You deserve way more than 221k views on this video. Fantastic videography and tutorial. I love the acrylic faced guitar so that you can see inside. You're a great teacher Mr. Dan.
The expensive one sounds best to me but that sound hole pickup was very nice. With cost and ease of installation considerations that is the one for me. Thanks for yet another very interesting and informative video.
really beautiful video, i really enjoyed the apprentice master dynamic going on, and what a lovely guitar you're modding too. literally everything about this video is just so sweet and gorgeous, like at some point i stopped watching to learn and just enjoyed watching the two of you interact lol. such a strange compliment but it's really the truth.
@@doublewhopper67 I prefer that, no battery to die on you in the middle of a set. I personally used it for over a year, gigging nearly every weekend, without any preamp. I just ran it thru a DI and used the 3-band EQ on the PA. Sounded great! Eventually I paired it with the PureXLR preamp K&K offers. Gives you more control than onboard (because you have balanced XLR out of the preamp). I know multiple full-time musicians local to me who have swapped to this pickup. I wouldn’t rule it out JUST because of the no onboard controls. The main thing I use on the preamp is the phase switch and XLR out. My EQ is set-it and forget it unless something in my rig changes drastically.
I feel exactly the same about that amazing LR Baggs Anthem SL - it's the pickup I went with for my Martin D-18 when it was demo'd by the Baggs channel. What an amazing sounding pickup. I think I may have screwed up and put the microphone further back towards the bridge pin holes, but that can always be reseated. I also didn't like the idea of my beautiful Martin's looks being spoiled by that cream colored sound hole plastic piece, so I mounted mine further back against a brace and I think it works out just fine. It's still close enough for me to adjust it if I ever need to. Best sounding acoustic pickup I've heard as well...
Yeah, I mount my controls slightly further in to the body as well! It’s an aesthetic thing too, but it’s also functional because I’ve found, if you need to use a feedback buster on loud stages, they can end up in the way of the feedback buster slotting in 👌🏻
I like the Fishman best. A 12 string it would really be bright and jangly. I’d like a mini humbucker, but the little Fishman reminds me of the way blues players put a P90 in the sound hole.
One thing I will never do again is have a battery that needs to be fished out of a sound hole to be changed. It is one of the many reasons I love the Isys system on my guitar, there’s an externally accessible compartment for the battery. And of course if you need the guitar to look more vintage for whatever reason you could always go with either a passive sound hole pickup or a K&K/JJB/Journeytek type of thing.
Thank you you have given me the clear winner and that's the lr baggs anthem is the one for me great video gentlemen 10 stars only wish you were located in Canada 🇨🇦
Really great video. I own and used the Fishman Neo-D out live in small to medium venues, and it does a really great job, I honestly have not noticed the 60 cycle hum that is referenced in the video when I play out live, but I'll keep that in mind. As a songwriter/composer under performance rights organization, BMI, Inc I write and record a lot of original commercially licensed instrumental music tracks, and the advantage with the soundhole pickup for recording music vice the transducer is there is no surface noise and a lot less string scratching as well.. especially for finger picking. I also use a "Fishman Platinum Stage" that is external power pre-amp when recording and I find that -5db on the mids and +5db on the Bass and Treble works really well for me.
For me it's Tranducer Pickup all the way .... And anything under the Saddle is a no go for me..... not because of the sound when its plugged in, but the Less Sound when playing unplugged.Thanks 4 the Video !! :)
IMO, the Fisherman soundhole pickup for the win. Crisp and clear like bells skipping across a clear lake. The other two pickups are more muddy or chucky muffle sounding for my ears at least.
EVERY acoustic pickup has a weakness. So, my answer is to use multiple sources. I have a RainSong with an LR Baggs Stagepro Anthem factory installed. I have added a Seymour Duncan Mag Mic sound hole pickup, giving me 4 distinct sounding sources: the Element UST, magnetic humbucker, and two very different sounding internal microphones. Installed a new endpin jack for the Mag-Mic, use a 12” Y cable into a 1/4” mono cable. Only the magnetic is always 100%, hole the 2 mics and UST are blendable.
I agree with Dan Erlewine about the humbucker pickup. because I can't stand sixty cycle hum. and the fact that it's usually made worse by florescent lighting. it's why I don't like single coils on any guitar.
The Fishman passive single coil reminds me of the 30s blues men did when the dogear P90 came out, I think it was the Charlie Christian F hole guitars with the dogear. The blues men would tape the Dogear the sound hole and put a Jack where the strap button goes and hang the strap around the end of the Jack where the nut is and plug it in. Move the amp around to avoid the hum and go. The Fishman sounds so natural and bright. It’s easier to back the brightness off than to add it if you never had it. I love P90s, and if I were going to put one on my 12 string that would be the one.
