#1
|
|||
|
|||
acoustic sound degradation by soundhole pickup?
I just had a Seymour Duncan MagMic installed in my 00-12 fret. While I quite like the sound of the pickup, I‘m not sure whether the guitar acoustically sounded better without the pup. It feels like there’s some attenuation of lows/low mids.
Is it possible that the reduction of soundhole area is responsible for this? Anyone else having this issue with a MagMic in a smallish soundhole?
__________________
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I've never heard any difference from a guitar after installing a sound-hole pickup.
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I‘ve had similar thoughts about that...
See link to thread: Acoustic sound changing due to soundhole pickup https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=531169 |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
The mag mic is pretty big, I'd be surprised if it didn't change the sound in some way. Whether that is good or bad idk. I went with the Fishman rare earth because it is smaller than a lot of other soundhole pickups. I think even something like the k&k might dampen the sound - yes the transducers are small but the cable attached weighs enough to probably affect things. An extreme example - it only takes a tiny bit of moongel to change the sound of my snare drum. Just depends on how quiet of a room you're in and how well you can listen!
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
It's inevitable that putting a large object in the part of the guitar from where the sound emanates is going to change that sound. The type and amount of change is going to vary by guitar, and in most instances won't be that discernible to the human ear.
Most people treat soundhole pickups as a less than permament installation, so if you don't need to plug in, remove the pickup. If you're plugged in it is an irrelevance as the only sound heard by the audience will be the amplified sound.
__________________
Martin Custom Shop Deep Body OM42 (Guatemalan Rosewood / Adirondack) Ernie Ball Aluminium Bronze 12-54's Dazzo 70's & SunnAudio Stage DI |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
I've had a Baggs M80 in my D18 for years, it has not affected nor dampened the unplugged tone.
__________________
NOLE TUNES & Coastal Acoustic Music one love jam! Martin D18 & 3 lil' birdz; Takamine KC70, P3NC x 2 |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
The thing is that that pickup is a little bit of a pain to install in this particular guitar since it can only be put in with one of the screws and the strings completely removed because the soundhole is small (about 94 mm). Also, I would have to remove the endpin jack since there’s no way to unplug the pickup. So removing and reinstalling the thing as needed is not an option.
__________________
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down, “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. —John Lennon |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
My m80 in my 71 martin didnt change a thing.
at least not perceptable to my ear. that guitar is extremely responsive as well. it also has a kk installed. It still sounds great. I wouldnt worry about it to the point of removing it all the time. thats a pain and eventually may cause some accidental ding or scratch. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
acoustic sound degradation by soundhole pickup?
Quote:
What I meant is that the guitar sounded awesome acoustically before pickup installation and now I suspect the sound has been altered by the big honking device in the soundhole.
__________________
|
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
Martin Custom Shop Deep Body OM42 (Guatemalan Rosewood / Adirondack) Ernie Ball Aluminium Bronze 12-54's Dazzo 70's & SunnAudio Stage DI |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Sorry if I what I wrote was confusing. I meant sell the pickup, not the guitar.
__________________
When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down, “happy.” They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. —John Lennon |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Seems to me that clamping anything into the soundhole would necessarily limit the excursion of the top and since the top accounts for at least 90% of the overall tone, it couldn't help but alter it.
It is also for this reason that I don't use Medium strings, as I feel that they choke the top too much...I'm not really a flatpicker on acoustic for the most part though, and that might be a better option for a bluegrass player. Long ago I used a DiMarzio soundhole pup to plug in my acoustic for a gig; it sounded pretty good, but to my ear it was more like a hybrid of an acoustic guitar and jazz-box. The best I can say about it is that this might be a really good option for someone wanting to get jazz tones from a regular acoustic.
__________________
Larrivee L-10 Custom Larrivee DV-10K Larrivee L-03 Taylor 412K ('96) Yamaha LL16-12 (SOLD) PRS 'Studio' (SOLD) Rickenbacker 660-12 (SOLD) Fender USA Deluxe Strat Fender USA Roadhouse Strat Fender MIM/USA Partscaster Fender MIM Nashville Tele Kelsey Custom Hardtail Strat Fender MIM P-Bass |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
It will interfere with air flow in and out of the guitar and will have an effect on the acoustic sound.
|