Acoustic Pickups
Thinking of amplifying your acoustic guitar? Noticed how many makes, models and types are available? Confused? Well, let's take a look at the different styles of pickups available and see if we can narrow the choice down a bit for you.
Contact Pickups
These pickups stick to the top of the guitar or bridge and are basically a type of microphone, which uses the top of the guitar as a part of the pickup. Most adhere using a putty-like substance or a double-sided tape. Some of the better models are made to fit internally
Pros: Inexpensive, pick up mechanical noises (flamenco style), easy fitting and removal.
Cons: Very feedback prone, not usually a good representation of the guitar's sound. Some glues used affect guitar's finish, pick up mechanical noises (string squeaks, knocks, etc.)
Under-Saddle Pickups
There are currently two main types of under-Saddle pickups available: Piezo and Copolymer. Due to the fact that they are fitted directly under the saddle, they get the majority of their sound directly from the strings with a relatively small amount of the colour from the body and top of the guitar. They have a wide frequency and dynamic range.
Piezo Pickups contain 6 tiny piezoelectric crystals, which produce electricity when stressed. Tend to be more percussive and have a very pronounced high end. These are the pickups fitted to most off-the-shelf electric/acoustic guitars. Fitting is extremely difficult, and different models are needed for different string spacings.
Copolymer Pickups utilise a single sensor strip which has a more balanced frequency response and natural sound than piezo pickups. String spacing is irrelevant to these pickups. A good example are the Prefix and Matrix ranges from Fishman.
Pros: Wide frequency and dynamic range, accurate sound, very feedback resistant, Inconspicuous.
Cons: Require a preamp for proper operation, require professional installation, some of the guitar's resonance is not sensed.
Magnetic Sound-Hole Pickups
Magnetic pickups are designed for steel-string acoustic guitars only. Classical guitars cannot utilise these pickups. They fit conveniently into the sound-hole and are removable. Some are height-adjustable and/or have individual pole pieces so that you can change the balance from string to string. A good example of these pickups is the Dean Markley Pro Mag
Pros: Relatively cheap, require no preamp, easy installation and removal, great feedback immunity, low noise.
Cons: They're very conspicuous and few have volume and EQ controls. Lacking in upper frequency ranges. Slightly "electric" in sound.
Microphones
Don't forget these babies. In studio they are the only way to go as they pickup the total sound the guitar produces. Some players use the miniature lapel mics, clipped to the soundhole for performance.
Pros: Excellent accuracy of sound. Pick up desirable mechanical noises (flamenco style percussion, etc)
Cons: Feedback prone. Good models are expensive. Full size mics limit movement. Pick up undesirable mechanical noises (chair squeaks, player sneezes, etc.)
Combination Pickups
A new breed of pickups combining an under saddle pickup, an internal microphone and an onboard mixing system. Really the best of both worlds - in a quieter playing situation the balance can be biased to the mic for a more resonant sound, while in louder playing situations, the mix can swing towards the undersaddle pickup for its anti feedback properties. Good examples of this are the Fishman Prefix Blender and some of the Yamaha APX series acoustic electric guitars.