For my money I really liked the Fishman. Big and bright tone and the install is un-intrusive. The Baggs system would be great in a professional setting and the tone is just incredible.
I use a K & K mini on my HD28, with a slim endpin jack, so no drilling required. Also use an LR Baggs M1 on a ‘76 Guild D40. Did drill out the end pin hole. Both sound good, I prefer the K & K. Thank you for the great video fellas.
totally agreed. Also the built in preamp on the lr bagg is just not good enough and producing a lot of noise compared to the k&k transducer when used with external preamps. Plus more natural sound especially when you get the K&K trinity
@@stewmac your videos are my go-to when I need to learn something! Your segments are very empowering, which is part of the joy of learning any new skill.
My Seagal artist has the LR Baggs. It has a couple of dial controls, including a battery tester button. High low/bass treble and volume. Thankfully, it was installed at the factory in Canada
These days my preference is either a K&K or JJB soundboard transducer (which has three transducers to the one on the Schatten. These give the most natural sound IMO. The only downside is that since transducers are passive, you may or may also need an external pre-amp or DI Box depending on the house system. If you have a long run to the house system a DI box with ground lift makes a huge difference.
Great video. I could have used it way back when I installed the transducer pickup in my Dion. I don't remember the brand, but it used a solid orange band under the bridge. As my 78 Heritage uses a brass bridge, I think that helps keep the clarity of the acoustic sound, and have received a lot of compliments on it over the years. Didn't have any of those fancy tools for the install though, just a daughter with small arms. Keep up the great work.
I've been using my LR Baggs Lyric (just the mic part of the anthem) on my D-18 style Gillander guitar. I'm lucky it has a sound port, makes it easy to change batteries without removing strings. AND the volume adjustment is a prettier tortoise plastic instead of the cream
I noticed on the Baggs Anthem system, when using the jig to install the mic pickup under the saddle, you put the jig in the d and e strings instead of the a and b strings. Was this intentional to reduce the bass input to the mic? Dan said to put the jig in the a and b slots, but the visual showed it going in the d and e slots. Love the videos. Always learning something.
Fun video! I personally use a Seymour Duncan Mag-mic. You get a nice adjustable single coil pickup paired with a mic. A knob for mixing the two sources and a knob for master volume. Get the ease of a non-permanent install and an active mic pickup. Would recommend checking it out to anyone looking to plug in their acoustic.
Buy you a cheap soldering iron and give it a shot. Don't be afraid. Unless you have something physically keeping you from doing so. It's not as hard as you think. Especially when you only have two connections to make and they're not crowded by other things, wires and such. I understand it looks quite daunting, but Watch you a few RUclips videos for pointers if you need and give it a shot. I believe youd probably be surprised, It's not that bad and actually kind of fun once you learn
I've been using my single coil Dean Markley wood pick-up in my rosewood Hohner for years. Sounds great, and don't have remove the strings to get it in and out.
How long does the battery last in the LR Baggs system I’m thinking of fitting one to an old twelve string But don’t fancy needing to take all the strings off to get to the battery housing Could the battery section be fitted subtly to the guitars strap near the output Jack ?
I had the fortune to find a 60s DeArmond soundhole pickup for $100 on ebay a while back. I don't think the seller knew what they had. It now sits in my heirloom parlor guitar (Levin, a Swedish brand) bought in 1934 by my grandmother, handed down to my mother and then to me.
Blake, I love your old Gibson lgo. ! I have one just like it - 1958 lgo, all original, plus the case ! It's too fragile, so when it does go out of the house, I put it in another case. I would add the sound hole pickup, cause I don't want to alter mine in any way. It sounds good enough for me. ! Thanks Dan & Blake - great video.! Dan's the man !
Though the Piezo pickup can sound very good when installed in the right location (I have one installed on a Nylon string guitar), they turn the entire guitar into a microphone. In a quiet setting, the results can be fantastic. But, I wouldn't recommend it for use in noisy environments. Sound Hole Pickups can sometimes interfere with picking and plucking, depending on where the pickup is located, and tends to make an acoustic sound like an electric guitar. The LR Baggs Anthem System sounded the best to me, and it avoids the potential problems I mentioned.
My "backup" guitar is a cheap Cort all laminate one. A magnetic soundhole pickup, with the cable gaffer taped to the outside of the guitar, is a surprisingly good sound source, considering how little the whole setup cost.
The Neo-D singlecoil is a great pickup which I used for years. It sounds somewhat like an electric guitar but gives more than enough of a woody acoustic feel to to it. Also totally easy to use at any volume. The Schatten transducer sounded cheap and boxy to me. I have the Schatten "HFN" pickups in all my high end acoustics and they sound really great, almost like a good microphone. But they have a tendency for feedback at high volumes - not suitable for a playing the acoustic guitar in rockband. I didn't like the sound of the L.R.Baggs. Those under saddle transducers have come a long way in 50 years but I still hear that chirping.
the last pick up !!!!! was the best one !!! though he was using a heavy pick!!! the pick also is a huge part of the sound with a lighter pick you will get a brighter sound.
I used a Schatten HFN, I think it'd probably be better than the single element you showed, similar to the K&K Pure Mini that other people seem to love. As a Canuck, I like that Schatten is a Canadian company so that's why I went with it. Install wasn't so bad, I used the included putty, but I don't think I used quite as much as was shown in the video, it seemed a bit excessive, no?
Since you are so capable of doing DIY. I think you could try to fix a $100 Studio mic(stripped of all the casing) into the Acoustic guitar.. I wonder if that would beat all the expensive stuff.. ? A nice cardioid mic double/triple the diameter of those small mics would probably be better?
Wonderful video! Thank you for putting in the effort to create a clear top on the guitar so we could see what was going on underneath. Love your attention to detail 👍
I had a Fishmann Neo-D humbucker, it had wayy too little output. I use an Artec soundhole humbucker that worked out a lot better (individual magnet height also).
I was really torn between the K&K Pure Mini and the Mojotone QuietCoil soundhole pickup for my Martin Custom Shop 0-15 12-fret. I chose the Mojotone because of the ease of installation and the fact it doesn’t need a preamp. I know the K&K doesn’t require one, but it doesn’t sound quite as good without it when you compare the tones.
I put epoxy on piezo discs (to tame high end frequencies) and glue them to the guitar top behind the bridgepad, and they sound better than all three of these.
1:32 I think this is the reason why I never liked the sound of magnetic pickups on acoustics. Acoustic players forget that there's a reason why electric guitars have both a bridge and a neck pickup, it's because the magnetic pickup captures the vibration of the string at a very specific point on the guitar, like you're always picking there. I myself never pick above the soundhole, and I don't know many players who pick at the specific placement where many people install a magnetic pickup, so that's why I more so hate how people install magnetic pickups rather than the pickups themselves. Try moving the pickup to the other edge of the soundhole, the edge that's closer to the bridge, and your sound will change for the better. Honestly the best solution is to just combine all these systems together, that's what modern percussive acoustic guitar players do most of the time.
*If you cut a business card into a little trapezoid (similar size to gibson 5th fret trapezoid) and poke two holes in it, you can use it as a single-use jig to glue the pickups to the underside of the bridge. Use 2 golf tees and put the tee end inside the guitar (to supprt the card and pull it upwards) I learned this installing the journey pickup. Those plus a fishman preamp eq pedal is all you need for great sound and combined they cost $120
...wireless "Bluetooth " technology has been around for 20 years! Wires have been the bane of guitarists and inhibited movement and expression. DOWN WITH WIRES!!!
Does the transducer strip under the bridge not change the action of the guitar? How could you put something under the bridge and NOT change the string height?
That sound hole pickup sounds like they all do! Like ****! Fishman have been surpassed, the amps are fantastic, but the pickups have been meh….for years! The true winner is Takamines Palethetic pick up! They have owned the plugged in acoustic sound for decades! Try one! 👍🏻
I like the L.R. Baggs one, too...but the sound hole one was comparable. I have less money, though so I would like to hear how the L R Baggs HiFi Acoustice Bridge plate pickup system sounds - it costs less than either of them. Thank you for this!
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)
Very informative video, I'm looking at used acoustics was afraid to buy one without a pickup already in it . Now I wouldn't be afraid to put one in myself, I like the the sound of the LR Braggs best I want it mainly to keep a tuner plugged into it will it work good with a tuner?
Hell, could have left all 3 & Had a plethora of sound. Possibly installed a small switch somewhere and had a choice or Wire them all fully active... To me though, i Don't believe I would have wanted to drill out my vintage instrument, anywhere.
Anyone make a sound hole type pickup for guitars with smaller soundholes? My steel string acoustic is 36" overall in size, and the sound hole is just over 3.25". They all seem to be for larger sound holes. I like the 36" size guitzrs.
Anyone got any tips to stop the cable clattering about inside? I have a sound hole pickup with far too much cable running down to an endpin socket. Do I cut that cable as short as possible and let what's left hang? Or do I bundle it all together and stuff it in a sock?! Will Gaffa tape hold a load of cable or a shortened cable to the wood on the inside or is that likely to fall off? Should I trail the cable all around the inside perimeter and Gaffa it there? My other thought was to thread the cable down inside a shoelace tunnel or even to knit a tube so that when it clatters at least it does so with a muffled whisper. Maybe I'm missing a better and simpler solution?
