Acoustic Guitar Pickup Buyer's Guide
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- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
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How do you even begin to figure out what acoustic pickup you need for your unique playing situation?
I plan on covering the most common types of acoustic guitar pickups here. I will be leaving leave some specialty pickups and rarer birds off the list simply because they are not as common to encounter when simply shopping for your first pickup.
1.) The Under Saddle Pickup - This is probably the most common type of pickup you will see out in the world of pickups. The under saddle pickup is a thin strip that sits underneath the saddle of your guitar. These types of pickups are usually made with piezo crystal, which takes the acoustic vibrations of your guitar and "translates" them to an electrical signal. These pickups are unobtrusive and function very well. They do have a tendency to sound "quacky" simply because of where they are picking up the vibrations from, but also due to their location they have great clarity. As for installing these pickups, it is best left up to a trained repairman since there are adjustments that will need to be made to the saddle of your guitar after the pickup is in place. These pickups often are active, meaning there is a battery required and the signal is a bit stronger than a passive version of the same pickup. Plus, the active option will give you access to onboard volume and tone controls.
2.) Bridge Plate Transducer or Contact Pickup - These types of pickups are quite minimal. In most cases, you can get these pickups installed permanently, but I have seen options from Schertler and other brands that allow for quick application and removal when not needed. The wonderful aspect of these pickups is that they are picking up vibrations from the surface that they are in contact with resulting in a truer acoustic tone. Most often these type of pickups will sit on the bridge plate of your acoustic guitar and since that is where they are picking up vibrations the sound produced by this style of pickup is much more natural and full sounding. In most cases, these pickups are passive lending themselves to a very natural and transparent tone. Contact pickups really range in terms of how easy or difficult they are to install on your guitar. Some, like the Schertler Basik, are very easy to install in mere seconds, while others such as the K&K Pure Mini are a bit more involved and best left to an experienced luthier. Also, something to note, these pickups can be sensitive to feedback due to their inherent nature of being in contact with a resonating surface.
3.) Magnetic Soundhole Pickups - These pickups use a magnet (think electric guitar) to sense the string's vibrations. Generally speaking, these pickups have a more round almost "fatter" tone because of where they are located (usually in the soundhole), and due to the fact that there is a magnet involved. Magnetic soundhole pickups usually sit right in the soundhole and can either be used on a temporary basis or permanently installed. If used temporarily there is a huge downfall in that there is a cord dangling down the front of your guitar, so if you fancy this type of pickup it's likely best to get it installed for good. This pickup also works very well with external effects such as distortion, delay, or reverb, and these magnetic soundhole pickups are easily the most feedback resistant so they are great in louder situations. Another thing to note with these is that the tone produced will be lacking a bit of that woodiness and body we come to expect from our acoustic guitar... not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.
4.) The Internal Microphone - This pickup type is exactly what it sounds like, a microphone inside your guitar. These pickups do a fantastic job of picking up body sounds as well as the guitar strings so if you are a more percussive player this pickup type would be one to certainly try out. One thing to be aware of with the internal mics is that they can be very susceptible to feedback at higher volumes. As with any microphone the louder it is turned up the more likely feedback will end up being a problem... it's just the nature of the beast. Due to the feedback factor, internal mics are usually paired with another type of pickup. When used in combination with another pickup the internal mics can add a nice airy quality to the tone of your guitar with a bit of added articulation as a result of the placement of the mic.
So which pickup is the absolute best one to get?
The true answer lies in what you will be using it for, what kind of guitar you are putting it on, and what tone you like the best. So use this as a guide and give some different pickups a try. Think to yourself how will this fit my situation? Also, don't be afraid to take a couple different pickup types for a spin and if you happen to like more than one you can always get both installed... seriously, it's a thing and you get the best of both worlds. 
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Thanks for covering these this week. My first guitar came with the electronics installed. I never used it back then. So when I stepped up to a nicer guitar, I went without electronics... and now I'm wishing I had it. This will help me figure out my next step!
Finally, I was waiting so long for this !!
Ive been using Sunrise pickups for over 30 years, I have never had a problem with them...I bought one used from a pawnshop once, it didn't really work, I contacted Jim Kaufman who owns sunrise and asked him if he could fix it, he sent me a new one before I even had a chance to send him the old one..Wow ! Thats customer service, I have 5 of these pickups I use in conjunction with transducers or microphones
Hey guys thanks again for a great show. Again work go in the way Tuesday so I am watching this today.
