Magnetic pickup questions

[roryfan]

What type of string is typically used on acoustic guitar with magnetic pickup?

 

Was thinking that an electric set would give a more balanced output. With my current light gauge acoustic set, the plain steel strings give a stronger output than the bronze wound ones (the latter actually sound better).

 

It is an Artec pickup on an Applause acoustic (don't laugh, it's a good guitar for what it is)

[dave251]

You are absolutely correct in your assumption...unless the magnetic has adjustable poles(as the Sunrise and a few others do) you will have difficulty in getting a good string to string balance.

I'll typically use a 12-52 nickel wound set. Yes, bronze or brass wound string sound more "acoustic"...but if you're going to amplify....

I'd ALWAYS recommend two "acoustic" guitars... a full tilt as much as you're willing spend "real thing"...with NO pickups...and a decently playable, lower cost, "acoustic electric"...then add the pickup system you like the best( or just buy one of my guitars ). And, the amp system is every bit as important as the guitar/pickup system.

I just installed a dual pup system in a Taylor Big Baby( mp3= http://www.electrocoustic.com/audio/bigbabymagpi.mp3 ). This is a mag/piezo combination, that hopefully brings the best of both styles. On this recording, you are hearing mostly mag, with a bit of piezo for extended frequency response. The guitar is strung with the aformentioned light jazz gauge roundwound set.

As an aside, this little Taylor(and believe me, I have NO vested interest in Taylor guitars) makes a great vehicle for an acoustic electric rig. Easy to work on, inexpensive, and highly playable.

[roryfan]

Originally posted by dave251 You are absolutely correct in your assumption...unless the magnetic has adjustable poles(as the Sunrise and a few others do) you will have difficulty in getting a good string to string balance. I'll typically use a 12-52 nickel wound set. Yes, bronze or brass wound string sound more "acoustic"...but if you're going to amplify.... I'd ALWAYS recommend two "acoustic" guitars... a full tilt as much as you're willing spend "real thing"...with NO pickups...and a decently playable, lower cost, "acoustic electric"...then add the pickup system you like the best( or just buy one of my guitars ). And, the amp system is every bit as important as the guitar/pickup system. I just installed a dual pup system in a Taylor Big Baby( mp3= http://www.electrocoustic.com/audio/bigbabymagpi.mp3 ). This is a mag/piezo combination, that hopefully brings the best of both styles. On this recording, you are hearing mostly mag, with a bit of piezo for extended frequency response. The guitar is strung with the aformentioned light jazz gauge roundwound set. As an aside, this little Taylor(and believe me, I have NO vested interest in Taylor guitars) makes a great vehicle for an acoustic electric rig. Easy to work on, inexpensive, and highly playable.

Pickup does have adjustable pole pieces but it's still hard to get it balanced. The bronze-wound strings sound different, regardless.

Don't if you've ever heard the late John Campbell (see http://www.devilinmycloset.net/) but he used to make a great sound using a vintage Gibson jumbo acoustic with electric pickups and TWO Fender Bass amps. Now my guitar is no vintage Gibson but...

[dave251]

There are a couple of other string options....

GHS "white bronze" ...actually an iron alloy...but more acoustic sounding.

or DR "Zebra"....alternating wraps of steel/bronze.

[min7b5]

The Fishmen Rare Earth- my personal fav, like most of the other better mags, is made with bronze strings in mind. It doesn

[min7b5]

The Fishmen Rare Earth- my personal fav, like most of the other better mags, is made with bronze strings in mind. It doesn