Options for direct input of my acoustic guitar into DAW

[Scooterj]

I read some previous posts in search, but still would like your thoughts on this question. I am starting to record my acoustic Taylor 812c guitar and I suspect I will eventually go with mics, but for now I want to try direct input and see what that is like. My guitar is fitted with the K&K mini under bridge area pickups and run through the K&K preamp dedicated to these picups which makes it sound much better than without it which then runs into my Fishman LoudBox acoustic amp with a bit of reverb. It sounds very realistic to me and not like a piezo type pickup which I really do not like the sound of.

For direct input into my DAW I have three choices:

1. Guitar direct to Scarlett 2i2 interface and into DAW
2. Guitar into K&K preamp and then into 2i2 interface and into DAW
3..Guitar into K&K then into Acoustic amp with slight reverb then DI output from the amp into 2i2 and into DAW

It strikes me that option 3 is a bit crazy, and option 2 might be unnecessary due to the Scarlett 2i2 already having a preamp in it

Then of course there is option 1 which is simplest and will give me the sensation of what a direct input sounds like (I suspect not as good as using mics)

I don't need yet to think about amp sims in the DAW but I do have some available and use Guitar Rig 7 mostly for my electric, but don't want to get too complicated yet as I learn the very basics of connection.

Can members give me some perspective about these three choices and how to think about them? Thanks in advance.

 

[gecko zzed]

You can try all three and see what you like best. However, my instinct says just go for the simplest option, i.e. your option 1.

 

[Papanate]

As @gecko zzed says - I would also try all 3 - but I think #2 would be best if you watched your gain closely - #1 is going to be the easiest - #3 would give you a unique sound - don’t know it it’s good or bad - but why not try it as well?

 

[Scooterj]

Options 2 and 3 require me to crawl under my desk and dismantle many connections. UGH. I did just try now plugging direct guitar into 2i2 and into Reaper and was shocked that it sound pretty decent. Dry but not the usual awful acoustic pickup sound. I was really surprised. This was my maiden voyage recording anything. Since this went well I think maybe I should try a LDC mic and then some SDCs I have and see if that beats the direct input. I suspect it will, but heck who knows. Pretty exciting to have started.