I play a 1973 Martin O-18 which had a first-generation Martin Thinline pickup installed many years ago. The pickup sound is decidedly mediocre, but I've never had a bunch of bucks to throw at it for an upgrade. In a performance situation, if its socially acceptable and numerically possible, I generally try to hog two PA inputs for the guitar, one for the pickup and one for a regular mike on a boom stand (usually my SM57). The blend fattens the sound a lot and I don't have the expense, complication and rewiring of installing an internal mic.

A good sound tech can make this minimalist setup sound quite quite good. A not so good one can't.

About a year ago I _had_ to get a Fishman Pro EQ, cause I was so sick of not having any control over the pickup sound. It's done excellent service as a paperweight and desk ornament, since I haven't been performing anywhere at all...(but I _had_ to have it, you know.)

"Singer - songwriter amp?" Now there's a scary proposition.

Ovations? Don't care for them personally, but there's no denying their droppability. As for the sound, Rick's probably sounded good because he's a good player, d'ya think? (I'm hypothesizing here since I haven't heard him play.) Makes the more difference than what the back's made of. Helps if it's in tune too.

Bill