Hi all,

Sorry, for being so long winded, my question is at the end...

Let's keep this discussion going! Since I first started playing guitar, so long ago, I've wanted to amplify the thing. Even to my immature teenage ears the sound of the soundhole pickups of the day was so bad that it kept me from gigging/jamming like I wanted. There was a time when I rarely even played acoustic in public because an electric was just so much easier to amplify. Now however, I really want to perfect the acoustic approach, and there are some agreeable sounding pickups, if you are ready to concede that every pickup adds its degree of colouration.

I have researched this topic until I've come to the conclusion that FOR MY EARS (emphasis, I'm not shouting) I prefer a good soundhole pickup (RareEarth is great, though I've got a D'Marzio humbucker that's okay) combined with a good microphone. I'm not a fan of piezos under the saddle at all, elsewhere may be okay in a pinch, but then I'd likely elect to use an external mic. Ideally, a good (and expensive!) vocal mic in a good room with a good soundperson can't be beat, but the reality is I can't afford this luxury most of the time, and for the cost of such a mic I could get two to four acoustic guitar systems that would work for me. The current Rare Earth with attached microphone seems to be the best out there at the moment, but given my cash crunch I'll not be able to afford one, not to mention three.

Outside of the obvious concern for realistic sound, is the ability to tailor that sound to the room. I do not find onboard preamps satisfactory because they are hard to control on the fly and are often too inaccurate. Subsequently I use a volume pedal (currently a George Dennis) and an EQ/preamp (Boss) when I plug in, but with a mic I'm at the mercy of the soundperson. Again, with the suitable cash, I'd get a small (I like the Mackie) mixer for my own stage use to plug all instruments into and then be in control of my sound regardless of the mic or pickup source. The side benefit is better control over my monitor sound, another grief.

I like a magnetic pickup in the equation simply because it can help reinforce difficult frequencies, depending on the room, avoid feedback, and when called upon can be a great source for FX that aren't designed for mics or other pickups (like distortion).

The trick is to balance the various signal sources to get the most realistic sound, or in truly crappy conditions, get the best compromise. If I'm not mistaken, Ken Brown and Don Ross are among those who use the submixer idea and I gotta say they both have great acoustic sound.

The Pickup the World product and support is interesting, and I'd like to hear it used. Is anyone in southern Ontario using it? Can I get it from a Cdn distributor? Has anyone got a good recording of it? I'd rather hear it live to make a judgement, obviously. And last, will anyone out there just pity me enough to send me one for free? (Okay, okay, I know and I'm sorry.)

The last solution is to turn off all the electricity and truly return to our acoustic (and pre-industrial age) roots.

Peace, Mooh.