Would love more on pickup selection and setup. Currently have the K&K in my Collings DS2H, Preston Thompson Parlor 2M and my Colling UT1. That setup works as follows: Radial passive DI->Rolls Tubular mic pre, Chandler compressor. I do a lot of 500 series stuff so these are plugged into my 500 rack. I have tried a bunch of others and working on a 500 series module specifically for the acoustic guitars. I also have the Lr Braggs Element in my Furch travel and the Trance Phantom pickup in my Waterloo WL-12. The Trance is interesting a little more true sounding version of the K&K. The Element is nice, though setup on that sucker can be a bear to get the signal level even for each string. Luckily I have a boat load of testing equipment.
Ok back to work, have to leave early today, seeing Jack Johnson!
Thanks for the video! I am shiny new and hoping to learn to play acoustic guitar. I have a vintage Yamaha with a hole drilled out already. Just deciding if I want to put a pin back in or install a pickup. Your video has been extremely helpful.
its crazy those 2 first pickups you showed are the exact ones i have in my guitars!
Thanks for the advice and this video really helps I subscribed
Keep up the good work
Thank you for a concise explanation!!! Well done!
Have you checked the ToneDexter? Changed my life for acoustic tone!
I wanted to share a #Small Win , I love all music and Ive been a Mark Collie fan for years . This past Saturday he reached out and thanked me for sharing his music and sent a message for me and my family. It was short but very cool of him to even contact me and It made my day. I like every song he's written and my favorite cover song Mark Collie recorded was Tony Joe White's song " Tunica Motel" from Mark Collies album Tennessee Plates
so since a soundhole pickup works like an electric guitar pickup, does that mean that I would not be able to use 80/20 brass or phosphor bronze strings on my acoustic?
Thank you. I was confused about which one to get. Now I know it.
This was very helpful!
Very well explained. Thanks.
Can i wire volume and tone pots to the magnetic soundhole pickup and should they be 250k or 500k.
Good info! Thanks!
I have Martin D Jr and the sadle pick is ok but not for percusive sounds.. that really bothers me.. can I include a good microphone and combine it with the existing sadle pick?
Thank you for this video. I'm looking to install a pickup in my Martin 2006 D-35.
i have a neo d passive pickup , but the pickup is humming (ground noise) when it plugged , how to fix it ? are active DI will eliminate the noise ? your answer will very appreciated ;)
Good show as always Tony! Thank You Kindly. DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
I don't feel you're trying to sell me any particular opinion. Kudos! I'm sold haha
I have AER compact XL twin channel acoustic amplifier. Now I want to
both play guitar and sing as well so could please advise which pick up
for my acoustic guitar is the best match for my selection ? Many thanks
Internal mics aren't as prone to feedback as people make them out to be. If you have a good DI with a notch filter and one of those rubber soundhole stoppers, you can even get them up to band volume without much issue. This takes some patience and knowledge, but for those that play guitar by them-self, or accompany a vocalist or small acoustic band, there's nothing better. They sound really good and in most cases are very usable.
I've been using the L.R. Baggs Lyric microphone in my 1976 Guild D35 since they came out. Pairing it with a venue DI with good EQ and a easy to use notch filter, I've only ever had feedback issues once, and that was playing with a full band in a warehouse that doesn't have the greatest sound anyway. For full band stuff, I would normally switch to a guitar with a magnetic pickup in it, but in that situation, even my other dreadnought with a Baggs M1A pickup in it had a little feedback.
I can't praise the Lyric enough honestly. I'm always getting great compliments on my guitar tone.
The Anthem sounds better, but the Anthem and Lyric are about the only two mics I've heard that didn't feedback much.
Hello
Can i plug the magnetic and microphone pickup (for example:Harley Benton TrueTone SH-30 Pro Active) directly into the mixer Dynacord (analog or digital etc) and that the guitar sound comes out to the speakers connected to the mixer?
> Or do l need some accessories? (Guitar amps, Preamps)
So these would be good for someone wanting to play acoustic fingerstyle and using flesh instead of nails needing more volume? I like to play this way but don't like the weak sound.
awesome man, thanks!
Thank you! Now I know what to buy :)
What type of pick up is Fishman Prisys 310?
Hey Tony, is that a Hodag on your desk?
Are some piezo pickups better than others in terms of sound?
Do any temporary installation magnetic have a detachable cord?
Hello
> Can i plug the pickup (for example:Harley Benton TrueTone SH-30 Pro Active) directly into the mixer Dynacord (analog or digital etc) and that the guitar sound comes out to the speakers connected to the mixer?
>
> Or do l need some accessories? (Guitar amps, Preamps)
Your hair looks so healthy and soft!
Tony , what would it take to have you review our Dazzo pickups ? :-)
For any product review inquiry please email me at info@tonypolecastro.com :-) Thanks for reaching out!!!
