Acoustic pickup advice! PLEASE!

[whitepapagold]

About 6 months ago I got a Martin DM acoustic- description: Laminated mahogany back and sides wedded to a solid spruce top, single-band herringbone rosette, black bindings, tortoise-colored pick guard, and a durable satin finish.. No electronics.

After tracking, Ive decided to put a pick up in for more sound options.

Price- dont care( I know these comments will instill someone to reply, " source, style, etc. and in early response- I want to see what has made others happy. This will help direct me in my search)
style- dont care(see above)

I have played for 20 years but mostly electric since my acoustic sucked and I kept buying amps and pedals instead of a new guitar. Plus didn't track acoustic often if ever. Since working from my home as of this year, I want to provide as many options as possible considering my limitations (the room is ok, but......its not like the studio).
Any ideas? Id like to diy as its a simple procedure. There is a hole for the cable already. Id really like to be able to move the pick up around inside.

Im not super picky. Im just looking to see what others have done and been happy with the results-strumming and picking. Ive got an 1176ln and gml 8200 for comp and eq so Im looking for the best possible core- no bells or whistles. And FYI- I know nothing about acoustic pickups, Ive always just used a mic- or the player knew and just showed me what 1/4 inch to plug in. HELP!
Thanks! thumbsup

[Haolemon]

Everyone is going to say (correctly) that a mic will do a much better job.

The Sunrise pickup is very nice indeed.

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by Haolemon

Everyone is going to say (correctly) that a mic will do a much better job.

The Sunrise pickup is very nice indeed.

How about a blend(which I should have mentioned was my original intention)? Ive always used a mic because I thought it sounded great- but with the room change ( studio to livingroom) I wanted to be able to reduce its effect if necessary. I still like the sound I get with the mic but I wanted another option. With the singer song writer clients I usually record, I read a pick up or small mic in the body will give you less vocal bleed. Plus I also have read it provides nice tonal options. Im not eliminating the mic, just trying to provide another flavor. Thanks for the response!

[Saudade]

A while ago I heard some demos of the Ehrlund (transducer?) pickup thanks to a link from this forum. If the real thing sounds as good as the demos on the website it's definitely worth the $. At least demos wise it sounded much better to me than those of the much raved about Schertler Dyn-G.

I would choose one of these plus a DPA IMK4061 mounted at the soundhole. Then you get best of both worlds: fullness of a real miked sound (sound of "moving air") and the midrange presence of a pickup. Plus you get almost perfect acoustic isolation from the enviroment. Plus both are detachable so no permanent alteration to your guitar required.

[feyshay]

I'd get both. I like the blend. You still get bleed but very little into the soundhole. Still have to worry about feedback. You get a much fuller sound than with just a pickup. Micing is best, but having another mic/pickup combo will make it easier and give you more options.

[garymusic]

I use a Fishman Blender system on my guitars. You can take the directs out of the blender and send them to your mic pre for added color. I think they really sound great. Look at www.elderly.com for a good dealer. Eldery Music is one of the best dealers and have such a great installation and accoustic guitar setup.

-Gary

[lclyman]

I'll also highly recommend the Fishman Blender system..

At every gig I play, without exception, I get comments on how good my acoustic guitar sounded through the PA...!

Good luck in your search...

larry

[feyshay]

Fishman Blender--that's what I have--sounds great.

[garymusic]

larry,

Do you use the new RARE EARTH system or the standard one with the under the bridge transducer? Mine is the old one but it really does sound great. I use it in combination with an KM-184 and it really shines in the tracks.

-Gary

[lclyman]

Gary,
I'm assuming it's the standard system...

It came pre-installed on my Breedlove guitar...a killer combo by the way...

Thanks,
Larry

[bonneybear]

I use the fishman rare earth single coil "cheaper one" put it in and out as needed.

[Jimbo]

http://www.pick-uptheworld.com/
thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup
I Use 'em...great stuff. Read the testimonials. The sound is really quite natural.

I recommend getting one of his preamps if you plan to do stage work.

It's an owner/operator kinda place. Great service, he (David) has happily replaced my pickup twice -- for free -- after I botched my own installations....AND he wouldn't even allow me to pay for return postage.

He also built a special harness to mount the cable jack onto my banjo.....for free.

You can't ask for more than that!

I'm about to buy one for my guitar.

- Jim

[whitepapagold]

THANKS EVERYONE! Now Ive got some searching to do! And just so yall know, its for the studio only, not live. I had pretty good financial success live but have no interest in it anymore. If I never see a bar or club again it will be too soon. Oh and never tour with a drunk lead singer(yeah almost impossible to find one sober), it completely killed it for me-regardless of $$$!
Any other advice is greatly appreciated!

PS: And to any performer who drinks before shows- you aren't better drunk like you think, your just drunk enough to think your better.

[Sebastian]

I've been through a few pickups and settled on the Trance Audio Amulet. It's one of the pricier choices, but the sound is more natural.

[feyshay]

Originally Posted by whitepapagold

PS: And to any performer who drinks before shows- you aren't better drunk like you think, your just drunk enough to think your better.

Drunk bad (like Jim Morrison exposure in Miami bad). 1-2 drinks before playing--good

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by feyshay

Drunk bad (like Jim Morrison exposure in Miami bad). 1-2 drinks before playing--good

Oh if they could only keep it to one or two!!! Im with ya, 1 or 2 greyhounds and I was ready to go! But I weigh 270. The lead singer weighed like 138lbs- hed look at a bottle and fall down!

[Marlowe]

I think none of them sound good. I have a few (Sunrise, Martin, etc.) and have heard lots of others but none of them sound anywhere near a real acoustic guitar to me. I really can't stand that fake "ovationy" sound they all have.

The best sounding one I've used is the Miniflex which is essentially a small microphone that is mounted inside the guitar. It's very feedback prone however.

[feyshay]

If you use the Fishman blend and equalize out your boomy and high pitched feedbacks (using the equalizer on the blender), it's less prone to feedback than live.
You can then adjust the internal microphone (closer to or further away from the soundhole; aimed toward the front or back of the guitar) to set how much bass or boominess you have. Then you blend in some from the pickup and use the phase button to make sure you are not out of phase. Voila--a pretty good sound (although still not as good as a nice condenser).

[squeegybug]

www.tranceaudio.com

That's the p/u system designed and sold by Gary Hull (from UA) and it is by far the best I've found. An "upgrade" from the old FRAP. I also like Sunrise in the right application (more meat in the mids), but it only really shines with the Sunrise ST-I tube preamp.

Steve

[dpianomn]

i use a fishman rare earth on a vintage guitar and it sounds very natural...it's not hyped at all

[Fran Guidry]

My buddy Doug Young has a web page with a large number of pickup samples.

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

Fran

[whitepapagold]

Man, ask a question and you get answers! Thanks everyone! Loving the input! Now Im off to check the samples!
Joseph thumbsup

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by Fran Guidry

My buddy Doug Young has a web page with a large number of pickup samples.

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

Fran

JEEPERS! large number is almost an understatement! NICE! THANKS!