Acoustic pickup recommendation

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mjbphotos

mjbphotos

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Normally, I only use my 73 Epiphone dreadnought acoustic for recording mic-ing it, but later this year I will be performing live in a venue where it will need to be amped. Assuming mic-ing it won't work due to feedback/mic availability, I figured I better be ready to 'plug it in'. I'd like to be able to put a pickup temporarily into it, so I can remove it after. Obviously I don'' want to spend a lot of money for a 1-time (non-paid) use, either. I don't mind taping down the cable to the body, rather than running it out through a strap button.

Any recommendations?
 
I have a Dean Markley soundhole pickup that is fairly adequate. Back in the day I used to use a Barcus Berry bridge transducer. Those were pretty good as I recall.


lou
 
This is very similar to the Dean Markley.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend....y-HC-HumCanceling-Soundhole-Pickup?sku=300957

This is the Dean M

http://accessories.musiciansfriend....Mag-Plus-XM-Acoustic-Guitar-Pickup?sku=584321

And here's a transducer.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dean-Markley-Artist-Transducer?sku=304005


Any of these should be good enough. The issue with these is that your sound will be at the mercy of the guy at the board unless you set up an amp for yourself.


lou
 
There is a bunch of stuff here if you search but if you want to keep the cost down and are after a decent generic sound you can't beat the Fishman stuff. Soundhole mounted is the way to go but don't expect to get audiopfile quality. A mic will always serve you better...
 
Do the Markleys just slide into place on the soundhole? I understand the sound will not be as good as mic-ing, but again this is for a one-time only (probably) performance.
 
mjbphotos said:
Do the Markleys just slide into place on the soundhole? I understand the sound will not be as good as mic-ing, but again this is for a one-time only (probably) performance.
Click to expand...

Yes and it's held in place by foam rubber.
I've used this type quite a bit years ago.The soundhole PU is superior to the suction cup one IMO.
 
Got a Markley ZH-7 humbucker for under $20 including shipping on Ebay. Sound is pretty good, although I haven't amped it yet, just tried it quickly through the Guitarport and recorder. One thing, though - the G string has less volume than the rest of the strings. Think this is a string problem? (I admit I need to change them).
 
If a fresh set of strings does not fix the G string you might try a plain string.
 
mjbphotos said:
Got a Markley ZH-7 humbucker for under $20 including shipping on Ebay. Sound is pretty good, although I haven't amped it yet, just tried it quickly through the Guitarport and recorder. One thing, though - the G string has less volume than the rest of the strings. Think this is a string problem? (I admit I need to change them).
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with that particular pickup - is there any way you can adjust the polepieces, or string-to-string balance?

All else equal, a wound string has less output than an unwound one for a given gauge, at least from the perspective of a magnetic pickup. If you can just tweak the polepiece so it's closer to the string for that one string you ought to be ok, but barring that either a heavier G or an unwound (which won't sound the same and will probably feel weird) would help.
 
It's an older model, although it looks like this one has barely been used. No adjustments - flat top style. Thanks, I'll see what new strings do.
 
I'm just posting here to let you know I'm not gonna post anything about your G strings.
:cool:








at all. :cool:









:D
 
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