I went with a Bartolini 3AV magnetic pickup a while back for my old Yamaha workhorse. I permanently installed it with 500k volume and tone pots. I liked it so much that I installed one in my mandolin and then built a thinline Tele with only that pickup in the neck position!
Quick question. What if I want to buy a soundhole pickup for my lefthanded acoustic guitar? Would it be a problem? It seem like the hole to plug in the cabe would be on the wrong side?
I have a 12 string Yamaha with a Markley sound hole pickup, but it's not really that good. What are your recommendations. The Markley would probably be better for a 6 string.
Could you use an adhesive that wasn’t as thick on the transducer system? It looks like that gray, putty-like, adhesive would isolate it from the vibrations of the soundboard.
Yes… absolutely. We actually had the same thought. However, the pickup was designed to work with the adhesive it shipped with, so we went with that. Using another adhesive might require some experimentation to see what would stick for the long term, and what would also sound good.
For the soundhole passive magnetic pre-wired pickup like the Fishman, do you recommend any on-board sound-hole mounted mini Vol pot that can be re-wired in line with an end pin jack for a more permanent installation?
bought the fishman a few days ago, the E and B string volume is tooooo low compared to the other string, was very disapointing, i have try diferent angles for the pick up, but i just going to return it :(
What happened with that guitar ? On 9.20 I can see hair line in between sound hole and bridge. I guessed the top of this guitar seperated from the seam. Is bad representation of guitar repairer/ restorer. I
Oh Wow! hands down the LR Braggs........ and I am completely non biased to any of the brands......... Great Review! Love the Tips and tricks! I live In Troy, N.y and just bought A New Guild DS-40 Western Collection. need to do some Mod tweaks and did not come with the Electronice which Is ok. For $500 it is A Great sounding guitar........ I have A Washburn 6 string Acoustic I bought 25 years AGo used and shortly after had a Martin Gold Plus Piezo installed On It...Sounds great out of My Fender Acoustaconic..
You deserve way more than 221k views on this video. Fantastic videography and tutorial. I love the acrylic faced guitar so that you can see inside. You're a great teacher Mr. Dan.
The expensive one sounds best to me but that sound hole pickup was very nice. With cost and ease of installation considerations that is the one for me. Thanks for yet another very interesting and informative video.
really beautiful video, i really enjoyed the apprentice master dynamic going on, and what a lovely guitar you're modding too.
literally everything about this video is just so sweet and gorgeous, like at some point i stopped watching to learn and just enjoyed watching the two of you interact lol. such a strange compliment but it's really the truth.
K&K Pure Mini. Only pickup I've heard that makes an acoustic instrument sound like an acoustic instrument. Plus, no battery.
Agreed. That is a great pickup.
Same!
Anyone has a link for the exact model?
@@doublewhopper67 I prefer that, no battery to die on you in the middle of a set.
I personally used it for over a year, gigging nearly every weekend, without any preamp. I just ran it thru a DI and used the 3-band EQ on the PA. Sounded great!
Eventually I paired it with the PureXLR preamp K&K offers. Gives you more control than onboard (because you have balanced XLR out of the preamp).
I know multiple full-time musicians local to me who have swapped to this pickup. I wouldn’t rule it out JUST because of the no onboard controls.
The main thing I use on the preamp is the phase switch and XLR out. My EQ is set-it and forget it unless something in my rig changes drastically.
Without a pre amp it’s useless in real situations! 🤦
I feel exactly the same about that amazing LR Baggs Anthem SL - it's the pickup I went with for my Martin D-18 when it was demo'd by the Baggs channel. What an amazing sounding pickup. I think I may have screwed up and put the microphone further back towards the bridge pin holes, but that can always be reseated. I also didn't like the idea of my beautiful Martin's looks being spoiled by that cream colored sound hole plastic piece, so I mounted mine further back against a brace and I think it works out just fine. It's still close enough for me to adjust it if I ever need to. Best sounding acoustic pickup I've heard as well...
It's an incredible system - interesting idea about hiding the volume control!
Yeah, I mount my controls slightly further in to the body as well! It’s an aesthetic thing too, but it’s also functional because I’ve found, if you need to use a feedback buster on loud stages, they can end up in the way of the feedback buster slotting in 👌🏻
@@simonhirstmusic I just cut a notch in the feedback buster :) somehow doesn’t affect the feedback-busting ability all that much!
