Installing a pickup in my trusty 'ole A&L...

[JMigs]

Hi all....I'm here to ask the age-old "what pickup should I install in my acoustic" question. I have a A&L wild cherry that I use to practice around in, and use another guy's a/e on Sunday for our church praise band. Now, he's gotten all anal about me "strumming hard" and has removed the guitar...sheesh. So, I need to get a decent pup installed as quick as I can. I've heard of the M-1 from LRBaggs, but not sure how much they go for and how much their preamp goes for as well.

 

Price does matter, seeing as how this is an A&L, not a D28. I don't want to go spending all this money on a pickup that is 8 times the cost of the guitar. Although, if I upgrade guitars(which I will), I will still be trying to find the best non-electric acoustic and installing the same thing. So this could be an investment as well.

 

Let me know what you all recommend, along with:

 

1. Where you order it from

2. Price (if you know)

3. Difficulty of self-install

 

I'd really appreciate it.

[programmer90]

I also have an A &L wild cherry, so i appreciate this question! tell me what do you think of the wild cherry? Is it fit for stage use? I mean i got it, but im just starting, i dont know nothing, and i wanna know how long im gona be able to keep it

[wigginsplayer]

howdy
I have an Art & Lutherie Cedar Dreadnaught into which I installed a Martin 332 under saddle transducer with an end output jack. It was simple to do. Basically, take the strings off, mark the bottom edge of your saddle, then take it out. The transducer fits in the slot underneath the saddle. One small hole has to be drilled for the wire to go through. Then sand the bottom of the saddle until it is the same height installed as before. A hole must be drilled where the endpinjack will go, solder the wires and install the endpin jack.
I use mine with a Fender Princeton Chorus Amp without a preamp and it does just fine. I would imagine it would be better with a preamp inline.
Hope this helps.

Pete

[RainsongDR1000]

I'll keep recommended what i always do. LR Baggs Element Active undersaddle.
Sounds better and easier t o install than a Fishman MAtrix (newer, coaxial braid technology). Built in preamp and volume knob that fits invisibly inside the soundhole. $100 from www.shoreline.com
GO to www.frets.com for installation of an under saddle pickup. I've installed five of these for friends without a hitch.

[RainsongDR1000]

ooops! try this one: www.shorelinemusic.com

[JMigs]

Thanks for the tips so far! I have no experience installing a pickup in an acoustic, but I do have some guitar tech buddies that could help with the process. Does anyone have experience with the M1 Active? I was thinking it would possibly be a good buy for this guitar, and could be moved to another one when I upgrade in the future. I do like the idea of it or the undersaddle compared to the onboard pre-amp that would make me have to cut a big place in the side of the guitar.....NOT on the comfortable-to-do list.

[RainsongDR1000]

No, I wouldn't cut a whole in my guitar either. The Element active has it's preamp in the strapjack, so no holes (other than the plug). The M-1 would be a viable alternative and I've hear good things about it. It is passive so you would definitely need an offbaord preamp (like the Baggs PADI) to get a good sound. A lot of people like the sound of a good mag pickup and preamp and it is removable so you can change guitars. My tastes lean more toward the articulate and focused (and slightly more "acoustic") sound of an undersaddle. Whichever one you choose, a good preamp like the Baggs PADI will make it sound better, but it will be more of a necessity with the passive M-1 than the active Element. Good luck!

[RainsongDR1000]

Ooops! My Bad! I just realized they've come out with an active
M-1 so just disregard my drivel above. Either pickup will sound better with a PADI (or Fishman pro eq platinum) more for the tone shaping abilities than the extra gain.