Hi guys - thanks for the tips.

The solution to the Tak problem was, of course, a Martin JC16 (like Don's) with a Fishman blender system, which has both omni mic and a very good saddle transducer. (Mine is universally admired by sound engineers everywhere). But then it cost about five times as much as the Tak!

If anyone is struggling to amplify an acoustic, I'd say the least invasive and most reliable system is the I-beam. None of the many problems associated with saddle transducers, immune to feedback and very faithful sound reproduction.

If I could find an omni/Ibeam blender I'd install it in the JC.

But if volume is not a major issue, a good condenser mic is the safest of all.

Tom