Very informative! Definitely prefer the LR Baggs.
There was no comparison at all was there?
@@madgeniusmusic Not at all. LR Baggs was the clear winner.
@@michaelmenet2712 wasn't it?
Incidentally my least favorite was the passive piezo transducer, I’m stuck between the Fishman and the LR Baggs for a favorite.
I like the Fishman best. A 12 string it would really be bright and jangly. I’d like a mini humbucker, but the little Fishman reminds me of the way blues players put a P90 in the sound hole.
@@fenatic7484I’m kinda leaning toward that one too.
One thing I will never do again is have a battery that needs to be fished out of a sound hole to be changed.
It is one of the many reasons I love the Isys system on my guitar, there’s an externally accessible compartment for the battery. And of course if you need the guitar to look more vintage for whatever reason you could always go with either a passive sound hole pickup or a K&K/JJB/Journeytek type of thing.
Thank you you have given me the clear winner and that's the lr baggs anthem is the one for me great video gentlemen 10 stars only wish you were located in Canada 🇨🇦
The magnetic sound hole is the easiest by far to use. It sounds good enough to me, but I’ve had one for years.
Liked all three in their own way. The natural one with less hum was nice, also the clearity of the LR Baggs.
WHAT A WARM VIDEO !
LEARNED SOMETHINGS NEW.
AND
THANK GUYS.
Really great video. I own and used the Fishman Neo-D out live in small to medium venues, and it does a really great job, I honestly have not noticed the 60 cycle hum that is referenced in the video when I play out live, but I'll keep that in mind. As a songwriter/composer under performance rights organization, BMI, Inc I write and record a lot of original commercially licensed instrumental music tracks, and the advantage with the soundhole pickup for recording music vice the transducer is there is no surface noise and a lot less string scratching as well.. especially for finger picking. I also use a "Fishman Platinum Stage" that is external power pre-amp when recording and I find that -5db on the mids and +5db on the Bass and Treble works really well for me.
For me it's Tranducer Pickup all the way .... And anything under the Saddle is a no go for me..... not because of the sound when its plugged in, but the Less Sound when playing unplugged.Thanks 4 the Video !! :)
Good demo, thank you. It would be even better if he'd play the riffs unplugged first, so we could compare with the guitars natural sound.
Good idea.. next time 😎
IMO, the Fisherman soundhole pickup for the win. Crisp and clear like bells skipping across a clear lake. The other two pickups are more muddy or chucky muffle sounding for my ears at least.
Probably the LR Baggs is my favourite IMO but the Fishman was a great pickup too.
This was a great video, i really appreciate the clear top guitar to help show installation
Kind of surprised that I like the soundhole pickup the best in this demo.
Excellent video. I'm always amazed at the clever tricks and jigs luthiers come up with the get an awkward task done quickly and accurately
EVERY acoustic pickup has a weakness. So, my answer is to use multiple sources. I have a RainSong with an LR Baggs Stagepro Anthem factory installed. I have added a Seymour Duncan Mag Mic sound hole pickup, giving me 4 distinct sounding sources: the Element UST, magnetic humbucker, and two very different sounding internal microphones. Installed a new endpin jack for the Mag-Mic, use a 12” Y cable into a 1/4” mono cable. Only the magnetic is always 100%, hole the 2 mics and UST are blendable.
I agree with Dan Erlewine about the humbucker pickup. because I can't stand sixty cycle hum. and the fact that it's usually made worse by florescent lighting. it's why I don't like single coils on any guitar.
The Fishman passive single coil reminds me of the 30s blues men did when the dogear P90 came out, I think it was the Charlie Christian F hole guitars with the dogear. The blues men would tape the Dogear the sound hole and put a Jack where the strap button goes and hang the strap around the end of the Jack where the nut is and plug it in. Move the amp around to avoid the hum and go. The Fishman sounds so natural and bright. It’s easier to back the brightness off than to add it if you never had it. I love P90s, and if I were going to put one on my 12 string that would be the one.
Thank you very much. this s really helpful.
The sound-hole Fishman sounds great. It is also less intrusive.
For my money I really liked the Fishman. Big and bright tone and the install is un-intrusive. The Baggs system would be great in a professional setting and the tone is just incredible.
I use a K & K mini on my HD28, with a slim endpin jack, so no drilling required. Also use an LR Baggs M1 on a ‘76 Guild D40. Did drill out the end pin hole. Both sound good, I prefer the K & K.
Thank you for the great video fellas.
The K & K is a great system! We have a lot of folks around here that love it. Thanks for watching!
totally agreed. Also the built in preamp on the lr bagg is just not good enough and producing a lot of noise compared to the k&k transducer when used with external preamps. Plus more natural sound especially when you get the K&K trinity
Cool! I just fitted a K&K mini in my 12 string. Sounds absolutely amazing. I think I made the right choice!
