#16
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Taylor 300 Series models with Expression System 2. ES2 is my choice for the best factory-installed system.
Takamine EF340STT and Takamine EF360STT both with TLD LineDriver 2. Or add a Trance Amulet M Dual Mono Acoustic Guitar System to any decent guitar. Trance is my choice as the best aftermarket system.
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#17
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Quote:
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#18
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My 2¢: Don't buy the guitar for the electronics. Buy the guitar you want, add a Fishman Infinity Matrix and invest in a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI.
That's what you're hearing at a James Taylor, Jason Isbell, Jerry Douglas, John Hyatt or Steve Earle show. Isbell says he can't tell the difference between the a Fishman Aura and a mic live. Neither can I. |
#19
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Based on the OP, I'd pass on the sophisticated and wonderful systems described and go for a basic Takamine or the like, which IMO are designed exactly for what your say you want to do. Seeking amazing amplified acoustic tone soon becomes like changing pickups, effects, tubes, speakers... everything... for an electric. It all makes a difference, and you can definitely get good advice (such as all the stuff in this thread) if you have a tonal goal in mind. On the other hand, though, there's the simplicity of a basic instrument like a Takamine that may never give you the spectacular tones of James Taylor's amplified Olsons, but will serve you well through just about any amp and in just about any room. Just depends on what you want. It's not always necessary or even helpful to chase the most beautiful acoustic tone attainable. If I were a featured or solo performer playing to an audience regularly, I'd look into systems mentioned here. For pick-up gigs of all kinds, I'd go with a reliable Takamine or others.
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#20
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Theres no substitute for a condenser mic...
Im a purist, I hate the sound from internal pickups, they just sound hollow and dead, but I would agree with the Tak's though as being one of the better.
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Gibson J45 and Hummingbird 2016 Baked Vintage's Martin D18 2012 ..and not a whole load of talent. |
#21
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I have a K&K in my DM and a Fishman Matrix in my 000M and I have a Takamine P5NC. When played through my Fender acoustasonic or my Trace Elliot none of them can compare to my Takamine P5NC.
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Some Martins |
#22
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I don't want to add a pickup to a guitar I already have because they don't fit into the "guitar I wouldn't cry over if it got scratched" category.
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#23
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A Japanese built Takamine is the only way to go at your price point. Great value plug-in-and-go guitars with highly reliable state-of-the-art electronics, quality construction, peerless finish and while they're pretty good unplugged, they sound a million dollars plugged in. A no-brainer, in my opinion.
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1932 National Tricone Style 2 2002 Martin 000-28ec 2014 Martin 00-15m 1998 Takamine PT-508 1983 Ibanez V320 2011 Martin LX1 |
#24
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With a budget up to $2k you can easily buy a used staple (D18, J-45, etc..) with a few dings already in it and add a great sounding pickup. If you shop around a little you can find one with a great sounding pickup already installed. This is the no-compromise approach. A lot of people have mentioned Takamine. Takamine innovated in pickup technology in the 90s. But in the past decade or so they have not changed much with their designs. The innovation in pickup technology has come from Fishman (used by Martin, et al), LR Baggs (used by Gibson, et al) and companies like K&K. Here is a short list of great sounding pro-grade pickups LR Baggs Anthem LR Baggs Lyric LR Baggs Active Element (cuts through great when playing with a full band) Fishman Aura Fishman Matrix + external Fishman Aura Spectrum "imaging" DI K&K Pure (passive) + quality DI like LR Baggs Venue DI If your budget was under $1000, I would suggest an Alvarez Masterworks (they use B-Band and LR Baggs pickups and they sound great plugged in) or Epiphone Masterbuilt models DR500MCE or AJ45ME. The Nanoflex pickup system they use is no LR Baggs or Fishman, but it probably rivals what Takamine was putting in their guitars in the 1990s and on par with what they are using today. I would also not rule out the new Taylor Academy series. Haven't played one yet but I know they really impressed a lot of people at NAMM who don't impress so easily.
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Wayne J-45 song of the day archive https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis..._Zmxz51NAwG1UJ My music https://soundcloud.com/waynedeats76 https://www.facebook.com/waynedeatsmusic My guitars Gibson, Martin, Blueridge, Alvarez, Takamine Last edited by Rmz76; 02-16-2017 at 03:25 PM. |
#25
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If you like the 'Ovation' sound, then...
