How do I go about adding a pickup to my non-Acoustic/Electric guitar.

[Deadinthehead]

Well for gig purposes my band and I decided we wanna start out doing acoustic gigs. My guitar that I love to death isn't acoustic electric.

How do I go about adding a pickup (preferrable without having to drill or cut anything) to my guitar so I don't have to have two pickups (one for me, and one for the guitar)?

Also any suggestions on which of these systems to use. Money shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[bodec_]

umm.... get a professional to do it lol

[wickidchyld]

what kind of guitar is it

nylon or steel string

[Deadinthehead]

It is a regular size steel string acoustic.

[wickidchyld]

there are acoustic pickups for steel string guitars that just pop into the soundhole and plug directly into the pa or acoustic amp

Seymour Duncan Woody SC Single Coil Soundhole Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/300956.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/300956/)
price:$39.99

Seymour Duncan Woody HC Hum Canceling Soundhole Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/300957.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/300957/)
price:$39.99

Dean Markley Pro Mag SC-1 Acoustic Pickup (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/304000/)
price:$44.99

DiMarzio DP132 Acoustic Quick Mount Acoustic Guitar Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/302725.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/302725/)
price:$59.99

Seymour Duncan Woody XL Adjustable Pole Pieces Soundhole Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/300958.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/300958/)
price:$59.99

DiMarzio Super Natural Plus Acoustic Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/302081.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/302081/)
price:$69.95

Seymour Duncan SA-1 Acoustic Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/300950.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/300950/)
price:$69.99

DiMarzio Elemental Acoustic Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/302357.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/302357/)
price:$79.99

Fender® Accs. ACP-1 Acoustic Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/301643.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/301643/)
price:$89.99

Fishman Rare Earth Pro-Rep-102 Humbucking Soundhole Pickup
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/303111.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/303111/)
price:$159.95

[les_paul_01]

congratulations wickidchyld, you've just convinced me to put a pickup on my acoustic. :cheers:

[k_A_e_D_e]

k&k pure western
http://www.kksound.com/acousticguitar.html

[scroungemonkeys]

now what would you suggest for a nylon string....my jazz band teacher wants to do classical gas and he wants me to play the classical part :D ....I have been playing for like 8 years....I have a la Patrie Concert edition (finished)....price would be an issue...I want to keep it <$100 US

[wickidchyld]

Originally posted by scroungemonkeys
now what would you suggest for a nylon string....my jazz band teacher wants to do classical gas and he wants me to play the classical part :D ....I have been playing for like 8 years....I have a la Patrie Concert edition (finished)....price would be an issue...I want to keep it <$100 US

well (unless somthing exists that i dont know about) your kinda fxcked there

i also have a nylon classical acoustic and as far as i know there are only three options (all three are also usable in steel strings for those of you whom care :p: )

sidenote: i am aware that some of there are above the $100 but who knows maybe someone else will see this or maybe you'll deside to throw a lil extra "coinage" (if you will) at it (the guitar)

undersaddle transducers
soundboard transducers
internal mics

soundboard transducers

Schatten Soundboard Transducer*
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/3916_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_acoustic/Schatten_Soundboard_Transducer.html)
Price: $17.95-$30.90

Dean Markley Artist Transducer*
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/30/304005.t.jpg (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/304005/)
Price: $39.99

undersaddle transducers

Fishman Acoustic Matrix
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/3175_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_Acoustic/Fishman_Acoustic_Matrix_Pickup_Systems.html)
Price: $118.95

L R Baggs Element Active System
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/1263_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_Acoustic/L_R_Baggs_Element_Active_System.html)
Price: $119.50

Fishman Ellipse VT
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/2102_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_Acoustic/Fishman_Ellipse_VT.html)
Price: $149.95

Highlander Acoustic Guitar Pickup
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/3175_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_acoustic/Highlander_Acoustic_Guitar_Pickup.html)
Price: $151.90

internal mics

Mini-Flex Guitar Microphone System*
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/3382_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_acoustic/Mini-Flex_Guitar_Microphone_System.html)
Price: $99.50

blended systems

Fishman Ellipse Matrix Blend
internal mic & undersaddle transducer
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/2100_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_Acoustic/Fishman_Ellipse_Matrix_Blend.html)
Price: $199.95

*=requires seperate preamp

[wickidchyld]

a few external preamps

L.R. Baggs Gigpro Universal Preamp
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/4187_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Preamps/L.R._Baggs_Gigpro_Universal_Preamp.html)
price: $98.45

Fishman Pro-EQ II
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/4815_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Preamps/Fishman_Pro-EQ_II.html)
price: $125.95

L R Baggs Para Acoustic DI
http://www.stewmac.com/catalog/images_1sm/3947_1sm.jpg (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Preamps/L_R_Baggs_Para_Acoustic_DI.html)
price: $159.00

sidenote: as to which pickup i would put into my classical guitar

i would probably use the L R Baggs Element Active System for three reasons
1) it came highly recomended :p:
2) the place i would probably get it and have it installed (AL&M (http://www.audiolight.com/) for those that care) sell this pickup for $90 and like $20 to have it instaled and have the guitar "set-up"
3) its all inclusive (meaning it pickup, preamp, and jack)

[whatshisname]

is feeback a big issue when installing a pickup on an acoustic?

[CorduroyEW]

^depends on how loud you play and what type of pickup you use. For a magnetic soundhole pickup it isn't a big issue. For an under saddle pickup it is a little bit of an issue but not a big one. Soundboard transducers have issues if you want to play loud. Internal mics have a lot of issues.

[wickidchyld]

depends on the type

EDITED due the fact that the post above me is more likely to be right :p:
but i beleive my feedback advise to still be sound :p:

1) watch your playing level so that it stay between the point of clarity and feedback (meaning load enough to be clear over the band [if there is one] but quiet enough to avoid nasty noises :p: )

2) sometimes you can avoid being loud be cause of a band so in this cas try messing with the EQ on either the preeamp (if it has one), the acoustic amp, or the pa (if its going directly to pa)

3) im not 100% on this one but im guessing you could use a noise gate in an acoustic/electric setup

[CorduroyEW]

^ you can also use an acoustic preamp that has a notch filter. This can be used the filter out the frequency that causes the feedback.

Oh... and there is also the option of those rubber stops that you use to block off the soundhole.

[wickidchyld]

Originally posted by CorduroyEW
^ you can also use an acoustic preamp that has a notch filter. This can be used the filter out the frequency that causes the feedback.

Oh... and there is also the option of those rubber stops that you use to block off the soundhole.

wont that just work for an internal mic though:confused:

[scroungemonkeys]

yeah....

there is one other option for get a classical to sound well..

buy a lapel mic and wear a long sleeve shirt...you can then run it through your shirt and right in the palm of your hand, literally lol

I just learned this from a few music friends

:cheers:

[CorduroyEW]

Originally posted by wickidchyld
wont that just work for an internal mic though:confused:


The notch filter will work for all pickups.

[wickidchyld]

i ment the rubber disk :p:

[CorduroyEW]

^the rubber disk will help with just about any pickup too, but it helps some types more than others and of course you can't use them with pickups that are mounted in the soundhole.

[wickidchyld]

actualy...

http://www.elderly.com/images/accessories/ACC/WING_sm_.jpg (http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/WING.htm)
:p: