Neil Young's pickup system?

[Pnewsom]

Anyone know what pickup system Neil is using these days, or has used in the past on his acoustic guitars?

He usually has a mic mounted out front on a stand, and a cord coming from the guitar.

They always sound good to me. Nice and chunky on the bass, and not too much quack.

[drive-south]

I think he is currently using the Trance Audio Amulet system. Jackson Browne is also using the Amulet and Gibson is offering it as an option on the new Jackson Browne Sig model, with a very high mark-up.

[methodinsane]

Hi,


For years he has used a pair of FRAP pickups installed by a guy called Larry Crag. This has been the key to his sound. Other people have used the FRAP including Michael Hedges (one FRAP combined with a Sunrise magnetic soundhole pickup).

The FRAP cannot be obtained anymore. It's inventor, Arnie Lazarus, was a genius. The pickup consisted of three planes of sound pickup i.e. sound waves were picked up in 3 axis, X/Y/Z. Trance Audio have a system called the Amulet consisting of two Lens pickups (almost like FRAPs but allegedly not as detailed sounding), an internal preamp for preamping close, and an external stereo preamp connected to the guitar with a proprietary cable.

See here with more info on Neil's setup.
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...ad.php?t=66888

Teddy Randazzo has the "True" successor to the FRAP called... wait for it... "The Dazzo" I've heard samples of it and it sounds amazing, you can certainly here the "Frap" in it because some samples have a slight Hedge's sound to it (minus the Magnetic part). I believe I read somewhere that since the FRAP is so cantankerous and old that it's becoming difficult to source and worse to repair and maintain. The Dazzo is cheap in comparison to the Trance Audio system but there is no matching preamp yet although Teddy is working with MiSi on a deal.

A previous AGF dicussion on "The Dazzo":

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...ighlight=dazzo

Hope that helps a bit (and that my info is reasonably accurate).

I'm going to play with my reinstallation of my PUTW 54 (a review again soon because this time it sounds much better!!)

Thanks,
John Paul

[Joseph Hanna]

I saw Neil a few months back and he had an LR Baggs M1.

[Pnewsom]

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

I saw Neil a few months back and he had an LR Baggs M1.

Do you think that was all he was using? How did it sound?

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by Pnewsom

Do you think that was all he was using? How did it sound?

I do think that was all he was using but I don't know for sure. I said this here before but I think it was an incredibly acoustic guitar sound. As good as I've heard in a large stage setting.

[bizirk]

He does use FRAP on all his main guitars... Flat Response Acoustic Pickup. Listen to Methodinsane. He posted a great answer..

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by bizirk

He does use FRAP on all his main guitars... Flat Response Acoustic Pickup. Listen to Methodinsane. He posted a great answer..

You can "listen" to whom ever you choose. That said here is a clip of the Neil Young tour I just recently saw. In it Neil is clearly using the same pickup I saw here in Los Angeles..an LR Baggs M1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16nKcc0lR1A

[Joseph Hanna]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDHZ2...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8JZx...eature=related

Here are two more recent Neil Young shows...

[derek2400]

Neil used FRAPS

[kmgreensman]

Here is a video I found the other day on Baggs Youtube site. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skJdd...el_video_title

[El Conquistador]

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16nKcc0lR1A

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDHZ2...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8JZx...eature=related

Here are two more recent Neil Young shows...

Originally Posted by kmgreensman

Here is a video I found the other day on Baggs Youtube site. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skJdd...el_video_title

Well one thing I think is clear, he uses the Baggs when he sings about love and war.

Steve

[derek2400]

My bad! That is a little Guild he is playing. Not worthy of a FRAP! OUCH! Just kidding folks...... my dad has a nice little Guild. I love it!

[Eric Acoustic]

Dan Lanois has produced his last album, and he is a long time mag pu / acoustic amp user. Obviously not for its acoustic authenticity, but rather for its own mysterious sound. Neil Young likes to experiment, as seen in his last album, and probably embraced Lanois' set up for a song or two in his recent shows. Just another vibe. I wouldn't be surprised if that little guitar he uses is actually one of D. Lanois' own guitars. Here's Lanois endorsing the M1 (for the moment...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUz4uXPTW9c

[derek2400]

Good point Eric. That could be, in fact, one of Dan`s guitars. Never thought of that. That might explain why I`ve never seen him play it before. Hmmmmm....