Awesome video! I like the idea of how easily you can switch out the soundhole pickup, but the Anthem system sounds so smooth.
Totally. Advantages to both!
Fishman do a Blend system (Mic + Sound hole) It's expensive but works very well. Used it live for over 18 years.
Always helpful, and always thorough. Thanks so much!
Thanks so much for tuning in!
@@stewmac your videos are my go-to when I need to learn something! Your segments are very empowering, which is part of the joy of learning any new skill.
My Seagal artist has the LR Baggs. It has a couple of dial controls, including a battery tester button. High low/bass treble and volume. Thankfully, it was installed at the factory in Canada
Amazing video, great explanation!
These days my preference is either a K&K or JJB soundboard transducer (which has three transducers to the one on the Schatten. These give the most natural sound IMO.
The only downside is that since transducers are passive, you may or may also need an external pre-amp or DI Box depending on the house system. If you have a long run to the house system a DI box with ground lift makes a huge difference.
Great Video 👊😎
Man, I just love listening to Dan talk.
Great video. I could have used it way back when I installed the transducer pickup in my Dion. I don't remember the brand, but it used a solid orange band under the bridge. As my 78 Heritage uses a brass bridge, I think that helps keep the clarity of the acoustic sound, and have received a lot of compliments on it over the years. Didn't have any of those fancy tools for the install though, just a daughter with small arms. Keep up the great work.
Here in Brazil these pickups cost a lot money, but they are greats. Tks for the video.
Thanks for watching!
Great video guys.
The fishman sounds better than the Schattman to me. The LR Baggs definitely wins out imo.
Would love to see the SD Woody XL, Behringer AP55 (active), and a SD Mag/Mic setups as well
I've been using my LR Baggs Lyric (just the mic part of the anthem) on my D-18 style Gillander guitar. I'm lucky it has a sound port, makes it easy to change batteries without removing strings. AND the volume adjustment is a prettier tortoise plastic instead of the cream
I noticed on the Baggs Anthem system, when using the jig to install the mic pickup under the saddle, you put the jig in the d and e strings instead of the a and b strings. Was this intentional to reduce the bass input to the mic? Dan said to put the jig in the a and b slots, but the visual showed it going in the d and e slots. Love the videos. Always learning something.
Fun video! I personally use a Seymour Duncan Mag-mic. You get a nice adjustable single coil pickup paired with a mic. A knob for mixing the two sources and a knob for master volume. Get the ease of a non-permanent install and an active mic pickup. Would recommend checking it out to anyone looking to plug in their acoustic.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
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I like the fisherman because I have no tools to do all this kind of stuff.
It's a great, quick-n-easy option, and lots of people like the sound 👍
LR Baggs blows my mind.
Excellent video, thanks!
Super cool video. LR Baggs sounded so great. They all did though.
Agreed - they all had a very unique tone.
Try a K&K pure sound THE best👍
Oh gosh, the sound hole Pic was the best sounding one for acoustic sound! For my taste! If I want an electric sound I grab my electric guitar!
GREAT VIDEO, I''m going with the soundhole PU, soldering would be a problem for me.
Buy you a cheap soldering iron and give it a shot. Don't be afraid. Unless you have something physically keeping you from doing so. It's not as hard as you think. Especially when you only have two connections to make and they're not crowded by other things, wires and such. I understand it looks quite daunting, but Watch you a few RUclips videos for pointers if you need and give it a shot. I believe youd probably be surprised, It's not that bad and actually kind of fun once you learn
I've been using my single coil Dean Markley wood pick-up in my rosewood Hohner for years. Sounds great, and don't have remove the strings to get it in and out.
Very nice! A convenient feature for sure.
How long does the battery last in the LR Baggs system
I’m thinking of fitting one to an old twelve string
But don’t fancy needing to take all the strings off to get to the battery housing
Could the battery section be fitted subtly to the guitars strap near the output Jack ?
I had the fortune to find a 60s DeArmond soundhole pickup for $100 on ebay a while back. I don't think the seller knew what they had. It now sits in my heirloom parlor guitar (Levin, a Swedish brand) bought in 1934 by my grandmother, handed down to my mother and then to me.
Very cool, indeed!
Blake, I love your old Gibson lgo. ! I have one just like it - 1958 lgo, all original, plus the case ! It's too fragile, so when it does go out of the house, I put it in another case. I would add the sound hole pickup, cause I don't want to alter mine in any way. It sounds good enough for me. ! Thanks Dan & Blake - great video.! Dan's the man !
