Pick Up

[IanHey]

I'm planning on putting some kind of PU system in my Collings OM 2HE. I've listened to quite a few people playing and getting a really great acoustic sound .... so much better than it used to be. I've done some research .... but frankly my heads spinning. I'm not really sure where to start. I play mainly fingerstyle. From what I gather the main options are UST, Contact Mic., mag PU or a combination? I don't want to cut holes in the guitar ... I don't mind adding an end pin jack. I realize I will also need some kind of pre-amp and effects unit, (I was reading about the Fishman Aura). I plan on going into the PA at the present time. I'm looking for a natural acoustic sound in a live situation.

 

I'm not trying to "cheap out" ... although I don't like throwing money away either. So if anyones' been down this road lately and would care to share their experience and insights as to where I might start or what might be a good option I would be gratefull for the advice.

[RainsongDR1000]

Start here: http://www.fingerpick.com/pickups.htm

 

This also has some useful info: http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Guitar/Pickups/pickups.html

 

Also might do a search on pickups in this section.

 

I can say that for my situation that a Baggs Element Onboard into an Aura with custom images is quite adequate and I get a lot of compiments on my sound (not necessarily my playing...)

[sdelsolray]

Here's some ideas:

 

1) Go to the following site and listen to the dozens and dozens of pickup sample/combinations:

 

http://www.dougyoungguitar.com/pickuptest.htm

 

I suspect you'll like several of the dual source examples.

 

2) Get those pickup(s)/mic.

 

3) Get a decent blender with two channels with separate gain and separate eq before signals are blended (that's important). Add an effects unit (optional).

 

4) Plug into the PA.

 

The UST/Aura or UST/Mama Bear choice is another dual source combination, but with a few differences (e.g., highly feedback resistant). If you like a base UST sound, it's a very good option.

 

Don't be surprised if you need to spend a $1,000 or so to get there.

[RainsongDR1000]

Originally posted by sdelsolray Don't be surprised if you need to spend a $1,000 or so to get there.

 

I'm sure that's quite a nice system and worth the money. But Ian, don't get discouraged if you don't have $1000 to spend.

The ELement system with an Aura will set you back $400 (less if you can score an Aura on e-bay). It may not sound quite as good as a the aforementioned option above, but don't think that if you don't have a grand to drop that you can't get a decent sound.

I think James Taylor is using just a standard Baggs LB6 and has just started using the AURA (but I also think he's running that into a $1600 Pendulum preamp). Never mind... bad example!

[sdelsolray]

Rainsong,

 

The only reason I mentioned the $1k price point is because the OP stated he was willing to spend some bucks, but not foolishly. You're right though, an Element/Aura setup would be much less. Add the effects he wants and he'll be north of $500. That's a good option if he likes the UST sound to begin with.

 

But he won't be able to hear the setup without plugging into the PA (which is not his). No headphone amp for use at home. He'd need a powered speaker or headphone amp of some sort to use it at home.

 

Here's an example of a setup that would work rather well. The individual choices are not important, and are just examples.

 

1) K&K mini-Western SBT

2) K&K internal mic

3) Rane AP-13 (used)

4) TC Electronics M300 effects unit

5) Pair of headphones

6) 2 space rack case

7) Cables

 

That's probably just at $1k or so. True stereo. Headphone amp. Excellent stereo pre and stereo eq. Portable (not a bunch of separate items that sit on the floor). Versatile. Nice sound.

[IanHey]

Hey, thanks for the help. I briefly looked at the recommended sites .... I just some free time to absorb and review.

 

I don't really need a headphone option. I have a little PA in my sound room, (converted garage), with a Mackie Onyx mixer ... so it's never a problem.

 

It sounds like I couldn't go wrong getting an Aura ... it seems like without going craxy it's as good as anything out there?

 

It seems the dual pick up systems offer alot of flexibilty. The mag PU as part of it seems to make sense for high volume ... the LR Baggs M1 at a first glance seems pretty interesting, I see they also have an active version not sure what that adds.

 

What should I be looking at to blend and EQ two PU's with? I'm not going to hack ahole in the side of the guitar so it would have to be either internal or external.

 

I have a classical guitar I bought about 6 years ago with a dual mic + piezo, (UST?) system with onboard blender, EQ and preamp cut into the side of the guitar, (Cordoba "Gypsy King" with a "Prefix ProBlend"). I've only performed with it a few times ... the mic sounds OK but feeds back if I turn it up, the UST doesn't feed back but sounds very "hard" almost percussive, (although it is a flamenco style guitar). I'm beginning to realize that I probably needed to add some effects other than a little reverb to it. Overall it's convenient but not that impressive.

[sdelsolray]

 

Originally posted by IanHey It sounds like I couldn't go wrong getting an Aura ... it seems like without going craxy it's as good as anything out there?

 

 

That depends on what you think of the UST sound. The UST/Aura (or Mama Bear) basically sound close to a UST/internal mic dual source. That's what your classical has, and you don't like it. To be fair, earlier barddoor preamps for the most part were pretty cheesy. Plus, notice how it blends before you are able to eq each source separately. Not a good thing at all, particularly when an internal mic is one of the sources.

 

 

Originally posted by IanHey What should I be looking at to blend and EQ two PU's with? I'm not going to hack ahole in the side of the guitar so it would have to be either internal or external.

 

 

Rane AP-13 (recently discontinued - good value)

Raven Labs PMBII (discontinued - musical sound)

K&K Quantum Blender (nice sound, clean sound)

D-TAR Solistice (nice sound, warmer sound)

Pendulum Audio SPS-1 (stunning and expensive)