For electric guitar, a master volume amp helps to get a desired tone without the volume. Judicious use of the guitar's volume control can help raise and lower the guitar signal appropriate to the arrangement, rhythm versus solo'lead, etc. Better yet, a volume pedal, so that hands are free to play. Using the amp as a personal monitor works well if it's mic'd to the PA. For acoustic guitar, unsaddle pickups are an aberration of modern design. They suck tone, sound grassy or quacky, and are a pain to EQ. At least go with a soundboard transducer, K&K makes nice ones, and a decent EQ (mine's a basic ART). Better yet, use a mic. My choice of late has been a Sennheiser condenser. Everything should be run through a PA if the venue demands the volume. Do yourself and everyone else a favour by carrying your own quality mic, stand, cable, and other gear so that you're not stuck with some crap from the establishment. Last, throw caution to the wind and allow a soundperson to control relative volumes. Turning up isn't always the answer if everyone else can turn down. Peace, Mooh.
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