Those old Gibsons sound amazing. Enjoy!
Though the Piezo pickup can sound very good when installed in the right location (I have one installed on a Nylon string guitar), they turn the entire guitar into a microphone. In a quiet setting, the results can be fantastic. But, I wouldn't recommend it for use in noisy environments. Sound Hole Pickups can sometimes interfere with picking and plucking, depending on where the pickup is located, and tends to make an acoustic sound like an electric guitar. The LR Baggs Anthem System sounded the best to me, and it avoids the potential problems I mentioned.
Great advice - thanks for the comment!
My "backup" guitar is a cheap Cort all laminate one. A magnetic soundhole pickup, with the cable gaffer taped to the outside of the guitar, is a surprisingly good sound source, considering how little the whole setup cost.
Thank you for giving me an idea, I should buy one.
The Neo-D singlecoil is a great pickup which I used for years. It sounds somewhat like an electric guitar but gives more than enough of a woody acoustic feel to to it. Also totally easy to use at any volume.
The Schatten transducer sounded cheap and boxy to me. I have the Schatten "HFN" pickups in all my high end acoustics and they sound really great, almost like a good microphone. But they have a tendency for feedback at high volumes - not suitable for a playing the acoustic guitar in rockband.
I didn't like the sound of the L.R.Baggs. Those under saddle transducers have come a long way in 50 years but I still hear that chirping.
the last pick up !!!!! was the best one !!! though he was using a heavy pick!!! the pick also is a huge part of the sound with a lighter pick you will get a brighter sound.
I used a Schatten HFN, I think it'd probably be better than the single element you showed, similar to the K&K Pure Mini that other people seem to love. As a Canuck, I like that Schatten is a Canadian company so that's why I went with it.
Install wasn't so bad, I used the included putty, but I don't think I used quite as much as was shown in the video, it seemed a bit excessive, no?
can I buy some guitar pickup project in my school
Since you are so capable of doing DIY. I think you could try to fix a $100 Studio mic(stripped of all the casing) into the Acoustic guitar.. I wonder if that would beat all the expensive stuff.. ? A nice cardioid mic double/triple the diameter of those small mics would probably be better?
Wonderful video! Thank you for putting in the effort to create a clear top on the guitar so we could see what was going on underneath. Love your attention to detail 👍
That was 100% Dan's idea! Thanks for the comment.
I had a Fishmann Neo-D humbucker, it had wayy too little output. I use an Artec soundhole humbucker that worked out a lot better (individual magnet height also).
I was really torn between the K&K Pure Mini and the Mojotone QuietCoil soundhole pickup for my Martin Custom Shop 0-15 12-fret. I chose the Mojotone because of the ease of installation and the fact it doesn’t need a preamp. I know the K&K doesn’t require one, but it doesn’t sound quite as good without it when you compare the tones.
I put epoxy on piezo discs (to tame high end frequencies) and glue them to the guitar top behind the bridgepad, and they sound better than all three of these.
Sounds very cool! Thanks for the comment.
1:32 I think this is the reason why I never liked the sound of magnetic pickups on acoustics.
Acoustic players forget that there's a reason why electric guitars have both a bridge and a neck pickup, it's because the magnetic pickup captures the vibration of the string at a very specific point on the guitar, like you're always picking there.
I myself never pick above the soundhole, and I don't know many players who pick at the specific placement where many people install a magnetic pickup, so that's why I more so hate how people install magnetic pickups rather than the pickups themselves.
Try moving the pickup to the other edge of the soundhole, the edge that's closer to the bridge, and your sound will change for the better.
Honestly the best solution is to just combine all these systems together, that's what modern percussive acoustic guitar players do most of the time.
*If you cut a business card into a little trapezoid (similar size to gibson 5th fret trapezoid) and poke two holes in it, you can use it as a single-use jig to glue the pickups to the underside of the bridge. Use 2 golf tees and put the tee end inside the guitar (to supprt the card and pull it upwards)
I learned this installing the journey pickup. Those plus a fishman preamp eq pedal is all you need for great sound and combined they cost $120
Fishman sounded the most natural.
Thank you!
...wireless "Bluetooth " technology has been around for 20 years! Wires have been the bane of guitarists and inhibited movement and expression. DOWN WITH WIRES!!!
Does the transducer strip under the bridge not change the action of the guitar? How could you put something under the bridge and NOT change the string height?
That sound hole pickup sounds like they all do! Like ****! Fishman have been surpassed, the amps are fantastic, but the pickups have been meh….for years! The true winner is Takamines Palethetic pick up! They have owned the plugged in acoustic sound for decades! Try one! 👍🏻
Do acoustic pickups sound better than the piezo pickups ?
