Acoustic Guitar Pickups: 8 Things to Know
Posted by Joe Caruso on Tue, Mar 02, 2010 @ 09:10 AM
Acoustic amplification is always a controversial subject, often leading to debate between the purists who consider the very idea appalling, and gear-lovers who are always eager to try the latest technology of the hour. The fact is that for many musicians a good pickup and amplification system are a necessity, some might say a necessary evil. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the best pickup system for you:
1. It is impossible for any pickup to accurately replicate the tone of your acoustic guitar, and even the very best systems available are inevitably a compromise. The very physics of amplification makes this a fact, and while there are very good systems out there that get close, nothing will sound exactly like the instrument.
2. For studio or home recording purposes, there is no guitar pickup that will sound better recorded than a good microphone. We all fall in love with our acoustic guitars while sitting and playing them, and nothing inside or on the guitar will replicate the sound waves that we hear when we play. A microphone does a much better job of replicating our ear, and the recording results are always better.
3. Most of the time, the only advantage of getting a guitar with electronics pre-installed is having the preamp and controls mounted in the side of the guitar for easy access. Other than that, the majority of those very same systems are available for installation in any guitar you choose, often with controls mounted conveniently inside the soundhole. (Note: the Taylor Expression system and the Cole Clark Faceblend are two exceptions to that rule)
4. The worlds greatest guitar can sound incredibly poor with the wrong pickup system, and conversely a very poor guitar can sound good with the right pickup. Just having great guitar or an expensive pickup system is not enough, you need to choose the right system for both your individual guitar and your individual amplification needs.
5. As of now, there is not one end-all, be-all system. Our customers get the best results when the system they choose is tailored to their use. Someone who is playing acoustic guitar in a loud band with drums will have different pickup needs than someone who is performing solo at an open mic night. One of the advantages to picking a system after you choose your guitar is being able to match the right pickup system to your personal needs.
6. While there are many brands and variations available, currently there only three classes of acoustic pickups: Undersaddle piezos, soundhole-mounted magnetic pickups, and sound board transducers. Piezos and magnetics are typically great for the aforementioned band players, while soundboard transducers are often favored by solo musicians for their natural sound. Sometimes these are combined together or blended with a mic, but at the core, there are only three pickups to understand.
7. While this will probably seem rudimentary to some, it is worth mentioning that acoustic pickups are meant to replicate the tone of an your acoustic guitar, not to make your acoustic guitar sound or act like an electric guitar. Also, even the best acoustic pickup system will not sound "acoustic" through most popular electric guitar amps. If you want a guitar that can sound like both an acoustic and an electric at the same time, you'd be better served by hybrid guitars like the Taylor T5, or the Godin Multiacs.
8. An "acoustic amp" refers to an amp that can produce the full range of an acoustic guitar. Acoustic pickups put out much more bass and treble than a standard electric guitar amp can reproduce. Acoustic amps are very useful in rehearsal spaces, as onstage monitors, or in place of a PA system in small venues. If you are usually performing through a PA system, an acoustic amp isn't always necessary. Many PA systems will amplify an acoustic guitar just as well.
There is a sea of products available now to help amplify your acoustic. If you need someone to help you navigate the options, feel free to give us a call. Personally, I spend way too much time tinkering, testing, and thinking about the different pickup solutions available (just ask any of the other guys here at the shop). I'd be happy to share what I've learned and help you reach your own ultimate amplified acoustic tone.
Ryan Fitzsimmons