kurt Cobains unplugged acoustic guitar

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walters

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What kind of pickups did kurt use on the unplugged acoustic guitar?

how can i put guitar pickups like these on my acoustic guitar?? and which ones please
 
Okay, just found this in an old guitar magazine I had: the guitar was a very rare 1958 Martin D-18E, which was run through a Fender Twin Reverb Amp (but the amp was used only as a monitor). The guitar also went straigt into the desk, as was the standard procedure for most Unplugged album sessions.

The guitar originally had 2 pick-ups for use with nickle strings, but Kurt added a Bartolini 3AV pick-up to use standard bronze strings.

The pick-up is available here: http://www.bartolini.net/
 
32-20-Blues said:
run through a Fender Twin Reverb Amp (but the amp was used only as a monitor).
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I heard they had a lot of trouble with that. He basically wanted a sound that was far from 'unplugged'. A few people argued with him but he was adamant. I'm not sure that it was entirely just used as a monitor though, as often his guitars seem drenched in chorus. And the OD in 'The Man Who Sold the World' was a surprise to me. I was almost dissapointed. I don't know why. It's an awesome version of the tune. I think I was just dissapointed that he needed to put a bunch of effects on his guitar for an unplugged set. Nonetheless, it was an awesome set.
 
This is a little remotely related, but I read guitar legend mag. interivew with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. He said when they showed up to do there unplugged gig, they had to play the guitars that they had available. The action was high and they were beat up. Wow that would suck.
 
I recall him using DeArmonds on anything acoustic, big ol' fat buckers.
 
legionserial said:
I heard they had a lot of trouble with that. He basically wanted a sound that was far from 'unplugged'. A few people argued with him but he was adamant. I'm not sure that it was entirely just used as a monitor though, as often his guitars seem drenched in chorus. And the OD in 'The Man Who Sold the World' was a surprise to me. I was almost dissapointed. I don't know why. It's an awesome version of the tune. I think I was just dissapointed that he needed to put a bunch of effects on his guitar for an unplugged set. Nonetheless, it was an awesome set.
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Thats because he convinced MTV to let him use a pedal as long as it was DI'd and not mic'd.

Nirvana's performance has one of the best guitar tones of all the Unpluged albums IMO, simply because a few of them got mic'd....and if he was using a Twin for a monitor, that no doubt made its way into some of the mics on stage.

Overall, the Unplugged albums were nothing more than a testimate to the shit electronics of acoustic guitars during the 90's. That Alice in Chains album would have been so much better if it every note didn't reek of shit DI.
 
walters said:
Thanks alot 32-20-Blues for the information

I been looking at the photos of the pickups what pickups would be close or a clone to them to replacement u think?

http://www.burntout.com/kurt/photos/

http://www.nirvana-music.com/kurt-co...ures-live.html
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Well, on his guitar there are three pick-ups, two original DeArmonds that were designed for nickle strings, and so they don't work with the bronze ones Kurt used, and one bartolini. Just get the Bartolini, it's only 120 bucks, I think.
 
wait so acoustic electrics don't still sound like this? the unplugged series made me vow to never own an acoustic electric.
 
treymonfauntre said:
wait so acoustic electrics don't still sound like this? the unplugged series made me vow to never own an acoustic electric.
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No they still do....
 
Outlaws- I have to disagree. As much as I enjoy Nirvana's music, I think Kurts acoustic tone was thin, plinky and shitty sounding like much of his clean electric tones.
I guess its preference but I would take the AIC unplugged session for quality over the Nirvana one any day.
 
two original DeArmonds

What dearmonds pickups are on this guitar? so i can buy replacements to put on my acoustic?
 
walters said:
two original DeArmonds

What dearmonds pickups are on this guitar? so i can buy replacements to put on my acoustic?
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You're missing my point: The DeArmonds don't work, they were on Kurt's guitar as originals from the 50's, but they were designed to work with nickle strings, not the currently used bronze strings. Therefore, Kurt stuck the Bartolini on. The Bartolini pick-up is the only one that picks up any sound; it is the only one you will need to buy to get Kurts sound.

To conclude: The DeArmonds do nothing! They're just there because Kurt was too lazy to take them out.
 
I like how they look and i use Nickel i don't want kurts sound i just want the look for those pickups on my guitar which models are these from DeArmonds??
 
walters said:
I like how they look and i use Nickel i don't want kurts sound i just want the look for those pickups on my guitar which models are these from DeArmonds??
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I don't think they make that pickup anymore.
 
walters said:
I like how they look and i use Nickel i don't want kurts sound i just want the look for those pickups on my guitar which models are these from DeArmonds??
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Dude, you're just taking the piss now. If you're wasting my time deliberatley, go back to bouncing around in your Mom's goonya, I have better things to be doing.
 
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