recording and live sound

[MidJuneProject]

I'm looking to buy a new acoustic. I don't know anything about the electronics in them though. I would like to know the pluses and minuses of certain set-ups and the types of tones they get. Really I'm looking for a natural sound with a little grit being that I play mostly Indie Rock with folk and punk twists.

 

I'm looking to buy a Taylor Big Baby and basically want to know what would be best for a good pick up on it honestly.

Any suggestions would be welcome though.

 

Thank You.

[fitness1]

really depends on what volume levels you will typically be playing at.....I strongly reccomend the Baggs products....I-beams for low volume settings and Element for high volume/band settings.

[DeepEnd]

I'll be honest and say I generally don't amplify my guitar and when I do I use a mike but I've heard good things about K&K transducers like the Pure Western. You might want to take a look at one.

[Freeman Keller]

A recent issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine covered all the options for adding a p/u to your guitar. I think it is the issue with the chrome reso on the cover and you can read the article on their web site.

[valleyguy]

If you're playing in a band setting with other guitars, drums, bass, you pretty much have to get an under saddle UST, or a soundhole magnetic pickup like the LR Baggs M1, Fishman rare earth.

 

You can listen to comparisons on:

 

Pickup Comparison

 

Preamps for the pickups is another consideraton you have to evaluate.

[Sweb]

Another point made here some time back about non-mic amplification involves ASTs (active soundboard transducers) attached to the inside surface of the guitar's top as well as other piezo bugs (USTs). In a band setting these things will pick up stray vibes from the other instruments and feedback through your guitar. ASTs are worse for it than USTs.

[MidJuneProject]

I wanted some thing passive preferably, and I really need it to work with a band.

 

My current acoustic is an Ibanez with a magnetic pick up. It has good tone but it sounds extremely warm. It tends to sound big and has like a nylon tone to it slightly.

 

So I really want something that will keep an acoustic sound on it.

 

If that helps more?

[DeepEnd]

If you're after something passive, a Fishman Neo-D soundhole pickup or a K&K soundboard (or bridgeplate) transducer. As Sweb pointed out, the K&K (or any other similar transducer) will be more prone to feedback but have a more natural sound.