• From: Concord, NC
  • Registered: 2007-06-07
  • Posts: 19

Topic: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

Hey all,

Thinking about having a pickup put in my Washburn D10s acoustic.  Have been playing in church with a soundhole type pickup and was thinking it might be a little easier to be able to just plug in.  Any suggestions would be appreciated, as I have no experience in this area. 

I know I want to play amplified, but just can't afford the Taylor 314ce I have my eye on just yet.  Thought that adding a pickup to my existing guitar might be a good solution in the mean time.

Thanks!

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

l would consider giving one of these a whirl before you go cutting holes in your guitar. I've used them in the past and they do a fine job.

http://www.music123.com/Dean-Markley-Pr … 5.Music123

Give everything but up.
  • Registered: 2007-01-29
  • Posts: 533

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

Great info from SouthPaw...I've got a Pro Mag from Dean Markley and it works well and is reasonalby affordable. Also might check out   
www.fishman.com
www.McIntyrepickups.com 

Even if you don't buy the products you can find a lot of good info...

Middleaged Redneck sorta guy who refuses to grow up...passion for music, especially Southern Rock but like bout everything cept Gangsta/Hip Hop. Collect guitars, mandolins, and love to ride Harleys.
  • Registered: 2008-05-23
  • Posts: 8

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

SkyDad3 wrote:

Hey all,

Thinking about having a pickup put in my Washburn D10s acoustic.  Have been playing in church with a soundhole type pickup and was thinking it might be a little easier to be able to just plug in.  Any suggestions would be appreciated, as I have no experience in this area. 

I know I want to play amplified, but just can't afford the Taylor 314ce I have my eye on just yet.  Thought that adding a pickup to my existing guitar might be a good solution in the mean time.

Thanks!

ADDING A GOOD PICK UP WILL ENHANCE THE SOUND OF YOUR WASHBURN I HAVE ONE.HOWEVER THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE
AND CUT INTO YOUR SAVING FOR AN AMP.
I WOULD STILL INVEST IN A MID RANGE PRICED P/UP,YOU WILL LOVE THE SOUND YOUR WASHBURN PUTS OUT.
ROD

  • NELA
  • Honoured Member
  • Offline
  • From: West Monroe, La. 71292
  • Registered: 2007-11-28
  • Posts: 1,303

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

Have you tried playing "Miked". Could be a lot easier than adding a pick-up. The downside is that playing miked limits your movement while on stage. The upside is it's easier to do while sitting down and thats more comfortable. I play electric acoustic and have recently found out the beauty of a soundhole plug. No, that's not a sock placed in the wife's mouth! It's a plug that fits into the soundhole of your guitar to reduce feedback. Really makes a difference while playing amped.

Nela

NELA's Website

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
  • Posts: 1,914

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

My Money would go to a K&K mini. A great set up at a resonable price and really easy to install. http://www.kksound.com/purewestern.html

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
[/color][/b]         [b]Peace of mind. That's my piece of mind...[/b]

Guitarpix's Website

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
  • Posts: 1,914

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

If your wanting a soundhole pick up todays the day to buy it! Check out the stupid deal of the day from Musicians friend http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid Better act quick though, these will probably sale out quick. -Pix

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
[/color][/b]         [b]Peace of mind. That's my piece of mind...[/b]

Guitarpix's Website

  • pbrud8
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 3

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

I've been pretty happy with Fishman's new Matrix Infinity USP.  The volume & tone control in the soundhole is a big plus for me since I go back and forth from fingerstle to percussive strumming.  Watch out for feedback on the K & K mini.  If you tend to get VERY LOUD, invest in a soundhole cover to bust it.

  • Registered: 2008-05-23
  • Posts: 8

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

hi, it's rod again. believe me there is and there has never been a sound hole pick up
that gives you a natural accoustic sound.the pick up for a good sound is an in body p/u.
it gives you the accoustic effect thatis natural,a sound hole p/u picks up the strings ,you
may as well play a solid body.

                                                                         good luck,rod.

  • Registered: 2008-10-20
  • Posts: 2

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

**Not for the Faint-of-Heart**

My only acoustic is an old Ibanez lawsuit copy of a SJ... not in great condition, but a great campfire guitar. I wanted to experiment, so I created a 'floating centreblock' of 1"X3" inside the soundhole, with an old Supro / National singlecoil attached. (those pickups were mounted directly to the body via drywall anchors anyways, so it made good sense from an aesthetic and mechanical standpoint.) I added a 250k volume pot to the face of the guitar... just drilled a hole and mounted it in easy reach, and then mounted an end-pin output jack. Sounds amazing, with electric .13's, or .13 acoustic strings. (a little more output with electric strings... the brass cores of the acoustic strings likely doesn't register quite as well with the magnetic pickup.)

I know, the purists are going to tell me that I've ruined the resonance of the face of the guitar by mounting the pot, and obstructing the soundhole... but if you could hear the snarling Elmore James pouring out of my Champ 600... you'd have a smile on.

  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 162

Re: Adding pickup to acoustic guitar

rodhook wrote:

hi, it's rod again. believe me there is and there has never been a sound hole pick up
that gives you a natural accoustic sound.the pick up for a good sound is an in body p/u.
it gives you the accoustic effect thatis natural,a sound hole p/u picks up the strings ,you
may as well play a solid body.

                                                                         good luck,rod.

Soundhole pickups are much better than they used, still not the same as your acoustic sound but a number of big names do use them. And you can wire a jack plug so you still just plug and play. Also SOME of the undersaddle pickups sound worse, way too 'tinny'.