I like the L.R. Baggs one, too...but the sound hole one was comparable. I have less money, though so I would like to hear how the L R Baggs HiFi Acoustice Bridge plate pickup system sounds - it costs less than either of them. Thank you for this!
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)
Very informative video, I'm looking at used acoustics was afraid to buy one without a pickup already in it . Now I wouldn't be afraid to put one in myself, I like the the sound of the LR Braggs best
I want it mainly to keep a tuner plugged into it will it work good with a tuner?
Glad it was helpful! And yes - any of them will work with a good pedal tuner. Have fun!
Hell, could have left all 3 & Had a plethora of sound. Possibly installed a small switch somewhere and had a choice or Wire them all fully active...
To me though, i Don't believe I would have wanted to drill out my vintage instrument, anywhere.
Anyone make a sound hole type pickup for guitars with smaller soundholes? My steel string acoustic is 36" overall in size, and the sound hole is just over 3.25". They all seem to be for larger sound holes. I like the 36" size guitzrs.
Pickups on an accoustic guitar sound like sh!t. It defeats the purpose of an accoustic guitar. Use microphones.
Anyone got any tips to stop the cable clattering about inside? I have a sound hole pickup with far too much cable running down to an endpin socket. Do I cut that cable as short as possible and let what's left hang? Or do I bundle it all together and stuff it in a sock?! Will Gaffa tape hold a load of cable or a shortened cable to the wood on the inside or is that likely to fall off? Should I trail the cable all around the inside perimeter and Gaffa it there?
My other thought was to thread the cable down inside a shoelace tunnel or even to knit a tube so that when it clatters at least it does so with a muffled whisper.
Maybe I'm missing a better and simpler solution?
The Magnetic Pickup is super cool
I went with a Bartolini 3AV magnetic pickup a while back for my old Yamaha workhorse. I permanently installed it with 500k volume and tone pots. I liked it so much that I installed one in my mandolin and then built a thinline Tele with only that pickup in the neck position!
Quick question. What if I want to buy a soundhole pickup for my lefthanded acoustic guitar? Would it be a problem? It seem like the hole to plug in the cabe would be on the wrong side?
I have a 12 string Yamaha with a Markley sound hole pickup, but it's not really that good. What are your recommendations. The Markley would probably be better for a 6 string.
Could you use an adhesive that wasn’t as thick on the transducer system? It looks like that gray, putty-like, adhesive would isolate it from the vibrations of the soundboard.
Yes… absolutely. We actually had the same thought. However, the pickup was designed to work with the adhesive it shipped with, so we went with that. Using another adhesive might require some experimentation to see what would stick for the long term, and what would also sound good.
For the soundhole passive magnetic pre-wired pickup like the Fishman, do you recommend any on-board sound-hole mounted mini Vol pot that can be re-wired in line with an end pin jack for a more permanent installation?
I bought a fishman soundhole for my ‘53 LG2 … but it’s fouling on the strings , do I have to trim the cork where it mounts ? Thanks 🙏
Hv any speaker that can recommend for acoustic guitar?
bought the fishman a few days ago, the E and B string volume is tooooo low compared to the other string, was very disapointing, i have try diferent angles for the pick up, but i just going to return it :(
What happened with that guitar ? On 9.20 I can see hair line in between sound hole and bridge. I guessed the top of this guitar seperated from the seam.
Is bad representation of guitar repairer/ restorer.
I
Tks guys 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I put a magnetic electric pickup right on the sound hole, i want people to know what im playing isnt normal
that was really useful, thank you gentlemen, much appreciated
Hi! The pickup system which has preamp stuck near soundhole, how does it stick there? Do u use special kinda glue?
Is the Fishman Neo-D Magnetic Soundhole the same Thomann sells at 81 euro?
Thanks for sharing and Gods blessings for you all
Fishman all the way sounds perfect
In my opinion the LR Baggs wins hands down.
Oh Wow! hands down the LR Braggs........ and I am completely non biased to any of the brands......... Great Review! Love the Tips and tricks! I live In Troy, N.y and just bought A New Guild DS-40 Western Collection. need to do some Mod tweaks and did not come with the Electronice which Is ok. For $500 it is A Great sounding guitar........ I have A Washburn 6 string Acoustic I bought 25 years AGo used and shortly after had a Martin Gold Plus Piezo installed On It...Sounds great out of My Fender Acoustaconic..
LR Baggs on a D-35
What if I have the older Gibson with the screws in the saddle? Can I use the transducer type?
Wow, the fishman soundhole sounds a lot better than the two. Crisp clear and fuller sound