Which strings should i put on when i have the single coil? Is phosphor bronze okay or should i put on electric guitar strings?
Thank you tony
hey I have a 12 string that i want to put a pickup on. Do you think that all of these pickups would it be able to pickup all of the strings equally? What type would you recommend for a 12 string?
I had the K&K Pure Mini in my Guild 12 & it was pretty good sounding with the pre amp they sell or I also have a Fishman Platinum Pro pre amp that went well with the K&K...but once it's installed it's installed pretty much forever whereas a sound hole pu is easy to remove. I did remove the K&K from the guitar due to an issue with the guitar & it was not a walk in the park but the transducers came out & I've yet to reinstall them in another. I do have K&K's in other 6 strings and there great. Hope this helps or might be to late...
anyone know what pickup Gregory Isakov uses on his J50?? i like the sound he always gets
Sunrise
Does it play wonderwall?
My acoustic have a piezzo and a mic pickup, it's just amazing, it has a switch were you can choose how much of each pickup goes out, it's great.
Anthem tru mic ?
what if I play fingerstyle with a bit of percussion? Should I go for a soundhole pick-up or an inside mic?
Hans Adriel Gabriel I have the same question
Get an LR Baggs Anthem. And there's no such thing as a good sounding sound-hole pickup. I've tried all the best ones over the years starting with Sunrise and ending with the Baggs M1. You'll never get a good sound without an internal mic involved. Just can't be done. The trouble with internal mics is that if you use them onstage, they tend to feedback, so you end up going almost entirely with the under-saddle pickup which sounds lousy on its own. The Baggs Anthem won't feedback at all. Sounds very good and realistic.
@@ebookpioneers tnx
Can the pickup be used to classical guitar? Just asking..
Any bridgeplate transducer or under saddle pickup should work, just not the magnetic ones. Be sure to check out the pickup prior to purchasing to make doubly sure :-)
Do you need to buy a specific soundhole pickup for a LEFT HANDED guitar? Or do you just put a regular one upside down?
Regular one, upside down, would be my assumption.
Make a review of fender cypress
In my opinion, there is no one "best" kind. If you pair up a couple different types and blend them, you can get a much better sound. I'd imagine the more sources of sound, the better sound you're going to get.
Thanks alott for a great review..... Lot's of love from india.....
Thanks tony
At least now I know where I should be looking. I was so lost. Haha!!
Thank you
Which pickup is best for fingerstyle ?
Great question and it really depends on the style. I would say a combo pickup system with mic and bridge plate transducer would be awesome :-)
Hey there :-) Have you ever reviewed a Dazzo pickup?
I have not... yet :-)
AcousticLife.tv would you like to ? 😊
Daniel M
#BigWins/SmallWin.
Big Win no1: Big win because I'm the lucky winner of this month Guitar Party giveaway. Merci beaucoup (thank you) TAC and specially Tony for throwing that dart!
Big Win no 2: Being the lucky winner I had no choice to, if I can say, pay you back by "coming out" of my bedroom and burst into the TAC community scene by putting my first ever video in the Open Mic zone where I present one of my original song (instrumental). The ice been broken, I'll probably do more.
Small Win: I have learned Freight Train from the Fingerstyle Jumpstart course.
Heck yes!!! Congratulations Daniel!!! We will be getting that guitar out this week :-) And outstanding work hopping into the community :-)
what is the pickup in the thumbnail i've seen it quite often
謝皓宇 The brand name is “Sunrise.” I (and most other guitarists) consider this one to be the top of the line. (And, are therefore a bit harder to find and a bit pricey.) I’d say, if it’s in the budget and you can find one, you won’t be disappointed.
👍🏻😎
Have they developed an RF or Bluetooth soundhole pickup yet?
Not to the best of my knowledge, but they may exist and if they do I am super curious :-)
I found one... the Skysonic FS-1.
Great job! Peace, M.A.
So - I still don't know if I should sh!t or wind my watch!
I'll be honest -- I skimmed the video. Does anyone know if he described which pick-up provides the most natural acoustic sound? I'm looking to buy a magnetic pickup, but I some have told me that it makes your acoustic sound like an electric. Thanks!
Actually watch the video and find out
i have a mic pickup .. as when i tap or scratch near the pickup fitting below...it outputs sound of those .
but strumming sound sucks ...too dry and pinching
Just install all 4 types of pickups and turn all 4 on.
I'd go for a magnetic pickup for sure. The seymore duncan mag mic is incredible
Never heard one yet that didn't sound terrible.
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Take a shot every time he says the word pickup.
First
Hey, you're from those annoying ads!
What ads?
You should give lessons on how to create concise youtube videos.
Starts at 1:08 for those in a hurry.