Acoustic pickup retrofit

matt1973

Just hoping to get some recommendations for a well priced acoustic guitar pickup system. I have been fortunate enough to acquire a lovely Alvarez Yairi acoustic guitar that I absolutely love but it is a full acoustic. I would like to put this through a PA in both a live band and acoustic duo. Can anyone recommend an acoustic system that won’t break the bank?

All advice appreciated.

Gandalph

I'd put a decent sound hole p/u in there.  

LR Baggs M80 or M1A would do it. 

ICBM

If you're not playing at a high enough volume that feedback is a major issue, K&K Pure Mini - it's the most natural-sounding of any onboard internal pickup and the least invasive to fit.

If you are, then either an undersaddle piezo pickup driving off-board IR/modelling (this bit is critical, the pickups don't sound good on their own) or a magnetic soundhole pickup as Gandalph said - personally I prefer the various Fishmans to the Baggs but both are good.

Don't be tempted to have a complex preamp with onboard controls fitted, or even preferably anything other than the pickup itself - they're a massive pain when they go wrong or in ten years when something better has become available and you want to upgrade... and of course the new system isn't compatible. If you do want that, buy a purpose-built electro-acoustic and keep your nice old guitar as it is.

I used to be a professional repairer and frankly electro-acoustics were one of the problems I really hated dealing with - that's the reason I don't have active electronics in any of my guitars.

Soupman

I use a Baggs m1a which is decent, but some don't like a sound hole pickup, preferring the K & K type system.
Doubtless others will offer more suggestions.
Glad you're enjoying the Alvarez.
 
 

TheMadMick

I have a Fishman sound hole humbucker I could let you have. It was for a guitar that never materialised. You could PM me if interested.

shufflebeat

K&K pure mini if you like the sound of the guitar, soundhole pickup if you like the sound of the pickup.

I’ve recently switched from a Takamine ef341sc (+Tonedexter 1) to a Breedlove with a K&Kpm (+Tonedexter 2). Don’t worry too much about feedback, my experience suggests a K&K with a feedback buster-type s/h plug is pretty much as useable as any piezo UST I’ve encountered.

Tannin

ICBM said:

Don't be tempted to have a complex preamp with onboard controls fitted, or even preferably anything other than the pickup itself - they're a massive pain when they go wrong or in ten years when something better has become available and you want to upgrade... and of course the new system isn't compatible. If you do want that, buy a purpose-built electro-acoustic and keep your nice old guitar as it is.

The better manufacturers of electro-acoustic guitars go out of their way to make spare parts available, and also manufacture upgrade pickups for their older models.

Maton do this as a matter of course, and Cole Clark have even been known to offer owners a new, upgraded pickup system completely free of charge. (I posted a thread here about that a year or two ago.) Either company will supply (and if you wish fit) spares and replacements or upgrades to their guitars. I imagine that other noted electro-acoustic makers like Takamine and Taylor do the same, but I'm only guessing that last bit.)

ICBM

Tannin said:

The better manufacturers of electro-acoustic guitars go out of their way to make spare parts available, and also manufacture upgrade pickups for their older models. 

Maton do this as a matter of course, and Cole Clark have even been known to offer owners a new, upgraded pickup system completely free of charge. (I posted a thread here about that a year or two ago.) Either company will supply (and if you wish fit) spares and replacements or upgrades to their guitars. I imagine that other noted electro-acoustic makers like Takamine and Taylor do the same, but I'm only guessing that last bit.)

Takamine yes, Taylor no.

The ones who do are the exceptions - probably at least 95% of the electro-acoustics on the market are not designed with that sort of forethought.

I cannot be convinced that if you’ve got a nice acoustic, fitting it with a load of complex electronics which will be out of date or potentially break before the guitar is even that old is a good idea - especially not when a couple of the very simplest, least invasive pickup methods produce excellent results, particularly when put through offboard preamp/processing which can be upgraded or replaced at any time with no work at all. 

maltingsaudio

Going to recommend Headway as favourite under saddle pickup, or Fishman Rare Earth for magnetic sound hole. 

Tannin

Properly-designed and made factory pickups cause very little trouble, and last in service for many, many years. Here in Australia, where the majority of good quality guitars sold are either Cole Clark or Maton, players simply take good pickups for granted. It is almost unheard-of to fit a third-party pickup. 

matt1973

A big thank you for your input. 

K&K sounds really good but perhaps a risk with feedback as it’s one of the bands I play with are pretty loud at times.