Best pickup combo for aggressive flatpicking

[hotroad]

I am versed in the pickups out there but am wondering if anyone on the forum has a suggestion for a PU that handles aggressive flatpicking, somewhat like Tommy Emmanuel does at times. I use a sharp attack on the strings for some of my songs and like the notes to be clear and heard. I know that eq, string choice and flat pick choice are also key but I have a guitar without any PU right now and am wondering what others may suggest. Thanks in advance.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by hotroad

I am versed in the pickups out there but am wondering if anyone on the forum has a suggestion for a PU that handles aggressive flatpicking, somewhat like Tommy Emmanuel does at times. I use a sharp attack on the strings for some of my songs and like the notes to be clear and heard. I know that eq, string choice and flat pick choice are also key but I have a guitar without any PU right now and am wondering what others may suggest. Thanks in advance.

Trance Audio Amulet M Dual Mono Acoustic Guitar Pickup System. Trance systems are what Neil Young, Jackson Browne and Paul Simon use. Michael Hedges also used them before he passed. The Trance preamp is a low-distortion/high-headroom preamp so it works well with flat-picking/strumming.

http://www.tranceaudio.com/amuletm.html

[duluthdan]

Another strong endorsement here for the Trance.

[Petty1818]

Originally Posted by hotroad

I am versed in the pickups out there but am wondering if anyone on the forum has a suggestion for a PU that handles aggressive flatpicking, somewhat like Tommy Emmanuel does at times. I use a sharp attack on the strings for some of my songs and like the notes to be clear and heard. I know that eq, string choice and flat pick choice are also key but I have a guitar without any PU right now and am wondering what others may suggest. Thanks in advance.

I do aggressive strumming and I have definitely struggled with achieving a good tone. I purchased the Amulet M this summer but have not installed it yet. I did try it once though and it seemed to handle aggressive strumming quite well. It seems to also have a bit more clarity than most SBT's so it could be the answer.

I have also tried the spectrum/Fishman set up and it was quite good but maybe a tad thin sounding. I like a big fat tone for strumming, which is hard to get. The Lr Baggs Lyric probably had the best plugged in tone for strumming that I have heard but it lacked bottom end. I tried the Anthem but it really didn't help much.

Honestly, the best tone I have heard for aggressive strumming has come from the Maton/Takamine pickups. I know that doesn't help though.

[open-road-matt]

I'll add another positive vote for the Trance. I've tried many different pickups and preamps. I've only been using it for a couple of months but the Trance in my Collings D1 is my favorite for strumming with a flatpick so far.

Matt

[sdelsolray]

A magnetic pickup will not have the quack potential of USTs and, to a lesser extent, SBTs.

[Petty1818]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

A magnetic pickup will not have the quack potential of USTs and, to a lesser extent, SBTs.

That's a good suggestion. I have often thought about trying a magnetic + SBT set up. I think the magnetic would give a nice cutting tone, with enhanced bass and a clean headroom sound for aggressive strumming where as the SBT would add some natural attack + warmth.

[Vancebo]

I use the hand made Dazzo. Pound as hard as you want, no distortion or quackiness. It's the same concept as the Trance but cheaper. Check it out.

Check out the thread down the page a bit called "What Pickup Do I Need".

[midwinter]

Very happy with my B-Band.