How do you prefer to amplify?

[Neal]

Another option is the Silver Bullet, which is a condenser mic that attaches via a bracket to your guitar's upper bass-side bout. It has a ten-foot cord that goes to an external preamp on the floor. It is pointed at the 14th fret, just like any other mic, but allows you the freedom to move around.

I have used one in low volume, solo settings with good results. However, they feed back just like any other mic under higher gain situations.

 

[Br1ck]

I'm not a K&K fan. I've taken them out of guitars I've bought. I have Dazzos in most everything. Installed by the maker, they provide EQ free no fuss good tone. But that said, the Baggs element that came with my SCGC is decent. Horror of horrors, an undersaddle pickup. Not thrilled by the battery though. The Dazzos, like the K&K, do need an outboard pre. The Baggs will be plug and play. The money pit that amplification can become is significant, and IMHO, only worth chasing for the serious finger style player.

 

[steverok]

Never heard of Dazzo before. Looks like a concept similar to the K&K. What do you like better about it ?

 

[rscottmurray]

thanks for all the perspectives. I was mainly talking about playing onstage but studio tips are always helpful.
I have the K&K in my other acoustic which I've always been real happy with.

 

[crank]

A pickup is easier to deal with than a mic.

 

[West R Lee]

Well I've got an old Fishman (sold as a Martin "Thinline 332" I believe) under saddle in my DV72, and I installed a Baggs Anthem in my new Collings guitar. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer the natural sound of my external mics to either, and for external miking, I've got a Shure SM57 and a Sennheiser E935. And of those two mics, I prefer the Shure.

I will say that I can tweak the Baggs Anthem to where it sounds pretty good if I cut back on the under saddle and crank up on the internal microphone (the Baggs gives you that ability). So maybe I'm just not a fan of under saddle pickups, at least not those I've got, and I much prefer the natural acoustic sound of a microphone.

If I were walking around a stage I'd probably go for something with an internal mic.

West

 

[Maguchi]

just wondering what the consensus is on pickup vs. microphone
I'm playing a '76 D50 which is plenty loud on its own but I've been considering a passive pickup for it
then part of me says don't alter the guitar in any way

what say ye

Some type of mic, either internal or external and or a magnetic pickup, either soundhole or fretboard mounted. I've tried and I just can't do piezo. Piezo quack is just too artificial and plasticky sounding to my ears.

I use the Fishman Neo-D passive magnetic soundhole pickup a lot. But don't plug it into a Hi-Z input of a electric guitar amp. It'll squeal, you need a low Z instrument input or maybe line level to get the best sound from it.