Howdy, Folks: Your Suggestion for Best Acoustic P/U less than $100

[guitaniac]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

GL, you mentioned them before, in that other thread. Definitely sounds like exploring. Do you go into a preamp or anything before going into the amp? I play a lot of open mics that have quick change-overs between acts, and thus you go right into the PA.

Also, Luva, if I may ask, what guitar(s) are you currently playing with the Schatten rig installed?

Thanks Again,
Scott

You'll definitely want a preamp if attending unfamiliar open mics. A few PA mixers have dedicated instrument channels which are designed to deal with passive pickups, but most PA mixers don't. If you end up running directly into a typical mixer channel, you'll get a very trebly sounding result with most passive piezo pickups.

Albeit, some open mic hosts will have an outboard preamp(s) available to accommodate passive pickups. That's not a given, however.

[lkingston]

So the problem is that you want to take a less valuable guitar to open mics and get really good sound without sinking a lot of money into a pickup that is more valuable than the guitar. Thus you are looking for an inexpensive pickup that still sounds good. Also, you probably don’t want to go to an open mic with extra equipment (a preamp, an extra patch cord, a power supply, an extension cord).

When looking at the same set of parameters, I opted to put an expensive but removable soundhole pickup (Schertler AG-6/S-mic) in a used Martin DX-1 (HPL back and sides, solid top). The only thing permanently mounted to the guitar is the $20 end pin jack and cable. I couldn’t be happier.

Yes the pickup cost about the same as the guitar, but it is removable and at some point when I retire the guitar, I’ll just buy another beater and transfer the pickup. Meanwhile, the amplified sound is stellar and I don’t need a preamp with even the crappiest PA.

[gfirob]

+1 for the $10 Amazon K&K copy.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073ZH1FNX..._cskmCbAZMGYRM

It's gain is quite a bit lower than the K&K, but its an easy install (double sided tape not glue) and sounds pretty good for the price. I use it through a Tonedexter which is a big improvement. I have it as a temporary pickup in a 1957 National 1155.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by gfirob

+1 for the $10 Amazon K&K copy.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073ZH1FNX..._cskmCbAZMGYRM

It's gain is quite a bit lower than the K&K, but its an easy install (double sided tape not glue) and sounds pretty good for the price. I use it through a Tonedexter which is a big improvement. I have it as a temporary pickup in a 1957 National 1155.

Rob, thanks, just ordered one. What the heck. What guitar(s) did you install it in?

Thanks Again,
Scott

[Mandobart]

This JJB with switchjack for $40, plus an inexpensive but good external preamp. I've used JJB pickups in over 20 different instruments over the past 10 years. I can afford to use whatever I like, but the JJB's sound good, are easy to install, hold up over time and most importantly don't affect the acoustic sound. I've gigged for years with both the Behringer ADI21 and K&K Pure preamp. Both inexpensive and work well, either one would be a good choice.

[gfirob]

Scott, the guitar is a 1957 National 1155, which has a Gibson J45 body and a National/Valco bolt-on neck. Gibson and National both had the same distributor at the time and so Gibson provided the complete bodies, braced and bound but unfinished and National used their "Stylist" neck, which was made with a solid bar of Magnesium surrounded by a thin mahogany shell and an adjustable connection at the body, allowing for quick neck angle adjustment with an allen wrench (since they considered the magnesium neck warp proof). These are interesting guitars and an inexpensive alternative to a 50's Gibson slope shouldered dread.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by gfirob

Scott, the guitar is a 1957 National 1155, which has a Gibson J45 body and a National/Valco bolt-on neck. Gibson and National both had the same distributor at the time and so Gibson provided the complete bodies, braced and bound but unfinished and National used their "Stylist" neck, which was made with a solid bar of Magnesium surrounded by a thin mahogany shell and an adjustable connection at the body, allowing for quick neck angle adjustment with an allen wrench (since they considered the magnesium neck warp proof). These are interesting guitars and an inexpensive alternative to a 50's Gibson slope shouldered dread.

Rob, wow, what an intriguing guitar. Don't believe I've ever seen one.

Sounds like fun,

Thanks,
Scott

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

This JJB with switchjack for $40, plus an inexpensive but good external preamp. I've used JJB pickups in over 20 different instruments over the past 10 years. I can afford to use whatever I like, but the JJB's sound good, are easy to install, hold up over time and most importantly don't affect the acoustic sound. I've gigged for years with both the Behringer ADI21 and K&K Pure preamp. Both inexpensive and work well, either one would be a good choice.

Bart, thanks. Actually, I have that Behringer pre-amp but have never used it. And I have a JJB 220 never installed.

Sounds like a good possibility.

thanks,
scott

[moosedog]

+1 on the Fishman Neo D. I use a passive one in my Huss and Dalton OM plugged into my Baggs Venue to boost the signal. Sounds very good!

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by moosedog

+1 on the Fishman Neo D. I use a passive one in my Huss and Dalton OM plugged into my Baggs Venue to boost the signal. Sounds very good!

Moon, thanks,

scott

[Wistah]

For open mics and shady bars with dicey sound systems and lots of background noise, I'd recommend a magnetic pickup. I'd say the Baggs M1A, but its well over your $100 limit. I've been tempted to try the Guild Dearmond Tone Boss pickup, and that comes in under your budget.

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Wistah

For open mics and shady bars with dicey sound systems and lots of background noise, I'd recommend a magnetic pickup. I'd say the Baggs M1A, but its well over your $100 limit. I've been tempted to try the Guild Dearmond Tone Boss pickup, and that comes in under your budget.

Wistah, thanks. I refuse to play such places. I write and play "listening music," lyrically based, and just doesn't work in those kind of environments.

Thanks, though,
Scott

[Charmed Life Picks]

Hey, could someone please confirm? Did B-Band go out of business?

sm

[GuitarLuva]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

Hey, could someone please confirm? Did B-Band go out of business?

sm

Unfortunately, they did go out of business.