• From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Topic: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

I have an acoustic amp, used 90% to play electric (a Marshall AS100D). I have 1 electro-acoustic guitar: a MARTIN D-1.
This guitar produces a great acoustic sound (Martin never fools me), and plugged in, nice sound.
Unfortunately, I'm a person who forgets to turn out the pre-amp in that guitar, resulting in playing sometimes 1 hour, and when I want to play on day 2 = batteries are empty.

Accurate live amplification of the acoustic guitar may well be the audio equivalent of the search for the Holy Grail.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PLAY ACOUSTIC LOUD ENOUGH, THROUGH AN AMP?
- About electro-acoustic guitars: except from some big brands like TAYLOR, the UNPLUGGED and real acoustic sound is a lot weaker compared to a dreadnought or an orchestra model. IS THIS RIGHT OR WRONG.?
- When I hear people playing electro-acoustic, my opinion is they all start to produce a SIMILAR SOUND.
- I own a pretty nice collection of acoustics, and I don't want to make them electro-acoustic by changing them (speaking about a GIBSON SJ-200 MONTANA GOLD and a MARTIN D-45V)
- I have a set of 2 mics (actually one, because I think my daughter's dog took one) and if you put these mics in a correct position. This is what I found about playing live with an acoustic guitar: Microphones are potentially the most accurate transducers for amplifying any acoustic instrument. They directly convert the sound produced by the instrument into an electrical signal. Most studio recordings of acoustic guitars rely heavily, if not entirely, on the use of one or more carefully selected and placed microphones. Nevertheless, microphones have some serious drawbacks for live amplification. The conclusion I found is: external microphones are rarely an ideal choice for live acoustic guitar. On the other hand, A LOT OF ARTICLES WRITE THAT EXTERNAL MICS ARE STILL THE "BEST"CHOICE BUT LIMITED. IF YOU MOVE, YOU HAVE PROBLEMS. 
YOU NEED TO PLACE THEM IN A CORRECT POSITION, MOST USED = ABOUT 8" from the soundhole, and the second also 6-10" from the 13th fret. This might be searching, time-consuming, and also this is the "old" system. BOB DYLAN didn't use pre-amps, he used a set of mics placed.
SO DEAR CHORDIANS: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT PLAYING LIVE ON AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR. I really would love to hear your opinions. I made it easier explaining as good as I could how I should amplifie my acoustic: 2 MICS placed in a certain distance to obtain (and here most opinions are similar) the ideal sound.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

doc to play an electric sccustic with more volume invites feedback problems they make a rubber disk that fits over the sound hole and reduces the feedback allowing you to pump the volume up more

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

Thanks Russell, using "classic mics" can cause a feedback problem.
As far as I experienced, an electro-acoustic guitar, plug it in an acoustic amp, and there you go.
Using the "old fashion way" a standard with 2 good mics, they advise to place one mic not far from the soundhole and the second near the 13th fret. BUT I can assure you, having this system, it is a very time consuming process, it tales 30-60 minutes to find the "perfect" position to avoid feedback, but the sound is a lot more close to the "natural" acoustic sound.
Using an electro-acoustic, you loose a lot of the characteristics of your guitar. A lot of guitars DO sound similar.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: plymouth - uk
  • Registered: 2007-11-15
  • Posts: 199

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

you could always try a radio mic and reciever - we use to use ones that cost a thousand pounds back in my tv sound recording days - dont bother trying a cheap one . a bit of fiddling inside the guitar with a small peice of foam and some strong tape and a nice p.a system. if its studio perfection you want , then on your own without any sound engineers to constantly monitor is always going to be difficult . also - i wouldnt worry to much anyway - even the best classical guitarists still have sqeaks and noises - even on studio recorded material.

any resemblance to my songs sounding anything like the original is highly unlikely.

evsynator's Website

5 Reply by evsynator (edited by evsynator 2008-04-04 00:13:25)

  • From: plymouth - uk
  • Registered: 2007-11-15
  • Posts: 199

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

I should mention that if you want to just try an exspensive radio mic ( or other broadcast equipment ) then many radio and tv stations hire the gear out on a daily basis . over here in plymouth uk i can rent one mic and reciever for 60 pounds per day or 90 pounds for a broadcast quality mixer to match ( BBC - SEYMOUR ROAD - PLYMOUTH )- so with the mixer you could use headphones to monitor exactly what the pa would be putting out instead of hiring the pa as well . it might seem exspensive - but its a good way to spend the day experimenting without laying out a load of dosh and regregiting it ...

any resemblance to my songs sounding anything like the original is highly unlikely.

evsynator's Website

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

you gotta check this electric accustic  pickin 

Russell_Harding wrote:

doc to play an electric sccustic with more volume invites feedback problems they make a rubber disk that fits over the sound hole and reduces the feedback allowing you to pump the volume up more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dz9yaX8 … re=related

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • From: plymouth - uk
  • Registered: 2007-11-15
  • Posts: 199

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

Russell_Harding wrote:

you gotta check this electric accustic  pickin 

Russell_Harding wrote:

doc to play an electric sccustic with more volume invites feedback problems they make a rubber disk that fits over the sound hole and reduces the feedback allowing you to pump the volume up more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dz9yaX8 … re=related

sorry - i think i may have got it wrong , its that i thought you was trying to keep the natural acoustic sound through speakers or amps etc rather than a mix of electric and acoustic .

any resemblance to my songs sounding anything like the original is highly unlikely.

evsynator's Website

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

this is off the subject( the link to the electric accustic solo) i just thought it was a great video of a very talented guitarist i appologize for straying from the thread. but i still think the disc over the sound hole may be best i use one when i use my amp, when recording i use a microphone

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website

  • arkady
  • arkady
  • ambient moderator
  • Offline
  • From: England
  • Registered: 2006-11-23
  • Posts: 2,147

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

Russ
Great video.
Straight Acoustic over v Electro. no competition in the versatility you can make the electro sound just about anything you want it to and as unique as you want as the video shows.
Straight Acoustic great when used in the right context depends on the song etc.
Ark

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC VERSUS ACOUSTIC

ark i saved this guys performance there are additional links from that url to other great solos at first i thought what the hell is this? but that thought was laid to rest the second he started pickin

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Russell_Harding's Website