Would you buy a high-end instrument with a barn door pickup system?

[rockabilly69]

I actually put a barn door system into one of my stage guitars and it worked out great.

[pegleghowell]

Me,personally,I`d avoid.I recently turned down a nice martin om because it`s end block had been reamed out for a pick up system.

[SpruceTop]

Yes, especially with an Onboard Aura system.

[Silly Moustache]

No, nope, nein, non, nee!
I want my guitars to look like guitars looked in 1933.

Just like I do!

Sheesh! You'll be suggesting cutaways next!

If a guitar is made with built in electrics - its an electric guitar!
Ol' Andy has spake!

(and -the lawn ? get off!)

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Yes, especially with an Onboard Aura system.

Me too. Especially with Aura.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Roccorobb

A local sale for a bourgeois OMC at a really great price has me asking myself this question. The system in question is a fishman aura. A buddy of mine has the exact same configuration in his Gibson songwriter and it sounds fantastic, but it is a big old fat barn door cut into the side of the guitar that can never be undone. Any guidance?

Hi Rocco etc

It seems obvious that people would reject even a world-class guitar if it has a barn door pickup system in it.

It's a great world to live in that we have the choices we do for obtaining great instruments which make us happy in every detail about them.

[Mandobart]

I'm in the "no" camp. In my experience, I have not seen the "barn door" electronics box in anything but low to middling quality guitars, and I'm sure there are reasons for that.

Most all the acoustic instruments I've bought have no pickups at all. I've added non-invasive internal pickups and chosen a variety of external preamps, tuners, eq's, etc.

There is no reason to compromise the structural, acoustic tonal or aesthetic properties of any instrument with a large hole and plastic box in order to add an unimpressive tuner, eq or preamp with a battery that can cause damage to the instrument. These components can be had in a convenient external package that will way outperform the barn door components. As technology improves you just change out your external components or possibly internal pickup, but you're not stuck with an ugly obsolete plastic box carved into the side of your guitar.

[Petty1818]

I personally wouldn´t. Pickup technology changes so frequently that it´s just not worth it. There are some circumstances where it´s fine (if I buy a purely stage guitar), but in most cases I want my best acoustics to be free of battery compartments or external controls.

[markd]

Originally Posted by Methos1979

It depends on what the guitar is primarily to be used for. Gigging guitar? Barndoor I'm fine with.

My thoughts exactly.

[BluesKing777]

Sometimes you have to decide exactly what you want!

The little BMW coupes with the twin turbo 6 motor would generally leave everyone for dead on the....freeway entrance! But you are not going to take it to the track with the true monsters.....

As I have said a zillion times, the best pickup system I have tried and own is the Maton AP5-Pro - this comes on just about every Maton made since 2013...except ha ha ha, the cheapies. It is usually on the high enders but optional on the custom shoppers. It can sound great plugged direct to a nice PA.

Budget model on left of photo, mid range on right:




Top of the factory range Maton Messiah 808:



Now if you want a similar sound to the Maton dual source pickup system, you need to get your nice guitar a K&K Trinitiy Onboard system....and then you have all this 'stuff' - on my Cargill custom 00:



I also have the outboard Trinity Pro preamp - possibly something the Maton owners would laugh at, but it works. Again, more 'stuff'.

So gigs, Maton by a long shot - onboard controls for master vol, mic vol, pickup vol, bass, treble and SWEEPABLE MID control, 2 AA batteries, endpin plus the jack plug off to the right so you don't have to unplug to sit it against the amp...oooohhh, I would never do that, would I? Also add a DI/ extra EQ box and don't forget the custom size Maton 808 soundhole plug feedback buster!





BluesKing777.

[Tico]

Absolutely not, no way Jose.
Not me.

You asked for guidance.
I can't offer that.
You should buy/or not buy, whatever you like/dislike.
It's your money.
It's your guitar.
Clearly, some like barndoors.

[hotroad]

No way for me. Pickups change and improve. What will you do when the barn door electronics are obsolete or not wanted. Technology changes fast.

[godfreydaniel]

I’ve never seen a Bourgeois with a cut out for a sound system. I’m guessing this was done by someone else. Ugh.

[Peter Z]

Not anymore

[jseth]

Nope... never for a new guitar... possibly for a used guitar that was stellar and very low priced... certainly never for a higher-end model.