pickup recommendation

[rickenvox]

I'm sure there's plenty of posts to search on this subject (in case that was the brilliant advice you were tempted to offer) but . . .

 

For those people who think that all electric-acoustic guitars sound horrible live, and those who like me spent years still miking your acoustic in live situations:

 

What's the best acoustic guitar pickup for live applications that doesn't require any modifications to the guitar? Money is not an issue (it is, but let's pretend it's not in this case). My main acoustic is a Collings D2H. I play live with a band, drums, bass, keys, etc.

[ksargent]

I have a McIntyre Acoustic Feather in my Collings and my Larrivee and I am very happy with the way they sound (through a Baggs Para DI).

Ken S.

[min7b5]

Fishman Rare Earth Blend.
A soundhole pickup will give more beef before feedback in a loud band than anything else. The Earth has a built in pre, you can just pop it and out for gigs, and the mic adds a little sparkle when you can get away with using it.

[kyguitarguy]

Anyone use a Dean Markley?

[rickenvox]

thanks guys for the tips so far! Any others?

Dean Markley - I've occassionally borrowed a soundhole model from my bass player (who also plays acoustic) and wasn't very impressed. I'm looking for acoustic realism. I have also observed that many preamps can improve the sound, but improve it by adding their own flavor and still not capture that realism.

What about small PAs and speakers? Are there brands/models that sound great for acoustic guitars? I'm committed to piping everything through the PA so it can be mixed - not interested in acoustic guitar amps.

[min7b5]

Acoustic realism in a band might be tough:) .

Soundhole pickups fall into two categories, in my opinion, the Rare Earths, M1

[RainsongDR1000]

Seriously consider the LR Baggs i-mix. The Element portion is the best sounding UST I've heard and combined w/ the ibeam portion you can blend in however much "wood" or feedback resistance you need.

[onetubetone]

I love my K&K Trinity Western... www.kksound.com

Here's a direct in clip I made of it w/ alittle digital reverb added:
http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Members/000159217_000024885.mp3

[d28andm1911a1]

I just use the standard K&K and it makes my guitars sound like my guitars. But I'm a solo so I don't know in a band. Big advantage over feather and i-beam is it's so hot you can get buy without a preamp.

[woody b]

Originally posted by min7b5 Fishman Rare Earth Blend. A soundhole pickup will give more beef before feedback in a loud band than anything else. The Earth has a built in pre, you can just pop it and out for gigs, and the mic adds a little sparkle when you can get away with using it.

It was easier just to quote what min7b5 said instead of typing it again. :)

[artrero]

Hi this is my first post, so I apologize if I am repeating or ignorant of things that have come before. I do not play in a band, but I would like to recommend the Sunrise pickup and S-B1 pre-amp. I recently purchased an M1 and then heard both pickups on my guitar (SJ-200 koa).
With and without preamp. The Sunrise was more transparent and just as quiet. The M1 found a new home on Ebay. JMHO.

[Danocoustic]

Originally posted by artrero Hi this is my first post, so I apologize if I am repeating or ignorant of things that have come before. I do not play in a band, but I would like to recommend the Sunrise pickup and S-B1 pre-amp. I recently purchased an M1 and then heard both pickups on my guitar (SJ-200 koa). With and without preamp. The Sunrise was more transparent and just as quiet. The M1 found a new home on Ebay. JMHO.

Welcome aboard, artrero!

 

Your opinions are just as relevant as anyone's.

[onetubetone]

Oh, and here's an excellent site that may help:

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

[EvilTwin]

After all these years, Sunrise is still pretty hard to beat for a soundhole pickup.

I use a DM "Sweet Spot" for a plug in and play under saddle pickup, but I don't dig their soundhole pickups very much at all.

[rickenvox]

Thanks for the additional tips.

I think I'll look further into the M1, Sunrise, and Rare Earth blend.
I need to play loud without feedback and I'm understanding from you'all that soundhole pickups are great for that application.

Do you have to use a Sunrise preamp with the Sunrise? Any preamp recommendations?

[SpruceApple]

What type of amp are you using, or are you going to the PA?

As others have said, a magnetic soundhole pickup is a great choice to use in a band setting. I have no experience with a Sunrise so I can't really comment about that. But I can say that 1) I think the M1 is a fine choice; and 2) you'll probably want to use a preamp with the M1 because its output is not very hot. I've gotten much better results (both to the PA and an amp) when I've used a Baggs PADI with the M1.

If you are using a tube amp then I think you could also consider a piezo UST such as a Fishman Matrix or BBand UST. There is something about this combination that seems to work, although it's definately not a pure acoustic tone. But the tubes warm the UST sound and minimize quack, and UST's are pretty feedback resistant.

Best wishes...

[Jere Mealer]

Another vote for Sunrise with the Sunrise SB-1. The tone will be as good as your guitar, and the signal is strong. Feedback will not happen, and you won't have any on-board batteries to worry about.

The SB-1 is a must. I resisted for about a year, believing any decent preamp would do the job. And a Baggs PADI worked pretty good, as did the D-TAR Solstice. John @ Shoreline tried to tell me the SB-1 makes a difference, and when I finally decided to give it a try, I was amazed at the improvement.

It does get pricey, though. Roughly $200 for the Sunrise, $130 for the SB-1 (@ Elderly) and you still have no eq if you need it.

[artrero]

If money isn't the issue I think the Sunrise beats the M1. It actually sounds like your acoustic guitar with all its quirks. You'll probably want to preamp either one. The Sunrise pickup costs a bit more than the Baggs, but I don't think there is a huge difference in the price of the preamps. I didn't try both preamps, just the SB-1 with both pickups, and both pups without any preamp. I hear my guitar through the Sunrise and a rendition of it through the M1. But we're all different and so are our guitars. If you have the opportunity do the taste test. Good luck!