So perhaps you’ve been playing acoustic guitar for a few years, and would like to start performing. Or maybe you’ve been performing with an electric guitar for years, but want to add an acoustic element to your tone. So now it’s time to consider a purchase: you want to add an acoustic guitar with a pickup to your collection, or upgrade your existing acoustic with a pickup. What are your options? Read on for more info.
The bad news is that there is no electric pickup that is going to sound truly like an un-amplified acoustic guitar. The technology just doesn’t exist. When you hear somebody playing an acoustic in an arena, recognize that there is a tremendous amount of digital signal processing going in to making that guitar sound like an acoustic.
That being said, there are three main ways of getting an acoustic-like sound from an amplified guitar. This article will walk you through the basics of all three.
The Best Sound: A Microphone
The simple reality is that the best way to get an amplified sound out of your acoustic is with a microphone. Nothing else is going to come close to truly capturing the sound of your guitar. In fact, you may notice that some of the best acoustic-electric systems (like the Seagull Q2 system) include an internal mike.
The downside of a microphone is simple: feedback. The solid-body guitar was designed as an effort to control feedback. External microphones require a competent technician to rig them up for good sound, whereas internal mikes are usually coupled with a piezo transducer so you can turn the microphone down at high volume to avoid feedback.
Magnetic Pickups
There are a wide variety of magnetic sound-hole pickups which can provide a decent acoustic sound (Fishman and J.R. Brags are just two popular manufacturers). The biggest advantage of these systems is that they can easily be applied to an acoustic guitar without much work. You can go to your local story, slide one in, and test out the sound. If you decide to install it, a qualified luthier will only have to drill out the bridge-side strap button to replace it with a jack, so you will have a minimal impact on your guitar’s sound.
These are probably the best choice if you want to add amplification technology to a guitar you already own. While having a sound-hole pickup can make a small change to the guitar’s sound, these pickups can be easily removed and reinstalled at home, so you only have them in when you need them.
Piezo/Transducers
These were one of the original ways to get an amplified sound from an acoustic. The problem is that the tone, for the most part, is mediocre, often very “quacky” without a lot of digital signal processing. Furthermore, installing one of these in a guitar requires a lot of work, and usually some rather severe surgery which may drastically change your guitar’s tone unplugged.
Therefore, these are only recommended if they come pre-installed in a guitar you’re buying, and you can try out the sound of the guitar (both plugged in and not).
More Complex Systems
In recent years the technology has advanced quite a bit. Taylor’s “Expression System,” for example, includes multiple magnetic pickups attached at strategic points to the guitar’s top. Some of the results from this type of system have been quite impressive, but again, it’s not a realistic choice as an aftermarket upgrade. It requires major surgery to your guitar, and since the pickups are mounted on the top, it will change the sound of your guitar, so again these are only recommended if they’re already installed on the guitar and you get to listen to the guitar before you buy.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there are a lot of compromises involved in electric-acoustic pickups. Now, however, you’re armed with the basics and can go explore your options. Good luck and happy playing!
