Cheap, but decent pickup system??

[dtpolk]

I'm pretty poor, retired and all. I'm looking for a cheap but somewhat decent acoustic guitar pickup system. I've been targeting the EQ7545R system, which used an under the saddle pizeo(sp) pickup into a 4 band equalizer. The whole thing goes new for less then $20. Has anyone tried one of these?

Or should I be looking at something different at or near that price? Fishman? Other? Suggestions are welcome.

[kcnbys]

For what purpose will you be plugging in your guitar?

[varmonter]

https://m.ebay.com/itm/SHURE-SM57-MI...UAAOSwAhVahOK8

25 bucks on ebay. you won't find a pickup that sounds this good this cheap.

[Mandobart]

I'm not a fan of UST's for several reasons. JJB has been my go-to SBT for many years. I've installed these in nearly 20 instruments now from violin to mandolin, guitar, banjo and upright bass.

[BT55]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

I'm not a fan of UST's for several reasons. JJB has been my go-to SBT for many years. I've installed these in nearly 20 instruments now from violin to mandolin, guitar, banjo and upright bass.

+1 on the JJB pickup system. It’s a passive system, the same as a K&K pure mini at half the price. If you’re handy it’s easy to install. There are excellent K&K installation videos on YouTube.

[varmonter]

jjb and kk are great pickups just a little out
of the OP price range of 20 bucks. finding these
used is a bit rare because they generally don't
come out after being superglued.

[Wooly]

If you can swing it, a JJB Prestige 330 is a fantastic pickup for the price. Customer service is great also.

Another suggestion, if you don't mind a sound hole pickup, is a Fishman Neo-D single coil. Pretty reasonably priced.

[leew3]

This may be a place to start. A rather good tone from a pickup with a well established reputation.

https://reverb.com/p/seymour-duncan-...E&hfid=9934418

[rokdog49]

JJB Electronics Prestige 330 also...
$50

[Long Road Home]

I replaced the stock Baggs Element VTC with a BGM Elevation ($35, I think) in my now departed Breedlove OM/SRe-H and the sound really improved. I did have occasional feedback issues at one open mic that I played (had to watch where I stood in relation to the monitor) or use a sound hole plug.

[Br1ck]

If you want to make noise, anything will do. They all work. You can listen to music through a 2" speaker too.

Yes, what do you want to do with it?

This is quite the sore spot with me right now as I hate the sound of crummy electrics, and let me tell you, my hearing ain't what it used to be.

I recently rehabbed an old archtop guitar I felt wasn't worth investing another $200 in, so I bought some JJBs and darned if they aren't ok, not nearly Dazzos, but ok.

Now comes the kicker, and no one will tell you because they want to sell you pickups, you need a pre amp with the proper input impedance. I'm not going to get into the why, as that is one long explanation, but if you want any kind of pleasing tone, you need that match which can be as simple as the right DI box.

Also if you have an electric guitar amp around the house, it won't have the right input impedance either. So if you are going out to play an open mic, and I would encourage you to do so, ask the host if they are using some kind of pre amp or DI that solves this problem.

I am in the process of getting a DI box from a new company and donating it to my regular open mic because I'm tired of hearing K & K pickups direct into a mixing board. I'm on a mission to educate people.

Please don't construe what I'm saying as anthing other than my desire to educate. If you spend twenty bucks and are happy, more power to you. Like the folks over at the Mandolin Cafe say, if you don't hear the difference between a $300 and a $3000 mandolin, save your money. As a fellow retiree, I often tell younger folks every time I buy something I feel like I'm betting on myself to die sooner than later LOL.

[rokdog49]

He's right about the preamp or a least a DI box with a K and K or a JJB. Anyway, I think so.