a favorite
So for various reasons my live-playing life seems to have blossomed back into existence and I'm looking for a way to amplify my purely-acoustic Simon & Patrick Songsmith (mines the one w/o the pickup).
Mostly the acoustic stuff will be played in a band setting or as an acoustic duo. I am not a very delicate player, more a thrasher really, especially live.
I have various options for amplifying -- it could go through my PA, or through my Fender Twin, or through a Pod XT and into something else. I'm mostly interested in keeping it quiet and feedback proof and cutting through a band.
Oh, and under $100 if possible (it's a $300 guitar).
Right now I'm looking at the Fishman D02 humbucker.
Any experiences/suggestions?
I swear by sunrise pickups, if you can get lucky and find one used within your price range. The fact that each string volume is adjustable makes a huge difference.
posted by umbú at 9:48 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by umbú at 9:48 AM on April 28, 2011
Chococat, have you used that Baggs through a PA?
Once, the day after I got it; at a horrible gig in my brother's band, with old businessmen my brother worked for who wanted to "jam."
It's the one Lanois used with Neil Young all over Le Noise and he's apparently touring with that set up: Guild M20 with the M1 pickup (which I will be seeing at Massey Hall in a few weeks oh ya)
Comes with tail pin jack but there's also a stereo out on the pickup that you can route to 2 different places, which is what Lanois did.
I use it on my HD28 and combine with a mic; works pretty great.
posted by chococat at 5:01 PM on April 28, 2011
Once, the day after I got it; at a horrible gig in my brother's band, with old businessmen my brother worked for who wanted to "jam."
It's the one Lanois used with Neil Young all over Le Noise and he's apparently touring with that set up: Guild M20 with the M1 pickup (which I will be seeing at Massey Hall in a few weeks oh ya)
Comes with tail pin jack but there's also a stereo out on the pickup that you can route to 2 different places, which is what Lanois did.
I use it on my HD28 and combine with a mic; works pretty great.
posted by chococat at 5:01 PM on April 28, 2011
how's about just a mic? i use an audio technica pro 35 on the double bass. sounds great in low volume situations and have used it on acoustic guitar with good results. requires phantom power tho. fishmans are pretty rank in my experience, but that's a bassist talking so YMMV.
posted by peterkins at 7:32 AM on April 29, 2011
posted by peterkins at 7:32 AM on April 29, 2011
It is definitely not going to be a low volume situation, unfortunately. Really need something where feedback is not going to be a problem, and active so I don't have to think about a preamp. That Baggs does look nice, just have to get my head round paying that much.
posted by unSane at 7:41 AM on April 29, 2011
posted by unSane at 7:41 AM on April 29, 2011
just have to get my head round paying that much.
Generally speaking, don't skimp on sound. That's my advice. I mean, hey, what's more important than your sound?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:54 AM on April 29, 2011
Generally speaking, don't skimp on sound. That's my advice. I mean, hey, what's more important than your sound?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:54 AM on April 29, 2011
Darn, now you got me looking at the Guild.
Be advised that when people talk about the M20 they are usually referring specifically to the mid-1960's version of the guitar, and not the ultra-shiny new made-in-China models.
That older version is now a bit fetishized, as it's become known as "Nick Drake's guitar," since he's holding one on the cover of Bryter Layter. The irony is that many say the guitar was actually Eric Clapton's and was just put in Drake's hands for the photo shoot as it was lying around the studio. There is still heated debate among Drake-lovers and even those involved in his recordings as to whether he even played the Guild on any recordings. As I understand it he mostly used a D28.
Anyhow now Lanois is using one with Neil so the cycle continues.
If you want to go the cheap route, you can also get one of those rubber stopper things that you stuff into the soundhole to stop feedback. It will change the tone a bit but so will a pickup.
But it's more fun to buy new expensive things, isn't it?
posted by chococat at 10:26 AM on April 29, 2011
Be advised that when people talk about the M20 they are usually referring specifically to the mid-1960's version of the guitar, and not the ultra-shiny new made-in-China models.
That older version is now a bit fetishized, as it's become known as "Nick Drake's guitar," since he's holding one on the cover of Bryter Layter. The irony is that many say the guitar was actually Eric Clapton's and was just put in Drake's hands for the photo shoot as it was lying around the studio. There is still heated debate among Drake-lovers and even those involved in his recordings as to whether he even played the Guild on any recordings. As I understand it he mostly used a D28.
Anyhow now Lanois is using one with Neil so the cycle continues.
If you want to go the cheap route, you can also get one of those rubber stopper things that you stuff into the soundhole to stop feedback. It will change the tone a bit but so will a pickup.
But it's more fun to buy new expensive things, isn't it?
posted by chococat at 10:26 AM on April 29, 2011
Generally speaking, don't skimp on sound.
Lots of truth to that. I've wasted a lot more money buying cheap instruments and amps that I didn't like, than expensive ones. I was going to say I've never regretted spending a lot of money on a guitar but that's not really true: I bought a Strat in about 1985 that I flat out hated but I didn't lose a lot of money when I sold it. But a good cheap instrument gives me lots of pleasure (eg my Korean Burns 12-string which I love and sounds amazing).
The attraction of the Baggs is that if I do upgrade to a nicer acoustic which I might well at some point, I'm not going to be wondering about upgrading the pickup as well. On the other hand, for what I need it for right away, the cheap one is probably going to be fine.
posted by unSane at 11:05 AM on April 29, 2011
Lots of truth to that. I've wasted a lot more money buying cheap instruments and amps that I didn't like, than expensive ones. I was going to say I've never regretted spending a lot of money on a guitar but that's not really true: I bought a Strat in about 1985 that I flat out hated but I didn't lose a lot of money when I sold it. But a good cheap instrument gives me lots of pleasure (eg my Korean Burns 12-string which I love and sounds amazing).
The attraction of the Baggs is that if I do upgrade to a nicer acoustic which I might well at some point, I'm not going to be wondering about upgrading the pickup as well. On the other hand, for what I need it for right away, the cheap one is probably going to be fine.
posted by unSane at 11:05 AM on April 29, 2011
Hokay, I stumped for the Baggs M1A. I found an open box one on ebay for $150 + $20 express shipping. Hopefully won't get nailed for taxes but we'll see.
Will report back once it arrives!
posted by unSane at 9:13 AM on May 2, 2011
Will report back once it arrives!
posted by unSane at 9:13 AM on May 2, 2011
I think I have some Martin lights on there now. Possibly John Pearse I can't remember.
Oh one thing about the M1 is that you can adjust for each individual string, which I haven't done yet. My brother (who just bought one, to go with the 1965 Guild M20 he recently bought on eBay, because he's a complete Lanois disciple/fanboy) says it makes a big difference.
posted by chococat at 10:31 AM on May 2, 2011
Oh one thing about the M1 is that you can adjust for each individual string, which I haven't done yet. My brother (who just bought one, to go with the 1965 Guild M20 he recently bought on eBay, because he's a complete Lanois disciple/fanboy) says it makes a big difference.
posted by chococat at 10:31 AM on May 2, 2011
Thanks -- I was afraid I was going to have to switch to regular steel or something.
posted by unSane at 12:54 PM on May 2, 2011
posted by unSane at 12:54 PM on May 2, 2011
So the Baggs M1a arrived today and with a bit of fiddling I managed to fit it without removing the strings (didn't put the strapjack in yet though). Verified it was working, then took it out to the Quonset hut where the PA is set up. Anyway, not only does it sound great - not exactly acoustic but thousand times better than the piezo I owned - but it seems incredibly resistant to feedback.
The only issue I had was an audible 'click' from my pick hitting the pickup body. I tried a softer pick and it was a lot less noticeable but it's definitely something I'm going to have to watch out for.
posted by unSane at 5:20 PM on May 9, 2011
The only issue I had was an audible 'click' from my pick hitting the pickup body. I tried a softer pick and it was a lot less noticeable but it's definitely something I'm going to have to watch out for.
posted by unSane at 5:20 PM on May 9, 2011
I totally forgot about the pick noise thing. I had that on the first day I got the pickup but I must have subconsciously adjusted the way I play because I haven't noticed it since and hadn't even thought about it since you mentioned it.
Also how did you score no tax? The Canada post guy had his little credit card machine waiting for me, ready for my $30 tax.
posted by chococat at 6:36 AM on May 10, 2011
Also how did you score no tax? The Canada post guy had his little credit card machine waiting for me, ready for my $30 tax.
posted by chococat at 6:36 AM on May 10, 2011
I dunno. Normally they whack me but it snuck through.
/digs out envelope from trash
Yeah, they declared it correctly and everything. It was through customs in about two minutes on a Friday afternoon so maybe it was beer o'clock and the posties were making a run for the exits.
posted by unSane at 6:42 AM on May 10, 2011
/digs out envelope from trash
Yeah, they declared it correctly and everything. It was through customs in about two minutes on a Friday afternoon so maybe it was beer o'clock and the posties were making a run for the exits.
posted by unSane at 6:42 AM on May 10, 2011
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Here's my post about buying one on eBay instead of Long and McQuade. And with our awesome dollar it would be even cheaper.
posted by chococat at 2:56 PM on April 27, 2011