I HATE electronics that are mounted on the side of an acoustic guitar

aeisen93 · #1 07-28-2021, 04:50 PM

Does this bother any of you too? I really don't like how these big plastic rectangle boxes of electronics look mounted on the side of an acoustic guitar...

My Taylor 814ce has the Expression System, which is three small black flat knobs... I'm OK with that... But the big mounted electronics on a guitar are a total deal breaker for me. Am I crazy or do some of you feel the same way? It just ruins that natural acoustic look... I won't buy a guitar that has it.

Andromeda · #2 07-28-2021, 04:59 PM

I generally don't like any electronics in my acoustic guitars. I definitely don't like barn door electronics. However, my Takamine GJ72CE 12-String has barn door electronics AND
cutaways (another thing I don't like) so this guitar is the exception not the rule.

peter.coombe · #3 07-28-2021, 05:12 PM

It bothers me. Not because of the look, but electronics have a limited life span. It might outlast the life of the guitar, but most likely it won't. You then end up with a piece of useless junk in the guitar that is obsolete and unavailable, and can't be replaced with something new because the hole is the wrong size. I have lost count of the number of times someone has come to me asking can you fix it? Or can you replace it? If it is old the answer invariably is no and no. The acoustic guitar has a lot of years of life left in it but the electronics is stuffed.

aeisen93 · #4 07-28-2021, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter.coombe

It bothers me. Not because of the look, but electronics have a limited life span. It might outlast the life of the guitar, but most likely it won't. You then end up with a piece of useless junk in the guitar that is obsolete and unavailable, and can't be replaced with something new because the hole is the wrong size. I have lost count of the number of times someone has come to me asking can you fix it? Or can you replace it? If it is old the answer invariably is no and no. The acoustic guitar has a lot of years of life left in it but the electronics is stuffed.

Very good point. My Taylor's electronics have been working fine for the last 15 years. It just runs on two AA batteries. Hopefully it continues to work for years to come.

jazzereh · #5 07-28-2021, 05:16 PM

Nope, does not bother me. If it's there, it's there. If it's not, it's not. Small issue. I have guitars that have it, some that don't. If you don't like this item, there's lots of choice in what guitar you buy.

KevinH · #6 07-28-2021, 05:17 PM

I like the look of pure acoustics with no knobs or other stuff attached - even pick guards. But if I bought a guitar for the electronics, a control panel doesn't bother me (like on my HyVibe'd Eastman), because it's just part of the function for that particular guitar.

TBman · #7 07-28-2021, 05:18 PM

I do not like the look at all.

KevWind · #8 07-28-2021, 05:28 PM

Nope doesn't bother me, I care about sound

cc132 · #9 07-28-2021, 05:50 PM

Any electronics, even relatively invisible ones, are a dealbreaker for me. I wish I understood why, but I just can't stand them.

tonyo · #10 07-28-2021, 05:53 PM

I used to feel that way, but changed my tune once I started performing on stage. Had a guitar with kk static pickup with a pre-amp that clipped onto my belt. Just too fiddly for my liking.

My main stage guitar has the big barn door electronics on the side of the guitar and it suits me fine as it's easy to find, easy to adjust compared to the kk pre-amp on my belt.

EZYPIKINS · #11 07-28-2021, 05:58 PM

Well, using on stage the "barn door" preamps make things much easier to deal with.

Battery changes. Tone adjustments. Feedback buster in the sound hole.

Sure it screws the pooch in the looks department. But the whole point of an acoustic electric. For me anyway, is stage play.

I don't want to deal with any undue feedback. I don't do in ear monitors.

Cram a buster in the hole, swap out the battery and go.

Recording is another story.

I'll never record an acoustic pickup again.

Benjo · #12 07-28-2021, 06:07 PM

Its a turn off to be sure

rllink · #13 07-28-2021, 06:20 PM

I don't like the looks of them but I like the function. So I go with them on my guitars. I like the ability to just plug and play.

Song · #14 07-28-2021, 06:45 PM

Some artists use exotic pickup systems beyond the needs of casual guitarists.
Those side controls can be more than volume, bass, treble.
Possibly add presence, notch, effect, mix between multi-sources, tuner, batt level, etc.
They are more concerned with tone control than aesthetic bias.

ruger9 · #15 07-28-2021, 06:57 PM

I'll be honest, I love having the onboard tuner (which is in the "big black box" lol), and I HATE clip-on tuners.

I also like having preamp controls onboard, rather than on a pedal, it's simply easier and quicker to make adjustments. This is for a live instrument tho. Around the house, it doesn't matter... I don't need an onboard tuner or a preamp, I play acoustically, and the "BBB" doesn't bother me.