Recommend me a pickup/preamp

[12 Fretter]

Hack acoustic player here...

I've been gigging a $200 Alvarez and just stepped up to the Yairi version of the same guitar. It doesn't have a pickup though and I have to add one. I love the guitar. It is like the Rolls Royce version of low line one I've been making work for the past 4 years.

I don't want a passive piezo with a box on the floor for the preamp- I'd like an onboard thing with EQ/Volume. This will also insure that this guitar will fall in output-wise with the other ones I have. It will also make sure that I can plug it into a PA with no outboard preamp if need be.

I'm not opposed to putting a hole in the side and mounting whatever is needed. But I see that there are some that mount in the sound hole now (like the Fishman Aura). I realize that cutting a hole in the side is like putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa, but that it what I am used to using for years. I definitely need a volume control on the guitar in a live situation. And really, EQ as well.

What is good? Who has some real world experience? I will likely never plug it in at home, just on gigs. Any recommendations are welcome.

Here is the guitar that the pick up will be going in:
https://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ALV-PYM70-LIST

Here's a few clips of my $200 Alvarez parlor on gigs. I'm looking for something that falls in line with this (and hopefully is better).

https://www.facebook.com/SeanAumack/...2902411063211/

https://www.facebook.com/SeanAumack/...4920147985373/

https://www.facebook.com/pauldcooper...0354982642166/

[martingitdave]

There are two onboard Fishman Aura systems. The Ellipse and the Pro. The pro is a "barn door" configuration. The ellipse sits inside the sound hole. There are two considerations when choosing between these two options: aesthetics and acoustic sound. I've used both versions. If you can live with the look of the barn door electronics, it will sound better. You're taking all that weight of that preamp off of the sound board and moving it to the acoustically inert sides of the guitar. Alternatively, you can consider the LR Baggs Anthem or Anthem SL. There are a few more options on the market, but those are some of the best sounding. Recently, I gave up on my quest for a fully onboard system and decided on using passive piezo and a box on the floor. But, we are all different. Your playing was good.

[Nick84]

How about the K&K pure Mini pickup with the K&K ultrapure Preamp, which sits in the soundhole

[BT55]

Originally Posted by Nick84

How about the K&K pure Mini pickup with the K&K ultrapure Preamp, which sits in the soundhole

I have the UltraPure Mini in a Voyage-Air and have nothing but positive things to say about it. You have all of the advantages of a K&K pickup with a small pre-amp. As it’s an active setup no external pre-amp is required. You can plug into anything with no problems.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Alvarez (and Yairi) installs L.R. Baggs Elements in their guitars, and I think they sound excellent. So:

• Soundhole controls: Baggs Element VT
• Barndoor preamp: Baggs Element StagePro

FWIW, the StagePro is in my Yairi, and I love it.

[roylor4]

The best sounding unobtrusive system i have eve used is the LR Baggs Anthem SL. I'm sure the regular Anthem is even better.

[12 Fretter]

Thanks everyone- I’ll look into all these.

[drive-south]

K&K mini Western pickup.
LR Baggs Para DI preamp.