acoustic guitar extremes

[freakindisplay]

Let me ask something, somewhat stupid, maybe not. I watched the Nirvana MTV Unpluged the other night and noticed Kurts' acoustic had set pickups based outside the body, which allowed him (since he had two pickups) to changes tones like a normal electric. I listened to the sound on the cd and on the tv and I like the sound. You hear the crispness of the strings as well as a tone. A great combination (I think). My acoustic right now is a high end Fender, while normal playing sounds awesome, whenever I plug it up it sounds horrible. Just a low end pickup installed I suppose. Maybe even the player itself, but how would I go about bracing some humbuckers up under the strings on the body. I need info, pros-cons, good idea bad idea. Also what kind of pickup would I need to be looking at considering price range needs to be low?

 

[Even]

I cant presume to know what sort of electronics or even the materials in your Fender. However theres a few things I can mention that are ways to improve the electronic aspect of an acoustic. Naturally I am going to not even mention the whole "get a good amp" stuff that everyone is going to pour out. As far as the guitar goes... i assume it has an under the saddle pickup. If so, you will get the best results out of a graphite pickup (not plastic). The Nut and saddle of the guitar..... upgrade to bone. A plastic (common on many many acoustics) saddle or nut tends to mute or muffle the sound befor it even gets off the ground.

The Electronics themselves: a decent pre/amp EQ will change your world. Fresh batteries too as far as a mention to the obvious. Befor you look into bracing and strapping new humbuckers and what not..... consider getting a "blender". A blender is a tad pricey but a hell of an investment. They are an under the saddle pickup AND an tiny microphone up by the EQ.

 

[JR#97]

A cheaper alternative to the Fishman Blender... which kicks ass btw... is the Sansamp Acoustic DI. You can get some tones out of that little box and works great with either a piezo or an inhole pickup. Blend it in at the mixer with a mic'd signal to get a kick ass sound. I've got a sample posted if you want to hear it.

You can also throw some other pedals in the chain. compressor, pre-amp, distortion, etc. check out monte montgomery.

 

[freakindisplay]

Yeah I am aware of the plastic nut as to the graphite ones, and if rich as hell, would love to put some new top f the line pickups on it, but I am seeing it as a fender acoustic and planning on getting another---beter one along the way in life. thanks for the info though. I am thinking I would like to have a better guitar before I start to put all of the good things on it. As for now, I was just looking for a better sound, on an ok guitar, for a not so geting another two jobs to get it price. Thanks again for the feedback, will definitely help me in the long run.

 

[adam]

I noticed that on the unplugged too. But if you really look close, there actually was as 3rd pu in the soundhole of Cobain's guitar, about single coil size. Perhaps that is what produced the sound. I have seen a few of these 2 pu acoustics -- I think it was a Framus, or Hofner.

With a stock undersaddle, try turning the tone down significantly, bronze strings. Also, on my older cheapish ovation I do this, and also when recording, use a bit of chorus. I also mic the guitar and then mix the 2 sounds in. In fact sometimes I use 3 sounds -- mic, direct gtr only, amp'ed/mic'ed chorused sound. Good results and helps deal with the quacks.