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Dana Bourgeois on pickups in high-end guitars
Here is Dana Bourgeois' most recent article for Acoustic Guitar, giving his opinion on another topic that has been covered here quite a bit.
Should I put a pickup on my high-end instrument? http://bourgeoisguitars.net/our-news...-guru-pickups/ Ryan Fitzsimmons Bourgeois Guitars |
#2
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Nice article, thanks for posting.
I agree with most of it, especially this bit: Quote:
For me though, j do definitely understand why people would want to add a pickup to their "best" guitar, even if it is vintage and irreplaceable. There is something to be said for playing your #1 on stage, and not "settling" for a lesser guitar simply because you need amplification. -Mike
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For sale: Mint Condition Guild D125-12 All Mahogany 12 string 2009 Martin 000-18 Golden Era 1937 |
#3
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I get what he is saying and I have often thought about getting just "gigging" guitars. The problem is that that gets costly and honestly, if I had dedicated gigging guitars; I would hardly ever use my higher end guitars. I really don't think that enlarging the endpin for an output jack is a big deal at all anymore. I would never do it to a vintage instrument but I don't own any. Screwing holes into the guitar or buying barn door controls are all "no-no's" in my book but we are lucky enough now to have so many pickups that hardly alter the guitar.
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#4
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At this point if I wanted to play either of my guitars amplified I would just get a removable sound hole pickup. I completely agree with everything Dana had to say here.
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Bonanzinga Clarksdale Santa Cruz Vintage Jumbo I feel like a condemned building with a brand new flag pole- Les Paul. |
#5
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"High end guitar/Designated gigging guitar"
Why would you want a guitar that you can't play out?
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I don't know (searching will turn up lots of conflicting info, from an iBeam pickup to K&K to clip-on mics). But I think Dana's point here is that unless you also have the $100K+ sound system and the pro sound man running it, and possibly the acoustically-tuned venue that they may be performing in, etc, etc, you're not going to get the same sound even if you match the rest of his setup (pickup, guitar and so on)
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John Pictures of musical instruments are like sculptures of food. |
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Interesting reading, and, while I agree with Dana's sentiments regarding the "alteration" of a potential classic piece, I have to swing widely towards the other end of the spectrum for my personal use...
As a lifelong dedicated singer/songwriter/guitarist, I have not ever made much money from playing music and writing songs... alas, that one "hit" recording of one of my tunes has yet to happen! After the frivolity of my youth, the hard facts of making one's way in this material world hit home solidly... so, most (if not all) of the money made from playing and gigging has gone to paying for a place to live and all the other necessities incumbent with same. Then add in strings for my guitars, occasional work needing to be done to have them in great playing shape, better sounding gear for performing... and there has rarely been "enough" left over to dally with more than one good guitar, let alone to actually be buying multiple instruments, some for performing and some only for the home environment! Back in 1979, it took everything I had to buy my new Mark Angus-commissioned guitar, including selling my older Martin D-35. It was the ONLY 6 string acoustic I had, so I played it... a LOT! Took it with me everywhere, rigged it for "plugging in", recorded with it, slept with it, etc., etc., etc.... The idea that "if you can afford a really great guitar, you can afford a cheaper guitar to plug-in" is ludicrous to my way of thinking... I'm not sure that Mr. Bourgeois is really in touch with what it means and takes to be a musician for one's "life-calling". For me, I NEVER bought a guitar intending on saving it for future generations; I buy them to play and use in however the need or circumstance may call for... I'll let the guy who gets one of my guitars somewhere in the future, worry about how I shouldn't have actually used the thing... Sure, if one wanted to have a guitar that was preserved as a sort of museum piece, then I can totally "get" the point of that article... I just don't think it makes much sense out here "in the real world" where the rubber meets the road...
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"He's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath, always trust your cape..." "The Cape" (Guy Clark/Jim Janowsky/Susanna Clark) |
#10
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I totally agree with Jseth. I have the same attitude. Are you gonna' play it or stare at it?
Furthermore the options on acoustic pickups today are to the extent that you can achieve really great amplification with very little modification to the guitar. I would have no problem popping in a Baggs Anthem SL like the one I have in my $1400 Larrivee' in a guitar at twice the price if I could afford that guitar. If you are a collector, then ok fine. Otherwise... |
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Yes, lots of conflicting info here. Last I heard he was using a Baggs Lyric, but that could be out of date or wrong info. When I saw him live solo he was running his guitar through a Baggs Venue, but the Nickel Creek rig is definitely more complex than this, and has several other pedals, including a volume pedal of some sort.
-Mike
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For sale: Mint Condition Guild D125-12 All Mahogany 12 string 2009 Martin 000-18 Golden Era 1937 |
#12
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Sounded a bit pontificating to me... A Santa Cruz is a very fine guitar, but it will never be equated with a pre-war D-28.
Putting a sound board transducer or even (shudder) a UST in a guitar, modern or vintage, will never cause the kind of damage he was bemoaning from a permanently mounted sound hole pickup and volume control in the face of a guitar & it was disingenuous to suggest it might be. |
#13
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LR Baggs Lyric and Venue DI, among other things.
Fantastic sound when I heard them (Nickle Creek) and their most recent tour!! |
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installation, pickups, vintage acoustic |
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