...impressive pickup and electronics. They can be found on EBay for cheap prices. I'm also a big advocate of 'mic' modelling technology so I endorse the Fishman Aura System. However this has to be professionally installed on your guitar or you have to go the stomp box route via a piezo UST.
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________________________________ Carvin SH 575, AE185-12 Faith Eclipse 12 string Fender RK Tele Godin ACS SA, 5th Ave Gretsch G7593, G9240 Martin JC-16ME Aura, J12-16GT, 000C Nylon Ovation: Adamas U681T, Elite 5868, Elite DS778TX, Elite Collectors '98 Custom Legend, Legend LX 12 string, Balladeer, Classical Parker MIDIfly, P10E Steinberger Synapse Taylor 320, NS34 Yamaha SA503 |
#26
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Quote:
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#27
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Based on the reputation, wouldn't:
Rare Earth Blend + any guitar = success?
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Why would you be reading a signature when there's so much V-Brace stuff to talk about? |
#28
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Quote:
Last year I bought a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI (the box Jason Isbell uses and praises) and got to a point where I wouldn't plug-in without. Planned to equip all my guitars with USTs as an affordable way to move forward with plugged in sound. UST's like the Matrix or Baggs Element are easy to install and inexpensive. Also, chances with a used guitar you'll already have a UST system in it The sells pitch on the Aura Spectrum is that if you pair it with the right image (think amp model in something like a Line6 POD for electric guitar, it's kind of the same thing but for acoustic modeling), you end up with a plugged in sound that models the tone of a microphone placed in front of the guitar combined with the UST blended in. The down side of the Aura Spectrum approach. 1. To get optimal sound out of it, you have install the Fishman library software on your computer, plug the box into your computer and download the latest images 2. You have to spend a few hours tinkering with the images and microphone combos to find the best sound for your guitars and there isn't always a perfect match. For my Gibson WM-45, I go with one of three built in J-45 images, my favorite is one Fishman created using a $2000 Neumann microphone, my other favorite is J-45 image they created with a Sure SM57. I have a solid cedar top Alvarez that is similar in shape to a Taylor GS body style. After experimenting with a lot of images I decided on the Lowden F35C image with Neumann mic model. Even paired with the inexpensive stock BBand UST in the Alvarez it sounds great plugged in. So there Aura Spectrum is kind of a tinker toy. Probably not a tool if you're looking for a solution that requires no work at all. I own a Sure SM57 and decided to have a friend of mine help me with a blind fold test. Playing my guitar though the PA with SM57 in front of it vs going through the pickup and Aura Spectrum using the spectrums SM57 + J-45 image with the blend set to 60% image 40% UST with the EQ flat UST I could not hear a difference. When playing with a full band I turn the blend knob to about 30% image and 70% pickup/UST sound and it works great. Add a sound hole plugger and you will never experience feedback. The Aura Spectrum DI retails for around $400 so it would eat up a big part of the OPs budget. Since he's looking for the best quality, least expensive solution I'm not sure this is the best path. The Martin Retro's have the Aura technology built in but are outside OPs budget, however the Martin DCAura GT has the same imaging technology built into the guitars pre-amp these run $1400-$1600 used so that might be an option.
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Wayne J-45 song of the day archive https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis..._Zmxz51NAwG1UJ My music https://soundcloud.com/waynedeats76 https://www.facebook.com/waynedeatsmusic My guitars Gibson, Martin, Blueridge, Alvarez, Takamine Last edited by Rmz76; 02-17-2017 at 01:55 PM. |
#29
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Since you have a budget up to 2K, I'll endorse the Rainsong Shorty. Can't beat it for worry-free playing out (or playing in - it's what sits out on the stand all the time at my house). The sound is fine, plugged-in or not, but it's not going to make you want to sell your expensive and pristine wooden beauties.
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Hatcher Woodsman, Collings 0002H, Stella Grand Concert |
#30
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I'm aurally allergic to piezo pickups.
IMO to get any respectable sound from an acoustic you need a microphone
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Fazool "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter" 000-15 / GC7 / GA3-12 / SB2-C / SB2-Cp / AVC-11MHx / AC-240 |